FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 497, 3 May 1909, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S RUGBY MATCHES. DEFEAT OF LAST YEAR'S PREMIERS.' . , About four thousand people assembled on 1 : tho.Athletic Pari? on Saturday, whero two. v ■ ; senior. Rugby 'contests eventuated, Interosted : S.V-:;• ' spectators included; Mr. Campbell, president of tho Now Zealand' Rugby Union, a'ad the nowly-elected Mayor (Dr. Newman)/'!who is also .prcsidont of the Wellington 'Rugby : Union. Much surprise .was felt at tho easy . mnnncr in which Potono. tho : premiors in .1007, dcfeitod Molroso, last year's champions. ,There was not Agre&t deal between.tho teams ;,i' in the first spell, but in tho second half the '' - . .superior condition and combination of tho suburban team began to tell. Play-in tho contest between St. James and Old Boys was ■ I- not of.-such, a high standard. Eventually-the '$W' y j'' f° n ? ( ; r - gained $ij. honours by tho smallest with the various senior ■ gaitlps plsyed .during'tho afternoon. Following ,aro details of the play!— ' ; PETONE (30) BEAT MELROSE (fl). : Although it was on tho cards that Petono j.,v |;';^; : ih]^.:jbeaV'MdhMii> t ''''sti]l no one could liavo ; '£,i£. ..anticipated that the .margin would have been ?■ l i 60 gr6t " ns i Proved to be tho caso.. Condition :*;■ .. : chief factor in securing for tho sub- '.. . . urban'.-team such a handsome victory over •..;. . . last season's premiers. Tho "game had hardly ; • commenced • when tho Molroso forwards com- ;.. polled-Petono 1 to force. Good play on tho part of M. Ryan resulted in play" beirtg re- ..> moved to tho Melrose territory. - A 'kick by ,:i M'Kenaio was followed-up fast by C. "Sullivan, who scored near, tho corner. M. Ryan . ■ : failed to add tho. major points.. For Melv. - ■■ roso Twomey . obtained a mark' in a good ■ v position, but Beavis -missed ; with, the kick. i .Then.followed a successful passing;;. 1 rush. . among. ..tho ..Potono .backs,- Dent,' Green,; . M'Konzio, and: M. Ryan handling in turn. 1 s'J:'! 1 ..! i Ryan didvnot" enhance;the ;s.coro..."Later on ; M'Konzio got across for Petono, but no sooro '. ; i;.irwas.: allowed.:. Molroso now brightened up considerably. - Fogdeu failed to field from -■; ■ a i froe-kick, nnd- Tv P "oir,cy,. who had followed up well, registered a Bmart try. Marchmailt made a poor, attempt to goal. Shortly , !:i ... afterwards,tho spoil endod.with'.;the .score: .-..< Potono, 6; -Melrose 3. ■ Early-in the. seoorid spell Petono lost tho.senrices of Nankivell for . ;, o few minutes. By pushing Corson into touch- 1 • ' 1. •• Twomey prevented -.him from scoring ;■;.- e Petono. • tho ball from the side <* .■ .. '.i ©f a scrum / near tho 'Melrose; line,':-Denton ' • . got across, and Smyrko'converted. . Petono .: . oontiniied to attack,, the result ;being that, Hardham got across and'Smyrke kicked^ah- 1 . ;. other goal. A passing rush, in. which Green, .. i M iienzie, and Fogden took .part, ended in a: . try, which M. Ryan failed to enhance.;'-Mel-; " . .' J oso -59"' began to show some of the dash ronWiicd. 7\Vhen in the T°vr n6 , > Murphy. SMuf<3, 7 "and "passed to J-Murphy, who sent on the ball to Marshall, enabled <Greeks,:to get across. J ie ? VI9 a good but unfruitful attempt >. to convert., Fiom jvonV-on,id-, mattheir own. way,. iAs in .tho'/first i ?P- »; : I v.W!y?Ai^'?s.Vagaiii-conspicuous, for exeeHon^bf^.Hhlssplfty; 1 .Good' defend '•'• ' n as , sl ?S < l! ,l> y' 6oV P ra i.of-the Melrose backs, ; urceks,;. T.woniey; and'.Beavis:' '-Additional scores,wero obtained for Petono by Jlsrdham, •• -.. LmdSay,. and ;M.;. Ry an ,. Smyrko. adding. tho onb .bf--thox trievs,-: .and ho MW'Z Jf 1 : i[;.;Ryan failing in. regard .to.tlie'ofhers. * pen -.tho conclusion-.'of-tho'game'tho score . r Potono 3ft points Melrose, , 6 pomts ■ ■.