SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 260, 27 July 1908, Page 4

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

' PREMIERSHIP HONOURS ;FOR - : MELROSE.

~-Tho series of'matches'played on Saturday 'afterhoon clo'sod tho sen%.phampionship contcsfc, tho -Mclroso ,C.lul!,.Jiow having a lead which makes their'positi.o/i, as champion .team for the season secur'o against all-con. ors. Mel-' rose have had a strenuous'fi&ht for £rst place; and fully dbsorve thoirran.' The public generally appear to bo against .Melrose unless thoy happen to be. playing Petone, bu-;, as tho game is playedinowadaysj,Melrose ate no bet-, .tor and-iio wbrsft. than tlio majority of tho, ■teams, thoy liayo. r to meet. They diavo one or .two rough playefcsjn.;their ranks, but so have most.of the other'clubs, and.the football public does not appear to recognise rough play unless it'is exercised'against a particular club or idol. '''Uhfortuiiately, 'main strength and ignorancoyhave; placed a biggor part , in, senior football this season than scioiicc. As a matter of fact, tho former is very often mistaken for the latter by a large section of the followers of the game. However, to revert to the' winners of the championship—they havq 'a record which stands by itself, not having lost a match. Thoy havo played eleven games, drawn ono. Tho points registered in their favour total 155, whilst only 17 points havo been scored against them. 'Oriental, who tie with'Petone for second placo;'! aro'6'points'.'behind the leaders, each of ithese" 'team's .".having lost - three, matches,': Oriental; ran ,'on level terms, with Melroso for a- considerable time, but were gradually-left;in.tho.rcar.; Petono havo to bo content-to: shai-e .second honours with Oriental," but they_ only step down after a long spell as champion team. Poneke, Athletic, an,d St. JaniM.'havo.been'-'in and out all the season, each team having put' up 'some excellent and'somc very poor performances. Southern, Old Boys, Wellington, and Victoria Collego bring up tho rear. '• 'Tho -results of Saturday's games are as under:—

"Oriental (0). .Petone (11) tiofeated 'Ponoke <10). . St/ Jamas' (22) defeated Athletic (0), . Southern (12) dofeatod'Old Boys (11). '. v Wellington" (9) defeajed;Vio. College'(3). POSITIONS 01" THE TEAMS. j : . . ■ « i " ? ■. '■& - •&: ' ..'"6 43 -;3 S*J : £ 'g.-g I .a .3,§ . £. . o o P ■ , - ft -£- >jo ft ft o Melroso .. 11 10 . 0 1 155 * 17 21 ; Oriontal .... 11 .7 8 -1 -74 60 15 Potono ... 11 -. 7. '3 1 167 70 15 Poncko 11 6 ; 4 1 11G 73 13 St. James ... 11- 6 1\ 92 -65 13 Athlct'c 11 T4 5 2' 99 68 10 Southern ''...11 4-' 7' 0 65 147 8, Wellington ... 11 . 2 6 3 49 84 -7 Old Boys 11 3 8 0 59 169. 6, Victoria Collego 11 1 0 0 31 154 2 MELROSE V.. ORIENTAL. > ! The Mclrosc-Oriontal '-'contest was a. vigorous display of forward work relieved by occasional. flashes of neat back play, tho rearguard's handling tho heavy ball very well. Tho first spell. was fairly evenly contested, and,, when lialf-fimo was called, neither sido hadisc'ored.' Willi tho pdsition thus it looked | to thoso' who know the staying powers of tho Melroso. vanguard as though the wearers; of tho blue and red_jerseys would have a fairly cavsy, win. This idea,.was:'strengthenod'soon after the; kick out, the Melrose men sweeping iiito Oriental ■ quarters, whero Beavis made . a ".dash ■ over the- lino and allowed Church to scoro. 'Melroso took charge from this on, and it was not until tho game was drawing to a close that Oriental mado a bold, but unsuccessful, effort to! equalise tho scores. About tho'middlo of the second spell tho referee, who . had. previously cautioned several men, ordered one of tho Melroso forwards olf the field. ■ .... From tho. kick olf, tho Oriental forwards got: .to work, as though they meant business.- Daly came away with a dribblo from half way, and' Collerton carried tho leather on," leaving, ,thp Melrqsp backs standing. M'Kay, however, who replaced Geo. Spencer at full-back, T ciiino to tho rescue. Immediately 'after this M'Leod set th 6' Oriental backs racing for .tho Melrose line, but a knock on near tho lino spoiled. M'Leod broke away again immediately after, but M'Kay saved with a flying' kick. ..Ploy ..continued in Melrose - territory; and*although -King led his sido to safer .quarters, Oriontal canio on to .tho attack again, a fine Hrio'kick by M'Kay driving them out.-;/At length tho Melrose forwards' carictl" play'to the Oriental twenty-five, where M'Leod-saved; pjgttily, only to see Melroso charge agaiiv.aud be sent to tho rightabout by Another Oriental attack was succeeded by an assault by Melr/icA. Adams, Murphy, and King led n strong

