RUGBY TRY-OUTS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 164, 9 April 1934, Page 6

RUGBY TRY-OUTS

First-of-Season Games Played ATHLETIC’S GOOD FORM rive matches between senior grade teams in Wellington and the Hutt, gave an informal start on Saturday to the Rugby season. The senior competitions will not begin until next Saturday week, therefore the matches played up to then will be in the nature of “gymnasium” games. However, they are already causing considerable interest, as was shown by the fairly large number of spectators at Athletic Park on Saturday, where three of the matches were played. At Athletic Park the Athletic A team beat Poneke by 16 points to 3, Berhampore and Marist drew, nine all, and Athletic B beat Poneke B,' 3-0. At Petone, Eastbourne drew witli Petone 6-6, and at Hutt Recreation Ground, Hutt, 32, beat Oriental, 3. ATHLETIC’S VICTORY Clearly, Better on Day While it would be a mistake to judge Poneke’s game as anything but doubtful as far as the team’s future strength is concerned, Athletic’s victory by 16 points to 3 was instructive in showing that Athl-tic have every opportunity of fielding a greatiy-improved senior A side this season. Although neither club has established at all finally its team for the competition, _the' m'atch was still fairly representative" of the clubs. As might be expected in a first-of-the-season game, play at the beginning was worse than at the end. However, both teams were fit, and played probably as keenly as they were nt the time able to. The game opened strongly but colourlessly arid with not a great deal of team play on either side. It was not until well on in the first half that it improved to any great extent. Then, with Athletic finding some success in back play, Poneke, who' had spent most of their attention on holding up the activities of Athletic’s more vigorous forwards, were forced to open out their movements. Poneke showed good strength in their inside backs, but with that exception they found themselves at a disadvantage in the open game. They did not show nearly as much sparkle as did Athletic s strnight-running backs. The teams were: — Athletic: .Symons; Forbes, Upchurch, Culley: Evans, Thompson; Dykes; Adams, Mollier., Wyath, Jolly, Boyd, Baker, Watson, Gustoferson. Poneke: Hatchard; Smith, Chesterman. Coulton; Cookson, Griffiths; Edwards; Mclver, Quaid, Stone, Ward, Onglev. Hull, Todd, Pringle. Edwards retired injured in the first spell. Griffiths went to half and ft(cK’ny came on to play at centre-threequarter. For Athletic, Tietjens replaced Wyath at half-time and Morgan joined the backs, Dykes leaving. . Thomson scored two of Athletic’s tries and Jolly and Culley one each. Jolly and Simmons each converted a try. For Poneke, Hull scored a try. Mr. A. Morris was referee.