■ . Mr. T.. Quinn-was the referee. " ■ BT. JAMES (8) BEAT OLD BOYS (0). Playing on No 2 ground at tho Athletic «.--ark,■ ot.'James scored a woll-descrved vic"°ry over Old Boys. Considering their sliow- , . .' n S flgfunsfc Potono ort-.tlie^previons-Satur-dav tho losers did not do as uell as hid been 'xpected. During tho early stages of tRo ;i : IWOrvwhioh wasi -ragiod: at : the second half), Old Boys, led ,JSually%«:Ayorj';l'bfedo a'series-of attacks. : ';"X ot > James then ; took play into their o'bponents territory,_ Dawson made'a 1 fine run, ft-/' ; f:Wnich ■narrowly/mib'ed ■feing.'sliccessfuC ; In- ; ' lercoptingfa pass .iu hiJ 6wn- tWoiity-five, he v sped down the field at a great rate, beating Thomas, the,. St.. James full-back,>but was •: ; Mllared a '.moment later-bv Baumgari. . '. - f t.'James, now,-became dggtesisive,' but' play in front of Old Bovs' goal only led to a force down Towards the end of tho Spell, i>hen play was mostly in. Old Bojs'-territory, tho i'i B baoks tilrGn ' ttlo hall about in great , stylo. On sovoral occasions chances to score r i occurred, but were not availed of. Upon :i;>.:;- e nd 3 hemg ehailged St.: James ,; again' : attacked; Strongly Subsequently for a time Old Bojs .-.aqvaiitage. - From half-way Crowes ''/iVfr. Wsy .ihisp pass ' was ; misSed •and in the resultant: scramble Old Bovs .:. ; . •. forced. \Within .the last .ten'minutes Bruce :;;:'6eored, for;: St.: James :;from:;a':'soramble^hear .: . '; • tho corner. . The, kick, was- entrusted 'to I'. Crewes,. who was.-successful., A" couple of •minutes later-Tyler got'a . try'in the same Joealitj, On this occasion, howevor, Crewos did not succeed m improving npon tho score, • .. although h's.Kick.'was-a/splendid one.'' St ; James wcro ngain attneking 'when tho wlustlo Bounded, the score being— St-. James 8 points. , Old Beys nil. , Mr. Geo. Howo was tho referee ATHLETIC V. SOUTHERN, : • lii viow of. tlio. good 'display 'made bj Atli- ;/; • • ; y;\ ■ letie 'against. Oriental ■ iri.'tho., opeiiihg' championship matches and the other extreme oi ' 'ii'.;.;:' weakness attained by Southern' oh the same . . • day, it was en the cards thv Athlotio's mar- • gm on Saturday would not- bo reckoned , - .. merely, m units.. Xor'.was it, but;thit order. . . .. m play did not. begin at . tho beginning, for : before the ; game had bedn in; progress five . . . '. nramtes L. Campbell had crossed the "Blues' .. . - ime and sent tho ball over -tho Blues' goal, yS-i"-'"p. 118 giving Southern the. first score.' From w tjme ony witlvoccasionaV lapses, ; '. - . . AVilson, and tho tliirtecn other men ; .' n Blu ® alld -White did: most of the playing. i'MSometimes tho Red resisted in a futile man- • :V . :• nor, sometimes they assisted. Ono- of the . ... latter occasions v.T.s aftor. Evonson .and •El- : ;'.• : liott had scored as- the result of brilliant ' w':,'; Z'-i dashes.; A Seiithern man wished to handle the . in the' serum, and the referee wished -Elliott -had vv'-;.;;;;.;' another chance, and took it, 'of increasing the Athletic' lead by. threo. points from a • . penalty goat.- ..Just beforo half-time'Evcnson ~ had.'>/.tiisiUrlsppbrt«jii%,-.iaitd used: it; ; so' that the whistle .for the' spell with tllo sc oros: Athletic. 