PETONE V. OLD BOYS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 491, 26 April 1909, Page 7

PETONE V. OLD BOYS.

A biting wind blow acios3 tlio, Recreation Ground at Petone, giving a slight advantage to tho Blues in tlio first spell. Pressing hard in tlio first couple of minutes, the Whites threatened a score, hut Green saved with a powerful kick. Tho Blues then organised a formidablo passing rush, and Fogden sprinting with it, was biought down within a fow yards i- of tho posts. Whites retaliated, taking tho j. hall over the Pctono lino, hut play was again , up tho field, and this timo Fogden took tho ball over. M. Evan uurprised everybody with a a well-ganged kick; Pctbno s—o. In a subi- sequent attack on tho Bluo torritoiy, both 0 Corson and Smyrke (full-back) woio bowled over, but Gicen again did valuablo ;elief t ' service. Tho otlier backs wcro watchful, and, ! " after soma difficulty, tho ball was let out to I- M. Ryan. Tho five-eighth fumbled it; howo over, and Green again took possession, trans--0 forring to J. Ryan, who put on poo' cad soored.V Tho. kick was unsuccessful; Potono, ■» 8-0 ' 5 A powerful kick by Hardltam, commencing ', tho second half, left the, Blues favourably y placed. Green seized tho ball, and, in a twinkling, Fogden was off. Collared within a yard of tho lino, ho passed on to Sullivan, * who scored; Potono 11—0. Old Boys now dc- ' veloped up a combined attack. Thomson i took tho ball well up beforo losing ■ it, and , a second later Dawson ran in easily. Old 1 Boys followed this up with expedition to tho 3 enemy's line, Gilbert eventually taking tho t ball over. Another goal resulted; Petone, 3 11 j Old Boys, 10. Shortly after Hawko j passed to Dawson, whoso paco was too much ■> for the defence' Marchant kicked his third \ goal;-Potono 11, Old Boys 15. This roused tho Blues, and tho tide soon turned. Picot kicked straight across tho field, and Green, ' going at top spsed, got possession and scored; ■ Petone 14, Old Boys 15. Sullivan and Corson . were Tesponsiblo for another score, which [ was obtained only a few seconds later; Petone 17, Old Boys 15. Whites now showed signs of fatigue, and Hardham and J. Ryan nego--1 tiated another try, which was not converted; Petone ,20, Old Boys 15. The last minutes woro exciting, and, just beforo time, Sullivan cleverly collared Thomson and gave tho ball into tho hands of the Petone forwards, whose oombincsL attack resulted in tho concluding scoio. ' i Petone ' 23 points t Old Boys ... 15 points JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP." ,Solwyn"defeated Old Boys by 23 points to 3. Scorers for the winners were:—11. Leeks (2), King, Osborne, Sullivan, Galvin, Slacdonald. Jlacdonald also converted one try. Drake sewed for Old Boys. Selwyn played a fast game; and held together much better than their opponents. ' ' At Miramar Athletic and Melroso were pitted against each other, when Athletic won a fairly fast ganio by 14 points to 5. For the' winners, tries wero scored by M'Lennan, Smyth-Piggott (2), and Rodgers, tho first-named converting one. Melrose's try was secured by Bradley, which was couvortod by, Thompson. | Eia' Ora met Oriental, and ran up the good score of 22 points to nil. Petone beat Southern, on Potono Recreation Ground, by 34 points to nil. Tho scorers were J. Ryan (3 tries), Price (2), M'lienzio (2\ W. Ryan, Miller, and-Daly, one each. Boyd and Prico each converted a try,. ' In tho match' between St. Patrick's Collego Old Boys and St. James, tho latter won by two tries to nil. It was a fast forward gamo. St. James had tho best of tho fiist 'spoil, and during that period secured their tries. 1 / In the latter half, Old Boys attacked, but could not score. Tho latter played 13 men. .Mr. Couder acted as referee. THIRD-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. ' Victoria College had a fairly easy win over Selwyn by ,13 points to' 6. For Selwyn, M'Pheo scored 'a try, and Lowo kicked a penalty goal. • . Tho St. James-Wellington match resulted in a' win for tho former team by. 6 points to nil. R. Cotter and J. M'Grath scored for the winners. . ,A stiff gaino' between Athletic and Karori was played on' Saturday, and was eventually won by 'Athletic,' 3 points,to,;iil. F. Johnson scored.for Athietic, while Dimmock and L. Wikori played good gamos in tho backs, l and Turnbull and W. Wilson 'in the forwards. , - Pollnll defeated Johnsonville by two tries to a, penalty goal. For tho winners, both 'tries were scored by E. Warner, while Stannard put on the goal for Johnsonville. Warner,' at wing-three-quarter, showed, a good turn of speed, but. all tho Polhill backs played well. In the forwards Ryan was/ the most prominent.' ; I, St. Patrick's CoJcgo v. St. John's: This I match lcsulted in a draw' both sides scoring 3 points.,. The gamo proved very even, I but tho Collego foiwards were slightly bot- | tor than their opponents. Tho faulty passing of-the backs (owing to the sb'ppery nature of tho ball) was very noticeablo on both sides. ' Poneke and Exchange drew, each sido ' scoring a try.