SURPRISE DAY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 221, 15 June 1936, Page 11

SURPRISE DAY

Three Leading Rugby Teams Beaten FIRST ROUND ENDS Poneke Now Level With Old Boys HUTT ON FORM Saturday was surprise day in club Rugby in Wellington. Wellington College Old Boys, Athletic and Eastbourne, the three leading teams in the first division of the senior competition, were all beaten. The games concluded the first round. Old Boys fell before Wellington at Prince of Wales Park, the final score being 13-3. Wellington gained a sevenpoint lead by goal-kicking early in the game and Old Boys could not recover this lost ground, the combination of the backs being upset by the loss through injury of B. S. Sadler. Athletic, the second team in the competition, lost 3-12 to Poneke at Athletic Park in a match distinguished by hard forward play. Poneke showed greater enterprise in using scoring chances. E. W. Tindill again did not play for Athletic. Hutt, one of the two bottom teams of the first division, surprised Eastbourne, securing an early lead and never losing it, winning 20-17. J. Fleming, the Eastbourne captain, scored all the points for his side. Petone continued the run of wins it has begun to enjoy, beating Marist Bros. Old Boys 8-6 at Petone. Games were played in warm weather with scarcely any wind and were watched'by good attendances. Wellington College Old Boys lost tbeir lead in the competition, Poneke drawing level, pushing Athletic down to third place and Eastbourne, which led the field up to a fortnight ago, to fourth. The championship table now reads: —

Old Boys Well Beaten. Playing the better football right through the game, Wellington always looked the better team in the game with Wellington College Old Boys, played at Prince of Wales Park. Exploiting to the full the advantage of sun and wind in the first half, Wellington had Old Boys on the defensive practically the whole time, and high kicking often had Old Boys in difficulty Securing the greater share of the ball from the scrums, A.. L. Richardeou gave his backline excellent service, but too much across-ficld running rather spoiled the play. The inside backs were also inclined to hang on too much instead of letting the ball out to tbeir two firstclass wingers. XV. L. Grossweil's dropped goal was a well-judged kick from well out in the centre of the field. There is no doubt but that Old Boys missed the service which B. S. Sadler usually gives them, and his retirement in the first quar. ter of an hour was a severe loss. Wellington turned round with a handy 10-point lead, but Old Boys never looked like equalising, apart from the opportunities that came from penalty kicks, and after the first quarter of an hour it was Wellington which more often than not was attacking. The Old Boys backs failed to impress, G. Reynolds being easily the best. 11. L. Baldwin never looked like making an opening and generally ran across fieid and cramped his supports. G. Leonard showed up nicely and had a hard man to mark in L. 11. Edwards, The latter played well, was ever alert for an opportunity to get away, and was.a hard man to pull down.' J. A. Kelly impressed at centre, and E. F. Ulrich also showed up well. Both full-backs had some awkward situations to face, and both made mis-' takes, though Grossweil's was the better performance. R. Wright did quite well at full-back in taking the place of K. Masters, who has been transferred to Blenheim. Of the forwards, Old Boys used plenty of vigour and energy, but it was never so well directed as Wellington’s. Playing as a combined pack—<l ribbing and following up cleverly and backing up quickly on defence. Wellington were an effective combination and all played their part well. I. Climo, F. H. F. Smith, W. G. McLean and C. I. Carlyon were the best, L. C. Bydder, J. Hewitt and J. Sounness showed up in the Old Boys pack, but they lacked the ability in the loose that their opponents possessed. The game was played at a fast pace throughout, but there were numerous stoppages for minor injuries. The teams College Old Boys: R. Wright; G. Leonard, M. Binning, N. Burns; Il L. Baldwin, G. Reynolds; B. S Sadler; J. R. Lamason (captain), A. Amies, J. Sounnees, C. Claridge, J. Hewitt, J. Reynolds, M. Wright, L. C. Byde Wellington: W. L. Crcsswell; E. F. Ulrich, J. A. Kelly, L. H. Edwards; IL IL Trapp (captain), R. C. seitch; A. L. Richardson; XV. L. Coupland, A. Bell. G. I. Carlyon. F. 11. F. Smith, XV. G. McLean, I. Climo, A. 8. Dimes, D. Stevens. Eastbourne Goes Under to Hutt. I Eastbourne met with its second reverse of the season when the steadily-improving Hutt team scored a well-deserved win at Hutt, by 20 points to 17. A letter line on the riin of play, however, is given in the fact that Hutt scored four tries to Eastbourne’s one. The main factor in Hutt’s success was the rattling play of the forwards, who had the Eastbourne backs bustled all the time. Both in the tight and the loose they were always ou the ball, and from the scrums they had a definite advantage. The pack was strengthened by the inclusion of A. 11. Andrews, a former Canterbury and South Island representative, lie played a line spoiling game, though it was apparent toward the end of the game that he has not yet reached the peak of fitness. Nevertheless he is a valuable acquisition to an already solid pack. M. W Devine and E. Barry were again prominent at the head of the pack, and I. Mclntosh, by a very fine display, played his way into the representative team to meet Taranaki. Eastbourne was without the leadership in the forwards of J. Dellabarca, who is on the injured list. At the forefront of the Eastbourne forward rushes N. Dellabarca, F. Berry, "and C. Waite worked tirelessly against strong odds. With the Hutt forwards getting better support from their rearguard than usual they played on top of the Eastbourne backs continuously. J. Plank was lost at the base of the scrum in the absence through injury of E. Foley, and in consequence the Eastbourne backs were rarely given a chance to show their paces. J. Fleming, who was playing at first five-eighth, was inclined to stand too deep, but when the ball did come into his possession he and D. Plank made several strenuous efforts to break through a stubborn defence. W. Crisp was back with his team