12; Soufnorn, 5.. ;' ;■' ''- ' In .tho second half of the:'game tho play ... '.waa tho came. A penalty goal by Evcnson • • - came first, followed by a v,'ell-earned try by i tho same player, converted by Kivell'from a . rest, .' and L. Campbell, with, the aid of a Southern i.; ; ''-s forward ,,! rnsh, .again double,"scoring . .. and converting. Other Athletic, scores wore a try by Evonson, who .took advantage of a ' fine opening made ' by "Sim" Wilson, a ... Penalty goal by tho latter, player," and'twotries by "Ranji" Wilson, for ono of which ; ' Murray was largely responsible.- Elliott con- . • • vertod one try.'. The game endedr- ':; Athletic 34 Souther l ; \ jo Mr. Bell refereed. ORIENTAL v. VICTORIA COLLEGE, i It was stated that Oriental would play! the • yiotoria ' Collogo ; team ■. at: Miramar on I S.iturdaj. This is misleading. What nctu- 1 ally happened wiis that Oriental, by a mar- 1 ■ gin of 28 points, defeated fifteen players who wore green, which uniform showed tlicy belonged to: tho snmo team. .'At cortain stages .there was no other indication of tliis fact, 1 Aftor a / littlo preliminary, sparring, during which Grocns even crossed their opponents' , line but were unable to tonch down, Oriental started. . M'Lood .made two attempts to score, and tho second succeeded. .Sturrack and Farr.'then-secured .trios in that ordery • and, after Matheson had thrown away a - chance whicirF. Roberts afforded him, the . spell ended with Oriental nino points to the good. i < : The interval acted as a-rofrosher to Victoria' College, who pressed for a brief period. •-. ;. They, got within ton yurdfl of.thoir opponents' goal-line: and. there stopped) ;ot. ratherMtbre ~ tin von: back. f Roberts then took tliojjamo in .hand, .and . fcWo passing rushes, Roberts-' ■Mathesdn.-- and ■ Roberts-Matheson-JWiaifcOi.

resulted in two tries. The, last rally of the Greohs was when Goodbehore sprinted up the lino in _ his old style, and was only stopped by being pushed into touch. Another Oriental passing bout, Allan-M'Leod-Stur-rock-M'Leod, ended-,in a score, .which was in-' ereascd. by Collerton. -Allan and Matheson ; added two more triesj 'ohe'of which" was'converted by Perry. Tho final scores were— : ' ; Oriental 28 ' I Victoria College 0 Mr. O'Connell wr.s the referee. PONEKS v. WELLINGTON. Lack of incident,truly describes the Petono match, Poncko v. v Wellington; As the score, 23—0, would • indicate,; Wellington wero a 1 defeated team before tho" match had proceeded far. Their backs' were completely outclassed, and tho pack, although powerful, 1 had r.ot tho dash nor tho stamina of the winnors. Nor was their discomfiture lessoned;,by having to face tho sun's rays. Poncko played a hard game, making use of their. valuable' backs to tho fullest extent: Wellington made the pace, and Reed, at full-back," was onco almost coiivieted or tardiness by his Ponoke assmiiates. Mitchinson mado a brilliant run with'the ball, and from this momcnt all eyes wero ; on him. None of the Wellington men woro impelled to special oxertiona, and,. in ( the ranks,;whenever there.was a scoro"to ,ho had, negotiations, were mado by Mitcliinson, ahly backed up by Flanagatj Tilyard, and Walsh. Tho first spore 'ifdS'due to l tho forwards.. Denehy getting over.: i Tho Poneke captain kicked unisuccessfully. . Smart' dodging on'the: part of .Flanagan-, resulted in."/the t only other score of tholttt. spell,, tho end of which left Po-. 'rioke with 6 points. After a ,fearless mark "by Tilyard,. Poneko .followed up promptly, and : took/.possession'.- v Ryan transferred to Mitchinson, ;Who kicked across,, "and the 1 forwards' sorambled overj r 'Hunter, scoring. In a moment or two : Hunter again managed a try, through tho activo co-operation of O'Brien," and... Mitchinson this time; touched the crossbar,'.