RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 485, 19 April 1909, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

;,SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNAMENT.; .'; INTEEESTING DISPLAYS. ; ; There was a gratifying/attendance at the Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon, when a seyen-a-side tourney, in aid of, the players' insurance fund, was held. Among those present .was the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), irho took a keen interest in the contests. Alto--s«ther the' takings amounted to over £50, which must: be considered, satisfactory. Some ten or .eleven years had elapsed' since seven-a-side matches/ had, previously been held here. In some of the. contests play was rather ragged, but'ethers werft marked by. efforts of a high standard. . Each game, consisted of spells of: seven minutes, with a one minute spollon changing sides. .'Xhe usual method, of scoring was adopted, with., the exception that o. force counted • one ,ppint. against the side forcing down. In the case of the finals, however, the exception did not apply. The various, contests were got off with due regard to punctuality. It was understood that in the event of both/ sides being equal at the end of (the stipulated period play should bo continued until a score was gained. 'Only once did:it happen that the opposing teams were level, tut, instead of playing on, they decided the game by a toss of a coin. St. Patriok's College, who won the fifthsrade series of matches, met 'Sclwyn (I), St. James.jand Southern.' Old Boys'victory in th« senior grade scries was very meritorious. In turn they defeated. Southern;. Athletic (I), and Oriental (I). , Towards the close of eiuvof the contests Abercrombio had , his left shoulder put out. Following weref the'results:— . ,' '. ■. ' : : Fifth-grad6;matches. ■ ' .■: ■;.:'.', First : ..Reund."*'*...-, ; '■ /Athletic, i, Oriental, 3.—Shortly . after the commencement of , the/game Athletic forced .Oriental.. 1 /Then, as ii result of a good rtm from halfway, Wilson scored, but the try was not converted. During the second spell, it'Comisky scored for Oriental.' .'•-'■/■■. f- Southern, 3; y. Selwyn (Hi \ o.—There : was strenuous play '.throughout this contest. No score Was recorded: in the first half. About one minute from the close of thfe game* Standeil got acrossfor '-Southern, bui the score was not enhanced. ' ... ' '■■ ~ •'■■ •,■"•.■ - .-■..■■; -'-St. Pntrick's College, 1, v. : Selwyn (I), o.— The/opening stages of this match saw College forcing matters. The vigorous onslaught on their "part.'produced only, a force down. No further scori was.registered. :.■.'•■': -St. Jnmes, 3,;/T..Petone I—The. suburban tenmstarted off in good stylos ■ When thev were driven back, Barry, oil behalf of St. Jahtes. scored- a fry, which was Dot converted. During the second half '. Petone, by means of a. try, drew level. St. James won the match on a toss being made. ■ : ■;., • ■■ ;'■:/'■/ Second Round.; ; ■ "■' /■-Southern; 3, y.'Athletic, o.—This ir»s. a• fine open game. Two lniautes after the start Russelli/after a' splendid run, scored for' Southern, but no.goal resulted Athletic 'attacked-,strongly early,in the second spell. 'Another.fine run was then put in by Russell. Only score; wa% Recorded.- ■ :.■■ ' ' '■-. ' ■■■'•'' ' ' "■■ . • :.'' •'. .'.St. Patrick's College. .6,. v.'St. 'James',' o.— In/the.'first spelt,: which was inarfced by soiriewhati.ragged play, DochertT jcored ; for:College. .Casey gained .a try. for College in. the tecond l-'^hal;.- : :-/V';': '• :.'>■■■'■:. ;■.,,'/;■■ ■'■■ ~.- "' /,.:',/././ ■/. ■■'/ ■/y.- : ; ■'■■ '•, ; ' ; :Ffnil Contest: / ;:' : V;:; ■'• [' : i \ St. Patrick's. College, ". 5, v: Southern, S.—Before tho match had been.leftg in progress-Box, for. College, scored "a try,' which- he converted. .The 'passing of the College lads in: this game was TerTifino'at.'times.- Towards the «nd of the spell Dray: obtained « try-for Southern, but no goal/iris kicked.- Early .in/-.the second half Southern narrowly missed scoring, the ball jo-, ing "dea'd". : when two .-of ■'■•■their players were .close : upon,, it. : . Just/at .the' close of- time Southern - made another dangerous rush,'bnt ; tho Collega'.full-back kicked into touch. v

