RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 9, 6 October 1919, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH

WELLINGTON DEFEAT WANGANUI

c " In n special challenge Ranfurly Shield t match with Wanganui at the 'Athletic '° Park on Saturday afternoon, Welling- '» ton had no difficulty in retaining their '• hold on tho shield, as they were vicu torious by 30 points to 3. iiome interest n attached to tne game in view of Wa- ." nganui's recent sensational defeat of , Taranaki by 5G to 3. On appearances '" tho two teams wero fairly evenly match- '' ed, but in play Wellington were easily ] ~ tho superior combination. Their tackling I was better and the backs had more } finish about their work than the Via- , nganui rearguard. Tho visitors' forwards wcro good, but they were not ~ equal to their . opponents. Wanganui '? possessed some speedy backs, particularly bvenson, who, at five-eighths, easily played tho best game of any on his side. Ho was always in tho thick of the fray and certainly carried himself with distinction. Roberts played excellently for Wellington behind the scrum, and once again showj cd himself to be a born captain. Barker 3 acquitted himself well, and gave frequent evidence of his running powers. 1 j The Wellington players all worked well 2 and certainly deserved their win. The J game was fast and fairly open, but more . spectacular representative matches have . been seen at the Park. A chilly breeze [ blew across the field from tho sonth- ' east, but despite the rain over-night tho j ground was dry and hard. The game, J which was witnessed by about GOOO spectators, was marred by an untoward inoi- ' dent in the closing stages, Elliott, ono of tho Wellington forwards 'being orderI ed off the field on the ground that ho I struck, at an opposing player. I THE PLAY. ; Wellington kicked off against the wind ; and a Wanganui- forward rush to half- • way followed. A strong attack was saved • admirably by Malin finding the line, , and from tho throw-in J. Tilyard started , a movement among the Wellington backs. I Ho passed to Algar, who put in a great run and was not stopped until he was - close to the Wanganui line. Wellington t kept; up tho attack, but were penalised - and the free kick given to Wanganui i afforded tho visitors' relief. The Wanganui forwards were playing very well, ) and they compelled Wellington to retire to their own end, whore some determined I . play took place. AYellington held their i opponents, and Paton led a rush down; I tho line. The backs got the ball and ; i Algar ran, but was soon grassed. Thb : Blacks' kept the ball in their possession, . however, and Barker did 'not have a • great deal of difficulty in. scoring a try. Malin took the kick, but did not niafco ; sufficient allowance for the strength of i tho wind. Wellington, 3; Wanganui, 0. ' Soon, after this, M'Arthur got the ball on the line and transferred to J. Tilyard. Tho Blacks made a great rush and Calcinai dashed over and touched down as two Wanganui players tackled ! him. Malin failed with the kick. WeiI lington, G; Wanganui, 0. Wanganui ; then took a hand at attacking and they . got;right down to the Wellington lino. , Thero they were awarded a penalty luck which was taken, by Head, 'but without success. In the middle of tho Wellingi ton twenty-five Roberts punted to Algar, i who ran and passed to Barker. Tho , latter was tackled, but was not brought 1 down. He was surrounded, though, and i let tho ball go. A forward pass was responsible for Wellington being penal- , ised, however, and following the kick C. ■ Stewart made a. great attempt to get through. Wellington were defending I hard, and a series of short passing rushes ' on tho part of the visiting 'back* made i. things rather uncomfortable for the homo > team.' Algar' did good work, however, and saved his side on several occasions, ' Phillipson tried to take tho ball on tho . full, but failed, and J. Tilyard picked up and kicked to touch. Wanganui backs afterwards set up a nice passing rush following a scrummage at half- . way, but a faulty pass by Svenson spoiled ! the movement. Wellington then took I charge, Roberts having opened up tho ; play, and a sweeping forward rush ended : in S. Shearer touching down. Malin converted with a fine goal. Wellington, ! 11; Wanganui, 0. Very few minutes had elapsed before Wellington had 'scored ; again. From loose play in the Wanganui ; twenty-five, Algar gathered up and mado ■ off. When being hemmed in ho passed to Barker, who sailed across the line and | scored. S. Shearer took the kick and placed tho ball between the'uprights in excellent, style. Wellington-, 1G; Wanganui, 0. Once again Wellington were on the defensive and things looked very serious' for them. The Blacks got tho ball from a scrum' on the line, however, and worked their way clear. Algar tried to centre, but the ball went high and was oarried'baok by the wind. Wanganui swarmed underneath it, but J. Tilyard was haudy and he forced in the nick of time. Wanganui kept up thek attack and there were many exciting incidents. At length, the ball was kicked down the line, but Head beat M'Artnur for it. • Suddenly the Wellington forwards broke away and penetrated thd Wanganui territory. On two successive occasions Barker picked up and mado for the Wanganui lino and each time ho was pushed out of bounds just as he was about to cross over. Wanganui wero attacking when half-time sounded, Palmer having cleared after a throw-in close to the Blue corner. Wanganui attacked strongly after tho second spell opened, but the Wellington defence proved sound. Phillipson had a shot at goal from a mark, but tho ball dropped short. Svenson was playing a great game for Wanganui, and he was to tho fore on every occasion. Packer very nearly got over after a stern struggle in front of the Wellington goal, but Roberts kicked' into midfield and relieved the tension. Wanganui were then put on their defence, and Paton essayed to force his way through a solid phalanx of opposing players, but without avail. Calowoi then took a mark and S. Shearer had a shot, but the ball went iust, outside tho poets. A Wanganui msh followed, but the Wellington forwards got down to it and broke it up. Tho Blues were not to be denied, however, and in a second attack which followed 6wiftly on the first B. Stewart created an opening and Svenson scored. Head had no luck with the kick. Wellington, 1G; Wanganui, 3. The Blacks set up a hot attack after the drop out, and when in front of the Wanganui goal F. Tilyard (who had taken the place of Corner) made a long pass to S. Shearer, who got over. Shearer took tho kick himself, but did not convert. Wellington, 19! Wanganui. 3. Wellington got the ball from a scrum in tho Waiuranui twentylive and Roberta passed to M/Arthur. Tho latter was evidently not expecting it, and some seconds were lost before he got away. However, he received the hall and passed to Algar, but there was no result. Shortly after this Wanganui : opened an attack, and In tho course of : tho play, which was somewhat "willing," ' F.lliott .was ordored off the field on a charge of striking at an opposing player. In the filial part of the game Barker nut in a great run down the line and touched down.at tho corner, but no try was allowed as ho ran out of bounds. i From some loose work in the Blue twenty-five Calcinai picked up and scored ' an easy try behind the posts, ,T. Shearer : added tho major points. Wellington, 24; Wanganui, 3. Several scrums followed on the Wanganui line and Wellington , had hard luck in not scoring, but shortlv before time J. Tilyard notched a try c after another scrum in front of the Wa- " ngamil goal. M'Arthur took tho kick, )' but did not convert. Wellington, 27; ! Wanganui, 3. The Blues got into AYol- ' lington territory, but Barker received tho n ball and dashed up field. ' When within s striking distance he was grassed, but J. n Shearer was following up fast, and ' he l picked up and crossed over. Algar did ,( not convert. Wellington, 30: Wanganui, r 3. There was no further score before j> "ii<i side" was blown. Captain A, E.- \ Neilsnn was reforec, ,

