RUGBY CONTESTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1907, Page 2

RUGBY CONTESTS.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. A blustery southerly, which brought up squalls .of rain, made football more or less disagreeable for players and spectators on Saturday. However, the promise of a storm had no very repellent effect on enthusiasts, for a large number gathered at the Athletic Park,' where the principal fixture Was the meeting of Athletics and Petonc. Rain, which made the ground and ball greasy, naturally tended to reduce the quality of the contests from a purely | football point of view, though it did not take away much keenness from some of the struggles. The results were : — Petone 16, Athletics 0. Old Boys 6, Victoria College 5. Melrose 9, St. James 6. Poneke 3, Oriental 3. Poneke are leading for the championship with 17 points, but Petone with 16 points (with an extra match to play) are virtually ahead. Athletics and Oriental share the third - place with 14 points each. PETONE v. ATHLETICS. < Critics who had remembered the form shown by Athletics in the first round ttgainst Petone — in a drawn game — had hoped for a, similar display, but there was only one team, Potone, in Saturday's combat. Athletics held up well for a quarter of an hour, and for the remainder of the match they were mostly defending. The suburban men put plenty of vigour into their forward work, and the backs handled the blippcry ball Very neatly, and kicked excellently, especially J. Ryan, whose long line punting was very serviceable. Tht city forwards fought manfully, but the rearguard, as a whole, performed very weakly. Wild kicking and fumbling were the salient features of the backs' exhibition. With the wind against them Athletics began by invading the Petone 25, | where there was a warm struggle for a few minutes. Then Petono drove back their oppressors, and the Athletic line was in grave danger till Evonsen smartly relieved with a useful kick. After a shot at goal the ball was returned out towards J. Ryan who caught it between the 26 linfi and the -wntre, at a fairly difficult angle, apd smartly potted a goal. Rushes and counterrashes were tho order for a while, and eventually the ball was sn-ept over Athletics' line, with Driscoll sprinting after it, and he managed to fall on it just inside tht dead line. The kick failed. For the rest of the spell Petonc remained aggressive, but Athletics had brief turns on the attack. Immediately after tho second half had commenced Petone charged to the onemies' lino', but were promptly pressed back, and had to struggle desperately to keep their lino clear. Athletics hammered hard to get through, but over-eagerness, slovenly handling and reckless footwork destroyed more than one ' good opportunity. Suddenly the scene was changed by the Petono van, and' play settled in front of the Athletic posts. The ball was kicked over the line, and Green cleverly scored under the bar, but M. Ryan made a poor attempt at conversion. This process was repoated a little later, and Green was again (ho scorer, not far .from the posts. M. Ryan's sho£ sent "tho ball against the bar, from which it rebounded into the field. For a considerable time the play was even and uninterosting, bat Petone had a final burst of energy. The ball wa& driven over tho Athletics' " line,, and M'GiH touched down. The try was not mit proved. . Final : Petone sixteen points (a potted goal and four tries), Athletics nil. " Mr. G, -Hows was referee. 6LD BOYS v. VICTORIA COLLEGE. A fair exhibition of football was given by Old Boys and Victoria Collcgo, and oxcept for transient pieces of good play the gamo was unintgrcstL.g from a spectacular point of view. Both teams worked hard, but apparently were handicapped by lack of practice, and th.3 combination on both sides on occasions was not of much' account.. Tho forwards were "fairly ovenly matched. They kept well on tho track of the ball, and on several occasions marie openings for the backs. Ab is generally the casa, the most striking play, whether' good or bad, was put in by the backs ; but on Saturday, although some good football was. seen, .lack of combination, faulty passing, and /high collaring wove too app;tfent. Soon after kick-oft' Old Boys were pressing hard, and it was only by good defensive play on tho ' part of Victoria '.Collego that prevented a score. Aftor the ball had been kicked up and down tho field a good deal more than necessary, Old Boys, playing well, had their Opponents again on the , clef onsive. From a scrum tho ball was sent out to the Old Boys' backs, but. the Victoria College forwards were nimble and put in some creditable work. Soon after this, Old Boys wore piveu a free kick in a good pbsition, and Gardiner put tho ball between the posts; From n scrum tho Victoria College forwards hooked the ball well, and it went out to the half, but was mulled in passing. Old Boys were now on the defensive, but the College forwards threw away their chances of a score by kicking too hard — a fault which enabled the opposing' backs' to mark. After somo desultory kicking, ■College put in somo good work, and P'Leary got tho only try> of tho game. •The kick misted.. The. ball was now moving freely' up and '.d&vm the field, Old Boys eventually receiving a mark, from which Gardiner again kicked a good goal. As ths gamo progressed, 1 although rain had made the ball somewhat slippory, the passing on both 6idos improve^, but it whs not consistent enough to havo much effe6t: After a good deal of fairly oven play Victoria College were awarded a free kick, but the attempt at goal failed. Final — Old Boys 6 points (a Roal from a mark and a penalty goal) j Collepo 3 (a try). ' f Mr. W. o' Council was referee. PONEKE v. ORIENTAL. Football at Petonc was played tinder exceedingly