FOOTBALL MATCHES. RUGBY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1910, Page 8

FOOTBALL MATCHES. RUGBY.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. ORIENTAL BEAT PETONE. AN EXCITING FINISH.

Deprived of their weekly feast of football for two consecutive Saturdays, the public returned to the Athletic Park on Saturday with a very keen appetitefor the game. There were fully 5000 present to watoh the star match on No. 1, Petone v. Oriental, a meeting which in the past has produced some very fine games. For nearly the whole period J-he spectators were disappointed. The game was fast enough, but seemingly purposeless and ragged. It was only in the last quarter of the second spell that Oriental, seeing defeat stare them in the face, waked all their energies, and in a most exciting fifteen minutes won the match. Hardham was in. the field for Petone, Roberts for Oriental; so the sides were fully representative. The other match at the Park, Poneke v. Old Boys, was dull and dreary in the extreme. Out at the Hutt St. James pursued their victorious career by defeating Melrose, 17 to 6, while the new Hutt Club sustained its fourth consecutive defeat, this time at the hands of Southern. Athletic defeated Victoria College at Karori. POSITION OF TEAMS. At present the championship stands as follows :—

PONEKE (6) v. OLD BOYS (0). ' Poneke beat Old Boys on No. 2 ground Athletic Park by six points to nil. It was a singularly uninteresting exhibition of Rugby, being confined chiefly to loose forward rushes. Poneke backs attempted some combined work on a number of occasions, but the handling of the ball was faulty. Dawson was conspicuous for Old Boys shortly after the commencement of play, a strong tackle grassing him when only a few inches short of the Hue. Poneke then took charge and held the upper hand till half time, the score at the- interval being six. points to nil in their favour, Mitchinson and Walsh scoring tries. Old Boys showed up better in the second half, but play was very ragged, and the final bell saw the scores unaltered. During the latter stages of the game play became rather rough. Mr. Manning was referee. ATHLETIC (6) v. VICTORIA COLLEGE (0). The college team made a very creditable display against the redoubtable Athletic at Karori on Saturday. Despite their utmost endeavours the Athletics could not penetrate the defence of the students in the second spell, though the battle raged fiercely round^ the green citadel almost without intermission. On the play the winners should, perhaps, have almost doubled their points, but the Collegians deserve a word of praise for their stubborn resistance. Their showing was distinctly creditable, emphasising their previous good form. Soon after the start Duncan, their fleet threequarter, had a knee hurt, and immediately followed two tries (unconverted) by Evenson and J. Cunningham. The Athletic pack was too fast and too heavy for its opponents, while their rearguard was, in the main, the superior. Two or three out-standing men on each side were Ranji Wilson, Evenson, Cunningham (2), (Atnletic), and Young (who played an excellent game all day), Curtayne, Faire (towards the end), and Brosnan. Mr. W. J. Meredith was referee. ST. JAMES (17) v. MELROSE (6). In t(his match Sfc. James had a fina opportunity to show their very best form. The ground at the Hutt ( Park was in excellent condition, there was jusb a. whiff of a 'breeze straight across tihe field, and the opposition could not be described as strong. Melrose have indeed fallen upon evil days. The old champions, improved on their previous, displays, while St. James vere not nearly so good as they were on the day they defeated Petone at the Athletic Park. Whiting opened St.. James's sowing account by diving over the line from a Tush. Bradley failed with, the kick, but not many minutes later he became prominent in a passing rush, and handed the ball along to Brown. The latter scored in. a fairly good position, and Bradley kicked a pretty goal (8 — 0) Mdrose took a hand after this, and before half-time was called a great rush was> initiated, and Armstrong scored. No goal (8 — 3). Scon after play was recommenced, St. James attacked strongly, and it was not long before Bradley terminated a passing rush by getting over the line. Thomas failed with the kick". 11—3. Then the Melrose took a hand, and the forwards came away again. Before the spectators could realise precisely what had happenen John Marshall had scored again for Melrose. Once more the kick failed to augment the total, and the score read — Si. James il, MeL'osc 6. St. James next asserted themselves, and Donaldson scored from a fine opening created by Moffatt. 11. Roberts failed with the kick. 14 — 6 Before time was called Donaldson scored again, Bradley missed with the shot, and the whistle sounded with St. James the victors by 17 points to 6. Mr. J. Mahony was referee. SOUTHERN (8) v. HUTT (6). Both Southern and Hutt are having a bad run, and one could have wished that the game should have ended in a draw. A draw would have done no injustice to either " side. Both are struggling against .heavy odds, aiid both are bearing up manfully — they certainly deserve to see a betiter day, and no doubt will. The game itself lacked interest. After fifteen minutes' play M'GuTk scored for Hutt, and Judd failed to convert (3 — 0). A long period of uninteresting play ended in Cunmnghame scoring for the Teds, and I/es Campbell sent the ball over the bar with a beautiful shot. Southern, 5 ; Hutt, 6. Before half-time was called, Campbell had another shot at the goal from a penalty, and he failed only by a narrow margin to register three point*. In the second half Judd, who was playing a strenuous game for Hutt in tihe forward ranks, scored a try, but the shot at goal was resultless. The remainder of the play was etrikingly even. The Hutt backs did cheir utmost to put on another three points, but bad passing invariably spoilt their chance, and the game ended without alteration in the pcore. Mr. IT. Laws was refare*.

