CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1223, 4 September 1911, Page 6

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL.

THE RUGBY PREMIERS.

THE ATHLETIC MEN OVERWHELM ORIENTAL,

SPLENDID FORWARD PLAY.

THE TWO INTERPROVINCIAL DISPLAYS.

There wero to be found last week followers of football who correctly predicted that Athletic would defeat Oriental in tho Rugby championship final, but it is safo to say that, to the majority of footballers, tho result of Saturday's match camo as a surprises-more so because of tho substantial margin by which Oriental wore beaten. Right through the week, Oriental wero favourites, and they continued so on Saturday morning. Tho match was to have been played north and south at the Park, but, on account of the high northerly wind which was blowing, it was played on No. 1 ground, cast and west, wliilo St. James and Melrose tried conclusions on the adjoining ground. Though it was not by any means a pleasant day from the spectators' point of new, there wero something liko 0000 people present to see the match. Until Saturday tho Athletic Club had not won tho senior championship since 1891, though they were mnners-up in 1895, 1690, anil 1000. C. Atkinson, who li'ts been acting in tho capacity of referee throughout the season, assisted the Athletic team at half-back, while M'Vay went back to wing-three-quarter, and Madden stood down. In tho Oriental team Perry was missing from the forwards, and M'Keown from the backs. Kinvig was played at full, and Ross, of Auckland, filled a position at five-eighths. With Kinvig away from his usual position, the combination of tho Oriental backs was spoiled, and, after tho first twenty minutes in which the forwards staved off tho Athletic rushes, there was no sting whatever in their attack. Roberts was a long way below his form, and M'Lood had apparently not thoroughly recovered from tho hard knocks which ho received in the match against St. James a fortnight ago. Kinvig was, in fact, the only member of the Oriental roarguard who showed respectable form, while (with the exception of Tyrell and A. Murray) the forwards did not shino conspicuously. It must be said, however, that many a team would liavo fared much worse against such a fine lot of forwards as won the day for Athletic. There was not a single member of that pack who was not thoroughly trained, and it was a rare treat to, see the whole of them going more strongly at tho end than at tho start. A. Wilson—dashing forward as ho is—was not superior to his fellows on Saturday. It was quite an eye-opener to seo tho paco shown by Ready, and tho general usefulness of Lcvick, Bell, Cunningham, and Osborne. It. Murray was oxcellcnt at wing-forward, and Atkinson, brilliant at half, wliilo Evcnson played his usual solid game, and did some wonderful line-kicking iu the second spoil. The gamo was played vigorously, though in good spirit, and the Oriental team wero net only defeated, but overwhelmed by magnificent forwards. The result of tho match is that Athletic win the championship with a point to spare from Oriental, while St. James are,.one further away in third place. ' CHAMPIONSHIP LADDER. The positions of tho various senior teams at the close of the. championship is shown in tho appended table, from whipli it will be seen that the winning team had fewer points scored against it than any other team in tho competition "2 a S 3 £ I i * % 1 • & £ £ iS q ■ £ £ 5 Athletic . IS 11 3 1 IG7 5G 20 Oriental 18 11 4 0 288 80 28 St. .Tames IS 13 4 1 109 G5 27 Poneke 17 11 4 2 171 80 24 Pctono : 17 11 6 0 201 99 22 Southern 17 8 9 0 11G 101 1G Melrose 18 5 12 1 111 140 11 Old Boys ...... 