CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 144, 17 June 1912, Page 8

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.

WINS ,A>T> MABIKE BROS.

CITY AST) "COLLEGE RIFLES T>RAW.

A GTREAT- -G-AME. Tie second round of the Rugby Union, champkmsMips -was condnued. at Alexandra Park on Satmaiay, in fine -weather, but the attendance was iardly np to the average.

■College Bifles sprung a .sjrrprise—on. .City, and, playing -with, great dasii, made a draw of it, City scoring a try and the Rifles a penalty goal. The game was the best exlhtbitioa of Bugby seen in Auckland for son»e time, and. although fast and hard tbroogbout. was very clean. Parnell defeated University by six points to nil. and Marist Bros, romped over Tonsonby by 12 points to 3. The positions of the teams in tie championship axe as follows: —

CITY V. COLLEGE RIFLES.

College Rifles made their first appearance on the No. 1 Ground this season, wnen ■they met City. A nor'west wind blew down ■the field, giving the defenders of the eastern goal an advantage, although they were playing with a Strang son in their faces. College Rifles won the toss and elected to play in 'the first quarter against tie -breeze. S. M&pee sot the ball rolling, the exchange of kicks missing 'the line, till Stewart got *he 'boundary n-ear the corner. City were first to get going, but the College backs were smothering; :u jjood sty-le, and 'Lhelr passing was nipped iv 'the ■bud, 'the blacks eventually getting relief an a force. The Rilles were putting a lon of dash into 'their work, and jiithougji City ■were -beating .them in 'the forwards, thu reds were not making the best use of it, and Bnioe getting oEside, Westnn got the line near City's corner. The Macks got •possession and a passing run threatened danger, bet SVtow-ari In-tereepted and removed the danger, vxd li'riice oulp-prnjr in. the College line was threatened, but a hard kick gawe the blacks relief in a force. The Rifles were running City off their feet aud Nesbit made a fine opening, but hung on too long, and a chance was lost. " The weight of the City pack was against the Uities, and they were beateo for the ball in every sernm, bnt the reds' passing was weak, and several times Thomas hung on too long, and threw away chances. Keeping up the attack, Fitzgerald had a shot from a mark, which hit the posts and bounded in play, the blacks eventually being forced, which they were compelled to do immediately after. Following the kick out Webb made a fine opening, but vas nusupportori, and a chance lost. The blacks were still setting a merry pace, and took play to the reds' '£>, a high kick by Fitzgerald sending them back, and for a short spell play was of n ragged order, the bell ringing for the quarter without score.

Nesbit's kick off went over the line, but Stewart rau out and returned to the quarter. College, secured from the line, but Walker's kick was liard and City forced. The reds rusiied down the kick out, but D'Audney returned, sending them to their twenty-five. Tbc roils were soon bacU, Webb stopping in tine style, and .laeobi headed a rush which removed the scene of play, but Pountney was offside, and it had to stop. The blacks were making a line showing against tbc champions, and D'Audney marking, play went to the reds' line. The blacks tried to open up the play, bnt their passing was wild, and the reds taking advantage of the loose work, removed the danger and took a hand at attack, but Barclay threw away a possibility by a wild transfer. The reds were battling hard, trat the forwards were too eager, and offside pulled them up. The blacks' forwards were getting in some fine rashes, but they were over-running the ball, and their work was wasted. The pace was very solid, and the Rifles were pleasing the spectators with their display, and Webb put his side on the attack with a quick left foot kick. The blacks seenred front "the line, and Weston got in a dodgy run. but was shoved back. Continuing to make the game open. Webb whipped out to his backs, but Barclay intercepted, and sent to Stewart, who was smothered, but Keating saved. Tie Rifles kept throwing the ball about and Gordon made a fine opening, but Stewart saved cleverly and put his Bide on the attack, and HLnes missing, danger threatened the blacks, but Webb effected a fine save. Play was fast and interesting. City making great efforts, and H_ Thomas whipping up, sent to Stewart, to Fitzgerald, who missed. Keeping up the attack. City came with a great dash, but the Rifles got relief in a force, and the bell rang for half time without score.

S. Magee set tie hall rolling in the 6ccond spell, Gordon's return being; weak, and City urero in 'the danger zoue. City broke away from the throw-in, and Bruce made an opening but kicked too hard, and LLLnes ran around his own goal mouth and saved. City again secured, and. 1L Thomas centred, but Gordon took the ball on the full and made a lino opening and sent lo Ifwerson, who kicked hurd, and Moffit unissing he was smothered before hn could recover, and College were cm the attack. The blacks were playing up to their best form, but the champions were not pleasing their friends, and their work on the whole was ragged. A high, return by Fitzgerald put the reds in a good position, but they were not making the most use of their chanres. and after a lot of loose kicking a hard boost by Stewart, and the blacks forced. Tie reds came back, and Thomas made an opening, tout Keating missed the pass, and a chance was thrown away. Keeping up the attack, City were awarded a free, but tie cross-kick .was abortive, and the blacks cleared. City came again, and Fitzgerald had a chance from a free, 'but his kick was weak, and D'Andney returned. The reds were losing a lot of ebances, a free being well returned by Kwerson, the same player saving the situation with a quick mark. City were fighting hard, and Thomas whipped oat to IL Thomas, to Barclay, who missed an easy chance. Coming- again, the red forwards rushed the leather ove.r, and about six forwards fell on to it, Tresize being awarded the try. Hoffit failed at coal. City __ 3 College lUUes .»..„, 0 City kept up the pressure, hut Brnre kicked too powerfully, and 'lfwerson forced, and the bell rang shortly after, with the score unaltered. Tie exchange of kicks ended at the quarter, the reds removing play to the half. •Hines missing, but the ball went out and saved the situation. Tie blacks livened up, and King kicking (high had City defending. The reds cleared, Webb stopping progress with a mark near the centre, and Ifwerson with a great kick equalised amidst ap-pla-usc City — R College Kifles __„ 3 City rallied, and H. Thomas made a fine opening, Ifwereon saving. The game was fast and exciting, both sides potting a lot of dash into their work, a miss by King letting the reds in. but the Eifles beat them back, Webb starting a rush, but Stewart, with a long kick, sent them 'back, and they had to defend hard, a free giving some relief. The reds' forwards were having the best of it, and Tresize was almost over, but the defence was solid, and Nesbit headed a rash which cleared tt> .the quarter. City attacked hotly, a hard kick by Fitzgerald sending them to the blacks' line, where a battle royal was raged. City attacking and the blacks defending, the latter clearing with a fine forward rush stopping Keating's xetorn. were making great efforts, but were over anxious, a free giving tbe blacks much-needed relief, bnt Stewart's return was one of the best, getting the line at the corner. The failing •light made it very hard to follow the play, a City passing run being slow, and the blacks smothered them in great style. The reds kept the upper-hand, but -they were una-ble to add to their total, and the bell rang with the scores: — Oity llt . _. 3 College* BJfles . >.._.. 3 Mr~ J. Winiama «s~xef era*

Pts. Pts. Chp. Pld. Won. Lost Drtufor. agst. Pts. City 7 5 — '-' fi2 2S 12 Marist B. 7 ti 1 — T.'l SI 12 Parnell . 7 .'! .'I 1 11 11 7 Col. Rifles 7 - ;: 2 .".4 .">:: li University 7 — 4 :; L1> fit :i Ponsonby 7 — 0 'Z 'M 01) -