RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 101, 29 April 1912, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S MATCHES. ORIENTAL DEFEAT ST. JAMES. ATHLETIC v. PONEKE. WELLINGTON AND VICTORIA COLLEGE DRAW. Athletic (9) y. Ponck© (3). Oriental (9) v. St. James. (5). Peton** (20) v. Southern (9). Wellington (6) v. Victoria College (6). Melrose (34) v. Old Bays (5). Tho weather foi' Saturday's football was bleak and cold, but the rain held off, and the only disability players had to contend with was- a, strong northerly v.md. The principal match, between Oriental and St. James at Athletic Park, was witnek&ed by a. fairly large number of people. The stand was comparatively full, but the crowd outside was below average proportions. ORIENTAL (9) v. ST. JAMES (5). Considerable interest was taken in the meeting of these two teams, and a e-tren-uou6 match wae confidently looked for. In this expectation the spectators were not dissppointed, and for a second match of the season play wa« by no means poor. Oriental were the general favourites, but St. James, although defeated, gave one the impression that they aie capable of further improvement. In both bides the forwards were slack at times. Young, the new St. James three-quarter, played excellently, and Cook made him* self very useful to hk side, and a particularly awkward and elusive customer to his opponents. The Oriental backs were an active set, Murray being as prominent as any of them. Kinvig has not forgotten how to use his left leg ; he was responsible for some very hefty kicks that helped the white* very appreciably on more than one occasion. The game, which was contested in excellent spirit, was played on a, good ground and in better weather than most people looked for. On the whole, there was not a great deal in favour of either side, and when next Oriental ajid St. James meet a very close game should result. The first score in the match came with surprising suddenness. The Oriental forwards pushed St. Jamea back on their line, and in less than five minutes from the commencement Manning dashed over. Kinvig failed with the kick (3 — 0). A long period of closu fighting followed, till Utiku (St. James's half) secured possession of the ball, ran a short distance till surrounded by Oriental forwards, and threw the ball sky high in tlie hope that some back would get it. Younjj managed to catch it on the fly, and just managed to squeeze over the line by inches. Legatt, with admirable r.-oolness, kicked a splendid goal (5 — 3). Iv the eetond half Oriental indulged in some fine passing rushes, and as the result of one of these Townsend got over. No goal (6 — 3). The last score of the match was also registered by Oriental, Ebei'hardt scoring a lucky try from a> scramble. The scorer took the kick but failed to land the extra points, and the game ended : Oriental 9, St. James 5. Sir. T. H. Jones was referee. PETONE (20) v. SOUTHERN (9). Despite the heavy wind and the somewhat slippery ball, the Petone-Southern match, played at Petone on Saturday, was for the most part a back game. The wind was responsible for a great deal of the forward play, which resulted mostly from frequent line-outs. At the beginning of the first spell the Petone backs did some good work, but later the game took a faster turn, and the scores came quickly. A feature of the game was the good kicking by Capper and M'Farlane. The former player did some good work along the line, whilst M'Farlane'ft goal-kicking would have been hard to better. All in all, the game was a really good one and a, surprise, inasmuch as it was for the most part almost wholly confined to the backs. For the losing team, L. Campbell and Bradley worked persistently, and to good_ purpose. At one time, just near the finish of the ]ut>t spell, Campbell, dribbling well up, slightly over-kicked, but atoned excellently oy overtaking the ball, and attempting a score, which feat cost him a bad fall on the asphalt cycle track behind the dead-ball line. Mr. F. Laraway wa« referee. ATHLETIC (9) v. PONEKE (3). Played at Athletic Park, on No. 2 ground, the opening spell in this match proved an even game, both in score and play. The Poneke pack proved the equal of the vaunted Athletics. In the second spell, however, the blues were much too good, and the defence of the Ponekes was severely tried. Forcedowns were frequent, but a necessary expediency to stall off the determined onslaughts of die Athletics. Roberts was first to score, but he failed in the kick at goal. Livened up by the reverse, the Ponekes kept up an attack, and at last Irvine got across, but the referee decided against him, though to onlookers in the stand ths try seemed a fair one. Subsequently Irvine got across again, and this time he was awarded the points, but his kick failed. In the second spell Athletics were much the superior side, and were constantly on the attack. Bell, after bumping Morris, got across, and later in the game E. M'Donald scored. Both tries were not improved upon. During the game Morris, tho Foneke full-back, was severely tackled, and had to be carried from the field of play. Mr. Tregear was referee. MELROSE (34) v. OLD BOYS (5). Melrose • simply played with a weak Old Boys' side at the Hutt. The winners scored 20 points to nil at halftime, and 14 to 5 in the second spell — 34 to 5 in all. The losers have suffered greatly by defections and accidents, and, though they fought earnestly, were overmatched and outplayed. The winners did some remarkably v clever work on tho day, and are apparently to have a good season. Grace scored a brilliant try for his side, but it was the only score. Diake added the points. The Melroee tries were made in tho following order : — Miller, Bain, Miller (convfrted "W. J. Marshall), Bain, Rivers, Dan Sullivan, Rivers, Rivers, Rivers, and B. Sullivan (converted by W. Marshall). Mr. Eveiwon was referee. WELLINGTON (6) v. VICTORIA j COLLEGE (6). At Karori the Wellington and Victoria College teams played a drawn game, each side scoring 6 points. Play was confined mainly to the forwards, a hign wind iuakiuK matters difficult for the backh. Wellington had all the best of the play dm ing the liisl twenty minutes, but only succeeded in putting on six points. Lambert kicked a penalty goal and liuVJge scored a. try. Towards the end of th'j spell iSuimond scored a prettytry tor College. The pace wab pretty hot in tho second .spell, and had it not been for thu fine piny of the Wellington forwards t'ulk'ge would Ime won handfcomelv. Fiw minute horn time Salniund niude the winri o\e;i uith a neat try. Feal tire*, ol the jjame weie the solid defence of the College l en l guard, and thy combined work of the Wellington van^uaid. i Air. J. Hufittll v, mi ltsfurtt.