-/ScoringAimmcdiately after-: .wards himself j points were.' raised to 15, ntngoal Another forward attack;. ~o,'Brien . i 4" ithCi'leadji brought ;.tho leather, Hear ■thoiVWellington . lino. ' Mit chinson dropped a. pass ( and Ryan snapped lip tlio ball, transferring to Walshj whence it returned to Mitchinson's grasp and was taken ■ oyer., '-Walsh kicked. tho only goal ;,of ■■the match :';Pohpko '20,'/ Wellington. 0. .' Flanagan has" thq'ieredib.' of'the final. try. Ho :brought:!ithe .'ball ;half . the length of ■; the. ..field, .-and-rWade .good>.use.'of it again when it had _ passed', thro.ugk itiie . hands of Neilson and Mitthinsoil.'''Mr- , ' ! ir. Francis 1 was <feree. : ' J . - , • JUNIOR J/lATCHES.., . Junior championship, matches were , advanced a stage on Saturday in fine but rather warm weather for- foo.thall,. Excepting .a match at Petono and one; at Hutt, all the games woro played .on the Polo grounds, at : Miramar. •.;. ; ;Tho match! that excited- most interest on the Polo groundr:Was;that played between Wellington .and; Athletic.' ■ Play, all through was ofj an. even character, no score resulting mntil right; on,: ;ti?fie,'!.i.whe)K,£or ' Wel-'-lington ypsvpena)js«lj : ; and .from: tho- cnStiiilg luck ;Dimock bronght "his.side (Athletic) out wrnnors by 8 points to nil. Mr. H 'Card ■Was referee. . i . {Poneke ;ahd Seiithern strovo for supremacy on No. 2 Polo .groM&and a keen' struggle: saw Ponelto_ flmWgeV.viotorrous by .the ;■ small; margin of 5: PDifit'ff&.fS.*. : Mitchinsonj fori Poneke,' steuri3|p^t^sjiie]i.- was "improved uf>on by MorriSj<-and 'for Southern Mitchell wm the .-Martin refereed..; ''Selwyn .and - contested matters: on. No. 1 Polo, ground-, Selwyn winning a very lndiffeVent 'points to nil. . .The'; mnaors'. sco.rb'wMgriade up of tries scored by. King (2), andiFlack .and Waugh one each, JVDonald converting ono. Mr.' L- Sierers' was tho v ■■ .;; ,; tOh' Potone Recreation i Ground, Oriental •woro defeated .-liy. Potono,' 1 35—5. Tho scofers for^the' ! home'.team';were:—J. Rvan (2), Collier (% F Rvan (2) Daly, Byine,' ;aiid,Caimffiff;Hotfsß.( kicKSI a" penalty goal, arid M'3?arlftrio-\aiid.!jvi'Biyaii '©aoh converted two tries.;./; ; j .Kia' ; Qra' beat Old Boys 'ibv ■13 points to nil.» • •• .' ■ ■ "; Pfttriek s i -Cillego Old ■; . Boys -We're successful, in their match ;with-Melrose by •sik pomtS to. three. , For.-the winners, Suih,vnn;seou'rod; a; try,-■;and.:Ryah 'converted from il'penalty. : • ••' ; , , " THIRD-CLASS. Hutt on Saturday . afternoon, .Petone beat -; Selwyn by, eleven joints t6 v ihroel'j: H.' Ijowo, kickod a penalty ;goal for Selwyn.; .'. ~:Epuiiiibeat-Kia.:Ora"-by thirteen points to : three, Ashton, Taylor, and M'Auley scored the, manors, and C. Hayes for the losers. ■ Polhill had a win over Athletic by twelve points to six. J. Carmody, P. Gorge, and E. Wajner (2) -_soored .forPolhill. ..tW. sco . rc{li for 'Athletic.' .'v.,bt; JohisvUftd nn oasy ivin over ExchanEo % ;twenty"rsix : ;'..l>oint3'.: ?itoVnil...: Tries ■- ; wiro sdorod by Dtinn (2), Darby, Elliffo, Fawcett, yAfctlrGW,ittvoor^iwhich -wwe converted by> by Darby/and one by 'tv V game waa fast and .open, : the ,team ,-beaten in all points. ,L. Noedi, oneof St;-Johns; forwards, • had the misfortuno ■ to fracture' a bone in; his foot early in tho second spell. ; St..- James .defeated Victoria College - • by sixteen. points to . three. For tho winners Stringer,: Moffitt, and each scored aitry. ; W. .Crews' converted two tries and kiclcod'a penalty goal. Duncair scored a . try .for the.losers,,-.,v-'-i,■*.