RUGBY GLEANINGS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 228, 23 June 1941, Page 3

RUGBY GLEANINGS

Army-Athletic Match Next Saturday LONG-AWAITED FIXTURE The long-awaited Athletic-Army fixture will be the wain senior first division Rugby attraction, at Athletic Park next Saturday. The result of the game, will have a profound effect on the competition, success being essential to both teams. The curtain-raiser will be provided by Vv ellington and College Old Boys, thus assuring patrons of an entertaining afternoon’s football. The other fixtures are: Hutt v. Air Force, Hutt; Poneke v. Johnsonville, Johnsonville; University v. Eastbourne, Eastbourne; Petone v. Oriental, Petone; Marist Bro?. 0.8. v. St. Patrick’s College 0.8., Anderson Park. . . Leading Scorers.— Kicking two penalty goals, scoring a try and converting two tries, M. Thomas (Athletic) added a further 13 points on Saturday to his season’s tally, which now stands at 85 for nine games, an average of 9.5 a game. Other leading scorers are: J. M. Taylor (Wellington) 44, F. Cassidy (Hutt) 42, F. .Mallett (Petone) 40. T. Dance (St. Patrick’s Old Boys) 36, V. Calcinai (Poneke) 35, Armour (College Old Boys) 32, • Stanaway (Marist Bros. O.B.) 28. Amazing Change.—Up to the point when two Athletic forwards were ordered off in the match against Hutt at Athletic Park on Saturday, the teams appeared evenly matched, with the prospect that Athletic would have to light hard for success. Thereafter, however, the game underwent an amazing change, Athletic completely dominating the play. Such a performance by a depleted side was attributable largely to the splendid manner in which the forwards rose to the occasion. Skipper J. Thurston called for a supreme effort by bis team, and the response must have gratified not only the side, but club supporters. During this hectic period the dribbling rushes of Hammond, Phelps, Bishop and Carradus raked the defence fore and aft, and paved the way for some spectacular tries by the backs. All-in Effort.— A feature of the all-in effort by Athletic was the scoring of a try by R. G. Scott, the Athletic full-back, following a loose forward rush! Scott had moved up in anticipation of his backs jetting under way, and then went with the forwards wheu the ball was kicked toward,the Hutt goal posts. Shortly afterward he fielded a clearing Rick and started a movement which led to Thurston scoring. Scott gave a sound display at full-back. Last season he showed considerable promise as a five-eighth in the senior second division team. He is a son of Mr. J. Scott, who played for Berhampore many years ago before turning to Rugby League, in which code tie represented New Zealand in the days of such noted players as Dufty and K. Ifwerson. Scott, sen., was a dashing forward with a safe pair of hands. Youthful Side. — Hutt seniors contain a big sprinkling of young players, and many of the mistakes made on Saturday were largely due to Jack of experience. There was, for example, a tendency among some of the backs to run across the path of their full-back when the latter was coming up to clear, instead of leaving the field open to him and at the same time doubling back to cove defend. Cassidy led the forwards well, though both he and Stewart, two of the biggest forwards on the ground, were prone to scout at times. Wellington Forwards. — The absence of sueh’a solid rucking forward as P. Harvey has been keenly felt by Wellington in recent games. Light and mobile, the Wellington pack is fully able to hold its own in the loose, but has been beaten in the rucks and scrums. Tt fell to. McLean and McDonald to try to hold the fort on Saturday against the hard-ruck-ing Johnsonville forwards. Without adequate support, the task proved too great. Hunter in Wellington.—The former Canterbury University and Canterbury representative centre three-quarter. A. G. Hunter, who was an outstanding player in the 1939 All Black trials, is now in Wellington, and may be seen out with the Wellington team. Hunter has not played this season, having been stationed at Taupo, hut is keen for a game, and should be a big acquisition to Wellington. He appeared in only one All Black trial in 1939, but gave a brilliant display, scoring two great tries aiid paving the way for others.

