RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 144, 21 June 1930, Page 22

RUGBY

-..' ■•: By. ''OnopKicK'!

STILL OPEN

SENIQR CHAMPIONSHIP

VIEWS AND NOTES

f; :^;!:^',r::;j^^lbNSmP'|T4BTiES.:' \ ;V ;.;'■' ■4^':Vk":''-/v^^'::'>:SE»»ior;a^i«. v .'ViV'/'v"'' :!>: ■■:'..' •;...- :; :'-./i'.:;' ■>■?■;,•; ;: . '■.',■ •;;■;■-. pbmts/.ch. v':, ■■;;'v:;v':: ; ':C^;-,V^.'' w.'- ''"ii.-.-- t>.:' I".:' A.-Pts. ■ ■ : "'Warlst.V.V.v.'S r 0' :■■: J ■ 0 .120 J9 : 12 ■■'•■'■-•■';Petorie':;i;:.V-'-Si .■■ -G-:-:'2 •;;0<:144> 89 » 12. ' : Old Boys ..S 5 2 1. 85 '..81 11 ".:■••■■ .Athletic:•',■...'■ S 4 -;.3. - 1 os.-,fi9 9 -"'.- ■"■' Eastbourne . .;8.. ,4 •■. 3 :s"l 1.01 '. 7S ' 9 •• ' i'i>W«: >:B • . 4>::3.': Y'l 10S:-;l'71: - 9 :'"•■'■..'' '' Oriental: ...-..'8 ;'■ '3 ■:- . 4v.>..1:/'44 : BS-- -'7. : '.^oneka-.;...., B. ; 3.'■■■:•' 4:. ..1. 107 -.112, ' T '.'■•' ' \Berhahipore".. -8 : ■!; 7- ;. 0- ; 3G- -146 .. ■ 2 .1 '.'■• v'l: r'-V7.';^(>/ •06^101-; 2 .;... >;f."-^V:'^. v">--^;^ENiOß'»''f:"'-!- '■:•': r\':/: ■;--.-: ■"'■':•'• i:^i\Vellirigtbri;::-7:!v:Y-- :'0 '.-'■-"6"•'■ 261'■•'■■ ■■•ifl U :■■:-: >,:JobnsouTtne:: .7: i; .6 :"vji-..'.'.0..-108i.:-6S.:--I2. •-■- ' Selwyn .... -7 ', 5..C -2, •, 0.--71! e-SO- -.10 ■-.-:■ Oriental >.v,;.8:,.-v4>:,-.3: ■ i':/5a":: 62--J.9 ■ h-iltiimar ■:s.;1"7 ''■' "!4-.:-i :% '.1 V- 08- '■'■ 68 : S ■■..>■" ■ViDniversltyy v-':T!. .:4 «:; 3> ■. :■ '0.iv.59'-V 53 .' ■:& V.'-'--'-,- OW'Spys-:^' 7 ..':v3;'-'.j:-4' '"•Tof^li2.:-.-75 -'HO' :;"»-':vTraii'lnK'Coi; .7-,.:-.; 2 :4:::5 > :0-'.57 '...75; 4 ;'-;- ; ': 1.. :'6-: 1-C- 52' 107- a :. : .c Upper. Hutt f/i. 7' . ,1,».:>5 : .!l'-:'32'«J9;1 V^'\'-'i/.Porteua-;.ji. v .i.B;.\-:\:a^';: r -.7...:.',-j.0:;v.Sl;:- 174' . -,2 : ."*"■;. There were no. real surprises va tie • : senior, A championship .-'matches; decid- :,. ': S^edf last v Saturdayj!\and .tKe ' Tesults of ■.■■' the 'games left the position much as! it ''■[ ■' ";: "Was befdre; the; previous weekV• games .! 'iA'«Uglit sis:teais..: within a;point of J ..each,-other. . Maristt and j Petone are ■f; ! ;:■ againjih;front, a!point ahead" ofi-Old :'' ■■"';•'-• Boys, but.'Athletic, .■Eastbourne,:;. and !.: ,4-.'Hutt','ihaye''eaSn'-'9r6ppe:ai!back'a'./equple •': '.-.'■ f-'ci /pointai(.;fvjiv-''-;-.;.ir ,',;>-.: !■■■::;,;;'-, :" ,"\:.. :v.. '} A {^feature ;'bf ;:this'l season's eompeti:■tioh;haß;:been'thatsithas'^^ nbtrb'een'left ■ ;;';■ ; to the''^l^oUngSl:!teains;!;'.t6; ;,eliminat§ .''.'■;/-:vV:6ich\6tK^vb'ut?-ießms':;y'lq^6jI''downv-iii; ";■ '-':■.■ '■ vjthe'ladder^iave^iiadfa''hattdiui levelling! : '■.■^■■ltfiftvJpjßuits.;: The-.fonn.-;pi;-the:; b'ottdm; ;■'teams/no'!:iess':t|an:.t ;..'; ■" ,has been ■inconsistent,/' After; rising; to-; :;?■:'. ;-': the :bccisi6n^^ndJ:defeatmg';:;;P^ on. "■;/-: }:'-: the ApireyiOn's : ::v:Saturdayy-; "JJiivdrsi|y -''vA^-siumpedf^iK^^ ; :^"th'e:lastffew; miifut'eis by Oriental, whom ■' - Petone-; hW" 'coinSortably"..• beaten.; ; TJn- :" ~v lew a;.tra.\a^^Bt;:'Marißt;.'in.''-to jaay'B '. ;:''-r-?gameVi'gayeyther.atn^ ■;■:: £ 'and': presuming Berhainpbre': -Were: ■ ■•■• again 'defeated,' University :will. finish, i; the first round-by sharing' last'j'-'place. •:: v:-:'i>n the'-ladder^a ■big;!flrop::for-'a rteam ;: ■ wori;-'the "championship in the r"r- i'-.lastytwo seasons'..; A .