RUGBY GAMES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1103, 17 April 1911, Page 2

RUGBY GAMES.

LOCAL AND VISITING TEAMS.

LIVELY TUSSLES.

PONEKE DEFEATS ALBION.

"The ground beneath and sky overhead" were in (heir natural condition, from a football point of view, for the first time this reason on Saturday afternoon. The turf at the Park was a trifle greasy, but reasonably dry considering the amount of rain that had fallen in the morning. The sky was overcast, the atmosphere mild and pleasant, and there was no wind worth speaking about. About two thousand onlookers assembled to witness the promised contests between local and visiting teams. The curtain-raisers, with which the afternoon opened, were fairly brisk contests, the game between Wellington and Christchurch was somewhat dull, but the match in. which Poneke competed with Christchurch Albion came reasonably up to expectations. PONEKE 13, ALBION 0. In their game with Albion (Christchurch), Poneko kept the early play open and seemed inclined to pursue similar tactics throughout. For the first five minutes play was indecisive in tho Albion territory. At tho end of that time tho visiting forwards broke out with a spirited rush, and carried play to tho opposite end of tho field. Poneke melted away before tho onslaught, and were soon hard, put to it to defend their line. The Albion forwards pressed the attack vigorously for a time, and kept Poneke penned in their own ground. The game had now lost its open character, but Poneke appeared to derive no benefit from the change, and when they eventually broke out ot bonds it was again in open order. About halfway through the spell Poneke were established within easy striking distanco of the Albion line, bnt there was more spirit than skill in tho work of the backs, as they sought to pierce the defence. Partly their efforts were frustrated by their clumsiness and lack of speed. Often a back was to be seen stopping, or almost stopping, as ho took a pass, riio natural result was that usually, by tho timo the ball reached tho wing; tho man who took it was off-side. Now and then a Poneke bock did sprint for the line, but the Albion players proved themselves good tacklers and, as a general tiling, the attacker ended his career buried beneath a pile of opponents. The .Albion forwards reasserted themselves after a while and swept out the invaders, but now the Poneke forwards entered the argument with busy boots and 'carried play back into the visitors' territory again. Poneke were awarded a penalty and Gardener had an ineffectual shot a*t goal. Then, a moment's carelessness cost Albion dear. As the ball returned to play it was bumped in a contending scramble of players towards the corner. No doubt the Albion men thought it had gone out of play, but Morris saw better. Handily placed, he dashed over and scored, with two angry defenders making futile grabs at his legs. Tho shot at goal was difficult, but Walshe obtained the extra points with a splendid kick. Poneke, 5; Albion, 0. The rest of the spell was uneventful. • Tho opening incident in the second spell was a rush by the Albion forwards that carried play right to the Poneke line. A timely mark saved the situation. Afterwards, play swept up and down the field for a lengthy period, both sides working hard, but neither ' developing any very dangerous attack nor obtaining any pronounced advantage. Ponelto at length drove their attack to the Albion line and the visitors had a hard tussle before they broko clear. Afterwards events moved quickly. Tho visiting forwards, attacking 'with vigour, were twice.', wi|:hjn r tin ace of scoring. On the second occasion Poneko had to force. They were little troubled by this reverse, .however. Dogged, sometimes, does it. jind Poneke were very dogged. Presently they lumbered rigam into the field and were contending at half-way on tolerably even terms. Working forward from tbis vantage they mice again threatened the visitors' line. Foiled time and again, they had their reward at last. ' One of the defending backs attempted a saving kick and fniled to get tho ball away. Calcinai instantly seized it and (lushed over to a score. The kick failed. Poneke, 8; Albion. 0. Immediately afterwards. Walsho fielded the ball from a scrum at the twenty-five and got well in towards the goal before he was brought to grass. Gardener took up the running and got safely over. Tilyard obtained the extra points. Poneke, 13; Albion ft. At: this stose many spectators departed and their departure was warranted. The game had been lost and won. • ■ . Mr. F. Spurdlo (Taranaki) was the referee.

WELLINGTON (3) V. CHRISTCHURCH (3). The best thing that could be said of this encounter is that both teams were evenly matched, both as regards the calibre of their players and the standard of their football. What the plajsrs lacked in skill and knowledge they niade up for in keenness. Little or no interest was centred in th? game, for the match on No. 1 ground engrossed the attention of the spectators. Generally speaking, it was a rather poor exhibition of our national pastime. A couplo of tim?s Wellington essayed an organised passing rush, but it was either nullified through defective passing or ended in the man with the. ball being pushed out of bounds. Tho same may be said of the Christchurch attempts. At the beginning of the game AVellington became aggressive, and play centred in tho visitors' territory. Tho home forwards by a series of loose rushes brought the ball to their opponents' lino, and several times a score, sicmed imminent. They found tho defence sound, however, and were repelled as often as they attacked. But they would not b? denied, and ultimately iheir persistence was rewarded by M'Kollar getting over. Lambert's attempt to convert the try failed. Wellington at this stage faded away somewhat, and the visitors with a good rush invaded the home territory. For several minutes they gave the defenders a rather anxious time, and success almost crowned their efforts—one man petting over— but the try was disallowed on account of a forward pass. The tables were now being turned, and tho visitors, by a series of forward rushes, time after time menaced tho home line. From a scrum, in front, of the goal, Christchurch secured tho ball, and out it went—through the hands of the half, five-fighth?. and centre—to W. Barrell, who scored near the corner. Tho try was not converted. When half-time sounded, tho scores were:—Wellington 3, Christchurch 3.