ORIENTAL (9) v. PETONE (6). When Oriental meet Petone, the betting is usually even enough. So it was on Saturday at tho Park. It was anybody's game at the start. At half-time the odds were decidedly in favour of Petone ; at aboul three-quarter time few would have given anything for Oriental's chances. Then, in the last fifteen minutes, Oriental brought up all their reserves and wiped on" their deficiency of six points, added another three, and won the match. Those fifteen minutes were really all that mattered in the match from the point of view of the spectator. The first spell was intolerably dull and tiresome. Petone scored a good try through a passing rush started by M'Kenzie, and capped by Strickland, who played well right through. The try was unenhanced. The opening of the second spell saw Oriental a trifle more vigorous, a trifie more combined. Still Petone it was who scored first. Roberts had missa very easy chance of kicking a penalty goal. A similar opportunity fell to Pttone in front of the Oriental goal. M'Farlane put the ball nicely to the good, and • Petono in the fui ther lead of six points. Then came the reversal tables. Roberts meant to make things hum, and inspired his men accordingly. From a scrum in the Petone quarter he passed out to M'Leod, who gave it to Pyle. The exSouthland "rep," running with great dash bore himself over the line and touched down. The kick was not converted. Immediately afterwards —there was not much time to spare^ —Kinvig, following up, a kick of Roberta's took the ball on the bounce and, outdistancing his competitors, scored in the corner. The kick again failed, this time not by much, Matheson not taking the wind sufficiently into account. The scores were equal, and the crowd, always partial to the Orientals, was wild with excitement.' This was not all. Petone were waking up, but Jim Ryan was rather badly hurt in a collision, and had to be carried off. The referee did not &cc the incident till Pyle had already made a lot of ground towards the Petone line. Later Joe Ryan and Strickland failed to pick up the ball, and in a flash Pyle was over the line again with a try that unmstakably gave Oriental the victory. Time went immediately afterwards, leaving the crowd —and especially a certain section deeply interested in the resul- —very jubilant. Mr. Sievers was- referee. In this, as in the other matches of the day, the new rules were in force, but their effect was not striking in any way. t JUNIOR MATCHES. St. James defeated Selwyn by 11 points to 5. Kitto and Helwell scored for the winners. Crewes converted one try, and also kicked a penalty goal. Petone defeated Victoria College by 30 points to nil. Oriental defeated Wellington by 8 points to 7. Orienta' scored two tries, one of which was converted For Wellington Malfroy potted a goal, and Fraser scored a try, which Kirwood failed to convert. THIRD CLASS. St. Patrick's College defeated Selwyn by 8 points to 3 Oriental defeated St. John's by 23 points to nil Poneke (15) defeated Victoria College (7). Petone defeated Wellington by 50 points to nil. Oriental (23) defeated St. John's (0). Southern defeated Melrose by default. FOURTH