rush to within about ten yards of tlio Oriental lino, but Oriental won through in tho ensuing scrum work. Melrose charged again, Maze and Vercoo saving in turn, and, after an unsuccessful pot at goal by M'Kay, Oriental rallied, and, carrying play to tho other end of the field, Vercoe essayed a pot at goal without success..': Oriental continued to press until; J. Spencer broke .away brilliantly and passed to King,'who.handed a bad pass to a clubmato and checked the .dash. King led another promising rush, but an over hard kick allowed Vercoe to. savo. After ft' stoppage on account of Hamilton (Melrose) being injured by a kick, Melroso put in a strong attack, which was .-maintained'until halftimo without penetrating tho last lino of the Oriental defence. ■'

,On resuming, the Melrose forwards immediately took play into tlio Oriental twentyfive, and within a couple of minutes Bcavis shot out from tho ruck', and, beating tho opposition, carried'tho ball over tho lino. Ho lost tho leather when over, but .Church was handy,, and pounced on it. Church converted with a grand kick.' De Blois led Melrose t-o tho attack on play- starting agnin, but Vercoe saved.' Melroso charged again, and M'Kay had a pot, and Church a-placo kick at goal, the latter from a mark by C. Murphy, but neither succeeded. Melroso were having things all their - own way at . this stage, and'continued to do so until near tho end of tlio game,, but they found an.unnegotiable hurdle in Vercoe, tho Oriental fullback, who played a perfect defensivo game. For ono spell of a few minutes Oriental mado a ,big bid to, equalise the scores, but without sjuccess, Melrose wearing them down again and holding them fairly easily., when no sido* was called with tho tally:— Melroso . ... ... 5 . Oriental,-".;. ... ... ... ... 0 Mr. F. Laws Was referee. PONEKE V. PETONE. Tho match between Poneke .and .Petone, which was-played on No. '2 ground at tho Athletic Park, was ono of the , most interesting that, has been played this season. Considering the soft state of the turf,'play was fairly fast. : Neither iside could claim a material advantage in' any department. For-somo-minutes the sceno of play was in neutral territory. l Then the Poneko forwards instituted a good rush which ended in front of the Petono goal. From a scrum Tilyard, passed to Flannagaii, who was collared, and Green, securing,' kicked into touch'well up tho field. Petono carried play, into, Poneko's 25, whero, from a ruck, Green snapped up the'ball and trans-' ferred to Instono who, by feinting to pass, got in a spendid run,, being-collared'within a yard or. two ;of the lino. In "tlio resnltaut soramblo M'Gill pierced Poneko's defence. M. Ryan make a good but unsuccessful- shot at goal.—-Petone 3, Poneke 0. • Consequent upon this - rcverso Poneko played'with, increased vim. ' ' An onslaught in Petone's 25 was thwarted by an infringement. Then from a 'loose rush, originating from a lineout, and headed by Trcsize, Gardiner gained a try' behind Vtho posts. _ Taking the kick himself ho; added .the major points.—Poneke 5, Petono 3. Poneko - again attacked and: tho position looked' serious for Petono as'a result of M." Ryan being unable to get in his kick, but several Petone ' players carno round in fino style; Y For: fully ten niinutes play was now .on--tho- Petono - side i-of- halfway. - '.Then tho suburban I ,team showed up to advantage. From a ruck',Green; obtained possession ;and , transferred smartly to ~J. ltyan who -passed" to ' Instonc who'was brought down near tho lino. but: managed to get-over behind "the posts. : -M, Ryan made no rilistako with tlio kick.—Petono .8, Poneko 5. ■ Shortly' afterwards the Poneko backs gained ;;considerablo ground by means of a passing -rush. ; Con Sullivan' was next pro-; minent but the dangerous • dribbling- rush' which lie . initiated , was spoiled, owing to M'Gill getting off-side. _ -No further score was made before half time.- •: i- ;

