RUGBY GAMES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 26, 31 July 1911, Page 4

RUGBY GAMES.

A WIN FOR ATHLETIC.

ORIENTAL AND ST. JAMES LEVEL . FOR CHAMPIONSHIP. 'Athletic. (3) V. St. James (0)/ Pfitone (16) v. Wellington (3). Poneke (3) V. Southern (0). Oriental (U) v. Old Boys. (v). Victoria College (3) v. Melrose (0). 'ATHLETIC (3)~ST. JAMES (0). The leading team for the championship had to 'strike its colours to Athletic on Saturday at Athletic Park, -whet© about 4005 people assembled to watch the battle. Athletic supporters claim j that. their side has had more. .than it» share of the bad luck this seasofy and it would appear that' such is the case. The ground waa soft, and in places quite muddy, but the way the blue forwards hungtogether was a. treat to witness. In the first spell they literally got all over Si, James. The reds tried all they knew to get their backs in action, but the defence was too sound, and on. tho few occasions when they got near their opponent*' line they found themsolve* up against a brick wall. Cook, en the wing, played his asual dashing game for St. James, but, as was remarked in the Spotts Edition on Saturday night, he appears to be getting more fond of the admittedly dangerous practice of hurdling over tile head of a. tackling opponent when in a tight corner. Nomancandothifiwith impunity. It is just as well for Cook to remember the case of Arntit and other good fellows who have ended their career— and their lives-^-in this way. E. Hobertts played a sterling game, and the fest of the backs did fairly well oh the greasy turf, but the forwards suffered by comparison with their opponent*. Why St, James did* not put more vim -into theif fofwatd Work it » difficult to understand. On the day they were Weil beaten, and «Athletlcs' win by th« harrow margin of 3 points wa« more than earned. As* to the actual play a few tfords will Bttffi>e. Al through the first half 'Athletic had theif opponent* ettenuotMty defending their lines, and when "Rattji" dived over at the corner aftef a short run, hs was deservedly applauded. The play of the blues justified '* try much earlier than, it came. Sim Wilson was entrusted with the kick^ but he failed, This wa« the only score of the 'natchr In. the second* half St. James improved -dlightly, and it looked as if 'they might win through on their train- : ing, but their best Supporters were disappointed. Ten minuter before the bell sounded they were well "gone." Mr* Simpson controlled the match, to the satisfaction of both sides, PETONE (18) v. WELLINGTON (3). Petone found fourteen men sufficient to beat and outclass Wellington at Petone on Saturday, where the yellows, with, five third-class men in, kept the scores down to 3 all at ha!f4ime, Cafr scoring for Wellington and Rams-den Jfof Petone. On resumption the game went all Petone's way, and Daly, Parker, and Kamsden crossed the Wellington line, two tries being converted. 16 to 3 wag the score at fche finish. Mr. £. Tregear .was referee. PONEKE (3) v. SOUTHERN (0). Foneke defeated Southern at Miramar by a bare 3 points— -a try—to nil. Southern had all the best of the game, and Would in all probability have won had not an accident to Bradley in the first spell' deprived them of their best man, The play wa# characterised htf magnificent forward rushes by the Southern vanguard, who fairly tumbled all over Po- • neke. They were a dozen times in a . position to score, but the final touch" was missing. The Poneke defence was very sound, and Prendeville foae to the emergency at full-back. The only score came by a lucky try by Gardiner, who followed up a high kick, which ought ! to have been marked, but was missed, I and tan over unopposed. Mitchinsonj failed with the kick. In the second I spell Southern had a chance of equalising through a penalty kick. W. Capper's attempt was a "poster,' The final stages of the gamer were as vigorous as tho opening, but' neither side was able to score. The game ended in a win for Poneke by three points to ail. Mr. F, Laws was referee. ' ORIENTAL v, OLp BOYS. Aa wa« expected, Oriental had no difficulty'in defeating Old Boys at Karori' last Saturday. The play was very dull and uninteresting throughout. During the'first st^H the following players scored fries for Oriental: —Roberts (2), Sturitfck, M'Keowen, and Matheson. Kinvig converted two of the tries, and Matnesott one, and Kinvig also kicked a goal from, a mark. Sis: more tries were obuined for Oriental in the second spell by Matheson (2). Sturrock (2), Little, and Perry. M'Leod converted Little's try, ■ -fordham was the scorer for Old Boys, and the try was converted by Drake. Mr. W. J. Meredith was referee. VICTORIA COLLEGE (3) v. MELHOSE (0). .Victoria College scored their first win. of the season on Saturday, when they 'defeated Melrose at Miramar by three point* to nil. The game waft % foet one, notwithstanding the heavy state of the ground, and the College team held its own with the doughty Melrose pack, and quite outplayed them in the backs. At times the passing of the College player* was of high average, • Fairs scored the try for Victoria College, but Hyan's effort at goal fell just tuidei* me bar. Mr, D. Thompson was re-< feree,.