17 2 13 2 7,5 21G G Wellington „ 17 2 13 2 55 216 6 Vic. College _. 17 2 14 1 GO 208 5 BIG CLUB FINAL ATHLETIC TEAM ROMPS HOME. GREAT FORWARD PACK. Oriental won the toss and defended tho western goal. Immediately after tho kiek-olf a well-directed kick by E. M'Doiiald centred play under the Oriental goal, but Kinvig got his sido out of tho aiiliculty. by finding the lino at half-way. Good work by Roberts saw Athletic defending, but Evcnson relieved with a useful kick. An unsuccessful pot at goal by Kiuvig was followed by neat passing 'between Tyrell, Sturrock, and A. Murray, tho last-named being pushed into touch. Farther passing between Power, Sturrock, and Ross elided in the last-named failing to accept. Next Roberts secured from tho scrum, and passed to M'Lcod, thence to Power, whoso pass to M.athcsoli went astray. Athletic forwards, led by Oslwrno and Lcvick, then carried play to the Oriental twenty-five, but before long they wero driven back again, and it was only good defensive work by Evenson that saved a Score. For a brief space play hovered about the half-way Hag, and then the Oriental forwards camo down in closo order with the ball at toe. M'Vay pickcd up, but his kick was charged down by Roberrs, and A. Murray, taking tho ball on the rebound, parsed to Matheson, who fell over at tho corner. Roberts failed with tho kick. Oriental, 3; Athletic, 0. Almost immediately after the drop out Sturrock secured and passed out to Matlicson, who sent a long pass in-field to Tyrell, tho last-named transferring to M'Lcod, who was pushed into touch at tlio corner. From the resulting line-out tho Athletic forwards worked up to halfway, where Power, being penalised for taking a pass off-side, gave Evcnson an opportunity to find the line near tho corner flag. Atkinson secured a clover mark on the line-out, but Evenson's shot at goal was unsuccessful. If Oriental had previously made the pace fast, their opponents wero now attacking with douMo the vim, and preFcntly S. Wilson made a fine dash to get over at tho corner, but failed by a low feet. Another clever mark by Atkinson gavo Kycnson a shot at goal. It proved too difficult, and Kinvig forced. From the drop out Athletic renewed the attack, but. Kinvig saved with a nice line-kick. From the throiv-in K. Murray (Athletic) commenced a grand dribbling rush, from which he scored. Evenson's kick was just outside the posts. Oriental, 3; Athletic, 3. Strenuous play followed, without i"txii advantage ei'tVr way until A. Wilson broke away for Athletic and passed to Tievick, but the ball went astray. Athletic wero now havincr all the best of it. Bell. Osborne, and Cunningham doing ■rood work among the forwards, and Atkinson and Evcnson playing brilliantly in t.l'!- backs. On one ncoision the Blue forwards carried the ball over under tho posts, but Oriental nianagrd to force. Just before half-time Atkinson had a good, but unsuccessful, shot at goal from a free Tho Sccond Spell. It was at onco evident at the start of the sccond s|>cll that (ho Athletic pack would set Oriental a hard row to hoe. Tho kick-off-went into touch, and a scrum was taken in the centre of tho field. Roberts gained possession, but beforo ho had any chance of disposing oi the Kill lie was overturned, and Cunningham broko away with half a do7.cn other Athletic moil supporting. The ball was subsequently handled by R. Murray and Atkinson, tho latter falling just short of tho line. Splcn-

