FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 515, 24 May 1909, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

. SATURDAY'S RUCBY MATCHES. ' PONEKE STILL LEADING. , Most interest in connection with the championship matches on Saturday centred in tho contest between Poneke and Melrose, which eventuated on No. 1 area at the Athletic Park: Dospito the heavy state of thoWf, ' tho onlookers, who must have numbered over 4000, wore treated to tho finest display of "rugger" seen hero so far this season. By ( defeating Melroso, tho l'oneko fifteen rotain ,tho distinction of being'tho only eido which . has "not suffered a loss. Tho result of tho contest will heighten the interest in tho trial of strength between Athletic and Moltoso next Saturday. On tho adjacent area on the Park, Oriental had ,an" easy victory over Wellington. The other games resulted in a , 'victory for St. James over Southern, and for Petone ovor Victoria College Athletic had a bye, owing to the absenco from Wel- ' lington of tho Old Boys' team. , •Following is tho position of tho teams now:— $ ■p ft v • ,01 ' ~ J\J i i i i I ' fl ft ho ' Poneke 5 5 0' - 119 -3 10 Petone 5 i 1 t 98 33 8 Oriental 5 i 1 -*• 88 25 8 St. James ... ,5 3 2 - 46 28 6 Athletic i 3 1 - 53 23 6 Melrose 5 3 2-47 61 6 Wellington ... 5 1 4 — 27 58 2 Victoria Col. ... 5 - i 1 7 10) 1 Southern ... 5 - 4' 1' 13 113 1 Old' Boys ■••*,- 4 - 23 73 0 Those who have been following the fortunes of, the Wellington first, fifteen lately, and hoping that they were improving, mubt have beon a little astonished at the score run up by' Oriental at Athletic Park. The truth seems to be that very few of the Wellington men are in training, and tho heavy going on Saturday found them out. Thero is clso a very weak link somewhere in the-ohain of their backs.' This was evidenced by the r.uin'c her of successful "processions" into their territory, which were headed by Roberts and M'Leod. Plainly some one was missing his ' man, and.missing him often. The one bright feature about tho Yellows was their heeling out. If. their staying powers had been correspondingly good, all would have been well. Most of them could train down another, half stone. As things were, Wilson, Smythe, Tyrrell, and M'Kellar were about their best , forwards, On' the Oriental side, Math«son gave the '"star" performance, bringing off one • of those fine lonehand, long-distance tries which, used to be'common in football ten (ft fifteen years ago, but which are rather rare now. Perry, M'Mahon,, Manning, and Bunckenberg were the leading lights in the van. Manning was brought on to replace Childs, who retired injured in the second spell. The Wellington' captain's action in allowing a fiefth man to ' ' • come on in the second spell was chivalrous. But it did not psy. ' PONEKE (17) V. MELROSE i(0). - "Won by their hacks" is (in - brief) the story of Poneke'e victory over Melroso. Had tho ground been in good order the,defeat of ' Melroso would not have occasioned a great ' deal of surpri&e. As, however, the turf was more suited for .forward flay, in which department Melrose have established a groat reputation, there were many who wore in doubt as to the issue. Indeed, twenty minutes / aftor play had commenced Melrose barrackers might have beon excused if they had inquired: "What about Poneke now?" Spurred on by tho calls of thoir supporters, tho Mol- "■ had 1 made, a number of concerted rushes into the Poneko 'territory, and time upon time a score had teemed imminent. First ltyder had had a shot at goal from within ,easy distance; next C. Murphy had carried the ball right up to the goal-lino; then 'as a result of a capital passing bout Beavis had'narrowly missed scoring; and subsequently Twomey had almost outn itted tho defence by feinting and dodging instead of passing. But how changed was tho scene during tho succeeding twenty minutes 1 ' With the knowledge that they had tho better sot of backs, Poneke now determined ' to mako the game open at all costs. Hitherto their half-hearted attempts in that direction' had been promptly nipped in the bud by the greyhounds in the Melrose pack. When play , gravitated into th'e Melroso 25 it was generally thought that Dewar and Co. would soon clear their borders, but'tho unexpected happened. There was a line-out, followed by a ' ruck. Mentiplay secured the baU and threw it to Walshe, and in turn it was handled by "Flanagan and Mitchinson, the lastnamed paining a try. On the other side ' of- the field, where the movoment had originated the line umpire • was holding up his flag. According to Refereo Weybourne, who claimed to have beon in as - good a position as the line umpire to, seo what had happened, there" was no reason to justify calling back play. To the accompaniment of booing 'on the part of a section of the crowd; Gardener attempted to convert, ' but failed. Several times in succession Poneke now , secured tho ball in the scrnm, and Melroso had an orportunity to display their tackling abilities. Onco tho Poneke rfcar- , guard nearly got through again, but Flanagan held on too long. The Melrose pack were ' then caught napping by Wahhe, who took the oval as ho raced through a gap in a line-'

