RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 308, 22 September 1920, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE MOASCAR CUP WON BY •CHRISTCHURCH HIGH -SCHOOL r, . MATCH DECIDED ON FORCE DOWN The final Rushy match In the competition for the Hoaacar Ouu was. playeu at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon be™ 6o ? teams representing the Ohristchurch High (School and the Palmerston' North JUS" School, and the verdict went in favour ot Ohristchurch. though In rather an unsatisfactory way. The came waß played in four Quarter.® of twenty minutes each, out no soore having been mado by either side, the teams played on until a or a score should result, the rules of the ' competition providing that the side first compelling their opponents to force down after the play-off Bhould be adjudged the winners of the match. Within a few -minutes after the play-off, Christchurch drove (he Palmerston boys on to their own line find'a Christchurch player lucked the ball hard. A race between two opposing play-, era ensued, which ended in Palmerston North forcing in what appeared to be dead territory. The referee, Mr. H. MKenzie, of Wairarapa, decided, however, that a force-down in accordance with the rules hid taken plare, and the match ra awarded to Ohristchurch High School. Although the spectators were / at the way in which the game terminated, the universal opinion was that the superior' team had carried off the honours of the day. Unfortunately, the play was spoiled by the heavy state of the ground and the fact that rain fell persistently throughout the gamo, but it is oafo to assert that given a line, dry day, Ohristchurch would have come off victorious. They had,an advantage in weight over Palmerston North, and their backs .handled the ball better than the other side. In the] close work they were decidedly better than Palmerston North, and the forwards, who had the best of the scrums, got round tho hall more quickly than .their opponents. Territorially, Ohristchurch had the best of the tussle, for-they were attacking for three-parts of the time, and were never seriously hard pressed themselves. Considering the wretched conditions, the gamo was fast, although, of necessity, it was confined principally "to the forwards, aa the greasy state of the ball prevented the backs of either sido from pivlng a proper display o£ their abilities. Brophy, the Palmerston North full-back, played a great game, and saved his side on numerous occasions. The match was witnessed by about 1500 spectators, among whom were the Prime Minister (the Eight, Hon.-W.l I '. Jfassey), the Hon.. Dr. Pom arc, Dr. Th acker, Messrs. J A-. Naßh, Ij. M. ißitt, G. Forbes, and S. G. Smith, M.P.'s.. Chrietchurcli kicked o£F from the northern end, and the "Whites attacked strongly, but the Blues changed the venue, and Graham, .Oarlton, and Jacobs rrot moving, but . nothing came of the movement. Much play on the line-out followed, in which the Blues had the best of things. In the second quarter Ohristchurch were placed on the defensive immediately, but the ball came back to half-way. The Blue forwards got into action smartly, but Brophy saved the situation for Palmerston North by kicking to touch. The Whites retired steadily on to-their own line, and the . Blues then got the ball from ai scrum. Page, Carlton, and L:w set going • a passing rush, .but Werren failed to take a delivery, and Palmerston North forced. The Ohristchurch rear division again began to . handle the ball, until Jacobs made a forward pass to IVerren, and Palmerston North were given a free-kick. Leet afterwards broke away and reached half-way, where Brophy once more saved hig side. In the play immediately preceding the interval, Leet did a deal of useful work, and stooped . one Ohristchurch rush in good style. At half-time Dawber went off suffering from a broxen nose, and his place was . taken by- Sncll. After resumption, Ohristchurch attacked hard, and the Whites forced. Tho Blues kept ou attacking until Saywell cleared, and Leet followed up fast into the Chrißtehurch twenty-nve. The Blues made a fast recovery, and all efforts on the part of the Whites'to pierce thsir defence proved unavailing. Gaining the upper hand, the Blues came very close to scoring. The ball was handled by most of the Ohristchurch backs, and was finally kicked nc.ross the Whito line. Werren made a dive for it. but could not secure possession. In the last quarter, Akuira nad a penalty kick at goal, and his longi shot was a very good attempt. Towards the end of the quarter the play became a llttlo more open, but handling of the ijall was out of the question. Just before the whistle blew, Gemmell received a kick over the -left • eye, and: he.- had to; retire, Sinclair, taking his place. No score having Been registered, the teams had to play on in accordance with the rules of the comretition. Within a few minutes the Blues pressed Palmerston North back towarns their line, acrosß which the ball was kicked hard into what Eeemcd .to be dqad territory. A Palmerston North player touched. down, and, as stated above, the referee awarded the fame to Christchurcl.