- ' , ) ' < FOURTH-CLASS. A runaway victory was scored by Athletic over Wellington, tho score being 23' to nil. The following scored for Athletic:—L. Allen Hutcheson, Ward, and B. Smith. Jones convoluted one try. ' St. James won from Poneko by default. ! ', ,> FIFTH CLASS. , Petone 29, v. Wellington College 0, on j College ground. I Epuni 52, v.> Melroso 0, at Lower Hutt. MATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES. (DT TELEQItAPH,—F-RESS ASSOCIATION.) Buncd'n, April 24. Owing to heavy showers the commencement of tho Rugby football season has been s poned for a week. Ghrlstchurch, April 25. Tho opening of tho football season was postponed on account of the wet weather. ASSOCIATION GAMES N » Thd first sets of 'championship matches under the Association /code wore- played on 1 Saturday afternoon, when players rallied round their colours with an enthusiasm which augurs well for tho success of tho season. Tho senior championship bids fair to bo an unusually interesting onb, bothi from the standpoint of tho players and the spectators, Some- excellent form was shown in Saturday's matches, which indicated clearly that most of tho clubs havo been working quietly for som'o timo for tho official raising of tho cuitain. _ i' Tho senior league first division matches resulted as under: — Wanderers 3 goals defeated Thistle nil. Swifts 2 goals defeated St. John's nil. Diamonds 0' goals defeated Petone 2. Ramblers 3 goals defeated Rovers nil. SENIOR FIRST DIVISION. ! , WANDERERS V. THISTLE. ' Vent was givon on Saturday afternoon to , tho keen rivalry between the two Old Country toams, Wanderers and Thistle, which met on , tho Basin Reserve. Tho result was an ex- \ ceptionally interesting gamo, in which both | sides showed excellent form, considering that , the match was tho first ot tho season, and \ both teams had appaiontly been paying more than passing attention to training. Tho ganxi resulted in a win for Wandorcrs by 3 goata to nil, but tho winners did not have thuigs all their own way. The first two goals wore scored early in tho first spell, but from tho time tlio tally stood 2—ml, Thistle livened up, and put in several fine attacks, which i must havo ended in scoros had tho combina- , tion boon a little better. As it was, ! tlio Wauderers' goalkeeper,, was called on to ' stop a fow warm shots, which work ho waa I quito equal to. On their form on Saturday, I Thistlo should be formidable opponents when s thoy have had a couple nioro games together. ' Tlio winnois played nice football, but,.after ] their'fir3t two goals, could not penetrato tlio Thistlo defence again until well on in the second spell. Tho fiist score- for tho Wandorers was obtained by Ash, who grasped tho opportunity afforded by a contro kick by Bradbury. Ash was also responsible for the second goal, which was put through, as the ] result of a well-placed puss from Gwilliam. Tho third goal, recorded in tho second term, ( was tho outcome of a fino piece of work by [ DalzielL who recoived the ball from Cornish ■

and took it right up tho field. Ho sent m ono n shot, which was returned, but. getting tho 0 leather again lie. piloted it under the; bar (1 amidst, applause. Tho defence of tho Thistle a hacks was. sound, and some of their passing a was clover. The centro forward for tho a Wanderers was not as strong as lie might havo'.boen, tho best : of the winning ieam | being Milne, Clapham, Dalziell, Gwilliam, 0 Bradbury, and Ash. Tho last-mentioned u player started well, but as tho game advanced q his .old fault—selfishness—obtruded itself., k Milne, who, is : a recent' arrival from South Africa, -put in some pretty work at half, |j until an injury to his knee compelled him to j rotiro. Mr. H. gators was. referee, f DIAMONDS V. PETONE. Last year's champions journeyed to Fctono, . ivJiero they mot the homo team on a perfcct j ground, and defeated them by 6 goals to 2 Hawkins won. the toss, but, for some reason ' Known .to himself,. cltoso to plav against a r strong " southerly ,wind. ;. In the first minute ' of the game Diamonds ran tho ball down tho t field, and Lowe had no. difficulty. in beating j' tho .suburban goal , guardian. This act was repeated a fow minutes afterwards. Black's ' .runs ..down-the right wing wore Ivory, useful j to his side, ' and tho brothers Reddy and Lowo [• wore .generally , there or 'thereabout when 1 wanted. Taplin did good work on the'outside > . . t for the losers,. as .also .'did.theVoutside'. 