■ '■•'• ;.''"':'■?.■?. ;'?;''?■ ,-;:•■;V■ ■ v...jA;•■.'■ F,our pf;l'the leaaingi;teams^'Petone,. ° ' Hutt, Athletic,: and Marist, -were en- ; ;Vgagedan-tWo"''of last: week's games, alid ; ■..¥? jthe,teams'at^ the* top -of Jtha ladder,! won ; ■-,-:■ $a bptfi: cases.' /Bright I performances ■ i'.onthpir.hbme giround -had much ■: :;; to?be rexpected-.: from Jftittj ■but =, back' ■ '- \ .;'-■ and '■■ forward" Petone, carried \ too '■ many : !f-.^giinsy:winning more /decisively ;>tha'n. '.:■';,■■ the of >in''their ».; favour iV-',i;^;.^6nid>angge4fc''--NW.ith-','.'further-;,.experi-.' ■^trene'e .ofsplaying: ion;': ■ Athletic;:'/Park, K'.'Zi Hutt:: will j probably ibe; able, toi give.a -':':^.better.Vaecbunt7!bfv:-tnemselves.^ ./ ;■; ; .;;';• ~v ;jrg.:Atnletie,;'.;:;:Vho.';v!'narrowly ; ; spulled; ;'!'% through'against :Porieke.,on'•.■the. previous- ''''■>(-;■■ Saturd&y^.largely'by>virtue:.of HeazloJ :■■?:■ 'wood's kickixig,:had to; take/.the field. ' ;i* ■ ■ "againstj:Marist without':'thd ■ services' of! <:;! Porter, land 'after^^ being: twelye points; .', / -do\Tn. at/half-time' were ■]'. c u*nable -to ' ."'■ 'position:*whenVthey.!had! !;'.:'"'the^wnid<';at-their; 'backs/,;iAthletic; '■■■■ 07? cbuld^weli-''do' jwith:,another;;. Syeison- ■'." :-and-;'anbt^r^Waifwick.v ; :.:;v:."'f'.''! !.k;.^' S ■ \'r "■ -f ■ Pbheke^gaye'^-further'l evrdenee'; of: ±;tlteiic improved ?"fprm;"^^by.; butplayirig -'-^^tboJira'©.^''.^'.-^^'.'.*''^^^'^ 'forwards; rf<^ are'-^lv^s'.nafd tb'i'ni^ter)- and; never; . rfi. nibre^ f&6. ; thanrrwKett.thb!'grbund':aHd;ba]l,i '■<■'.- ."^- axetgie&syi'*■-■'»■ ■.:':-fy-; : >". : v-■\i;t'if;: v;7-'.-'•':■ : ': '■' t'.". i yiewed as' a ■Vhole,- this; championship' ; i ! , ia Tstlll!' very /'interesting, ; ■■■:-■) !l'- !vbht- there>iS' room fpr!«a-!.bigfimprpve-;W ineht -in;;;the ; fprm:;;:displayed! I j. '■ ;b-ini;the, :club'/"ma;tch'es. K';^^i^}^ -f} ■!■ ;':'':^.QS^ot : :!B.'^mp^ibft^!<. : wl;!.;v;;' •.'■''>:..' ;. yu:',;:-;Era^tica^:ithV;whple;.interest; in,;tho, i .senibr-sßrcompetition is derived -from( ' '•: ~j,tlie Ipeirformances;\ of ithe, ; Wellington, : ';-v.ieam,>!^whi(vb Jhas .'.ad:-', far. VJmjoyoi ■:,'.,? Vnnbrolien>rnn .:.! Of ' suicesses^, "'and.;- ap-; .:; ! t V r "! ; pe"a.rav:^:i,'h4'ye:;:thp::,c ; : -r '-i' «ncliand'.:.i'':j|'?vJ j■.■:.-.•-.'■.."'-..-«•".'.': ;,. : .:; 'y.'.\.-'. '■ '. ''; ; * - '-. Tlip. club;^commenced^ ;the/season? with; ;:..' -: a ' strong;>!l sideicfi;:;which : .:>subs'equent *~ acquisitions .have; fnrther strerigth.ened /: ':s'"until;:ati\the!' -present;: f tiine;it;-;;would ' i:tP*6l>^bly.;.belable;,tp^acebunt 'for,'most. •-.■ •; all' pf ■ the '.:A: teams1. !:',Tn: some^instances .the-.v.;niargin Jin;V their y,:; > .^'.fayonT;,".vhas;.n'ptV'b.een;; ■greaty;,..',brit'.in .•;•.: pth;ere^:CTi6ke!t:i'scpre3-vhavb" .^been^fcoin-: :; piled. In -tho latter matches "the j team . : jha^jiplav.^-.the,. deiightlul^gbtbalt that, ..'■!>:. !'cqmes'l-ii:pitt:iSpr'^ ;;isVno' doubt that; relegation to the-B ; :; grade: has caused the!team to- take its : ,;■ . fidtball. more, seriously,- but it Ms just; ■ i.:: '^.question as to whether some of the -.'; .'■'-'.. jpading playersj particularly among the ; ,; "forwards, may; be to some extent spoilt ;; .; Sy playing repeatedly against opppn- /;.