ONE POINT BETWEEN FOUR TEAMS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 254, 24 July 1944, Page 6

ONE POINT BETWEEN FOUR TEAMS

Wellington Rugby Results CONTEST FOR JUBILEE CUP With only two points separating four teams, unusual interest was taken in the continuation of the Wellington Rugby Union’s Jubilee Cup competition on Saturday afternoon. As a result of the day's play, the position was left even more interesting, as now only one point separates the four lending teams. Poneke-Orlental, who were leading with 19 championship points, were beaten by Marist. Brothers’ Old Boys. Army, by defeating Wellington 15-0, regained the lead, and Athletic also moved up a couple of points by outplaying Wellington College Old Boys, 19-0. The position of the four leading teams Is now as follows: —Army, 17; Poueke-Orieutal. 10; Marist Brothers’ Old Boys, 10; Athletic, 16. After the exceptionally wgt week, the day turned out tine, and conditions were ideal for play, though fields were still on the heavy side.

In anticipation of seeing an exciting tussle between Poueko-Oriental amt Marist, a large crowd, who paid £203 nt the gates, assembled at Athletic Park, and were in nowise disappointed. Both tennis lusted tlie fast pace well. Marist started off sensationally with a hot attack, which ended in a try by Stanaway a few minutes from the opening whistle. Some great duels between two hefty packs ensued, and honours were about equal, though the combined team’s forwards hooked the ball from the majority of the scrums. The Poneke-Orleutal forwards also often fed Johns, the half-back, with the ball from the line-outs, and the combined team’s rearguard were seen in many bright passing movements, many of which were spoilt by forward passes. The Mar--Ist backs were also frequently in action, with Fowler and Geary as the live wires. The tackling by both sides, however, was very sound, and it was hard to break through. It was a smart try which Geary scored for Marist iu the first spell, when be intercepted a clearing kick and outpaced the defence to score iu tlie corner. A penaltv goal by Stanaway gave Marist a-9-3 lead at half-time, Poneke-Orlental’s points coming from a penalty goal by Calcinai. With the light southerly breeze behind them, Poneke-Oricntai soon levelled tlie scores in the second spell. A favourable bounce allowed Hoy to 'score a try, and a little later Calcinai landed a penalty goal. Stanaway missed a rare opportunity to regain the lead for Marist when he failed to put over a penalty kick from directly in front of the posts. A brilliant run by Fowler just failed on the line, and Poneke-Orlental then set up a sustained attack for some time, and it looked as, if they must win. Then, in the dying stages, a brilliant bit of play brought victory to the Marist colours. From his own twentyfive, Carroll made a dash, and handed on t.o Geary, who centred to in front of the posts, where Fowler snapped up the ball and dived over for a try, which Stanaway converted: to give Marist a win in a bright and even game, 1-1-9. This was Marist’s sixth win in a row.

