RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 137, 10 June 1918, Page 4

RUGBY

SATURDAY'S MATCHES.

There was an excellent attendance at Athletic Park on Saturday; and the crowd witnessed some particularly good football in the match between Wellington College and University. The Wei-lington-Trentham B match on No. 2 ground, was also a keen contest.

WELLINGTON COLLEGE (14) v. UNI-

VERSITY (13),

The issue of the match between Wellington College and University was in doubt until almost the last moment. College, with the sun behind them, began the first spell well, and scored two tries, one by Smith and the second by Nicol. The lattor's was quite a spectacular- effort, the speedy three-quarter outpacing the opposing backs and making a good run home. Neither try wa6 converted. Both sides were using their backs freely, for the ground was in good order and the ball dry. The forwards also were evenly matched and well trained. If anything, College probably had a slight advantage both in weight and speed. But this advantage was not- sufficient to give them any certainty of victory. University kept pegging away, and before the epell ended Smith scored for them. Scott converted the try. The second spell saw both teams refreshed and as keen as ever. University opened the attack,. and kept College defending for some time. In several attempts to cross' the goal line the University forwards did excellent work, marred, however, by over-eagerness in the final stages, so that a College back always managed to nip in and find the line. At last College were penalised in their own twenty-five, and Scott kicked a good goal for University. It was now the turn of College to press, and they did so most effectively. Their passing rushes were not wholly successful, but they managed to obtain a penalty goal—kicked by Nicol—which again placed them in the lead. The University backs renewed the offensive, and played' up splendidly. Their passing rushes 'were numerous, and. but for the sure tackling of the opposing division would have brought victory many times over. Backs, as well as forwards, were too eager, and more than once passed forward when a, try would almost certainly have been obtained but for this breach of the rules. On one occasion the University centre threequarter made a clever" opening, and got within five yards of the goal-line. He was marked, but there were two unmarked men in support. Either couJd have scored, but both were-off-side. At last Scott, who had been playing a. splendid game, managed to beat the College backs, and scored between the posts. He converted the try himself. College now redoubled their efforts, for they had five points to get- for a victory, and the time-keeper was already looking at his watch. Forwards and backs played well together, and after the former had laid tho foundations for a solid attack the backs gave one of the best exhibitions of passing seen in the afternoon. A try by Davidson was the final result. Nicol kicked a good goal, and the, game ended a minute or two later with College winners by one point.

WELLINGTON (11) v. TRENTHAM'B (3).

Wellington had the best of the game in their match with Trentham B, though the camp players -were not opponents to be despised. The play was fast, but not so spectacular as in the College-Univer-sity match. For one things, the backs were not used to the same extent. In the first spall Wellington scored twice, Chestermah and Savident touching down. Chesterman's try was the result of an excellent piece of individual work, the scorer running from near the half-way line. Schroder converted the try,. Trentham made strenuous and repeated efforts to score m the second spell, and at last the backs found a I corner unguarded, and Lynch dropped I over. The angle was too difficult for a goal. For some time afterwards play was lcept away 'from either goal-line, but just in the final minutes, as the result' of close following-up, Savident scored his second try for Wellington. ' It was not converted. The final scores were thus: Wellington 11, Trentham B 3. . PETONE (9) v. PONEKE (3). There was an exciting contest at Petone between the suburban team and Poneke. The struggle was mainly between the .forward divisions, as both sides seemed disinclined to risk opening up the game. \ In the first half Petone attacked almost continuously, and after many fruitless attempts by both forwards and backs a try was registered by Parker. The kick at goal failed. Poneke retaliated with an invasion of the Petone twenty-five, but it came to nothing, though Tilyard just missed a dropped goal. Petone attacked again in the second half of the match, and a clever try was scored by W. Thomas, after a pleasing piece of back work. A little while later Parker took the ball from a scrum near the line, and scored 1 Petone's third try. Just before the call of time, Malm scored for.Poneke, as a result of close following up. The final figures were : Petone 9, Poneke 3. Oriental (3) defeated Old Boys (0). Trentham A (7) defeated Selwyn (0).