RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 89, 17 April 1911, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

EASTER GAMES. Weather conditions were verj favomable for football on Saturday, and there was a fair attendance at the Athletic Park in the- afternoon, where fout Rugby games were played. As is usual in holiday games tho form shown was not high-class, lack of training being generally noticeable. On No. 1 ground Poneko defeated Albion (Christchurch) by 13 points to nil, and on No. 2 Wellington and Christchurch played a drawn game. The curtain-raisers — Selwyn v. Palmerston North and Chust College Old Boys v. Nelson College Old Boys — were won by Sclwyn and Chrifel College Old Boys by 11 points to nil and 10 points to 3 respectively. PONEKE (13) v. ALBION (0). Poneke commenced with great dash, and attempted to open up the game. but. the Albion forwards adopted close tactics, and gradually gained the iipp&i 1 hand. They attacked during the greater part of the first spell, but could nob score. Shortly before the end of tho spell a loose rush of Poneke forwards took th« ball to Albion's line, and Morris dived over. "Walsh landed a goal from a difficult angle. Albion, .it tacked briskly m the second spell, but the Ponek-e defence was sound and no scoto resulted. About half way through the spell the Reds (Poiieke) gained the upper hand, and until no side A.lbion were hard Dressed. Ca-lcinai and Gardiner botii scored, tries, Tilyard converting the last ono. Scores- - Poneke 13. Albion 0. Mr. F. Spurdle (Taranaki) was referee. WELLINGTON (3) v. CHRISTCHURCH (3). The annual fixturo between these tw-.» teams provided a good contest., and the relative merits of the two sides woro fairly summed up ill the final result. Wellington attacked ■early and tried to go through with passing rushes, bub the d-efenco of the visitors was too sound. This sort of thing lasted for a good while, but the persistency of the yellows was eventually rewarded when M'Kellar managed to crot'S the line. Lambert faikd with the kick. 13—0.) Christchurch then livened up, and before the second spell 'had ended W. Barrell scored near- the corner. No goal. (3 — 3.) The second 6>>ell was very ■evenly contested. Both sides' showed lack of condition, and play was not of an absorbing character. The game, which ended' 3 all, was played in tha beat spirit. The" visitors were- snbsecmenlly enteitained by the Wellington Club. CURTAIN-RAISERS. v Selwyn had no. difficulty in disposing of Paimerston North, the score behrg 11 points to nil. Curry, L'ttke. and Sullivan were the scorers. Mr. H. Larway was referee. In the Devenish Shield game Christ College Old Boys defeated Nelson College Old Boys by 10 points to 3 after a very even game. Guthrie and T. Bain scored for the winners, J. Bain converting each try. Richmond kicked a penalty goal for Nelson. REFEREES ENTERTAINED. On Saturday evening, at the New Zealander Hotel, the referees who are visiting Wellington in connection with the annual meeting of the New Zealand Referees' Association wei*e entertained by the local Refeiees' Association. Mr. D. M'Kenzie presided, and among others I present were Messrs. J. Sweeney (Wellington Rugby Union) and R. M. Isaacs

(New Zealand Rugby Union). Topsts honoured weie "The King." "The Visitors," "The New Zealand Rugby Football Union," "The New Zealand Referees' Association." "The Wellington Rugby Football Union," and "The Press.'' A capital musical programme was carried out.