On resuming, operations wore conducted in mid-field, neither side having the advantage*. Tho local men, however, gradually forced their opponents back, and had for several minute slightly the better of the game, but could not increase their score. Through a penalty-kick Christchurch relieved the pressure, and, pushing home the advantage thus offered, carried the ball to the front of the Wellington goal, when what appeared to bo an almost certain score was lost through a bad puss. For a short space some tight work followed in the home twenty-five. A mark in a good position gave a further chanco to Christchurch to increase their score, but the attempt at. Iho goal, (hough good, was ineffective. From this stage to Iho termination of the ganio neither side had the advantage, each alternately attacking aiid defending. Both teams had opportunities to increase their score by getting penalty-kicks, in good positions, but (heir at tempts were futile, duo in a measure to the greasy slate of the ball.

THE CURTAIN-RAISERS. In the game between Christchmch Old Boys nml Nelson Old Boys the former team had the best of tho rubber throughout. Outline (Chrislchiirch) made ii clever feinting run from beyond halfway, eluded all (he opposition 'tacklers, and scored behind tho"posts. Another cood performance was tliht of T. Bain, who slipped through the Nelson defenders in a scramble on the line and secured a well-earned try. On each occasion J. Bain obtained the extra points. Tor Nelson, Richmond kicked a penalty goal. Mr. ,W, Roberts was referee,

SELWYN (11) V. PALMERSTON NORTH (0). Solwyn and a Palmerstnn North team tried conclusions on No. 2 ground, when the visitors were defeated by 11 points to nil. The winners, Sclwyn, were superior in every department of the camp, though they had no easy task in defeating the I'almorston team. For the home team, trios were obtained by Curry, Luke, and Sullivan, Shearer converting one. Mr. H. Larway was referee. THE DEVENISH SHIELD. To-day the Wellington College Old Bovs will compete, with the Christclnirch (Hiph School) Old Boys for the possession of the Devenish Shield. Tho game will lw nlayed at the Athletic Park. Mr. T. li.Jones will act as referee. MATCHES AT NAPIER. (By TeleErapli.-Press Association.) Napier, April 16. Rugby matches on Saturday afternoon resulted as follow:— St. James (Wellington) beat Pirates (Napier) by fi points to 5. Southern (Wellington) beat Old Boys (Napier) by U points to nil. Kai Toa (Palnwrston) beat Old Boys' Third by 9 points to 3. The following will represent tho Wellington. College Old Boys against tho Chnsteiiurch High School Old Boys at the Athletic Park this afternoon:—Wiggins, Pool, Grace, Dawson, Picot, Gilbert, Matthews, Jaeob<cn, Dodd, Fordham, Alexander, Jenkineon, Drake, and Butt.

RUGBY REFEREES,

A SOCIAL GATHERING. Having concluded the labours incidental to their annual torero and general meetins:, visiting and local referees on Saturday evening permitted themselves a little well-earned relaxation. The occasion was a dinner in the New Zcalauder Hotel, at which tho visiting delegates were entertained by the Wellington Referees' Association. Mr. D. M'Kcnzie (chairman of that body) presided. Some enjoyable hours were spent, in which song and story held undisputed sway, ihc carping criticisms that a referee sometimes encounters in pursuing his calling were forgotten, and only tho inspiration of a cheerful reunion was acknowledged. Tho speeches were brief. hack speaker touched, in one way or another, on the true comradeship that obtains anions the men who carry the whistle, and the visiting delegates were cordial in expressing gratitude for the manner in which they had been entertained. Toasts honoured besides "The King" were: "The Visitors," proposed bv Mr. F. A. Laws (Messrs.. W. R6ss and'G. H. Ivatterns responded); "The N.Z.R.F.TJ.," proposed by Mr. Dunkley; "The N.Z.R.A.," proposed by Mr. H. F,. Hiddlestono (Messrs. R. jr. Isaacs nnd J. M Robb responded): "The W.R.F.U., nronosod by Mr. W. H. Nimmo; "The W.R.A.," proiwspd by Mr. Angus Campbell (Messrs.: D. M'TCenzie and L. Sievers responded); and "Tho Press."

NORTHERN UNION GAME.

WANGANUI DEFEATS HAWKE'S BAY. (By Telegram-Press Association.) Napier, April 16. A Northern Union football match was played here on Saturday between Wanganui and Hawke's Bay. the former winning after a close and interesting game by 9 points to 8.