FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 86, 13 April 1914, Page 4

FOOTBALL

RUGBY GAMES MERIVALE V. ATHLETIC VICTORY FOR HOME TEAM. The senior Rugby match, Merivalo (Christchurch) v. Athletic (Wellington) played at Athletic Park, Newtown, on Saturday afternoon, resulted in a win for -the borne team by 12 points to 3. Some 500 people assembled to witness the contest, and though neither team had had sufficient time to get into "form"* were treated to an interesting exhibition of the game with occasional flashes of good play. The first spell was fairly evenly contested. In the second spell the local men demonstrated their superiority] by overwhelming their opponents in both the forward and back divisions. The game was played in beautiful weather, with a light ' breeze blowing across the field. The teams were as follow :—: — Athletic (Wellington)— Full-back, A. Cunningham; three-quarters, H. Adams, D. Madden, V. Ryan; five-eighths, J. Robinson, S. Wilson ; half, A. Hugh ; wing forward, G. Hutcheaon ; forwards, W. Ryan, G. Orsborn, J. Smith, A. Wilson, R. Paton, E. Oraborn, G. Luoni. Meriva-le (Christchurch) — Full-back, J. Donaldson ; three-quarters, W. Ford, J. Waite, ftl. Brosnau; five-eighths, R. Hardie, L. Ca-de ; half, H. Beaton ; wing-forward, 13. Nixon ; forwards, Hasel, Lattimore, ftMxwell, Smart, T. M'lntosh, A M'lntosh, W. Menziea. Merivale kicked off, 'and play in neutral territory followed for a while. Ultimately the home forwards broke away and looked like scoring, when Donaldson saved by forcing. The visitors replied by invading their opponents' quarters, but were driven back and obliged to forco once more. Nothing daunted they returned to the attack, and ihis time succeeded in drawing first blood. During fast, open play some twenty-five i yards in front of Athletics goal posts, Mcnzies secured possession of the ball, and, after a clever run, passed to Hasel, who crossed the line and scored. W. Ford took the kick at goal fi but failed. Merivale 3, Athletic nil. Give-and-ta.ke play, each side alternately invading the otlier's quarters, followed for the next few minutes, but without result. The local men by a series of overpowering 1 rushes then swept the visitors before them, and A. Wilson, snapping up the leather close io Merivale's goal-line, Crossed and scored. Hugh failed at goal. Merivale 3, Athletic 3. # The visitors had the best of the remainder of the spell, but failed to improve their score. The first few minutes of the second spell were characterised by fast, open play, which seemed to tell on the Christchurch men. The Wellingtoniatis at any rate soon demonstrated their superiority. From tight work close to the visitors' goal line Luoni gathered in'the. oval and dashed across. Hugh again failed to add the extra points. Athletic 6, Merivale 3. Athletic returned to the attack, but were unable to find an opening and were obliged to play on the defensive for a while, the Merivale men setting up a series of determined rushes. The local men finally gained relief by forcing, and immediately transferred play tc the opposite end of the field, where Luoni made another opening and scored., S. Wilson took the kick, and also failed >at goal. Athletic 9, Merivale 3. Soon afterwards Athletic resumed the aggressive, and Rvan scored in a good position. S. Wilson again attempted to plac6 tlie ball over the cross-bar, with' the same result. Athletic^l2, Merivale 3. Time was called almost immediately afterwards. Ml 1 . L, Simpson acted as referee, and gave every satisfaction. PONSONBY DEFEATS PETONE A WELL CONTESTED GAME. The 1914 Rugby season, as far as Tetono was concerned, opened somewhat auspiciously on Saturday, when the suburban club was pitted against the Ponsonby fifteen, last year's' Auckland champions. Apart from a deceitful wind the conditions were all that could be desired, while the game, which was interesting throughout, was watched by about 1000 persons. The teams were as follow :— Ponsonby : Full back, A. Church ; j threequarters, J. M'Gregor, W rf Clarke, H. Porter ; five-eighths, G. Murray and J. O'Loary; half, N. Bater ; wing forward, L. Walker; forwards, T. Campbell, G. Sellars (captain), H. Francis, G. Avery, E. Munro, H. Swanson, S. Magee. Petond: Full back, G. Parker; threequarters, D. Boyd, Joseph Eyan, O. Denneliy ; ' five-eighths, James Ryan (captain) and E. Ryan ; half, S. Henderson ; wing forward, A. Price ; forwards, A. Parker, H. Parrant, Dent, W. Ready, H. Tancred, Smith, C. Nankiville. In spite of the fact that players had had little time in which 4a practise, the spectators were treated to good, though not brilliant, football. At the beginning the Aucklanders played wish great dash, tbe Petone m»»n being hard pressed in defending their line. At times Ponsonby indulged in some attractive passing, but the sturdy defence maintained |by the blues invariably upset their chances of reaching ,ttie desired goal. After play had centred in Petone's territory for some considerable time, the Jocal team was penalised for off-side play, and O'Leary, taking the kick, managed to register a somewhat doubtful goal. Ponsonby kept up the aggressive tactics, but could not get through the ranks of the defending suburbanites. Their next score was the result of a mark by Sellars, O'Leary again being successful with the kick. With six points down against them, Petone made a rally, and, while play centred in Ponsonby's quarters, the former wei'e awarded a penalty * kick. This was beautifully executed by Jim Ryan. No sooner had the ball been in motion again than Petone were in torn penalised for off-side tactics, and O'Leary again succeeded in adding three points to the score. Shortly after this off-side play on the part of the visitor* gave Petone another chance, and Jim Ryan, with a well judged kick, made the score read Ponsonby 9, Petone 6. Before halftime sounded both teams had added five points each to their score, and in obtaining these the players provided some of the prettiest work of the day. For quite a long time Ponsonby kept pegging away at Petone's lines of . defence, and after several repulses they succeeded in breaking through. This was as the result of a concerted move by the backs, the ball travelling from player to player in a somewhat dazzling fashion. Murray, who was well out towards the side line, was the last to receive the ball, and by dint of a smart sprint managed to elude the opposition nnd score. o'Leary had no difficulty in adding the extra points. This episode appeared to arouse Petortc, and the crowd became enthusiastic as the bluos swept down the field in fine style. It looked every moment as if Petone would Bcore, when Dent secured the ball from a scramble and passed to A. Parker, who touched down near the corner flag. Jim Ryan placed a beautiful goal. This ended the first spell. Matters were very cvpti in the second half, but despite per. sip*ent efforts neithm 1 s>ide was able to add to the score. An interesting game