-.;'■;.' : -,:out;;'and'.gbf.closo , -.tp. the Melfose.line,-From. passed'-to ?£. : to' Mitohinsony j r the ball went to.;Ryan,',who huddled. v.S'.vv putont-to stop him; './■;■;.•/ ■ and.'scored.-fe Mitchirispn made 1 a'feeble , effort :),•;■;, ;! , *.to>majonse;':;"Towards.^the{end; ofvthe;^^spell-. .-.', ■ ;': the, Melrtise i pack 'carried; play .well into the !*' : .'i-y ;: Ppnek'e' , 2s. .where 'they wtre',awarded■: a. free- .;:'./ '■•.:.'•■ kick; :.:R. ,Greeks' found the ball too- heavy for' -• '.vi: '■■■': him, r.altliough 'the kick 'was '. from. ; an , easy ;.: ;*! ■.; vpoEsitipn.X- Again: in the second spell 'Melrose ■'•:.:,.-•.'; v : /.wCTo-fprtfatedmainly.by; tjie. fine'back," play jtheirJoppoiients.;;:Fo-r. close '.on a. qiiaiier. '4:^:4■:: ofianihonr play-was/chieflyiconfined^to^e, : ;.''.", forwards. ;■-The Melrosp pact w *.;;■:'/* .'.ing': their 'accustomed, ''dash;.*, but. : *the;Poneke. . '!■ :■ : fi: vanguard -."seatiedJ to '■ f^el^tte ; : strain- ■: most:' •*■'.'- K :Again,:JWalshe -and- Co; : ;be^an;to: throw*,tho.' v : . y ':Xb'all : ;'al»u i ■"•: •-.-.'.■'.:line ; :was m-danger-/.:':A. eapital rush in,'.WKich :: ,: : .■'; *.-... Til.vard, ; Mitehinsoni aad -Neilson ;; ,: -^* , X./-;.'^t-j^ti';,endcd.-.an- , 'Plaiiiia , Kaii- .being.-.thrown"' '■.;'.:■;.■:■■' :-V biiVrat.' the. corner.flag.-. : . Shortly.'afterwards '■^r-:A. Gardiiier had a.shot-in front of-the,Melrose; '.•.:-.;S; : gpalf/but , ■ he*•■:faile'd to ~Mel-.: ;■,.'?*';?: had a turn-at attacking,\butPoneke: ?;":.';; responded in. fine',,style.-: Tactics* which , ''tho; •o-. : ; : -- : advantageous ':■; '% kicking the greasy ball hijA down : '} : ,v.;J; : .the>.field .and-'.following:'.up-: fast. From a ■■■Xv;':.v--%lo6'se.'-rns|i^Cfardiiier..'beat, several opponents % : f:^an'd;: ; SOTred;--without /assistance. Walsho's vi-v'i" attempt;at,goal 'w.as.good;.but unsuccessful. '-'■f ;vv-^;few. -minutes;later.Melrose loat the ser- .' y, ; who-had ,his elbow .injured. ■' /- '.^^Further.passing.was resorted,to by Ponoko in ;' ; vy'; : "Melros6;..%ntoryVvFrbm/ ; :a /scrum Tilyard side' and registered a /■ /):;./tryi/whiph ! in enhancing, .;//; "Wiihiii;la!:minute : .pr sp:Beaviß was hold to j/-:- ; have committed a breach.of ;the off-sido rule, ■;--lV.:;'>.^ A end;-,Waleh_e.;again-.'Mnt' : th'e' : 'biill over the bar, .'-.-•? v of minutes-j :" : result be- -'..-" ; .Ppheke;" ;,. ■'■■'.' .';.■/■/....> 17 points. ■;: : :':_-V:'^''MelToSe ; :;f-. : V : -:-, : ./V . 1..-Mil' ',:'<:;?:':■ ;.; T For :thp;'victorsi\Wftlshe': ; -and Mitchinson :■'. ■: -...,were tho.jbest among iiho;backs, and Tresizo, -. V.: : : .Shadbolt,- and GardintrZ-weretho pick of the f .:"■;;• forwards.;;.of/the,los-jtslJbacks, C. Murphy - :Vand?Ryder'EaYe.: fine-displays, and of their /; /: V - forwardsDewar,Murphy/and King wero con- :.■'■":■■/-'■. : ;,- .->-.-j v.