Upon the 'resumption of play- Poneke ■ assumed the aggressive. Gardiner had a pot at goal but the ball, .whicli' struck a post, and rebounded, did not rise. Petono now ■worked' down; to their opponents' 25. ■ From a, scramble near the ,lino Hardham secured and threw out smartly'to Green who.dropped, across. .M. Ryan failed to enhance the score.—Petone H, Poneke 5. Twohill' started a dangerous loose rush- but Flannagan, who was 1 ' supporting him; -kicked ■ toohard aud the result was that tlio ball struck the fence. Poneke had' slightly: the best, of tho game for4he'',hext ten- minutes. ■ Prom a loose rush tho ball-was sent to M. llyan, but Calcinai secured as he was waiting for tho bounce and got across. Amidst continued applause-Gardiner landed goal.-7-Petone 11, Poneke 10. - 'lho re-, mainder of the, spell was" hotly contested.' Petono kept play in their opponents' 25"; for' some minutes. On • ono occasion they narrowly missed scoring. Tilyard attempted a screw kick, but the ball struck an opponent and rebounded. across tho line. In the resultant scramble tho .oval- went over thodead ball -line. ] Shortly afterwards Fogden, Green, and' Ryan wero prominent in a passing, rusli which, however, proved .-unsuccessful. Poncko then tool: a turn at, attacking, but .could not pierco tho ;Petonc defonce, and after further play in neutral territory the garno ended— . • : Potone ... . ... ... 11 Poneke ' ... ... ... ... 10 Mr. P. Mackie was referee.

ST, JAMES V. ATHLETIC. Tho Athletic team had already mado a name for the inconsistency, of' its form, and this was strengthened on Saturday when the bluo and blacks, who gavo tho championship winners such a willing go a.few Saturdays back, had to lower their colours to Est. James. Tho losers certainly played' one man short but 'they- wero not in the hunt with the younger team after the game had got fairly under. way/, Two tries were scored by* St. James in the first term, tho first by H. Roberts after a good run and tho other by Stuart. Neither ,of the tries-was converted. St. James piled on.another 16 points in the second half, Ferguson, Moffat, H. Roberts and Neilson crossing tho line. Thomas and Ferguson eaclr- converted a try. Tho final score was —. St. James ... ... ** ... 22 Athletic . ... ... . ... Nil Mr. J. Franois. was referee. WELLINGTON V. VICTORIA COLLECE. The Contest botween Wellington and Victoria Collego resulted: —Wellington, 9; Victoria College, 3. Mr. W. O'Conrioll was tho referee. SOUTHERN V. OLD BOYS. The match Old Boys v. Southern, played at Miramar, resulted in a win by a narrow majority for Southern, tho scores being 12 points to 11; Tho ground was in a sloppy stato, tho consequence being that back play was almost impossible. Taking the play all through, Southern may bo fairly said to have had tho best of tho contest, and it was only through misfortune that their score was not largdr. Tcmpleton, who .was injured a fow Saturdays ago, resumed his place ..in tho Southern vanguard, and played a good game. In tho early part of the first spell Butt, an Old' Boys' player, was injured and had to retire, Old Boys continuing with fourteen men.' Southern kicked off against the sun, and for a time play was even. Penalties in favour of Old Boys transferred, operations to the Southern's goal lino, where, from a scramblo, Avery snapped up the ball and drew first -blood for Old Boys, Marchant converting with a good kick. Play continued in Southern territory, and from a mark Marchant. increased: Old Boys' score by kicking a goal. Southern wero still on tho' defensivo, but a timely kick-by Organ relieved tho pressure, and play was taken to' tho opposito end. A series of scrums near tho lino followed, and from one of Campboll opened Southern's scoro by gaining a gtfod try. Tho sumo player took the kick, but faile'd to add tho extra points.; Templeton : started a Southern rush, and was well assisted by- Houlihan and Cheesoman; the hall was taken to their opponents' linc, but a forco was the only rosult. Armstrong marked in a good place, for Southern, and Campbell was successful with tho kick. Even play.' followed this, but Southern initiated another forward rush, and took tho- ball right to tho Old Boys'. lino, whero_ L. Campbell scored his second .try. I-lis kick at goal was 'futile. Half-time was sounded shortly afterwards, with play in Southern's twenty-five, and tho scoro, Southern 9 joints* Old Boys 8.

Oil resuming, Southern had tlio best of matters for a time till a determined rush headed by Marchant and Avery reversed play, and from a melon on tho line Newman was ablo to score for Old Boys. Mnrchant was unsuccessful with the kick. Tho reverse infused vigour into the Southern team, who carried the ball to the lino time and again, Old Boys being forced repeatedly. 'I'ope was nearly over, but he was thrown out at tho corner. Southern's efforts wore rowarded soon afterwards, however, by Condliffo securing a try, Campbell, from a difficult angle, making a good, but unsuccessful,, shot at goal. From this'out Southern continued on tho aggressive, but tho Old Boys were equal to tho occasion, mid "No Side" was sounded without further' score, tho gamo ending -