>:'■■'■ whose.^ football,: is-on. a m.uch ;' '.' .Ib.wer plane.:;' .]-:: ;..';-.-'--.-.".'v;-. .■!!',:.•-;' ".■'■'.:■ :si|!So fat Johnsonville;. invariably■ consistent .performers in tho grade, ap: ! V;, ;pear to bo the 'only team capable \ of extending (Prior -to,! meet- : ; ing Wellington, Selwyri' had 'done; well ■•.-:: enough in their ■ matches to,; ;sugge"st :'■','.;'' 'tliat they; would -put ;up a good fight, :: !/.:but they extent to which they fell* ■ ..,: ;• short, of tho leaders',;fprm >yas,brought ;-.-. Ivqine.by! the. one-sided nature;, of the' :;; ■■"■■■ match. rMiramar,. Oriental,. ;and Uni-; yjefsity havo'each done fairly'well. .' !?'!;The question has, been freely raised: .. ■ ?ib to. whether-in view of its strength' '. jn the'lower'grade, Petono would not i- ;'.■-." be able to field a senior B team; The : rbply from tho club is that its strength does not lio in the number of.players ~:.-:, :b4cring.! ■ A nuihbor of their, players '■;.' ■ -.haye1 been transferred.'.in- 'recent sea: ,• .-■.'■p'ons to neighbouring clubs, andiinstead' ~...0f /being ab.le,;to, increase' its bntries ••;'•'(. ■ t'the club;hasj,had to make at; ; least:.one ■ ; withdrawal,' that, of the ; int.etmediato , '■■ ..'■''teamJ ' !;-.,; ; ';, /''■);■■' "■'■■'. ' ■-....• ->V-;'. ■■'"-.'•'. ::; ;^[arist StiUGoiiig. ';'. -\: "'0 ry-'--': ■''.':._ ~ . jiMarist gained.another win:iaVt week ;;:■■'.■ ;:When they\defeated Athletic, .and':they; .lleserved it, but their form will have, to be more consistent if they are to cori- ; '.''; '; tinuo. a. fchampionship: possibility..; In " -:'.'. ;'the first spell the'Marist forwards play- .! ;. fe'a' with great dash, and their backs ■: tha'ndled nicely, well-timed passing and ■ ■ good judgment leading to each of their '•". - :,fries., .In\ tho second spell,, however, Athletic, had niore than their share of .; : iShe igamel The' Marist back-line has ■■■■■' r:- :W^CC> and £rom; Keegan to Brodericli is J ; :V:iever ; with its hands.; Bobins, at second • ''-. ' iiye-eighth, is particularly . dangerous, ,-Snd the three-quarters have the speed '•'.-. jttp develop tho openings which, their ••".;',' sound inside men make for them. The !, - ;*|orwards, too, -are clever with their feet :■/'■' -and men like M'Hardy, Barry, and •King are fast underneath kicks and^a ;tlanger to the opposing backs. For all y. ■;':'i%&i } virtj team sometimes shows a curi,!.,ous instability, and, with Cuming likely :;-"i» be unsound at moments, this may XMt them valuable championship points. Marist have two points in thoir favour, however, they have an aggressive 'back-line, and a pack which can assure -. "'them of a liberal supply of ball; and, secondly, they are well trained; They •-,.will1, last as well as any team and bet;ter than most, and this year have the ' Confidence.that comes from the habit of '-.•.,'. ';■■:Spinning matches. They have served a ;lbng apprenticeship "in the bunch" at >the season's end, and cannot bo taken . ! '.lightly by any side. . .':."•. ■'%: Athletic lacked. Porter, arid missed .ii'im badly. Thoir form might have . Been better had not Dunn and Dus'•.tiii.■b,otli"£onnd thejnsely<?s"Tinablei to. do :".'..'■' an'^thingwitTf the ball for long spasms, ,: ; ■'■'..',"" and the mistakes of these men gave :.' i- - Maritit ■ repeated, chances ■■ to break