thus ended with the result :— Ponsonby 14, Petone 11. Mr. 11. Card controlled the game. MATCHES ELSEWHERE WELLINGTON BEATS CHRISTCHURCH. (»r TELEOIUPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.* CHRISTCHURCH, 11th April. The annual match between the Wellington and Chlistchurch football clubs was played to-day at Lancaster Pavk, when after an open and interesting game the visitors won by 8 points to nil. The Wellington forwards were too good for the opposition, but their backs did not take lull advantage of the opportunities offering. Miller and Wenscored tries and Bridge converted the latter's. SEASON OPENED AT WESTPORT. WESTPORT, 11th April. Tlie football season opened to-day with a match between the White Stars (Greymouth) aud White Stars (Westport), the fonder winning by 8 points to 3. ASSOCIATION The Auckland City Club's third division tea Th. which was last year's fourth division champion, played a game I against Swifts third division team on Saturday on the Association ground at Kilbirnie. There was a fair number of spectators present, and an interesting and willing game resulted. The Auckland players were, however, too good for the local men and won by 5 goals to 2. AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIVES BEAT WELLINGTON (IT TILMRAPB— PHIS* AIIOC1ATIOM.) AUCKLAND, 12th April. The Auckland and Wellington Association football representatives played a^ match in fine weather on Saturday. The play was not of a very interesting nature, both teams lacking combination. The match ended—Auckland 3, Wellington 2. The Auckland and Wellington V.M.C. A. teams also played an Association match,) and Wellington won by 4 goals to 2. Brooklyn (Wellington) defeated an Auckland junior ( team by 2 goals to nil.