ORIENTAL (25) V. WELLINGTON (8). Blotting-papor never obliterated an inkspot more completely • than Oriental dealt with Wellington at Athletic Park. No fewer than 33 points were scored, and—what is'a v*ry remarkable thins —all at a walk. Watching the game one felt, like Archimedes, ready to call «ut, "I have found it"—found how to i play football without training. About twenty spectators watched the proceedings, and those really inoluded seven or eight of the Wellington team. Whilo this considerable fraction of the Yellows were walking about, enjoying tho air, and tho view, tho Roberts troublo ooenrred. Hβ trotted across the line of Wellington backs, and, as nobody interfered

with him, the result was that Sturrock and Kinvig came out unmarked on-the wing, and Kinvig scored. With a beautiful effort Vercoo sont over a goal from near the ouilino, '5—6.' : : Tyrell ' presently increased this to B—o, by following up a centring kick, and falling on the ball as it was carried over the goal lino. All this time a.little knot of Wellington forwards had been working hard, and it now occurred, to thorn-that, unless something was clone:to anest the inarch of tho Oriental backs, the game would end in. n i monumental beating/ Taking "another turn round the capstan," as sailors would say, this little band slowly lifted their opponents into': thoir'. twenty-five, steadily closing up the, game as they went. 'A scrum, as tight as a. wool-press, was eventually formed beside the posts. In this Wilson clovorly picked tho ball up botweek his kncea, and the Yellow pack sent him over by determined pushing. When the pyramid of players which fell on the ball in-goal was sorted out by tho referee,' Wilson was still on it, and Sheridan .convbrted--B—s. This heartened.up the lellows, and some of tho "'passengers'], now joined in the fray very noticeably, with the result that a- good combined attack was presently developed. Out of this, Bridge—a really clever the ball, and, running prettily, : put on Wellington's second and last try. The spell thns ended with lion-', 'ours easy. In the second half- Wellington ■went rapjclly to pieces. The strain, of, .heavy effort had' left its mark on the section of the Wellington forwards who had been genu-, ihely facing the music, and, when they relaxed,' Oriental took charge and' played all over their! .opponents... With "■ 'a' blistering sense of inferiority Wellington watched four tries added by M'Leod, Matheeon,'Sturrock,; and 'Roberts; one of which was converted by Vercoe, thus raising the score to ,22—8. ; A comic misunderstanding brought on Roberts's try. It was a line-out near goal, and no <ine seemed to; know whoso throw-in it was. While thisl> weighty matter, was under consideration, the clever Oriental player tpok .charge of .the unclaimed leather, !and walked in with it. It was all very curious. On the adjacent ground Melrose/and Poneke were straining .for Mastery like: 'Titans, as; if theirs was the one game of the season, and it had to be.played well, while here, thirty men were treating .their.'encounter as-if. it were ionly. a straw in;.the stream:, of .events, and' ;it did not matter particularly how the match was. played. But it is a poor game - which i has,no purple patch, and, in the gathering darkness, Matbeson lit up the proceedings with a very- fine Tuft. Getting the ball,not far, from. ■■ his .twenty-five,; and;.gathering ,way very! fast, he eluded, a couple, of Wcllingtqn players, tnrned swiftly, inside.their fujlbaok, and,' emerging. clear of.:all.opposi:tion?abont: half-way, ran in. between,'the posts./ ,The, Oriental blotting-pad had. now finished with.; the inkspot, and the! game, thus-ended:— .•;',■:'.-, ■ •;'•;'.. ~' ■;'■'.';. Oriental•"--.■■■.■;.■■: •-.,.■ -. .... 25 points. , ; .-..Wellington ;;. ';'».: ■■.■.'.':.■'•/8 points. "' .- . Mr. Geo. Howe controlled the game with veryMittle whistle.';' ■. ■;''': :■■. ''';■;•,

ST. JAMES (B)'V. SOUTHERN'(O).

