RUGBY.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 14, 17 July 1905, Page 2

RUGBY.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. The senior championship matches were resumed on Saturday under most favourable weather conditions. There was hardly _a breath of wind, and the grounds Mere in good order. Old Boys followed lip their fine exhibition against the champion Eefcone team by defeating the next highest' team, on the list— Oriental — by 6 to nil. Victoria College at last secured a win by defeating Poneke by 9 to 5. The Melrose v. Southern game resulted in a win for Southern by 6to 3. Petone defeated Athletic by 24 to 3. OLD BOYS v. ORIENTAL. The Oriental team had to suffer another defeat on Saturday, this time at the hands and feet of Old Boys. Early in the game an Oriental forward was ordered off the field on the ground of having deliberately struck an opponent, and this probably affected 'the final score of the game. Old Boys did not have their strongest team in the field, both Watkins « nd Alex " ander being absentees. The preliminary skirmish which ensued as soon as the ball was set in motion saw the beam tip in favour of Oriental, who, with the aid of BaskeviUe, Wells, Collerjton, and Gillespie, carried the leather to Old Boys twenty-fives. Oriental attacked strongly, and one especially strong rush was nicely stopped by Dawson. The Old Boys forwards forced their opponents into neutral territory aeveral times, but serviceable line kicking drovo them back. Cleary, Oriental half-back, initiated a fine passing rush, the ball going through several hands to the wing threequarter — M'lntyre —who was grassed within a. few feet of the line. A similar fate overtook Highei a couple of minutes later, Dawson tackling him nicely on the line. A miskick by J. P. Blacklock, who sent the ball over nis own goal line, brought further trouble to Old Boys, a try only being saved through a knock on by an Oriental forward. At length Old Boys got seriously to work, and Orientals were, kept busily defending. The attacking party were awarded a free kick in front of tho posts, and J. P. Blacklock piloted the ball, between the sticks. Old Boys 3 Oriental 0. Tb was during the play lead,ing up to this free kick that Orientals lost one of their forwards, who was ordered off the field. The Old Boys were having considerably the beat of the play now t and they crossed the line at last; the ball being set going amongst the backs with tho r.esult that Dawson ecored after a-,cleve.r dash. The kick at goal- failed. Another fine chance came in the way of Old Boys, but it was thrown away by Dawson, who gave a bad pass to his •mng. The score at hidf-timo was Old j Boys 6, Oriental 0. No addition was made to the score in the second spell, although both sides missed several opportunities. Taken right through, the second term was in favour of Oriental, and it was during the skirmishes close to the line that the loss of the man ordered off was felt. Dodd was easily the- best of the Old Boys scrummers. Jordan and Avery also showed up well. Blacklock Bros, and Daweon were the pick of the backs. Manning, Collerton, and Gillespie, forwards, and Cleary, Highet, and Bush, backs, were the most prominent of the Oriental team. Mr. D. M'Kenzic- caried tho whistle. ! VICTORIA COLLEGE VICTORIOUS. The Victoria College team, which has had an uphill fight efrer since it entered tho lists for tho senior championship at the beginning of the season, secured an. unexpected but well-merited win from Poneke on Saturday. The University team played a good game, but Po-neko were a long way^ below their best form. The game had not been in progress long before Poneko scored, Hodgson getting over in a good position. The scorer took the kick, and converted. Victoria replied with a sustained attack, which ended in Hunter eluding the Poneke backs and crossing the line. The kick at goal was a failurt. The College team continued to press, and Poneko were compelled to seek relief by forcing down, but no further score happened along before half time. In the second spell the Victoria 'College men added two more tries, neither of which were converted, rft'be- first was obtained by Goulding, and the second by King. The final try was a fine piece of work, the scorer taking a difficult one-handed pass when going at top speed. The gameended Victoria College 9, Poneke 5. A feature of the game was the excellent line work of De la Mare, the lengthy College forward. Mr. Geo. Howe was referee. (PETONE ( PET0NE v. ATHLETIC. The Petone-Aihletic fixture resulted in an easy victory for the suburban team by 24 to 3. Athletic stood up well until towards the end of the game, when