unfavourable conditions: As soon as tho train arrived and tho crowd began to make tracks for tho ground a shower of sleet and rain blew up from tho south. The Antarctic weather continued all 'the afternoon witfi recurrent sleot, until tho field became a puddle and accurate play out of, ' the question. Poneko won tho toss and played with' the wind. The gamo from > the start waß- very fast, the ball travelling mostly at the feet of the forwards from one end to tho other. As the rain continued to fall and tho icy cold prevailed, the ball could not bo Held, and passes were dropped more often than taken. Tho spectators in the mean: time had decamped behind the l band rotunda, and wero watching the struggle from a safe distance, though a few bold spirits preferred to face tho howling southerly. After a determined attack by the Whites, the ball was got away, arid after a series ' of shorl rushes by the Poneko forwards fell into tho hands of D. Twnhill, who made a brilliant zig-zag through the opposing backs and drew first blood for the Rods. Patrick took the kick from a difficult angle, j

but the ball was top heavy for a hope of success. The try was unconverted. . The Oriental pack now woke up and for g, time pressed their opponents haul. A mull by Slater, tho J?onekc fullback, who triad to force before ho was over the line, 'let in Manning, who scored a lucky try.^ The kick failed. Half-time was sounded shortly afterwards. The second spell was of the ppnio character as the first ; forward rushes relieved by a few attempts at passing. The Oriental full-back relieved the pressure of the Ponckc attack by a very neat screw kick, and the ball on the line-out came over lo Mathisun. who made the best, run of the day, fully half the length' of the field, but was driven into touch in the Reds' twentyfive. Poneke at this time had much the better of tho game, and their supporters, who were in the great majority "barracked" very. hard. Rush nearly scored, but the referee gave a scrum and the ball was gqt away by the Orientals. The game ended in a draw, 3—3.3 — 3. For the Oriental team Verckow, the young fujl-b^ck, made a promising debut in first-class football. His sound defence, both in respect of tackling and line-kicking, did much to save his side from defeat. Twohill among the backs, and Rush in the forwards were the - t most prominent among the Ponekes. MELROSE v. ST. JAMES. At Miramar Melrose had rather the better of closely fought game with St. James. In the first spell St James, with tho advantago of a strong wind, got only three points; > a penalty goal kicked by Crowes. ■ ■ When the sides turned round Melrose made the play, tight, and soon had a lead in tho scor-. ing. Gilchrist placed a goal from a mark, and' Kerr and Cameron secured tries, neither of which wac converted. St. Jamss had a brief innings a "little later, and Moffatt worked his way from a line-out over the Melrose line. Final : Melrose nine points (a goal from a -mark and two tries), 'St. James six points (a penalty goal and a try) , • JUNIOR. Petone 14, Qrjental 3. Selwyn' 12, Brooklyn 3. Athletic' 9, Melrose 5. Southern 8, St. James" 3. THIRD-CLASS. Petone 5. Oriental 0. Southern 6, Athletic 0. Wellington College 19, Old Boys 5. Johnsonville 9. Selwyn 0. Kia Ora defaulted to Poneke. FIFTH-CLASS. Oriental 12, Athletic 0. Petone 8, Southern 3. Wellington College A 14, Melrose 14. IN OTHER CENTRES. DUNEDIN. [BY TELiOKArH — OWN COHRKSFOXUEXT.'J DUNEDIN, 27th July. As the- result of to-day's Benior lootball, University lead -by one point, assuming that they defeat Taieri in the match unplayed in the firSt round. Thff .'Varsity backs carry them through every time. Gil ray, who was making his last appearance prior to leaving next week to. "take up his duticrs as a Rhodes Scholar, fittingly closed his football career here by scoring the two concluding tries of the day, making the score, University 25, Dunodin 5. Southern only managed to draw with Port, and Alhambra were lucky to beat Zingnri' by three points to nil, Tho surprise of the day wan Taieri'S 1Q against Kaikorai's 3. - - • AUCKLAND V. THAMES. JBI^ r^I.ESBAI'U.^-IMiZSS ASBQOUTION.3 .•. • - 1 -, AUCKLAND, 27th July.* , The annual inter-union football match between Auckland and the, Thames was played hero this afternoon in .fine weather. Auckland proved superior in r.ll dapartment?, a number of their players showing fine form. Auckland won by 26 points to five. MANAWATU v. .WANGANUI. PALMERSTON, 27th July. Tho Wangauui representatives met Man&watu before a large crowd of spectators. ' Bafors play had been going naif a minute Mouli, Wangauui, scored. Manawatu th*n warmed up and kept en the attack with vigour. After a splendid forward rush Wingats Scored tor Manawatu, and Downes converted. Play for tho next fifteen minutes was up and t duwn tho field, Wanganui best- I ing Mafcawatu in the loose. The Wa- ! nganui forwards brought the ball out from a line out to tha goal line, and Jones scored a try which was eonv«rtsd. ] ■Resuming tho ball was carried duwn to the Wanganui twenty-five, and loose play gave M'Nat an opening 'to add 3 more to Manawatu'-* r*ooro. Wangamii ; was on UlO defesca when Downes, from a free kick, added 3 for Manawatu. No further scoro resulted— Manawatu 11, Wanganui 8. Both team.-, were on a par as regards weight. Manawatu was far superior in tho line out. Tho Wanganui backs on povorr.l occasions gave a poo» exhibition ci ijaa>in^ in the first sp:ll, but improved towards the end of the game. Tho .M.mawatu books wore also defective. In the &crum Wanganui paralysed Manawatu. • WAIRARAPA. ' MASTERTON, 27th July. Carterton seniors defeated Mnstorton on Saturday by rime points (three penalty Jjouls) to 5 points (n converted tryj.^ This practically decides the senior chttmpibnihip in Carterton'fr- favour.