• ' i - FOURTH-CLASS. . -Southernj.defeated.:pSoh'e by six points to ml.' Klanimgan arid:Twomey scored for tho winttorS;.: Mr. J. Lawrence was'the referee. ' Selwyn defeated Polhill Gully at Miramar by ume points to nil. The try-getters for Selwyn wero H. L6oks,;.. Stratford: ' and Taylor. : ' v "v ■>..■■■ :;• : : ■ - ,J ? mos ! la . (1 a . runaway victory against' Wellington, - defeating them . by.-twenty-fonr points. to nil. Henderson (3), Brown (2), Arthur, and M'Enirnoy scored tries fori uie victors,: and; Johnston .kicked d.penalty goal.Mr. J,'; Weybourno was;'referee. ; ,i At Miramar, St.; Johns ' scored' eighteen joints .to Poneko's nil. ..Bradley (2V, M'Leay and~Reid.Tscored'-'tfi6s,-''6ne of . whioh : vas oonverted/and-Praui potted a goal. ' -t.; : „• Old' Boys.idefcated;Victoria 'Collego by 'six points,to threo. • ; .; Epuni beat 1 Athletic ' by., twelvo points 'to ml Wit-, tho Lower Hutt. J. Jones. (2), H. England,...and',-A. -Nelson. scored for ihe winners.' ••' " -• •' ' ; .nil;.i.;The.''ifiatch' was played on the : aijd,Mr; A. Moller was referee:- .' «■'' ;' ■■. ■, ■. ' fifth-class. Potono -teat"' Epuni byjsix'. points to nil. Tho';Winriers' score eor.sisted of a try and a ITOhalty'.goal,. ;.; '' "Soutferiv (6), defeated . St. Patrick's Collego .-(3). -.Southern -tries were secured by Coppor~and. M'Guiro... . - ; I; BATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES. -'(a* 'TitEdßiwi—TOEsi AssociAtioi;.) . • ' •' Chrtstchurch, May 1. . • The Canterbury- Rugby Union's competitions, started to-day .' in '-.fine ' weather, i the grounds boirtg in good order. Old Boys (8) beat Sydcnlmm (C).- Chrfstohurch and Albion drew with 8 points each: Can tor bury-College and Linwood drew' with 3 points each. Morivulo had a bye. - - - • -DUnsdin, May 1, , ! Tho.: football season opened to-day in splendid. .weather.'. Dunotlin (22 points) beat UnijveTsity(B):: ; - Southern ; . (36) beat Kaikorai jVlhambra'<(4) -beflt Port Chalmers {nil).. vZingari-Richfnond (3) drew with Taieri Rovers (3). Union (nil) drew with Piratos (ml)/ ' ; Napier, May 1. i The.Hawke's.Bay Rugby Onion opened its .football season ( to-day,>. ;with aseven-a-side tournament, which was ( won by Rovors (Hastings), with Old. Boys (Napier) : ruhners-np, ' Hurry• Sa.rgissdn', ili'mefnbcr. of tho.Rovers team,'Jiad his Jeg lifoken-during the'play. (nr-.TJSLMRAI'n—SI'ECIAf, COHKESPONDBKT.) 'f Palmerston North, May. 1. . "Rugby'-football commenced hero to-day in 1 jiorfect crowd attending. , In tho senior.matches for tho Hawkins Shield defeated Km Toa • ■hsj. tft,:6ji.Qld :Jioys; going, under to Palmer- . stcrn.by:23 to 3.ln.the 01d Boys-Palmerstou took tho field asindividualg,:

whilo tho latter's combination brought forth s °me excellent piny for t-heir side. ■ Despite Jtms drawback, Old Boys held, perhaps, more than their own during tho first spell, but in the second issue failed to check the combined ; ojT°rts of their opponents. The gamo ended 23 to 3. Tho Feilding-Kia Toa gamo was fast front beginning to end, neither sido having much the better of the other, tho gamo ending in tlio satisfactory score of a try and a pot from tho field to 2 tries,: _ Junior Palmcrston 19, Linton 6; Eia Ton 5, United Valley 0. Third Class —Kia Toa 28, Technical School 5; Eoilding 31, High School 3. ; ; . - - For all matches referees wero supplied by the Manawatu Referees' Association, which at the annual meeting elected Mr, O. H. ■Warden president, Mr. E. J. Nash vico-presi-dent, and Mr. 0. H. Cleland secretary.