FOOTBALL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. SENIOE CHAMPIONSHIP. The Senior championship fixtures played on Saturday resulted as follows: Melrose (10) defeated St. James (5). Oriental (15) defeated Wellington (6). Petonc (14) defeated Poneko (8). Athletic (29) defeated Victoria' Collego (0). PETONE v. PONEKE. The Petone-Poneko fixture, played on tho suburban ground, was looked to for something special, and over a thousand spectators journeyed out from town to witness the game. They were rewards'! by a hard, interesting struggle, in which Poneke m?do a capital showing against their formidable rivals. Petone had tho best of tho game, excepting for the last half of the first spell, at which stage Ponek'e looked the winners, l'otono had commenced to open out tho play as tha first term advanced, but finding this style of play to the liking 1 of Poneke they resumed close- forward tactics from the beginning of tho second half, and by this style of attack kept Poneka on the defensive- almost tho whole time. Tho game was notablo for 'it(S excellent forward play, and there were several fine pieces of back work. The Poneko forwards played a remarkably good game, bufc could not give tho backs tho ball. During the first five minutes Petone attacked near their opponents' line as tho result of a dash from midfield by Cross and Knight. A free kick relieved, and almost immediately after Poneko forced down. Tho kick out was stopped, and Cross charged down tho return by Wallace, with the result that Petonc again attacked in Poneke 25. Ryan, Barber, and Read combined in a passing run, but Twohill got possession and ran to half way. Petone returned to tho attack ana made several determined onslaughts on tho Poneke line. On one occasion M'Geo saved prettily. Petone kept at it, and M. Ryau had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a free kick. From a return near ihe half-way line Road made a fine dash, but his pass was not taken, and a chance was lost. Another Petone passing run followed, tho ball going out at the corner. After a long spell of defensive work Ponelc wor'>->d their way into Pctono quarters for .ac first time, but Tyne and M'Gill came away with tho 'either when the town team's prospects wera looking full of promise. From a scrum in Poneke 25 Green got tho ball, and passing Read to J. Ryan saw the latter score at the corner. M. Ryan failed to convert. 1 Petone -continued tho attack, but at I last Poneke wore them down, Skelly getting prettily away up the centre of the field until grassed in the 25 by M. Ryan. Poneko wero awarded a free kick in a good position, but Wallaco failed to improve. A brilliant run by Barber set Petone attacking once more, and from a scrum about fifteen yards out Green got possession, and cut cleverly through tho opposition and passed to J. Ryan, who dashed ovei the lino. No goal resulted. From the kick-out Poneko rallied, and attacked vigorously. Smart passing, Wallace-Mitchinson-Two-hill, saw the latter score easily. Wallace converted. The Ponekr forwards were now at their best, and Petone wcic kepf busy defending. The reds swarmed under tho Petone posts, a lucky force down saving a score. Poneko continued to have all the best of the encounter, buo at 'ength Pctono shifted play to tho other end of the field. Here a* surprise, took place — Skelly got possession of the ball and running along the touchline to half way kicked into tho field. The whole Poneko team came on in the wake of tho bill. Mitchkisou secured it, and with Wallace on his outside a;id a line of red.? about five deep in field, there was only one Petone man to beat. Tho b?ll was sent in-field, and M'Gpo had a clear inn in under the posts.Wallace failed with tho kick, and ths spell ended Poneke 8, Petono 6. A minute or two after resuming Poneke were awarded a free kick in front of the posts, but Wallace failed to convert. Immediately play started again Petone forced, as the result of a long kick. A good run by Byrno, followoa by a punt by Wright, saw Petono pressing on Poneke line. Ihe reds relieved, but Petone forwards came on to tJia attack again and fought hard on tho corner flag. >io le^s than twelve scrutns ensued on the Poneke line, the suburban men being within an ace of scoring on several occasions. Subsequent operations wcje confined to Poneko quarters, bitt at last tliß reds drove the offenders an