again, but was- forced to leave the field just before half-time with concussion, being replaced by J. Orme. XV. E. Jarman gave another sound display at. full-back for Hutt. The t°ams were: — Hutt: XV. E. Jarman; R. Nees. A. Hansen, G. Phillips; E. Manders. E. Bargisson; G. Zane; E. Francis, D. Potter, J. Saulbrey, M. XV. Devine, E.'Barry, M. Coulstou, I. Mclntosh, A. 11. Andrews. Eastbourne: XV. Crisp; R. Common, N. McMillan, J. Walling: D. Plank. J. Fleming; J. Plank; J. A. Robertson. F. Berry, M. Griffiths, N. Dellabarca, F. Clark, C. Waite, J. Robinson, Guinivcn. Poueko Forwards on the Job. Poneke made the most of every chance against Athletic at Athletic Park, whereas Athletic frittered awny opportunities. Poneke left the game almost totally to the battling forwards, who rose to the occasion in great style in tight play and loose rucks. Led by C. Ongley. G. Pringle, and V. Calcnnai, supported in spasmodic bursts by R. R. Hull, the forwards kept a good bold on the play in every phase except the set scrums. In these Athletic enjoyed a tlirce-to-one advantage, but this was minimised by erratic passing and indifferent handling, for while the backs attempted many passing rushes the ball seldom wentmlong the line without at least one dropped or misdirected pass. In addition, the inside backs did not stand up at all well to the rushes of the opposing forwards, who sometimes almost streamed through the defence, throwing considerable work on to D. Mclntyre, the Athletic full-back, who not only discharged defensive obligations creditably nut also showed enterprise iu taking the ball up field to start the other backs iu attack.