through. • Sullings-antl Poulton both showed dashjbut had few chances, and: when Poulton did run Adam into position the referee- would.not allow.:a, try. Some "of the. forwards wero fairly tired at :the;:endVof. the game ;iri, which ■ they went very hard during, the second spell, but Ward' and Adams were not the worst; of them, j Athletic were unlucky, too',. in that Heazlewood" could' make nothing of the wind. Ho had five shots at goal from useful : positions, . arid though he'placed them round about the posts, they were not quite good enough. .Petone and-JHutt. ■'.■&<;■'-,-:■■■ ■';:■.•■.::-^■.■•'

, Saveral of the :Hutt players 'did not ■' appear. at ; :all. comfortable in making their ' appearance at. V Athletic.; Park against .Petono, .and. this considerably affectedthb team work as a whole,, as also -did the fact that one of.; two p] a^ers Of ■ experience were not Jon_ their game.' It was *■ not..until late: in the game.that:Hutt really, oxtonded Petone, but they were,too late in finding: their 'feßt''.as .U/.team.-.>.-■;■•.■..:■'-.;'.". •...■;.' ' .'■ ■' On the other ;hand,; Petone, played; as, a side in which there appeared: to -bo' a thorough: uriderstanding between the players,,apart altogether from, - their; capabilities •as individuals. All round they were a more-solid force, and there was much ■ more sting in; -their ' attack than was the case with ;'_■[ ■;. ; : ;; The ;Petprie' forwards were more solid than Hhose' of. Hutt, ■■ who.-were quite-an active force:- in the: loose - without beirigable to carry their efforts '.to.-'.a-,; suc-cessful'.-■-issue,'''and:', lacking' the required support : from', the-backs. ■ Petone Ipre■ferred scrams' "to liiie-buts, but1" in! their, efforts;';to ) gainVpossessibn 'of 'the:: ball ■they'were^'frequently^ penalised^ and;;it ivas ;:fortunate ' that /penalty; goals did not goheayily against them. ■■!; ;f ;>;/ ; The Petone baclfs/: right from Comaln to the wing-three-quarters, were ;a much more impressive set than the: Hutt 'rearguard.'.':.: Some■ of. :thp -latter-; were very, uncertain on. the day,-and, as a result, ?: Cobke," at second' fiye;eighth,f did: not get' any thing-; like.the work, to do! tliat ahbuld-' 'come' -the way of a player of his 'calibre, '.Usually.Syhen he did; en?. deavpur:::to"':!impro!ve: matters' forihis side his activities were : restricted by the close attention he'received from1 the. opposing.players..-; -..-.:'"..>.'';:?.': ■'•V:."'..';','..■='«;'::: v rNicholls directed his side: in, a;' high: lyeapablo.'mariner.;. His :line-kicking : tp keep ■hi3;side.bn;attaek:..was. one. of [the features iof/the''niateh. y;;;! v;li ;>:- .\V^:.~\ cA: tit-bit -was- provided ;_when'.-!; Petorie^s. 'account was ;opened.!rNicholls and "Cooke were then- the/opposing; second fiyereighths, and Nicholls. very, cleye^ly•'•'■beat^tie;■;Hu'tt•.cap^aia.^to;■mak'o;.';a.• ! bpening.Tfbr.>a:tryi ;--.* Y^'y';?, ;■..;■ > 'Coman: played;*:a ;particular^;■:fine ganie, and. scored two -.splendid tries. He, is npw-a much' better defensive .player .than -in! the.,-past.1 yi.->. .:.•. ■'"^.'■•'f-.'