far back as tho halfway flag. From this point liyine put in another fine run up tho centro of tho held, bin Wallace brought, him down. Read made a good but unsuccessful s,ho! at goal from a fice kick, ivnd then j more or less open nlny gave- place to hard cloeo forward work. Aitcr a-longj attack Petone were rewarded, Byrne scoring from a scrum near tho line. Read converted. Fetono had now got tho upper hand completely. Byrne put in a strong dash, which was followed by a passing run which almost' resulted in a score. The suburban team kept hard at it, and Read had another fruitless shot at goal from a free kick. The final score resulted from a scrum in Poneke 25. Greer. got thb oall and passed to J. Ryan, who handed on to Hardham, tho wing three-quarter streaking over tho line without opposition. The kick failed Ju«i on time 51. Ryan had a shot at goal from a penalty kick, tho ball striking tho bnr. Time sounded with the score — Potono 14, Poneko 8. Mr. F. Laws was referee. MELROSE v. ST. JAMES. Tho members of the St. James team fought 60 pluckily that they soon won the sympathies of the public. Tho junior players proved that they had $ system which, though not in perfect working order, was effoctivo and easy to follow. Their policy was to feed their backs when on the attack, and to screw the scrums when hard pressed. They wero out-weighted in the forward department, but never dismayed by their burly opponents. As proof that brains aro a great assistance to brawn, j tho pack clovcrly wheeled out of n. tight corner several times, and gavn about the only exhibition of successful screwing that has been neon on tho park this season. Tho samo comment can apply to a splendid piece of dribbling which took the ball from ono end , of the field to tho other. The backs worked fairly well, but wero handicapped by at least lwo--tho full and left wing — whoso handling was unreliable. Mclrose strove desporutoly to keep tho gamo tight, and "bullocked" to victory, by just a hleky chamio. With tho sun behind thorn, Bt. James made tho pace warm. A couple of sharp mslies very nearly gained a 1 scene, and a splendid diibblmg onslaught, led by Bunckenborg, a-brainy forward, almost secured ft try ; ono of hia supporting kicked the ball a littlo too hard, and it wont into touch-in-goal. St. James persisted in the attack, and a passing rush gave Molraso a voi-y anxious minute. About this time, 'Clfiridge (Melroso flvc-eijjhtha) retired with an injured leg, strained while ho was taking n mark, and ho was replaced by a veteran (Warwick). Mclrofco had a turn on tho aggressive. Then Mefrose, who usually hooked tho ball In tho scrums, mado two or three vigorous rnllios, but tho weak support by th-j backs took the sting out of Ihe attack. Just bofoio j tho spoil closed Fergnssou lrd an inj[v«ion roto the McTroso .".weiity-C-v I

Tho ball v.as thrown back, and it was picked up by Wright, who bounded over tho line. Thomas placed a goal. Early in tho next half Melrose made somo bold efforts to break down the Hi. James defejicc. M'Kay and 6. Spencer hnd fruitless pots, but a little laivt a (scramble on tho line let Gilchrist in. G. Spencer converted. For the greater pait ot tho spell the JMclrosc forwards adopted a very ''closed door"' policy, kept their opponents defending, but the younger men raised the siege briskly two or three times. Onco they had v pcod oppoi trinity for a scor<\ but an ! ambitions forward, pining for fame, lost I it with an inglorious pot at goal, Tn i the hist minute the Meliosc pick worked into the St. James corner, and J. Spencer forced a pasir.tja over tho line. His I brother impiovcd the try. Final: Melrose ton points (two converted triea), St. James fivo (ono conveited try). Mr. Connell wns referee. ORIENTAL v. WELLINGTON". Tho chiof feature of tho OrientalWellington game was Oriental's lamentablo place-kicking. They got fivo tries, mostly in good positions — two between tho posts — but not one goal was kicked. Indeed, there was not a goal placed or othorwue secured by either side. Wellington's two tries, however, were gained at corners. With tho advantage of the sun Oriental speedily wont to the attack, and before many minute* had passed, Sievers got a try at thn corner. Wellington replied with a passing onslaught which v.as nearly rewaidou by a score, and then Oriental swooped back. One of the backs was pushed into