Petone literally ran over them. The scorers for Pettme were Sharpe (3), Driscoll, Hardbam, Braid. Three of the tries were improved upon. M'Carthy kicked a penalty goal for Athletic. Mr. Falconer was referee. , SOUTHERN DEFEATS MELROSE.' Poneke- was nofc the only old-establish-ed club that had to bite the dust on Saturday before a first-year team. Melrose also succumbed to Southern, the latter's backs getting on two tries, while tha Mclrose system of attacking with the forwards and confining the backs to defence, put on only one try. Mitchinson got the tries for Southern, and J. Spencer scored pne for Melrose — the result/ of his usual b'ulfc, dog dafh in the 25. No goals were kicked, and the game ended : Southern 6, Melrose 3. Mr. J. Nimmo was referee. 1 JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. St. James, i 9; Old Boys, 8. Worger (3), R. Wighton, and Wright (scored for St. James, Worger and Crewes each converted a. try C. Moore and Gawith scored for Old Boys, Girdlostone converted one of tho tries. Johnaonvillo defaulted to Petone. Kia Ora, 17; Southern, nil. Athletic, 11; Oriental, nil. Williamson, Evcnson, and Cuff scored trjea, and Porteous converted one. THIRD-C&ASS 'CHAMPIONSHIP. Ori-e-nlal, 31 ; Wellington, nil. Brewer (2), Jacobson (2), 'Humphries, Norrie, and Bush ecored tries. Five tries wcro converted. * St. James and »Selwyn played a drawn game, each side ecoring 6 points. Baumgart scored a try, and Frank Alpe kicked a penalty goal foi St. James. Athletic, 9 ; Victoria College, 4. Ward (2) and Whito scored for the winners. Hec-nan kicked a goal from a mark for Victoria College. Old Boys won from Kia Ora by default. Wellington College, 37; Southern, 5. FOURTH-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. A/thl-etic A and Oriental A played a drawn game No »cora. Athletic B were defeated by Railway' A by 3 to nil, Brooklyn, 16; Railway B, 9. St. Jamea, 12; Soathern, nil. Nelaon (4) »cored for Iho ..inners. FIFTH-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. Athletic B, 5; Institute, nil. M'Cardlo scored a try, which Payne converted. Wellington College A, 17; S-lvvyn, 8. PctoJie, 30; W-t-llington College B, nil. St. Jamea def-eatwl Athletic A by 37 points to nil. Tries were ecored by Goldfinch (4), Halliwell (2), Aaslow, In-

kersee, Henry, and Hawkins ; M'Kenzie and Hawkins converted onß try each, and Hawkins kicked a penalty goal. IN OTHER CENTRES, *• [DT TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PUNEDIN, l/6tTi July. Yesterday's senior mateh-es resulted as follows :— Alhambra beat Dunedin. by 7 points to nil, Southern 'beat Union by 11 to nil, Kaikorai and Zingan-Rich, mond drew (6 points each), University and Pirateg played a -drawn game (no score). Alhambra. has -won the championship, leading University by one POUI ' AUCKLAND^ 15tli July. In th« senior football matches tb-diy, City beat Ponsonby 23 to 4, and Grafton beat Parnell by 6 to nil. Newton won from North Shore by default. The City has virtually -won the Cup. CHRISTCHURCH, l&th July. _ In 'the senior football' competition this afternoon, Albions beat Old Boys by 21 points to nil, Sydenham beat Christchurch by 14 points to 5, and Linwood beat iMerivale t>y 24 points to 3. ASSOCIATION. A cool bracing day with an absence of wind were the conditions under which the opening matches of the second round of 'the Senior League competition were played at Miramar on Saturday afternoon. The contests were productive of some spirited play, particularly in the Diamonds—'Rovers match, whjch resulted in a win for Diamonds 'by 3 goals to nil. Swifts A defeated Queen's Park by a similar score, whilst St. John's beat Swifts B by five goals to nil. SWIFTS A v." QUEEN'S PARK. ' Queen's Park, Represented by .fen players, were on the defensive during tha greater portion of the first spell. Swifta had chance after chance of scoring, but did not take advantage of them. The forwards orere wretchedly poor in front of goal, whilst their field work was little better. Of the shots which did reach Queen's Park goal, the backs were responsible for the best of them. The Clark Bros, showed up well on the defence, the ' youngest of the trio boing conspicuous for tackling, and beating Wardell when working into position for shooting. In the second half Swifts again, attacked early. The Queen's Park keep, in clearing, threw the ball on to the right wing, where P. Pye-Smith secured and returned a. good shot, which scored. White was the originator of the next goal. He mado an opening on the left wing for Horn, who passed ' to Barry, ho back to Horn, and the latter to Anker, who beat the goalkeeper at close range. Haining, of the Queen's