-.v^:,-,;,; , -Walker's "dashing efforts ? were . always attrswjtiye^; and :.he; ; showed a return to form: after his dis appointing. display!against : University.'rPetone's posir tion was not .always secure; when it was! left to; Byi'rie ;to get them-,;out' of >a tight, corner, this* player being .obviously, out of :place as full-back. !„ : : .-- ;, ::;;.In the•Hutt'pack: the two Hlntons:dis: pjayed their. usual ■■ dash; althongh one of them was suffering.from.;an v injiiry. Peek was: little! more than a passenger, in: view of tho fact that ho had/any.in ■jured;knee.\..:-'-;:';.:.j:,.;-.'," ■•'.■ :•:' '.;,, r'!;.' h . Hutts'partienlarlyrweakrpbint was at.; first'five-eighth, .where'Feeiiey was! right off;-hisi game/ and -this,1 of;course, aft' fectedrCoolcb 7a;display;: ;M-; v f "'--;:■: ;:f-'. The whole of the Petonej'papk'.went': Very well,: playingVsoliclly: all, the.- way,' but - Hutt .'.s". form •■.was"'disappointing to/ jthbse.supportersvwho,had fpUpwed theni; into: town, !.as-> well- as tO'iiiose : ;wh6; had^been ;led! ;^xpect ■: berte?;; tMngs ■ irpnr^! thp.deanu'■•■•'■' "T^',';!.;. ;' .•.; •..■/'ift'".. ~.j •'. "■.' ■.-'..'; Ponefce and Eastbourne: '"■■';■ J'''"'7" y<■ ':'■ -Itv wouW be --diflicult ' to^^ndi/two! teaniß.'Vwhose ii'espectiveslslejs of, play, differed more widely than ■ those.' favour-: ed -by.» Ppneke./.and {BastbjJUrne,-; :^ndwhen Lthese ■'two! meetr : ari":,intereßtirig. battle iri:tactics almost' invariably fol- ; ipwsV' with :the J game going to the side which succeeds\in calling ;thoi tune to; v?hich);the^bthcr ; ,must play.-;'; :i' >'; '■ '■■.■< \ .In this 'respect ian'impprtttnt'part is played;-by; :tho^eatheri:,;;G;lveri^a. wet, ■.aay,.:^e'hrhaidliigUß..''.diffi^ti ytt'e::com|. pact! driving force.'.'of: the, Porieke fix--'•.wards.•■c'aM■.■^be•^brough't^into"ffliU".••;play.. : If both^ ground [and-ball:arb|dry,.how-; eyer,;;Eastbpurrio 's passing game,: with; its rspeedy!'pp.en'.movements,:/:can \ be Adopted■,!with:,'better' prpspe'c.ts;.6f..jßuc-, cess.:'■::;.:,;■ ;-.'.v.:^v;:"': ■'• -:^' "■;.--/>■-=".■ -j*;Lvl---V--."-"'-:'■;■■.•:.' •■; ; Kit, : ; y^as;not ■:. Eastbou'rne/s •- day .last Saturday; The Petono^ ground; had received a good soaking;-and morei-rain! ■^during 'the game^^didinot-improve/their Vhance?.s '■;.. ln, spite :bf (the': difficulties .in tho'!:way...they!' eride^ypufed/tb; make'the game! open," but 'although some of their efforts se"emed likely-<t'6 bear,fruit, in most cases-mishandling iresulted:in the side being placed in difficulties. ,':■ ■Ppjn,eke,-''fln r :.the^\other.^hand,.. with ,the ■bai£Mat&ally'%rayitatmg/'to>th and'the cross wind helping to close up play by making for a succession' of line-outs,:were able to dribble and push; to-their'hearts'content. ' •';. ..... Jessup Was.'■:in. great fettle, and .it generally took two of ; the opposing forwards to. 'restrict ■ his''activities. Kene, Fra'ser, and Wilson were a useful trio who were' constantly to, be seen in the forefront. Shearer, was much/in evidence in. the loose, and he had to be watched vory- elpselx;!,">vhenever play approached: the': opposing goal-line. Currie, wing-forward, aisp. did his,share. ; '■"■:. Among-the-'backs several showed up on' occasions for f individual ; efforts. Julian was not as much in eyideneo'as might;-;have been expected, but put in a lot of clever work -nevertheless. Probably /the best link in 'the..!baek' chain' was'that between Pelham arid Barratt, who!;showed a' good:' understandings whilb'Neal, who was of: necessity ■playing pn the wing, was undoubtedly tho most valuable back dn the side.': Foote gave an improved showing.at full-back. .Eastbourne's "display was praiseworthy: chiefly for thorendeavour they made ,to; rise, above the, conditions. and for -the' do'termiried effort in the second spell to wipe off the balance against :thein.;./For an vappreciable; period -. they had Poneke defending /desperately j and the result of the game appeared to be far from decided.- -The:town team, ho^rf ever, was too solidj and not biily worked clear of the danger zpne/but also .added another-try*.:;/ ./..:':.' ,'■'■: / Price, Jones, arid N. Dellabarca were about the bestoos£ s tho Eastbourne forwards,) aridi among the backs E. Foley, was outstanding,'with Clark also giving good service. Dinniss .was disappoint-ing,>and;thQ..-wirig'3|,rcei.ved e few opportunities. ."••"•'.'-'-/.: ■' ■,: ; - . : -. - Wellington Have a Eonip. ■; , : •/For all its bne-sidedness, the senior B game at' Athletic Park o'ri Saturday between Wellington and Selwyn provided some very bright football, with Wellington providing all tho merry moments. Selwyn had no chance; the odds wore far too great, and in the second spell the Wellington bapks had a picnic. Selwyn could not hold them. It was somowhat surprising to. find Selwyn such poor opposition. A much better showing was indicated by previous performances—five wins in six matches—but it was with ridiculous ease that , Wellington, with the wind behind them, rattled on 43 points in the second spell, which, with 17; for the first spell, brought their score to the huge total of 60 points. Selwyn had few opportunities to dp much, but such that were offering were not .turned advantage. It was Wellington's second biggest score in their list of seven successive wins' by decisive margins. , Porirua havo had the largest scoro registered against them—79 points in tho first game—and then next on the list was the win against Upper Hut t by 35 points;, /'.-.^Wellington's. total: 0f:,2C4 points'is. nioro' than double tho number registered by Johnsonville, tho next team in, the competition, and as yet

Wellington's line has aot been crossed, the: nine points against them representing three penalty goals. ■■.',./

As already mentioned there was no holding -Wellington's backs on Satur-day,-Johnson, Page, and -Riddel! (exManawhenua representative), knowing too much, and. besides scoring fine tries themselves, they saw. to it that the wingers were not neglected., The result was that when Kilby whipped the ball out the back line in its entirety was often seen in action, with dazzling playj by the insides,:and fine dashes to finish, off by tho wingers, .Oliver and Pryde,. who were big contributors to the:-score; .'-'Kilby, besides playing' a hand in the sweeping attacking movements^, converted six of the 16 ■ tries obtained .".by.. Wellington. It was as woll, perhaps,' that other' attempts' by him .failed.. :: *.;V ..;■ ■'■•'■■■' ■■■ '.~' TJniversity and Melrose. ; .;.'•.■■'■:;. ;.