The Poneke backs, by contrast, generally played to their forwards, saving tbeir ma.n effort for sturdy defence, in which more than ordinarily useful service was given by J. L. Griffiths at first fiveeighth and J. Vartan at full-back. G. Wells, L. Edwards, K. Guy, and F. Bowling were prominent among the Athletic forwards, ..bo did not keep together so well nor work so consistently as those of Poneke. G. Wales demonstrated that, for the full use of his great pace and fine sense of opportunism, be requires an open game. The play was rousingly keen at times, especially in the first half, the scores being level at half-time, but Poneke scored another try in the second half and two good penalty gdals were kicked by L. Martyn. The teams were:—■ Poneke: J. Vartan; L. Martyn, A. Upchurch, L. Barrett; G. Reece. J. L. Griffiths; J. Potier; A. Culley, V. Calcnnai, E. O’Brien. C. Pringle. F. Kean, C. Ongley, T. Crichton, R. R. Hull. Athletic: D. Mclntyre; 8. Dickey, d. Forbes, D. Thomson; T. McCauley, R. Karsten; K. Mack; G. Wales, G. Wells, K. Guy, L. Edwards, F. Bowling, J. Wyeth, F. Mollier, M. Cooper. Exciting Game at Petone. The conversion of one of two tries won for Petone the match against Marist Bros. 0.8. Again Marist Bros. 0.8 failed to take advantage of tries, lacking u goal-kicker. Marist Bros, worked hard and kept things lively, though the backs kicked through too much to Pollock, who played a r very sound game as full-back except for some "wandering.” Petone fielded the same back line as the previous week, and has every reason for thinking it a good combination. The experimental inclusion of A, Edwards, a young promoted player, has sharpened up the attack a lot; on Saturday he handled well and was a match for the more experienced W. Langdon. His try was the result of a clever passing rush. At half-back C. O'Halloran played well enough for any representative team. The forwards were vigorous and gave tbeir backs good service, A. Lambourn, M Mitchell and XV. Sundgren leading them in thrust’after thrust that gave the opposing backs little time in which to work. Mitchell improved on last week's performance and his consistent following up was rewarded with life first try for the senior team.

M. Spillane directed operations for Marist, though he had a tendency to go too far with the ball. His try was cleverly perceived and well executed. Though he did not have many oppor lunities, L. McGreevy, on the wing, played a very useful game, and his dash down the line in the last few minutes of the game was the highlight of the match. The forwards worked hard, and shaded the Petone pack at times in the tight. The teams were evenly matched and they were unable to do more than keep the game exciting. The teams were:— Petone: 11. R. Pollock; G. Thomas, C. Hudson. N. McGurk;-A. Edwards, XV. Edwards; C. ©'Halloran; J. Clayton, A. Lambourn. IV. Sundgren; I. Carter, M. Mcßride, R. Abrim. JI. Mitchell, R. Cleland. Marist Bros. O.B.: G. Hewson; L, MeGroovy, E. McGreevy, N. Quinn; IV. Langdon, JI. Spillane; A. Brown; J. Quirk. P. Ottoway, F. Blatch; P. Leahy, J. Ropata. P. Donoghue, P. Stiver, TietJens. THE SECOND DIVISION Championship Table Unchanged

Johnsonville again won in the second division, beating Athletic 19-11 at Athletic Park. As St. Patrick’s College Oh! Boys won by default from United the positions iu the championship table wcr-t unchanged. University won easily from Oriental at Kelburn Park, and Miramar rind Pirates drew at Miramar. The championship table reads: —

Oriental 0 5 2 29 93 2 Johnsonville Maintains Lead. Beating Athletic at Athletic Park, Johnsonville added a seventh to an unbroken series of successes. In the first half unchallenged, in the second Athletic look the offensive and had the better of the scoring. There was little combined back play on either side, it being a loose, open forward game, with little that was brilliant. With the wind, Johnsonville kept constantly iu Athletic territory during the first half. E. Chaney, who opened the scoring, was playing a fast and clever game, but lost his diisb. J, Burns, the half-back, was prominent, and dropped a pretty goal from a loose melee. Shortly afterward. A, Hall, who was always well on the ball, also potted a goal, and, almost immediately, went through the pack and again scored. T. Bowler, too, played well. On the whole, however, the Johnsonville forwards saw relatively little of the ball, but their three-three-two formation, with a loose head, allowed them to smother the Athletic half-back, V. Wilson. When the Athletic bucks obtained the ball, they fumbled it. As at the preceding week-end, Athletic's glime was notable for the fine goal-kick-ing of the big forward, J. Smith. A. 8.-idl.-md, on the wing, was playing well, but had few opportunities to show his speed. It. Pelham was not in his best form. The forwards did fine work, particularly in the second half, when they took the game to the Johnsonville line, mid gave Smith bis two chances of scoring from penalties, both well outside the ‘wenty-five. E. Cleverley, T. Trott and P. Christophers showed to advantage. Had the Athletic backs played as well as they did the week before, this team might have given Johnsonville a setback ; as it was, they took more points from them than has any other team this season. The teams were:—