Park forwards, made one or v two attacks on the Swifts goal, his last effort being wound up with a beautiful shot which was well ea-ved by* the Swifts custodian. Wardell was conspicuous for tricky footwork, but overdid this method of playing, and repeatedly wandered from his position. The third goal was obtained by Anker, who, in conjunction with Barry, a promising junior, worked j into shooting distance and scored. Mr. Swain souuded the whistle, with the scores Swifts 3, Queen's Park 0. DIAMONDS V. ROVERS., In this encouunter the Diamonds won somewhat easily by 3 goals to nit. The first half of the game was weH'contested, the Rovers having rather the- best of the exchanges. Several times they set up a determined siege, 'only to find Colpuss and i Roberts impassable. Williams was often dangerous, but failed to utilise a good j opportunity for scoring. From a corner j Renai had hard lines with a shot which grazed the wrong side of the bar. Reddy initiated some good attacks for Diamonds, who in this spell were only once really dangerous. Just before half-time another corner fell to Rovers, but though wellplaced, proved fruitless, the teams turning' round with no score having been registered. Tl» second spell opened with a line passing run by Williams and O'Shca, a corner resulting, but from this onward Diamonds monopolised the play. Webster kept his goal well, but was eventually beaten with a good shot from Hodges. Keeping tip the ' pressure, the Rovers were, forced over their line, the second goal coming from a rebound when Taylor was attempting to clear, whilst the third goal, was registered by Hodgea. The winners fully deserved their victory by their dashing play in the last halfhour. But for Webster's good keeping, tho score might easily have been much' heavier. Reddy, Hodges, and Roberts were especially prominent for Diamonds, whilst Webster, Martin, and O!Shea»howed up ,rell for the Rovers. ST. JOHN'S v. SWIFTS B. The Swifts began with a brief bvt lively attack from the right wing. The St. John's full-backs, however, were safe, and they sent the ball clown to Mowat Brothers, who, by good combined play, put the Maroons' goal in jeopardy. After this there was some .good play in midfield, where R. Nagle showed up prominently in defence, and fed his forwards well. ■The St. John's scored the first goal as the result of a good forward passing rush, and shortly after added another. The Maroons then opened out, Macdonald working hard as centre of the forwards division. Perks fed his forwards well, and smothered several of the opposing forwards' attacks. The Swifts were working well on the right wing, and on one occasion just missed scoring. ■ This state of affairs was only periodical. St. John's returned to the attack, and scored No. 3. But for the sound defence of Elson the score would ha-ve been much more. ; The play during the second spell was very open, though the Swifts had much the better of it. Miller and Williams, on the right wins*, invaded the Maroons' territory frequently. On the right wing of the losing team Hawkins showed up wellfin defence. The Swifts spent the last five minutes of the game in ft combined attack on their opponents' goal, but without result. Goals were scored by M'Whannel (2), A. Mowat, and W. Mowat (one each, and another cannoned off a full-back. Mr. Auld was referee. JUNIOR LEAGUE. St. John's A defeated Diamonds B by 4 goals to 2. May (2), Iggulden and Japp scored for St. John s. Swifts beat V.M.C.A. B by 3 goals to 1. Lowe, Bethel!, and Millington scored for the winners. Tli© match Diamonds A v. St. John's B resulted in a win for Diamonds by 12 goals to 2. .Williams (4), Robinson, (3), Black (3), Collius, and Bidmead scored for the dinners. Ramblers A beat Rovers by four goals to one. , V.M.C.A. A, playing one short, beat Ton, by 4 goals to 1, after a very rough game. > THIRD LEAGUE. Swifts ivon their inalch against Marist Brothers' B by 5 goals to 2. Meech (2), Coventry, Kean, and M'Bain scored for Swifts. FOURTH LEAGUE. Kaivrnrra beat Marist Brothers' School by 2 goal* to 1. Swifts defeated Y.M.O.A. by 10 goals to nil. NEW ZEALANDRItfi IN NEW SOUTH WALES. [PRESI ASSOCIATION.! SYDNEY, 16th July. Tho Association football town from New Zealand played a match at Woolongong yesterday against a South Cfia.st team. The match ended In a draw — three goals each. The following 'is a record of the

matches played by the New Zealand Association Football team now touring New South Wales : — Matches played 9, won 5, lost 3, drawn 1, goals scored 33, against 24. r The team meets the Metropolitan combination next Wednesday, and New South Wales next Saturday, "leaving for New Zealand the same day.