•.. The University } backs were the deciding factor,, hi, the senior B grade match" between .:Meirose: and .University at Emerson 'Street: Eeserve. ■ In 'tight scrummaging :'Melrose held the opposing, forwards well,.alth6ugh University were slightly the. better in loose, play, iogan, behind the', scrum, let his- backs have, plenty of ■;the ■ ball,'.and rat times some, really smart .passing/rushes were seen.: * .The defensive work !of the. Melrose, backs was .very sound, otherwise the score .would"have .been bigger. , -'. ~ Gqpdson again, played excellently; on the • wing for; University,/ .putting ;in some; strong, runs." His■': tackling'•'was also a noticeable feature of .his play. Aweaknessis still evident in the'inside backs,- who do'not ;f eed the wing^-three? quarters over/much; Logan's clean, sharp.passesI,'.from, the serum-were responsible for-.opening up much of the ganW/> . v 'V.■;■■■'.-'...- ■.':•■'•;/:'■ :/■■/:■■:'/ .'■■' . Aiwij .'.the..; University; wing-forward, did/well |in' gettijig :two tries/ Mahoney and' Trail] were 'prominent at: times.! : l n■d.''OdleT' ! w,e^e;*c9n■: !spienouß\^;'\{he/Metrbs.er.'':pack^'Gole]''iinparticular,' making.-.' several < effective, breaks frbnrthe. scrum.' MclrOse''s only try^ scored'through' the agencyof Jen; ner.and;.Cqle,Vwas.^one of the best movements of the 'day; :,:/. '■■'■: /.;/'!:/'-"", - ;■";,-. Tribute .to:Porter.,'/:':.-;;:; •"■' %^}":'^i\: : "■'■■ ; ■ The; appointment o? C; G-. Porter as captain • ofXthe ■ AIJ Blacks should /be hailed -with, 'delight/i/by// every, true Bugby sportsmanjV;wrUes ;the .'/' New Zealand Herald,'' ■;It will be!re|o)leeted that on the tpiirVof; the AH; Blacks in, 1924 Porter, who.• also captained ;th at invincible 'combination, ...did 'not play in the -Test! matches /against;'.. Ireland, Wales, or England. , (No: Test: was!played, against Scotland.) / \ Porter was one of the selection committee.On; that occasion,' 'and; no' doubt," had- lie' pressed his. claims, „ ho:. would have been in .tlie team.lto .play,.■•Engl.and,'->vv;-:l(ec.ogmisingi-: however, that"Parker/was; playing great football, Porter; stpod down in /£ ayemv of.-therCariterburyv':Wuiger v 'i^-'How;jaaijy. captains would; have done this under s jmilar '. .circumstances ?. .■■•;.. Pbrteri;. now gets his due'reward in' being chosen to lead, the All 'Blacks; against .the British team, and; apart altogether from his undoubted ability/as a player, the honour, could, not havei ibeen conferred upon a more 'sportsmanlike footballer. ■■>■<■ 'A" SteOhg-!iOliiW''--.^.',:.:'•;.'■ .;;'V!'/'■•;:: ■■i'y.:.l'-■'{'' . •,..: 1* ho '■■ Petpno; Club: ':gave.... further... evidence! of its all-round strength last;Satvurday,, .when'the club's eight, teams again won all their, .matches. The scores were/as follows: Senior v.' Hutt 20-16;; Junior: v. Scots Old Boys,; 3 4 :0; Third, v. Melrpse, 31-0;' Fourth" A, .y. Eastbourne, =35-6; Fourth B, v. Moer.a, 14-3f Pifth; yi Eastbourne, 36-0; Sixth, y. Hutt, 9-0; Seventh, v.: Athletic, 9-0; points for; 188; Againstj' 19. 'At the conclusion 'of last Saturday's games the club; had splayed 53'-matches; ovon 44,- ---' drawn 4, .and lost'.S.; /,■:'■.' .■'•;'-.- ,/-,'..' ■', Packing of Scrums./.'.