did forward work by Ready, Oslwrno, anj Lovick at tin's stage gave Oriental plenty to do to keep the lino clear. Loviclt passing cleverly behind his back io liven, son, went on to draw the del'c-nce, but tin ruso was detected in time, and Evensoii was capsized almost under tho posts. But the Blues were not to lie denied, and pro. tently Osborno dropped over ill a goofl position, Atkinson easily converting. At-li letic, 8; Oriental, 3 AVitliin two minutes of the drop-out tli® Sail camo wide to 8. Wilson, wlio appear ed to knock-on as ho attempted to picfe up. However, he dribbled the leMh'if over tho line unopposed, and scored q -try, -which Atkinson converted. Athlotia, 13; Oriental, 3. Oriental Down and Done With. By this time it was apparent that n<w thing could save Oriental. Their back) were not working in concert', and their forwards wero hopelessly' beaten, anfl scarcely ever handled the ball. In a loos® rush near the Oriental line, Atkinson ea» dcavourod to gain possession, but wan bumped out. S. Wilson, however, picked, up the ball and crossed the line, but wa® held up by Kinvig, and Oriental forced, Oriental then attacked for a brief space, but concerted action by S. Wilson and 11, Murray brought play'back to mid-field. Heady, who was now leading tho Ath. letic forwards, made a great run from half-way and passed to M'Vay, -who was pushed into touch, lleady und R. Murray headed another rush for tho line, but Murphy chimed in ofi'-sido, and Oriental gained temporary relief with a free-kiclc, Tho Athletic forwards were now eimplr "running all over their opponents,' Ready, Cunningham, Osborne, Bell, and Lcvick being very conspicuous. Oriental being penalised lor "hanging on," liven, son added a goal and the scores then read| Athletic. 1(1; Oriental, 3. From this on. wards Athletic held tho upper hand, though when tho whistle sounded "no. side,' Oriental had moved into the win* ning team's territory. Mr. T. 11. Jones was referee. the "curtain-raiser," WELLINGTON BEAT HOROWEENUA, A display of ragged, debilitated football was tho only reward of those who mads an early visit to the Athletic Park la witness tho annual match between tlia junior representatives of Horowhenua and Wellington, which was played as a cur. tain-raiser to tho final for tho senior championship. Speaking generally, th» game was a poor display from end tu end, neither sido having any itl«a of con. certed action, and' tho individual efforts of noto being few and far between. Tha one player of the thirty who gave any indication of particular merit was Rus. sell, tho nippy little Wellington half, back who did somo sterling work. Thd local men had decidedly the best ,of tho first spell, and- succeeded in put. tin" on six points before half-time was called. Tho first try was scored by Warw ncr about a tea minutes after the starts but the kick at coal failed. From "this stngo up till within a minute of timo chances camo and went repeatedly, but neither s'ido appeared to recognise them. Just beforo the whistle went Whitleynotched Iho second try, getting over from a scramble. No goal resulted. The visitors had a little the best of tho second term, but their idea of scor. ing was crude in tho extreme. By hard slogging methods tho forwards got wilhin striking distance on many occasions, but the finish which brings tries was lacki ing. The third scoro for Wellington was tho result of a brilliant individual effort by Russell. lie got (ho ball from a scrum near tho 25 line, and, after beating several opponents cleverly, got over. Tho gamo ended: Wellington, 9 points; Bono, whenua, niL Mr. J. Russell was referee, ST. JAMES-MELROSE. DREARY AND FEATURELESS DRAW, Six people, two of whom -wero lineumpires, and ono a referee, gavo their utmost individual attention to tho St. James-Melrose match played on _ No. 3 ground on the park. It was fitting that the game should end in a draw, for both teams recked more of the fortunes of tho championship contestants than of their own business. And who blamca them? But that is merely by the way. There wero several new faces in tho St, James fifteen, and the team brought out was a very-ordinary one. A few weeks ago St. James were at' tho liead of tho ladder; on Saturday they lrad a lucky oscape from a beating by a team on a hopeless rung. The Melrose forwards wero at work with a will in the early portion of the gatno and at times their superiority was so pronounced that it seemed that St, James were about to be badly left. How. ever, although they got the -worst of tho contest, they were saved by Melrose's poverty in scoring men. 13. Roberts was mainly responsible for St. James's try. He got the ball, created an opening, and passed to Moffltt, who went over uiitaclcled. E. Roberts converted Melrose's try was socurcd by 11. Marshall after a lot of hot' forward play near St. James's line. W. Marshall con. verted. So n featureless match ended/ St. James, 5: Melrose, 5. REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. TO PLAY AUCKLAND. The Wellington Rugby Union selectors (Messrs. Thomson, Sweeney, and Lynskey) have chosen tho following team to repro. sent Wellington against Auckland at Arhletic Park on Saturday next Full-back, Evcnson (Athletic); three-quarters, Kiuvig (Oriental), Jlitchinson (l'oneke), Grace (Old Boys); five-eighths, ]'. J. Ryan (Victoria College), J. Ryan (Pctono); half, F. Robert's (Oriental); wing, A. Wilson (Athletic) ; forwards, hookers, W. Ready (Athletic), Elliott (I'oncke); lock, D., Sullivan (Melrose); supports, Molfitt (St. James), Perry (Oriental); back row, King (St. James), Bell (Athletic). Emorgenciess M'Farlane (l'etone), Sotheran (Poneke), E. Roberts (St. James), M'Kcnzio (Petone).