FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 504, 11 May 1909, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION. - FIXTURES FOB SATURDAY. The following oxo tho fixtures, referees, and grounds for Saturday's matches: — Senior.—Wellington v. Victoria College (Petone No. 1), W. O'Connell; Oriental v. Southern (Polo No. 1), J. Weybournes Athletio v. Petone (Athletic Park No. 1), H. Card; Poneke v. Old Boys (Athletic Park No. 2), C. Bell; Melrose v. St. James (Sutt No. 1), W. .Roberts. Junior.—St. James v. Petono (Petone No, 2), R. Fordyce; Selwyn v. Kia.Ora (Hutt No. 2), J. Mahony; Poneke v. Old Boys (Polo No. 2), J. Brown; Athletic v. Oriental (Polo No. 3), A. Neilson; Melrose v. Southern (Polo No. 4), C. Gillespie;. Wellington v. St. Patrick's Old Boys (Easts No. 1), H. Snmmerhayes. Third Class A.—Oriental v. St. James (Easts No. 2), T. H. Jones; Wellington. v. Kia Ora (Newtown Park), L. Simpson; Upper Hutt v. Epuni (Upper. Hutt), H. Johnston; Petone v. Victoria College (Hutt No. 3), E. Tregear; Selwyn, a bye. ' ■ * ' ; Third Class B.—Athletic y. St. Johns (Easts No. 3), A. Hill; Polhill v. Poneke (Easts No. 4), R. Evenson: Johnsonville v Exchange (Johnsonville), G. Butler; Star Boating v. St; Patrick's College (Easts No. 5), H. Larway; Karori, a bye. Fourth Class.—Athletio sv. Polhill (Easts_ No. 6), E. Hutchen; Epuni v. Petone (Melling's Siding), P. Smith; Melrose v. Oriental (Berhampore), J. Slines; Old.Boys v. Wellington (Easts No. 7), W. Church; Poneke v. Karori (Karori), J. Lawronoe; St. James T.Victoria College (Crawford's No. 1), A. Hawthorne;, St. Johns v. Star .Boating (Crawford's No. 2), A. Thomson); Selwyn v. Southern (Crawford's No. 3), E. Carman. ■ . Fifth Class.—Athletio v. St. Patrick's College (Athletio Park, 1.45 p.m.), L. Keys; Melrose v. St, James (Athletio Park, 1.45 p.m.), B. Greenwood; Petono v. Polhill (Petone No. 3), C. P. Brocklebank; Selwyn v. Epuni (Melling's Siding), G. Finlay; Southern, a bye.

Fixtures and referees for to-morrow:—Orien-Oriental v. StKr (Athletic • Park No. 1), W. M'Keiizie; Tramway v. Butchers (Athletio Park No. 2), .W. Hornig. < . WHAT IS A TRY? In the Poneke-Petone match, played at Petone on' Saturday, the referee, Mr. Fred. Laws, gave a decision that many onlookers, objected to.Nand the most moderate imagined peculiar. At the termination of a passing rush by the Poneke backs Neilson, on the wing, secured the ball, and, finding himself without an opponent to dodge, ambled round behind tho goal-posts, and with his back to tho field bounced the ball laughingly on the ground. The ball went forward toward a lino of spectators behind the' goal, and some who doubted that a bounced ball would, count as a'■ try, shouted to him to touch down. He then mfiue after the ball and did so. The ball was about to be : taken out for the kick, when the referee ruled that no try had been scored, and ordered the ball to be kicked off from the twenty-fivo line by the defending side. The decision, which was received with derision by some of the barrackers, was quite a correct one. ■ Mr. .Laws ruled that ' that the bounce was a knockon, and the rule 9 provide that for such a breach behind the; goal-line, the ball must bo kicked into play from the twenty-five line. Neilson, who comes from Christchurch, is said to have stated that the.bounce was considered equivalent to a touchdown try there, but this could hardly be so, as in a rush half-a-dozen placers might bounce the ball behind in their anxiety to get hold of it, but no finality is reached until'it is touched down by a-'palyor of either side or the ball is out of play.