CLASS. Melrose beat Southern by 16 points to 3. St. James defeated St. John's by 30 points to 3. Oriental (18) defeated Athletic (0). Petone beat Victoria College by 21 points to 3. , Old Boys defeated Hutt by 6 points to nil. FIFTH CLASS. Selwyn 6, St. Patrick's College 3. Athletic 40, Melrose 0. Petone 31, Hutt 0. Southern 29, Poneke 0. DISTRICT GAMES. - i (B7 TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL TO THE POST.] CARTERTON, 21st May. In the junior contebt Dalefield defeated Weraiti at Carterton by 6 points to 3. Masterton Junior defeated Martinborough by 13 to 5. GLADSTONE, 21st May. In the senior match Red Star (6 pointb) defeated Gladstone (3 points). GREYTOWN, 21st May. Greytown defeated Carterton. PALMERSTON N., This Day. Following are to-day'& senior football res«]tsi —Kia To» (14) beat Palmerstoii (6); Old Boys' forfeited to, Feilding. Junior games: Feilding beat Kia Toa 17 to 9; Palmerston (22) beat Old Boys' (5); Linton (20) beat Colyton (3). Thirdclass : Old Boys (12) beat Palmerston (6). MATCHES ELSEWHERE. [bt telegraph—press association.} DUNEDIN, This Day. In the Rugby matches Dunedin (12) defeated Taieri (4); Southern (19) defeated Pirates (nil); Alhambra (18) defeated Port (9). 'Varsity 17 v. Kaikorai nil; Zingari 17 v. Union 3. AUCKLAND, 21st May. In the senior football games, Ponsonby defeated Marist Brothers by 20 points to nil; 'VaTsity defeated Newton by 28 to nil; Graf ton defeated Parnell by 15 to nil. CHRISTCHURCH, 21st May. To-day's matches were played in beautiful weather. Old Boys beat Linwood in an excellent forward game by nino points to eight; Merivale beat Canterbury College by 31 points' to nil; Albion had all the better of Christchurch, winning by 17 points to 6. NAPIER, 21bt May. Ahuriri (31) defeated Rovers (nil); Havelock (8) beat Old Boys' (6); Athletic (9) beat Napier (nil). WANGANUI, 21st May. There was iine weather for the football to-day, but little interest was taken in the games, which were not of an exciting nature. Wanganui had all the be^t of Kaierau, and won by' 16 to nil, and Pirates defeated Eastern by 9 points to nil. Wanganui Juniors defeated Pirates by 8 to 5. and Matariki beat Kaierau by 6 to nil. MAORI REPRESENTATIVES. [BY TELEGBAPH —*KESS ASSOCIATION.] ROTORUA, 21st May. The New Zealand Maori Rugby football representatives met the Rotorua representatives to-day in ideal weather, and in the presence of about 1000 people. After a very willing game, the Maoris won by 25 .points to 5. Tries were scored for the winners by Danscy, Stead, Harrison (3), Tipene. and Tamu. Dansey and Martin converted one try each. Fitzgerald scored for Rotorna, H. Mitchell converting. The Maoris will play the Bay of Plenty representatives at Rotorua on ! Saturday next. I I > ; r I ,

•8 s !t. James 4 )rienlals 4 J oneke 3 'etone 4 7ic. College 4 Athletics 4 Southern 4 klelrose 3 lot* 4 o 2 .2 ? v-1 P C^ 4 — — , 77 3 — 1 42 3 — — 28 1 2 1 50 2 2 — 34 2 2 — 30 1 2 1 16 —3 — 9 —4 — 6 •a "tD O to ru 23 14 23 28 21 58 38 68 O 8 7 6 4 4 4 3

SUMMARY OF RESULTS. )riental 'oneke... it. James Uhletic Southern 9 Petone 6 6 Old Boys 0 i 17 Melrose 6 6 Victoria Cellege ... 0 ... 8 Hutt 6