This matoh, played at Miramarj on a fairly!:good ground, : was most .interesting,' being; quite without those features .which .from the spectators' point of. view make for "a good' game." Neither-.team'was at its. full-'strength, or at the top jof its form, and individual brilliance was riqii-existont. As evidencing what;interest' tho -players, themselves, -took • in 'the 1 "ihatch, -it':■ is only,.right to :;inention: that' Southern went on .to thej field;. with j an'"unlucky.. thirteen,"-and ..one ■•or.-; two -of; the St.. James most; prominent men'.were missing." Tliis is.hardly the spirit that should prevail inteams that.are honest triers for top :hpnours.' The scores: consisted, of fa penalty goal, kicked by Thomas horn, Itho touoh-line, as the result of. accurate .placing and .correct gauging of.'.the-wind;-and a' scrambling'try scored by Clancy, which was converted by Crewe's.. Thomas was , very sound as .full-back.'for St. James; .'and no fault'could be found with t-hoVplace-kiokinjr, .which .was the: solo redeeming, featuro 'in ■that- cJass .of game spectators do their lit'inost; to■ dodge.: ;Mr. F..: Laws was;the re-. fereeV'V-'N.'-" ■•■■:.: ' :;; :■:', v.-.'Vi.- .'■'■ "'■' ''■■''■ ; '-','■'

PETONE (40) V. VICTORIA COLLECE (3J.

of -the .Petono match would indicate. ■:a 'complete walk-over y tut . it 1 ' washardly that. Until' very near : the iend the -Blues' had to play'; up to their * best form ,to ; get honours., .A ■ lighter team ;on the whole, th.ei College boys, made.*a' fence. * but the game proved too strenuous for thenty i'.The Blues, having had'to train sternly to keep their placo on the'list, were ablo to romp about unceasingly, and College had .difficulty in;.keeping 'the pace., The untrained team had, little enthusiasm in the secind. /poll, and it was then that the: superiority of tho Pfitono pack came out -dearly!'. The Blue rearguard - betook themselves to .headlong scampers. downline, field, and scores ■ /became 1 frequent.' On" unfamiliar grourid,'; holding'a ;trifle :of dampness, ■ the Green, forwards-played stubbornly,- biiitheir sorum:■ work, was not attended /with""-much success; ■■ the' half, getting' the-ball through only onco during the match. Although burly enough,: the front-rankers were worked out 'quickly, such unwonted, efforts, took away all-their sting before the second halF was well, §oing. .-■ ■ '• ;.•:..' :;■•••■ i Sullivan was' seen, in splendid tackling; he played. a", bard game, and was constantly in'tho lead of an eager crowd of .forwards. It .'was his-..initiative which 'onabledv Jim -Ryan to. score- in the-first three minutes; Hardhamand Lindsayswere again* prominent, the former' sooririg ; -twice, ■■ and the/latter once.;• W. Ryan got'over three times,' and his -brother Joo. scored and- kicked' a goal, Smyrko' , : kicked' in good style. . In the last minutes, , , when ;40 points r were. -against, .them, the Green skipper' kicked a' penalty goal, ■■, which ; earned for. him. hearty applause. O'Leary, in. the_first spell, very, nearly sent the. ball over with..'a.-pretty'kick. Mr, W. O'Conriell. was referee.- . *';'■-. . -. ;'

;:;;-;\>i,..v ; ■ : ;;"-:-' i JUNIOR/-; i , ; : ..;.;,.;-:. ■:■■-. ■;■■ i ; The Petone-Selwyn match, -which was played/at Hutt No. 2, resulted in a win for the former. by 8 points to nil., ;-' /■ ■ / : 'Kia: Ora beat St. Patrick's College'by'-'-6-points .to inil," at' Hutt No. 3. ■, ..-.' .: ,■ ; .• :' .Wellington defeated": Southern./ at Miramar - East Np., 6 :by.:l7 points (52e- try 'converted) to : 3.(a-penalty,goal). .; ;. ■. ; •'■•".■ ;;■..-. -Oriental- had an. easy, victory over Melrpse by "22: ; 'pbin;fe to'nil.; Maze t3), M'KeoWn Hubbard,' and;-Reed scored tries, Maze and ißingeach converting one.\ : The match' was played at!Mirainar-on Polo-No. 3.; •.'•'■■ '. -.-. ''■-'.Ponefce beat-St. James..by'.s points to' nil, ,at,;Miramar.;Polo, No. 4, ; '.. "'. .-■;*■ •''.'. .'" ■ ■