Johnsonville: JI. Kenny; F. Kelly, E. Chaney, W. Welsh; J. Hallowell, G. Burns; J. Burns; A. Hall, 11. Hunter, A. Craig, A. Kenny, 'J 1 . Bowler, 1). Grant, J. Lee, 11. Trenehard. Athletic: J. F. Parker; A. Badland, R. Pelham, J. Porter; G. Stott, L. Martlew ; V. Wilson; w, Elworthy, D, Pope,

P. Christophers, T. Trott, E. Troy, J Smith, E. Cleverley, L. Archibald.

University Wins Easily

Lack ol finish on the part of the backs was largely responsible for the poor snowing made by Oriental iu its match with University at Kelburn Park. This weakness was fully availed of by University to break up Oriental's attacks. There were a few occasions when Oriental was unlucky not to score, but the University team was the more finished and faster combinatmn. Toward the end of the game it had complete command of the situation, and points followed with almost monotonous regularity, the three-quarter line having a field day. Halfway through the first spell . the University side-row forward, K. Gibbons, had to leave the field with a bad scalp wound. His place was taken by XV. Thurston. Gibbons was subsequently taken away in the ambulance. The teams were:—

University: XX’. Tricklebank; J. Fitzgerald, R. Wild, JI. Ekdahl, P. Reid; P. Simm; G. C. Rae; 11. B. Burke, B. Jackson, G. Wilson, L. Desborough, E. Blacker, IV. Thurston, L. Russell, E. Eade, K. Gibbons.

Oriental: JI. Coxou; L. Wood, 11. Fulford, XVakclin; 11. Syddall, JI. .Murdoch; H. McCann; 8. Searle, L. Humpherson, B. Rankin, D. Sullivan, J. Kemp, S. Sinclair, F. Revell, C. Baynes. Hard Play at Miramar. The match between .Miramar and Pirates, at Miramar, provided, in the first half, a very poor exhibition by both teams. There were innumerable attempts to start passing rushed, but the passes were mostly mere throws into space, and on the few occasions when the pass was anything like accurate the receiver would drop the ball. The fielding was poor, as was the punting. The tackling was generally round the neck, and scores were prevented by the faults of players on the one side more than by the defence of op ponents. The second half, however, was a great improvement, particularly on the part ol Jliramar backs. Their passing improved out of sight. They threw the ball about with abandon even in tffeir own twenty five. The forwards instilled more “gin ger” into their play. Pirates relied more on the sound work in the forwards. The tackling of both teams also changed from high to low, and was sure. Jliramar would probably have won had not a back when his team led 8-5, picked the ball out of the scrum under his own goal. R. Mason made no mistake with the penalty kick One of Miramar’s tries came from a bril liant passing rush from their own twenty five. The teams were:— Jliramar: J. .Mulholland; P. Aldous, fl. Baird, R. Batchel; R. Simonson, J. Greenhall; J. Dawson; G. Blackwell, .1. Puniti, E. Winberg, S. Catchpole, 8 Troy, A. James, J. Young, J Minnock Pirates: R. Alaisey; H. Johnson, G. Honeyfield, D. Thornburn; J. Masters, R Beal; D. Mitchell; P. Donnelly, 11. Mason, C. Johnson, F. Davidson, H. Burkett, F. Kerrigan, F. Bognuda, R. Miller.