touch-in-goal, but a few momonts afterwards passing between Roberts, Highot, Mathieson and Anderson allowed Anderson to cross tho lino. Highet next brought tho score to nine by a try under the bar. Wellington rallied vigorously, and smartly repulsed the attacks. Carey smothered tho full-back's kick, and the backs supporting him started somo neat passing which enabled Gollan to score at tho corner. Soon after tho second spoli had started Roberts ran in between the Wellington posts, and Bush added three points soon afterwards. Towards the close Carey got tho ball fiom a throw-in in the Oriental twenty-five, and sprinted in at the corner. Final : Oriental fifteen points (fivo tries), Wellington six (two tries). Mr. Robb was referee. ATHLETIC v. VICTORIA COLLEGE. ■The Athletic and Victoria College Clubs met at Miramar, the former winning rather cosily by 29 to nil. Tries were scored by*Evenson (2), Wilson, Stagpoole, Gordon, Pownall, and O'Sullivan. Atkinson converted threo tries and Evenson one. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Athletics (11) defeated Victoria College (0) at Aliramar. Tries wcro scored by Goilins, Williamson, and Fenessy, W. H. Hales converting one. Melroso (15) boat Oriental (0). The tries were scored by Petcrsen, Sullivan, M'lnnos, and Beavis (2). Kia Ora (11) beat Southern (3). Poolley scored a try for tho losers, who played with twelve men. St. James (6) bejt Wellington (3). Old Boys (15) defeated Brooklyn (3). Poneke 8, defected Petono 3. Petono won the toss, and played with the sun behind them. Poneke forwards I pressed hard, ard towards tho end of j the first spell Riggs got hold of the ball [ and scored, Patrick tailing with tho kick. Both teams livened up in the se- | cond spell, and Poneke took the leather I down to Petone's 25, where Campbell secured it and dnshed over tho line, J Griffiths converting with a good kick. ) The blue bic!-c" rallied, and after a' good passing run, Clarke scored a wellearned try, but Crushman failed with the I'ick. Just before call of timo C?mpbsll had a gocd, but unsuccessful, pot at goal. THIRD-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. Slir beat Poneke by 17 points to nil. Tries were scored by Barron. Johnson (2), Rosser, and Brewer, ono being converted by Dowland. St. Patrick's College (15) defeated Kia Ora (3). For the winners tries were obtained by Ratima (2), Seymour, O'Reilly, nnd Ryan. Athletic (3) boat Southern (0), thn latter playing two men short. Galloway scored a try for tho winners. FOURTH-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. Petone (6) defeated Star (0). Southern (16)r defeated St. James (0). Russell, 1). Campbell, and L. Campbell scored tries. T. Martin and L. Campbell converting one each, and L. Campbell kicked a penalty goal. Epuni (11) beat Solwyn (6). Sullivan und R. Gosltng scored tiies for tho losers. Athletic (39) boat Wellington (3). Lovo (2), Smith (2), Heley (2), fteroomb, Clark, M.-.nh, Simmonds, and Finlnyson scored tries, Finlayson converting two and Heley one. Melrose (50) defeated Brooklyn (0). J. Maishall scored four tries, H. Marshall two, F. Mprshmeut three, D. Marshment one, C. King one, L. Baylis one, 11. Barrett one, and J. Marshall, 11. Marshall, and D. Marshmont each converted a" try, and F. Marshment kicked a penalty goal. FIFTH-GLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. Oriental (24) beat St. Patrick's Collego (6). B'lynn and Rochefort scored (nes for tho losers. Selwyn (12) defeated Polhill (8). For the winers tries wero scored by J. Gosling (2), G. M'lntyre, and D. Galvin. Petone (8) beat Southern (0). Melrose (3) beat Athletic (0). .IN OTHER CENTTRES. AUCKLAND, Ist June. Parnell crested a surprises by defeating Ne^town by 24 points to nil. fansonby ran over Grafton by 56 points to nil. City defeated North Shore by 19 points to nil. CHRISTCHURCH, Ist Juno. An inter-union match, Canterbury v. Combined Country, was played this afternoon, and was won by Canterbury, whose backs showed better combination, by 16 points (two goals fix m tries nnd two tries) to 9 (a penalty goal and two tries). P.ALMERSTON, Ist June. Old Boys (b) beat Kia Toa (3) j iunior; O!d Boys (16) beat Kai Toa, (0). ' DUNEDIN, Ist June. Dunedin (8) defeated Alhambrj (3). Pirates (11) dofpatcd Taieri (5). Southern (6) defeated Union (0). Kaikorni (8) defeated Port (5). Zingiui (16) defeated University (9).