PRESENTATION OF THE CUI-. After the match, the OhriF.tchurch players lined up outside the grandstand, and Iho cud was presented to Forsyth. Vie captain, by Mr. Massey.- In a. brief speech, the Prime Minister ' congratulated the teams oil the exhibition they had given, and remarked that lie wished there had been two cups to present, for each side deserved one. "You are young now," said Mr. Massey, "but if you play the game of life as cleanly and as earnestly as you have played to-day, then all will be-well." At the instance of Mr. J. A. Nash, M.l'., cheers were given for the winners, Br. Tliacker likewise calling for cheerß for the Palmevston North team. Further cheers were alßo given for the Prime Minister. THE TEAMB ENTEKTAINED. A dinner to the teams was tendered by the New Zealand Kugby Union at the Y.M.G.A. last night. Mr, G. Slade, chairman of the Management Committee of the union, presided, and proposed the toast of the winners, which was replied to by Mr. W. Stewart, manager of the Christchurch team, who said that his boys were not as jubilant 'as they might have been in other circumstances, .for they really looked upon the result of the mutch as a draw. Mr. V, K.' Meredith, of Auckland, proposed the toast of - the Palmerston North team, whose manager, Mr. Colquhoun, responded. Mr. G. Dixon proposed the tojft of Colonel Hulbert and the New Zealand Mouuted iiifle., Brigade, donors of the cup, and to ffls reply was made by Mr. G. Nash. The health of the referee was proposed by Mr. A. C. Kitto. During the evening thanks were tendered to "old boye" of Christchurch Boya' High School residing ,iu Wellington for .having billeted the members of the Chrißtehurch team ourinu their stay in the city.

KUGBY CONTROL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. Tho weekly meeting of tho Management, Committee of tho Wellington Kugby Union was held last evening. Mr. W. lioruig presided. ' Tho referee of the third-grade match, Johnsonvillo v. Upper Hutt, ordered one of the players off for pushing one of tho line umpires and using bad language. This line umpire stated that lie was ac.used by the player of being unrair to the team, and he accused the other line umpire of having a large wager on tho result of the game. The latter atteaded tho meeting and gave .1 flat denial to the j statement. He Baifl lie had never had any ' monetary interest in anv game. The referee in his report stated that he did not see the incident of-, the player pushing iho line umpire as he was v.-atching another phase of the same. The line umpire accused was r.sked if he saw anything of the incident, and he replied that | he waß walking away from ' the goalposts when ho neard the other line umpire say something to the player, who >vas ordered off, and Ijg caw the latter put up both his hands but did not toui-.li the umpire. He heard 110 bad language U6ed. The line umpire who made, the accueation failed to ott-ond tho meeting as requested. It was decided to take .no further action against tho 'player, in view of all the circumstances. It v/as also decided to call upon the line umpire to substantiate his charge against the other umpire or withdraw it. . , The Wellington ?'octban Club was granted the use of Athletic Park lor the iflprh* ing of Jlond.Vv next, and the Combined Banka were aUo ' Hotted a grotind. J. ho Football Association was granted the use of the ground in the afternoon for a representative game. It waß resolved to request the Jiiranuir Club to furnish the names of the thirdclasi players who played in * fourthclass game against St. James's on August 14, and to request those players to attend the meeting cf the committee next week. It was decided to play on Satuiday the team that went south against the team that stayed at home.

Mr. J. A. Chesham's property of 329 acrcs at Dyerville has been taken over by n .syndicate of six returned soldiers at a cost of i£C2 per acre. - At the next show, the llasterton A. and P. Assosfation intends mtrodticinsf t turning competition for riders of both ite.tes—an event which, though a feature of the Ilawke's Bay'shows, has not boon seen in the Wairarapa before. * Seven posts M 5 placed in a Ifr.ie a ccrtain distance apart, mid eacli competitor must gallop from the starting point, make n complete oirole of each post and return at a gallop to the starting point.