Seatoun’s Proud Record.— For the second occasion this season on Saturday the Seatoun and Rongotai College Old Boys club won all its matches . the previous occasion being on May 24 The club has maintained four teams in the Wellington Rugby Union's competitioiw for several seasons, the majority of the players being old boys of Rongotai College, and even with this small representation has performed exceptionally well in the club ehampionship, in which most of the older clubs have live teams and more. The club’s senior team is th- Seatoun Army side, unbeaten and joint-leaders in the senior second division. The third grade first division team leads with an unbeaten record, and iw coached by Mr. J. Fuller, a former senior footballer of the old Selwyn club. The third second division team is also unbeaten and joint lenders in this grade with Porirua. Another former Selwyu club senior in Mr. E. J. McQuade coaches the team. The fourth second division team, which has not been unite so successful is coscbed by Mr. L. Hearfield, a Seatoun club member for many years Prominent among fhe chib's executive officials' are Messrs. A. C. (‘‘Dolph”) Kitto, presidcift, and O. L. Wrigley, secret ary, the latter being the well-known Kilbirnie and Wellington representative cricketer. The club has 60 members with the armed forces.

Lower Grade Results

There were few surprises iu the lower grades on Saturday. Training College and Seatoun Army are the joint leaders of the senior second division. Upper Hutt, the Junior leaders, were held to a draw by Air Force, but have a commanding lead tn this grade. Poueke strengthened their prospects in the junior second division by beating tile next leant Petone Seatoun now leads in the third first division, defeating the unbeaten St. Patrick’s College team on Saturday. Hutt B beat Its nearest challenger in the fourth first division, Wellington. on Saturday, and in the fifth grade Hutt appears assured of success. Results : — Senior Second DKlslon,—Seatoun Army 17, Athletic 3: Miramar 17. Pirates 3; Training College 20. Unslow 3. Junior I.—Petone til. Miramar O; M ellingtou College 0.8. 13, Johnsonville 9; Hutt Arniv 11. Marist Bros. 0; Petone 31, Miramar 0; Oriental 6. University 6; Air Force 3, Upper Hutt S. Junior 2. —Athletic 20, Unslow 12; Hutt G St. Patrick’s 0.8. 0; Poneke 14, Petone c’t Wellington 30, Wellington College 0.8. 0- Taha 20, Eastbourne 3. ’’Third I.—st. Patrick’s 0.8. S, University 3- Petone 8, Training College 3; Seatoun 17 St. Patrick's College 12; Hutt 3. Upper Hutt 0; Wellington College 16, Wellington 6: Silveretream defaulted to Athletic. Third 2. —University 11, St. Patrick’s OB O' Porlrua 36. Wellington B 0: Seatoun 11. Wellington A 0; Plimmerton 12, Oriental 6; Miramar defaulted to Johnsonville; College Old Boys defaulted to Hutt. Fourth t.—Athletic 3. Petone 0; Johnsonvllle 15, Miramar 14; Hutt B 21. Wellington 5: Wellington College 0.8. 11, Onslow 9; Hutt A 9, Oriental 0. Fourth 2.—Seatoun 9, Upper Hutt 3; Eastbourne 20, Institute 0; Poneke 17, Col-

lege Old Boys 3: Marist Bros. 0.8. Wellington 0. Fifth Grade.—Hutt 12, Poneke 3; Perone 12, St. Patrick’s 0.8. 6; Miramar 15, Johnsonville 8: Wellington ‘26 Onslow 0: Eastbourne 8, Athletic 5. Sixth Grade. —Eastbourne 3, Porirua 0; Poneke 7, Athletic 0; Petone 9. Miramar 0; Dutt '2l. Marist 0.8. 0. SILVERSTREAM COLLEGE BEAT ST. BEDE’S (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 22. Silverstream College beat St. Bede’s College 13-6 in the annual Rugby match yesterday. The scores were even 10 minutes from the end of the game, but Silverstream, with a potted goal and a try, made sure of victory. IN OTHER CENTRES (By'Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland.—Papaltura Camp 17, Marist 9; Takapnna 12, Training College 0; Gram mar ‘2l. University C>: Suburbs 15. Technical Old Boys 9. Christchurch.—Air .Force 12, Old Boys 3; Christchurch 11, Athletic 3; Technical 22. New Brighton 14: University 56, Godiey Head 12; Sunnyside 12. Southern 5; Linwood 31. Wigrain 13; Merivalo 19. Albion I'J. Dunedin.—University A 14, Dunedin I‘2; Pirates 13, Union 6; Southern 11, Alhambra 3; Kalkorai 15, Tiileri 6; Ziugarl I'J. I Varsity B O_'