'right,; but -tho mainstay of : the team was' Robertson, whose .foot; and ; headwork - .was J- splendid,: and, but for his presence, tho score , would have been much heavier. Neverthei. less,.at' half time Diamonds were o goals up— , S. Iteddy (2) N. Lowe (2), and Black (I). Tho . Black and . Whites did not make tho showing t'hey should have dono .with tlie.windi !■ Taplm, would have had more opportunities ' haa liobeen played on the right in tho second half. .However, Robertson.lobbed a dropping one into tho goal mouth,' and it was bustled through. This gave tho homesters fresh life '. for a short spell, and they lost many chances. : but - the; city men -broke 1 away " ■ again : arid' S. Roddy made ,no -miatako.:' Shortly after-, wards Petone got another go&l,_and givo : and take play: prevailed,till timo.- The losers had moro;-of ,tho ;play than, ,th'e;score;,indicates, and they miglit with, advantage- endeavoui' . to emulate the bustlo .of - tho winners ■ M/. J. 8.. Paton was refereo. RAMBLERS V. ROVERS. : ' As an exhibition of ■ "Soccer" form, the Ramblers v. Rovers mateh : at; Newtown Park ...was disappointing, ■as a whole.': There were some-bright features in the game, however, .' notably the material improvement, ' 'inthe . discipline -of -the' Ramblers, .their, increased efficiency m the principal points of. the gamo, and the. promiso .revealed m thoir. I 'effort to play in .combination.-- These, in view gf. tho fact that no fewer .than six of-their men were ; junior' players last season, are all to the credit of a ;team'which -'several defeats, in , the previous championship contest. , llovers, on tho other hand, showed up. badly. That they were' beaten by' three goals,to.'nil isia- fair''criterion'of their form. All-through, with tho exception of tho right 'forward;, wing, .the■ tactics Vwere poor.The' first/spell-opened >')iritli , :Raml)lers ; :ih;.tlie' aggressive;;'and almost' throughout ; they , ..continued : to press heavily oil ■ their opponents' goal. First blood was drawn by Bradford, whose success was followed up by Ankorvory ' soon afterwards. Rovers then ■ livened up, and playing ; with great dasli but'poor com-' .bination, kept ; the Ramblers -on tho defen;sive;for : a: while; :'The 'latter, -'who; were'"only 1 - sparring, for -.wind, so.'to .speak, then attacked V " strongly, and a .hot skirm'ishin : front of tho Rovers' goal culminated' iiia short - from . Bradford, that, gave ■ Oldnall, iri goal,' absolutely no chance whatever. During tho second spoil RoverS • kept; their opponents • ; strictly on the 1 defensive, and'on - at' least : three-occasions'should'havo'. scored:-. -It' is-a moot, point l , whether one. of /i skirmishes . . about,, the . Ramblers' goal Should hot have resulted in \a score for Rovers, v. M'lean (Ramblers' custodian) fell on tile" ball, and ' was actually, rolled .about. a couplo of inches .over, tho lino with .tho. ball.in-his possession before,;the •■.whistle', .blew. A good deal of . oft-sido play, was noticeable, the ' players I erring.moro in. ignorance than intention,, but- 1 th&-reforoeing in thiV.respect:' was 'and' 1 penalties were frequent. '-i:;;: J j Y.M C A. V, ROVERS ' v aJ 1 '/ S i gamo " as evenly contested, but the ! x.M.C.A;. forwards combiiied, better than tlio opposition, . an'dj thoroughly deserved' : their - i hy.3.goals;to. 1., scored their i 3 goals in tho fust half, J Elford (2) and i A. Mncklin sconng. Tn the second half ' Rovers much, better,'" and - scored a goal, half way through ■ the, spell. ■ From this I on!' thegame ■ was ■ stubbornly - contested,' no i ..other, score.:,resulting,'..and . the .match' elided 1 m favour ot Y..M C A For YMC A. all , the forwards,, played well,. Elford and'- Muckhn: combining.'very well: pnHhe left wing/ - < Baker Irvine, and Hodson, .wero the pick of the . backs. Mr; Newbold . controlled : tho t gamo. ' OTHER OAMES. i St. John's v. Petono, on Maidnicnt's No. 1 1, resulted in .a "draw, after a well-fought ! gamo, the score' 5 being ono. goal each. • j : ■ : YiM.O.A.-Diamonds . <match-. was t by M-C A. by 4 goals to 1, Will,ms c (2); Hughes (I), Grant (1) being - the ' scorers tor-the winners.. 'Geafy'.in"the back's, .? ;and:'Walsh-iii;the forwards,'.were the.bick of '' tho Diamond team. For Y M C.A., Wilkms £ and -Warne .in" the forwards, ; ' and - Wilson and V 'tho-'baoks,; were the best. \ Brooklyn v. St. David's, on Sharpo's 1 ground, l ctojic, resulted- in -a ' i ICaiwarra v. Petone, on Maidment's t grouJid, Pctonc, Avas a win for. Kaiwarra by tnr-eo goals to:tvfo, : -y : '■> ' i I'etone 1, v. Diamonds 2