Southern ... ... ... ... 13 Old Boys -_i 11 Mr. Condor was tho referee. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Athletic defeated St. James by 13 to 11. [For. tho winners, Smith scored two trios, I Galloway kicktid a penalty goal, and Heonan and Wilson oach converted a try. Old Boys, playing with 13 men, suffered defeat at tho hands of Poneke by 17 to 3. Tho losers' try was secured Jj.y Freiberg. Kia Ora (S), defoated Melrose (5). THfRtJ CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. St. John's defeated Oriental by 18 to 8. lioy secured a fino try for the iosbrs, and M'Lean also scored and converted his try. Athlotic (3) defeated Selwyn (0). M'Konzio kicked a penalty goal for,tho winners. Star Boating Club defeated Petono by 8. to nil. Tries were scored by W. Robertson and J. Davis. AV. H. Brewer converted one of tho. tries. ' St. John's (18) defeated Oriental (8). For St. John's tries wore scored by Elliffo (2), Redgrave (1), and .Muldoon- (1). P. Dyett converted three. FOURTH CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP.' Old Boys (19) defoated Poneke (3). Scorors for the winners were Robertson, Stace, Fordham, and Miller. Suckling converted two tries and kicked a penalty goal. : Oriental (8) defeated. Wellington (nil). 'Sk James (15) defeated Athletic (nil). Tho losers played with only ten men. : St. John's (8) drew with Melrose. For St. John'si tries were scored by Ryan and Rcid. ltoid 'converted one. , OTHER MATCHES. Teams representative)' of H.M.S.'s Pioneer and Encounter tried conclusions at Miramar, tho gamo resulting in a .win for tho Pioneer men by 6 points to nil. For the. winners Robinson scored a,try,'.and Morrison convprted a penalty kicji. > WAIRARAPA MATCHES. (DY TELEQUAI'U —SPECIAL COnttESPONDENTS.) Pahiatua, .July 25. To-day's - match, Pahiatua v. Konini, aroused considerable interest, and despite showory woathor a largo _ attendance was on tho ground. Pahiatua kicked off,-and wero very soon in' trouble, Konini looking like scoring in tho' first fivo minutes. Tho ground was very slippery, and tho ball greasy, but KoViini kept the local team busy in their 'ttwn twenty-five, and had several shots from penalties before- they- succeeded- in scoring a; try. At half-timo Konini had three points to nil, having had the best of tho gamo all through. Play was reversed'in the second spell, Iboth sides playing it. fast, willing gamo, and although Pahiatua had , decidedly tho host.of tho game; thoy were unlucky in not being able' to score, though forcing their 'opponents several times. At tho call of time the score was unaltered, Konini winning by. th'rco to, nil, ' , Scarborough .were defeated by Ekctahuna Juniors at Eketalnma by fourteen to six. I: , ; _ Carterton, July 23.' / TJio-Thursday.junior representative team to play the Saturday thirds at Featherston on Thursday ■' week' will, 'bo as 'follow Paul, Gilmour'; Hully, Worlnuan, Kellyj Barr, Bilby; liarbott,. Knutsoii;Cawloy, Hunter, Jo.iies, Mason, Woods; emergencies: AVooSs, Fuge, Major, and Abbott. ' MANAWATU GAMES. ;.i , ' . Palmsrston-North, July 25. . In the Junior Championship Kia Toa 11, • defeated Feilding 0, thus winning tho Broome Shield for the-championship,. In.'tho' Third Class, High School defeated Palmerston by 19 .to 0. • The ropreSontatiyo team to meet South Canterbury at Palmcrst'oii 'lioxt, AVednosday will be as. , follows Full-back, .Hodgina; three-quarters, Stalker, Hewitt, nnd L. Smith; five-eighths, O'Connor and M. Carroll V half-back,' Bucliaiian-j wing forward, Arch. : M'Minn; forwards,- Alex. M'Minn, AVard, AV. Carroll, Best, Ryan, Brough, Boon. , IN OTHER CENTRES. '-. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS, ASSOCIATION.)

' • Christchurch, July 25. The senior football matches to-day 1 resulted: —Morivalo 5, beat Sydenham 4; Albion 17, beat Limvood 3; Old Boys 18, boat Canterbury College 8.

WELLINGTON V. WAIRARAPA. The senior championship '„ having been brought _to a close oy the win of Melrose over Oriental on .Saturday the representative match between Wellington and Wairarapa will bo playecl on Saturday next. '.The Wellington ' selectors, '" Messrs, Meredith, Kelly and Hogan have picked the following team to do battlo for Wellington:— • . FULL-BACK: J. Ryan. THREE-QUARTERS : Evenson, Mitchinson, Matheson.. FIVE-EIGHTHS: , M'Leod and Roberts. HALF-BACK: Green FORWARDS: ' Back row: Dewar and Alexander. Supports: A. Wilson and Rush.' Lock: A. M. Wilson. Front row: Ready and Houlihan. Emergencies—Back: Magee. Forwards: O'Briep and M'Kellar.