THIRD GLASS. St. James defeated Solwyn. by 9 points to 3 at lliramar Park No. 1. The- following scored for St. James:—Freeman and W. Orawos oach a try, whilo Crowes kicked a jenalty'goal. For the losers M'Phee scored a try. St, John's played a hard game against Star Boating Club at Miramar Pa'rk No. 4, tho former 'winning by 9 points to 6. Dunn and Fawcett each scored a try, and Lambert kicked a penalty goal for tho winners., Tries for , tho losers were scored by Biower and'Jacobsen. Kia Ora was defeated by Upper Hutt by 14 points' to nil. Tho following scored for tho winners:—Daly, D. Groig, Ward, and Braid. One try wae converted by Goodman. Tho match was played at Uppe-r Hutb. Poteno won by default from Oriental. i . FOURTH GLASS. Molroso defeated Wellington at Berhamporo by 9 points to nil. Tho following scored tries: —Sioffit, Spearman, and Brawloy. Pofono had an easy win over Karori, at Karori No. 1, by 87 points to nil. Tries wcro scored by tho following:—Hill (2), Walsh (2), Martin (2), Kiddor (2), and Po-rkor and Hill potted goals. Two tries were converted by.Moonoy, ono by Walsh, Epnni had ft win over Old Boys by 9 points to 3, at Melliugs Siding. Sclwyn had a draw with St. John's, each side scorins? three points, nt Mirnmar East No. 5. Forrester scored for ; Solwyn, and M'Clay for St. John's—each kicking a penalty goal, i ' iPolhill. drew with Victoria ' College, at: Miramar East No. 2, each side scoring threo .point*.

Southern defeated St. James at Miramar East No. i by 12 points to 4.' Scorers for the winners: Wet herall, Twomey, and Flanagan; Capper kicked a goal from G* mark, For the losors, M'lnerny potted a goal. •■ Oriental defeated Athletic at Miramar East No. 1 by 6 points to 3, after a very hard game. .■■■'../. ■'.;...

-."' FIFTH CLASS. Petono had a very easy win over St. James at Potone 3)Jo. 3, by 51 points to nil. Southern had a draw with Epuni at Mellings-Siding, each side scoring 6 points. M'Giiiro (2) scored for Southern, and Mills (2) for Epuni.

MATCHES IN OTHER CENTRES. \ jo'i TiiiESßirn—niEss association.] Chrlstohurch,-May 22. The secondary,schools tournament for the Dev'enish Shield commenced .at Lancaster Park vthis. afternoon, when Old Boys met Wellington College' Old Boys.' The game ended: Christchufch 11, Wellington 6. Results of senior matches: Albion 6, Linwood nil; Christchurch 11, Canterbury Col 7 lege 3j Ce.avale 6, Sydenham nil; Old Boys, a bye.' ..''. '.- ■■• ,'■ '. ''■ Duncdln, May 22. * The following are the results of to-day's senior matches which were played,in fine weather: Port Chalmers, 12, beat University, 3; Southern, 32, beat Pirates, nil; Alhambra, 6, beat Dunedin, nil; Zingara, 14, beat Kaikorai; nil; Taieri, 3, and Union. 3, drew.. : ' Auckland, May 22. : Tho third'round of the Auckland Rugby Union's district championships was played ■to-day in showery weather and on a sodden ground.- In;the senior grade, City beat Parnellby 14 points to 3, Ponsonby beat , Newby 31 points , to .3, and Grafton ' heat North Shore -by 6 points, to .nil. .; (hi Ti:i.ra!t.\rii--arcci»i, coRRnsroKDEUTI ■.'■'':■. ■■:.V .'•.-' Carterton, May. 22. Senior' football' championship—Carterton llj Masterton 6. The match was played here this afternoon. • ■ '.'',': Third class football 'championship—Red ■Stars (Masterton) defeated Hikurangi i College team by 56 to nil, at Clareville. ' ' ; ■ Junior—Dalefield beat , Featherston Liberals, at Featherston, by 6to 3.. . ~'. ,'- ■■■■■■ : ■ Pongaroa, May 22. . Rakannui, beat Pongaroa , . by 6, points to ■nil to-day. ' , . ■■■■'~'■" \ ■'••• •■