WELLINGTON TEAM Match With Taranaki Restricted in his field of choice by the fact that the Wellington Rugby Union has ruled that. ’Wellington College Old Boys and Poneke players, who will bengaged that day in a club match at Athletic Park, were not to -be considered, -Mr Mark Nicholls has chosen the following team to represent Wellington in the first representative match of the season, against Taranaki at Hawcra on June 23 :— Full-back; W, Crisp (Eastbourne). Three-quarters: L. H. Edwards (Wellington), A. Hansen (Hutt), J. Warehatu (St. Patrick’s College Old Boys). Five-eighths: J. Fleming (Eastbourne), 11. R. Pollock (Petone). Half-back: E. W. Tindill (Athletic). Back-row forward: G. Wales (Athletic). , Middle-row: G. Wells (Athletic). K. Guy (Athletic), F. IL F. Smith (Wellington), JI. W. Devine (Hutt), Front-row: P. Leahy (Marist Bros, Old Boys), A. Lambourn (Petone), J. Mclntosh (Hutt). Emergencies: F. Bowling (Athletic) forward, and C. Hudson (Petone) buck. K. O’Connor (St. Patrick’s College Old Boys) will train with the team. IN OTHER CENTRES By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland.—The seventh series ■ of matches in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship competition resulted: Ponsonby 14, beat Technical 11; University 26. beat Training College 13; College Rilles 11, drew with Grafton .11; Grammar 3(1, beat North Shore 13; Otahuhu 10, beat Manukau 3. Christcliurch.—Christchurch 19, beat •Merivale 16; University 9, beat Linwood 6; Albion 10, beat Old Boys 6; Athletic 12, beat Sydenham 6. Dunedin.—ln Saturday's matches, which marked the completion of the first round, the leading team, Southern, suffered its first defeat when it went down to University A in an exciting game at Carisbrook. Results; Varsity A 20, beat Southern 15; Kaikorai 17. beat Dunedin 8; Taieri 24, beat Zingari 11: Pirates 20, beat Alhambra 12; Union 41, beat Varsity B 3. New Plymouth.—Northern Division : Clifton 9. beat Tukapa 3; Star 17, beat New Plymouth Old Boys 10; Stratford Old Boys 13. beat Inglewood 9. Southern Division : Kaponga 9, drew with Opunake 3; Hawera 19. beat Okaiawa 3; Patea 6, beat Athletic 3 ; Waimate 23, beat Eltham 11. REPRESENTATIVE MATCH West Coast Overwhelms Inangahua By Telegraph—Press Association. Greyinouth, June 14. In a representative Rugby match. West Coast overwhelmed Inangahua by 65 to 3, after leading 46-nil at. the interval. DITTMAN SHIELD MATCH By Telegraph—Press Association. Greymouth. June 14. In a Dittman Shield Rugby representative match at Hokitika, Westlaud (holders) defeated South Westland, 13-3. FOOTBALLERS HURT All Black Half-back Injures Shoulder

An injury to his shoulder fe likely fo keep B. S. Sadler, XVeJlington mid New Zealand representative half-back, out of Rugby for .some weeks, lie w.'i.s injured on Saturday in the game between XX’ciliugton College Old Boys mid XV’ellington at Prince of XX'alcs Park, and was given medical attention at Athletic Park. XX’. Crisp, who has been chosen as the Wellington full-back for the match against Taranaki ou June 23, had to leave the field with nu injured leg iu the game between Eastbourne mid Hutt. He was hurt in the groin toward, the end of Inst season, and received a knock on the leg earlier this year, but it is not yet known if his present injury will incapncitate him for long. K. O’Connor, the St. Patrick’s College Old Boys full-back, has been chosen to train with the representative players. Two footballers were taken to hospital on Saturday afternoon by the XX’ellington Free Ambulance. C. Prentice, a soldier on the peruianeut staff at Trcnllmm Military Camp, injured his hip, and had to be brought into town from Trcnthani. G. B. Gibbon, playing in a match at Kelburn Park, received a scalp wound.

Matches. Points. W. L. l> 0 For 7S Ag. 45 Ch. 10 IVgtn. College O.B. .» 2 0 111 10 Athletic 4 2 1 1 1 :<i; Q Eastbourne 4 3 I) 74 SK 8 W ellingtou *4* C * o , ■ • ">9 s Petone .1 w 71 4 Hutt J •> 1 > m 87 1 Marist Bros. O.B. 0 7 n 41 91 0

Matches. Points. w. L. D. For Ag. Ch. Johnsonville 7 0 0 129 28 14 St. Patrick's O.B. <1 1 0 91 28 12 Athletic 4 2 J 120 73 9 University 3 3 1. 7 ’ Miramar J »> — «3 81 6 Pirates 1 4 2 >>«■ 85 4 United 1 6 0 24 114 2