-^ //::/■/ A' correspondent ■(''Old Player ") expresses; the opinion that.the reason for the' ball- not being 'heeled cleanly against the .British ; teani : by tho New Zealand side's Hes!in' the packing of the scrums^'! When! the ball; is heeled, it comes; put top/sloWly for the half-back to get it away"before !! the. players'" are on, top of hhrii' The., writ■er'sr .contention ■,iSi>ttliat;.l;the,,back-r6w : men block the : ball 'frbin' coming: out, particularly when the scrum moves: forward, fin the old days tho ■ back-row men packed with • their : heads on' the outside and their shoulders against the buttocks'. of the" side-row men) with the a-esult 'that the ball, could bo hooked cleanly, and if ■.the. opposing side gained .possession, the forwards we're able to sco what had happened. ■ •■'. .With regard to the criticism made by Mr. -against the New Zealand wing-forward, Mr.•;A. V. Hislop writes that the time has come when,' infair^ ness to the New . Zealand players, '' tho searchlight ?should be turned' on -■'■'. the methods.Employed in.'tho British team's system \ of.'winging forwards' arid ' seruhl. halves.' '' He considers that the Britishillsystein :■ has never been above;; suspicion, and that 'the present team no exception: in -this .respect.. The writer states that the Wel-lington-Britain match gave many instances of illegal play by tho'winging forward and scrum half, and' lie considers that tho referees should give souio of the . time employed in. watching •; the'-. Now' Zealand wing-forward, to watching the British playors. .;'.f ; lf Mr. Baxter is sincere in his protestations for ■■ the. purification of the Kugby game," concludes Mr. Hislop, "let him recommend .to the International Board that not only should 'the wing-forward be reviewed, but also the activities of the-winging forward and scrum half.'.' Tho Auckland./Graminar team, last year's: secondary: schools':Kugby champions is again a strong, combination this season.. ,-■ In the. two matches played to date it has. defeated Takapuna Grammar by 31 points to 3y and Sacred Heart by. 45 to 0. The only, score registered against it is a penalty goal.; '■ ■Notes.;;' '.;/.' l-:-:. .':- -. .'-:;. ; '■•''' Mr. j. Corner, of Auckland, who played for Poneko in 1897-8-9, was" in! Weir lington to ■ see - his son, ;M. Corner, on trial , for New Zealand honours. Tho son'fills the samo position as his father,1 who waa -.well on towards 40 years of age-when he.played his last game in Auckland.. ■ . ■'/■. A recent visitor to Wellington was Mr. L. Dixon,' of Auckland, who was full-back for Wellington for about five years prior to 1892. ' . Mr. F. Mitchinson, former Wellington and New Zealand representative, was a visitor to Wellington for the recent game with the British toam. ' Tho British footballers who -went to Greymouth did not see , much of the danco held, in -. their honour on the night before the match. It is a rule that on the night before a game the players must go to bed early, arid there was no exception in the case of the function at Greymouth. ,

At a Eugby Union dinner in Greymouth the toast of the combined West Coast-Buller toam was proposed by Mr. F. D. Prentice, captain of the British fifteen, reports the Christchurch "Star." When, they left the North Island, -he. said, .they..had' been told that at Greyniouth they would have a picnic match, and on his return there ho proposed to invite a North Island, side