y::-,, SENIOR CONTESTS.;. :;;■ ,:■.'■'.v- : '' ••; ■ ■ .First ■■Rquitd.'--.'' ■',<:.■■.., ■..■'■ ■ ■ .V Si.', James, 11,' : y. Wellingtbri, !0.-~DurinK the first spell T. Eoborts and Fergqsoh scored for St.,.Jaraes,,Cre>ves.converting one of : the tries.' ■Just at Hhe. close of :the. game Bruce added'V further try for St. James. .It was in.this game, that Abercrombte had the misfortune to injure his shoulder. ■ :'■'■ •■■•.'■';-. :■:.'•■ '-■-'."■:'\.' : .y'- /.'.'■■'■ ■. Oriental; l,i. Petone, 3.—Oriental forced Petone during the first minute. Whilst Oriental .were again attacking-Green made a.oreditable mark. From, a line-out early in the seoond. half Green passed to' Con. Sulliran,. who got across.' The game was almost finished when Perry brought'victory to Orientals by means of-a good try. ' ; : : - '. ,'- v '."•■'.'. ' : '•Poneke, 4iv.Melrbse,.l.—Good dribbling was sh6wn : 'by Melrose in : the ■ first spell. Both sides secured \a force-down before half time; During ■ the : second half Mitchis'on-got away from halfway and; scored "for Poneke; -Walsh made poor attempt'to convert ; \ ; ~-Athletic.(ll), 9, x, St. Patriok's,.O.-AtWetic .were : not;; lons in gaining a.try,. Eivellbcirig the 'scorer. ..Tries: in the second spell : were secured, by Wilson arid : Kivell, but'-neither was converted; ■'..' ■■■■' ■ s .■•■'■'-.' '■' ■'.. ■Athletic (I), 20,'. v. Oriental (II),: 0.-This was a ..walk-over for Athletic. In the,first half Bvenson got:>two: tries and-.Cunningham one. •Early.in the second spell Cunningham, scored another try, .irhieli Evenson ■ converted. Just at,the. close of the game' "Murray ran. behind the posts, the try Ming enhanced by Wilson. Old Boys,- 9, y. Southern, 3.-During the first period of the game L. Campbell kicked a penalty : goal for Sonthorn. Tries woro obtained for Old Boys; in the.second half by Marchant, Patterson, aud Poole, but were not'improved upon. '.'"'.. . ...... ':. .:■•'■.. ■'■ ■■■ . : : .'; !V •■ Second Round.. : ; - ■' Oriental.;.(!),. i, v,. St.; Jfiine's, ;1.-Oriental forced.St.; James no iewer-than,four times in the first half.' St. James'did much better after ends had been changed. Once they forced down Oriental. ; ■ ■•■• -,•-. . :'- , ■ . - t V \W> : '^ ;: At W e t'P (H). thefirst , half Walsh .scored- for •Poneko, and Athletic gained a force dowfi. 'The beginning of the second spell saw Walsh .score between the posts for.Poneke and Gardiner.add the major points B.rCaleinai got across for Ponekd towards tho end .of 'the. game,, Walsh adding the, major points. ■•-.- ■■; .■: 1 ' ''.-; -'~- , : ; •■■... ". • .'. '•] '■'Athletic "and Old Boys, had byes.. . j: . : ;:.'..'■:' ; 1 .Third Round. ■ ;■ ■ r,Old''Boys,'9, ,V. Athletics (I), 6.—For Old Boys, M'Lean got across from a- scrambled -Later in the first spell Athletio ' were forced down.; In the second half Poolo scored behind' the-posts for .Old, Boys, Jfarchant converting. Athletic then begin to play with.greater vim.' .CunninghMn got across for, them' after a. good ■tun. :• Then •» iminuto later Murray-got" over'from'.'a scromblo.: ' v ■ .. , '■'..':''/. Oriental, .1.1, ,v. Ponek*, o.—Soon , after ■-■pla'r had been commonced RoberEs, by: a splendid •run,, scored for Oriental, the try being converted,by Mayzo.', Also in the first spell Pcrrr got across /for Oriental. During the second half Roberts again m&de a. fine run,--'scoring « try. Again Jlaj'ie was . successful with the kick. .;■ . v :'.;:'. ;•■■'■■• , : ■ : ..:■•.. ■ ■: .; : ' '..- : :-i s: ; r : '■'■''.'■."■'... Final Round. V :,.,' ' , ,r .Old- Boys, 8; v. : Oriental; 5-The final provided a splendid tussle. Oriental got a freer kick in-Old Boys' twenty-five, but preferred to kick 1 ecross' the field. : From•■: a fast loose rush Dawson scored for Old Boys, Mhrchant .converting-with-.a fine kick. Shortly after ends had bcon changed an Oriental rnsh, headed by 'Koberts, caused Old Boys to kick ;■ behind to .save. From the resultant scrum Roberts scored, Mayze;converting. ... ,' ".,,.- ■; - ; As both .sidßS'were how equal, great interest was taken in the contest. .For Old Boys Avery broke nway with- the ball at his toe. When he^reached., the goal-line two Oriental players took:a hand, butPoole camo round ; and scored Marchant... unsuccessful with the kick. There was.no further score in tho game, which proved- by,far the most interesting of the series.''..' -..■■'•":■ - '.■,,■■■ ;' "'" ''