PETONE (19) V. HUTT (0). There was a moderate attendance of tho public at. the Public Recreation (iround when the Unit and Pctone senior fifteens played a benefit' mutch, the proceeds of which nre lo bo devoted I" tho Pctone War .Memorial Ennd. Hutt won tho toss and elected to play against the wind. The Petoue forwards, following up well, soon had Hutt defending. Play up and down the field onsued, neither side' gaining the advantage. A passing rush initiated among tho Pctone backs in the Hutt twontv-fivo was spoiled by forward play. Pet-one

Dressed mutters, and had hard luck in not scoring; several times. Shortly afterwards Petono were awarded a penalty, and Ambler registered a good goal. Petone. 3; Hutt, 0. The Unit pack, not to be denied, carried all before them, and a try would have boon the outcome had not Ambler saved with a splendid line-kick. Later, Jt. Xicholls (Petone) made a good but unsuccessful attempt at potting a goal. Shortly before half-time Smilw (petone), following up well, scored a good try. Ambler added the major noints. Petope, S; Hutt, 0. In the second spell Petone had mattens practically all their own way, and shortly after tho recommencement Lov'o scored. No goal resulted. Petone, 11; Hutt. 0. At this stage of tho game the play was becoming very willing, both teams trying hard to score. M. Nicholls (Petone), with a fine piece of individual play, made an open'ng, and B. Thomas scored. Ambler was entrusted with the kick,- and he made no mistake. Petone, 16; Hutt, 0. Shortly before the call of time Bowers scored for Petone. Ambler failed with tho kick. At the call of "no-side" Petono were pressing, the final 6coro being: Petone. 19; Hutt, 0. Mr. J. Smart was referee. . SENIOR CADETS' MATCH. ' In a "curtain-raiser" to tho represcri< tative match at the Athletic Park on Saturday, 21st- Company Senior Cadets defeated 39th/40th Company by 20 points to 3. The match was the semi-final-of *ho Senior Cadet Rugby tournament. Tties for the winners were scored by Budge, Ward, Bromley, Butland. . Bromley and M'Farlane converted ono try ' each and Davey kicked a goal from tho field. L. Warwick scored a try for 3!lth/Joth Company. Other games iu the Senior Cadet tour- • nament resulted as follow: St. Patrick's College beat the 36th Company, Petone, >C 10 to nil; 21st Company (St. Anne's) beat 39th/40th Company (Wclliiif.ton South) at the Athletic Park by lfi to 3. Next. Saturday St. Patrick's College will play 21st Company. 'SHIPPING COMPANIES' MATCH, > UNION COMPANY v. COMBINED OFFICES. The Rugby match between the Union Company and file Combined Shipping Companies, which, prior to the war was an annual fixture, was played at Sentoun on' Saturday before a good attendance of shipping people. The Combined team won by a big margin (34 points to fi). Luck was with the winners all through the match. For the Combined team tries were registered bv Austin (31, Binnie (3), M'Lsodr and Porter. C. Tilyard and Austin each converted two of the triesand Gully converted one. Tire Union Company's points were made up of a try by Williamson and a penally goal kicked by M'Gill. Mr. H. Patxra was referee. As a result of their win the Combined Offices hold the shield for tho year. Up to date, eight matches have been played for this trophy and the Combined have won five and the Union Company three.