Army regained their place nt tlie top of the ladder by beating Wellington at Kilbirnie, 15-0. Morrison's reappearance made a big difference to the Army team, as he scored his usual try, after moving up from full-back to live-eighths, and he also landed two penalty goals. He has now 72 points to his credit in Jubilee Cup games this season. Tries were also scored by Elliott, and George, and it was only sound defence by the Wellington backs which kept' the Army score down to moderate proportions. Wellington had luck when their clever half-back, Church, had to retire with an injury. Athletic carried too many guns for Wellington- College Old Boys at Prince of Wales Park, the margin being 19-0. Athletic showed good team work to lead 10-0 in the first spell. Tries were. scored by Glengarry, Brown, and Ashman, two of which Vanstone improved. The second spell was evenly fought, tlie only score being a penalty goal by Vaustone. Petone showed something like their old form in beating Hutt, 11-5. at. Petone. The Butt team opened sensationally by scoring a try from the kick off. Bayliss intercepting a pass to score between the posts for L. lillgli to convert. This was Hutt's first and last score, however, as for the remainder of the game it was the Petone tsam which called tlie tune. A strong run by Freeman paved the way for a try by Robinson, and a little later Clay stab-kicked through a gap, and followed up fast to score between the posts, Abbott adding tlie extra points. Toward tlie end of the spoil Abbott scored Petone’s third try at tlie end of a loose rush. Though they continued to have territorial advantage in tile second spell. Petnne could not add to tlieir score, ami Hutt also failed to put on any more points. In the Hardhnm Cup competition, Navy retained their four-point lead by boating’ tlie improved Air Force team nt Athletic Park, .9.0. Jeffrey, tlie Navy captain, was in his brightest form at first five-eighths. Trios were scored by McNeil. Martin, and Hoard. The Navy score would have been larger had it not been for sound defensive work by Mallot, the Air Force full-back. In a hard-fought game, at .Tohnsonville, the homo team succeeded in boating’Training College, 7-5. There was little between the teams, and play was fast throughout. Knight scored a try. and Masterton kicked a neat field goal for .Tohnsonville. and a try was scored for Training College, which was converted by Sutherland. Seatonn (Army) played bright Rugby in boating Athletic l’>. 23-9. at the Polo Ground. In all the winners crossed tlie line five times. J. Grigg, the speedy wingtbrceqnartor scored one of those tries and converted four of them. This versatile player has now scored 87 points in Hnrilliani Cup games this season. University wont well to pile up 28 points tn nil against flio wonk No. 2 Port: Depot team, and Eastbourne had a runaway victory. 27-0. against. Miramar. Following arc tlie details: — Jubilee Cup. Army 15 (tries by Elliott, George, and Morrison, and two penalty goals by Morrison), beat Wellington 0. Marist Brotilers’ Old Boys, 14 (trios by Stanaway. Geary and Fowler, one of which was converted ’by Stanaway. who also kicked a penalty goal), beat Poneke-Ori-ental, 9 (a try by Hoy and two penalty goals by Calcinai). Petone 11 (tries by Robinson. Clay, and Abbott, one of which was converted by Abbott), beat Hutt 5 (a try by Bayliss, which was converted by L. Bligh ). Athletic 19 (trios by Glengarry. Brown, Ashman, and Roberts..two of which were converted by Vanstone, who also kicked a penaltv goal), boat Wellington College Old Boys O’. llardlinm Cup. Navy 9 (tries by McNeil. Martin and Board), beat Air Force O. Johnsonville 7 (a try by Knight and a field goal by Masterton) beat Training College 5 (n try by Riddell, which was converted by Sutherland). University 28 (tries by Loveridge three, Te Punga. Girling-liuteher, Ryder, Taylor. and Bnrraclough, two of which were converted by Te Punga and Blakeley), heat No. 2 Port Depot 0. Sentoun (Army) 23 (tries by M. House, A. Walker, t’oady. Ishorwood. and Grigg, four of which were converted by Grigg), boat Atblet ie B 9 (trios bv Fern and Reid, and a penalty goal by Withers). Eastbourne 27 (tries by Girdlestone two, Dcllab.'irca. Probert. Hull, and Hutchen, three of which wore converted by Dt-lla-b.-irr-a. who also landed a penalty goal I. boat Miramar 0. Upper Hutt won bv default from Hutt B. Lower Grade Results. There were no surprises in the lower grades. The respective leaders, are:— Junior, Onslow and Mangaroa; third 1. Hutt. .Marist Bros. 0.8., Training College; third 2. Porirua anil Eastbourne; fourth grade. Hutt aud Petone A: tiTtli .1, Petone; lil’tli 2. Hutt. Saturday's results wer.e:— Junior.—Onslow 2.1. Marist 3: Wellington won from Bu.se Camp by default.; University 19, Onslow (Army) 3; St. Patrick's Old Buys 311, Oriental 0; Navy 3, Karorl Army 21, Athletic 3; Mangaroa 11. W.C.0.8. <); Talta 13. Petone 8. Third I.—Hutt 9. University 8: Oriental 23, Seatonn 0: Wellington 11. PonekL* 0; St. Patrick's College 22, Athletic 3. Third 2. —Eastbourne 14, Pllniniertou 0; University 9. Ttiita I); Jolinsonville 32, Onslow 6; Vprlrtin 31, Wellington A.T.C. .‘1- tipper Hutt 9. Miramar 5; St. Patrick's 0.8. 3. Wellington B 0. Fourth. —iMiramar 37. Eastbourne 3; Hutt 17, Athletic 3; Seatonn 22. Marist 0; Training College 28. St. Patrick’s 0.8. 3; Petone A 21. L’onekc 3: Upper Hutt 3. Wellington ;; Fifth L—Athletic 11. Miramar 3; Petone 7. Hutt 3: I'pper Hutt 5. Wellington 0; M.P..0.U. lic.it Porirua. Fifth 2.---Johnsonville 8. Onslow 0; A.T.C. .'I. Ohiro Buy 0; Hutt 9. l’onekc 0: Petone 3U. Athletic 3.