A DRAWN GAME f Marist and Berhampore Marist and Berhampore fielded teams with, only a moderate sprinkling of last season’s senior A players, 'and both, sides made good use of their opportunity of altering by making very extensive changes in the players at half-time. There was no decided superiority over the length of the game, and the final score was flail. . , , Marist were slightly better in the loose. Berhampore’s forwards as a whole played particularly well. The first try, which was Berhampore a, was the result of the best passing movement in the game. Every back handled for Fraser to score. Marist’s backs and forwards combined well, which gave them a try by Ottaway. Macdonald scored two typically good tries for Marist later in the game. For Berhampore, Mason kicked a long penalty goal and Masters scored. IN SCORING MOOD Hutt Run Up the Points The reputation of being a fancied team for the competitions was mote than borne out by the Hutt team iu their decisive tiefeat of Oriental by 32 points to 3 in a club benefit match at the Hutt Recreation Ground. The game was not played on the usual ground in front of the old pavilion, but was held at the southern extremity of the ground. . Although the score indicated a onesided game, such was not altogether the case, and Oriental were not by any means out of the picture. The lack of that extra finish which gains the pointe prevented them from crossing the Hutt line, and in addition they were up against a heavier pack and faster backs. For long periods they would hold Hutt steadily, but it was Hutt’s sudden flashes of the unexpected with a speedy back combination which penetrated their defence. Tlie scorers for Hutt were Nees (3), Hanson (2), Lilburne (2), and Roberts (1). Dilhurne and Wilson each converted two tries. Perrett was the only Oriental player to score. Both teams were surprising fit for the beginning of the. season, and kept the game going at-a quick tempo until the final whistle. Hutt established a definite superiority in hooking bom the scrums, but several of their attacks were spoilt by over-eagerness. Their first .score came within 10 minutes of the kick-off, and two more came within quick succession just before half-time. The second try resulted front a smart piece of work by the half-back, Spencer, in selling the dummy and handing on to Lilburne. Probably the most outstanding figure on the field was Stevenson, Hutt’s übiquitous rover. His uncanny anticipation allowed him to make valuable openings, and his fund of ideas in initiating attacks time and again put Oriental in a dangerous position. If he maintains his criterion of Saturday he will go far ; n this season’s football. Lilburne’s generalsitip was apparent in the sudden movements which tended to catch the other team unaware, but, he has not yet reached his usual form in converting tries, and a number of his attempts scarcely cleared the ground. On the other hand, Ritchie, Oriental’s full-back, showed exactly how line kicking should be done. Ritchie’s value as a full-back cannot be exaggerated. He refuses to be bustled; he always gets in his kick, and practically every one is a winner. Messrs. A. R. Morice and B. Matthews were referees, each taking a spell. The teams were as follow: — Hutt: Jarman. Ball, Hanson, Nees, Killeen. Lilburne. Spencer. Wilton. Coulston, Saulbrey. Peck. Roberts. Barry. Neal. Stevenson. Oriental: Ritchie. Baldwin. A. Ramsay, Coxan, Siddclls. Hallam, Kelly, Grinlington, I. Ramsay, Tasker, Perrett. Fry, Meadows, Orchard, Collinge, Pelvin. Powell, Dunshea. DRAW AT PETONE Game Against Eastbourne Although Petone drew with East bourne in the friendly game at the Petone Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon,

the home team had the better of the play throughout. The game was a try-out of players. Both sides changed their teams considerably at half-time, and play of a hiffh standard was hardly to be expected. Playing against the sun, Petone pressed Eastbourne almost from the kick-off, but following some effective back play which brought Eastbourne within reach of their goal, the visitors were awarded a penalty kick, and Fuller did well to score from it. After the kick-off Eastbourne ivere again down on their own end -until toward the end of the spell, when Bedkober. the last to handle the ball in a ragged Eastbourne movement, went over to plant it where he chose. Fuller missed a mijcii easier kick than the previous one. The score at half-time was: Eastbourne, 6; Petone. 0. Eastbourne had very few opportunities of scoring in the second spell. On the other hand. Petone was nearly always within striking distance, two tries being scored. Neither was converted, and the final score was: Eastbourne, 6; Petone, 6. Mr. J. Wilson was referee. Athletic B Team’s Win By three points (an unconverted try to nil) Athletic B defeated Poneke B. Two 20-minute spells were played. The teams were:— Athletic: Williamson; McKnight. Bigham, Lambert; English, Butland ; Webb, Billish, Webb, Beere, Davis, Berry, Bezzant, Clinnick. Poneke: Martin; R. Jordan, McKay, Smith ; Mutagh, Croft; Frederick ; Howard, McLaughlin, Yates, Dyer, Dunning. Shaw, O’Brien, Kean. Athletic had the best of the first spell exchanges, Poneke being hemmed in in its own half for the greater part of that time. The standard of football was not high, but was quite promising for the opening day of the season. Both backs and forwards threw the ball about well, although combination, which can be expected to develop in the next few weeks, was lacking. The brightest incident in tlie game was initiated by Webb, the Athletic half, who threw the ball out for English to make a fine opening. Butland, Bigham and McKnight handled in tarn for the winger, McKnight, to go over at the corner. Poneke played much better in the second spell, which saw Athletic doing some stout defending. The final score was: Athletic B 3, Poneke B 0. A HARD-FOUGHT GAME. The freshest player in the closing stages of a liurd-i’ought game is the man who wears boots that give the greatest comfort combined with lightness find speed. For this reason leading players wear the “O.B.” (patented) Football Boot. . . . “The studs cannot hurt the feet.” Price 23/6. If not stocked by Sports Depots or Shoe Shops locally, write O'Brien and Co., Ltd., Christchurch, for nearest stockist. —Advt.