RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 19003, 27 July 1925, Page 9

RUGBY LEAGUE

NEW SOUTH WALES BEATEN NEW ZEALAND WINS ASHES. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. SYDNEY, July 2.5. New Zealand at Newcastle won the ashes by 17 to 10 after New South Wales were leading by 10 to sat the interval. Twelve thousand spectators watched the New Zealanders invade the Blues’ territory right at the commencement of the game, and only strong tackling by the Now South Wales backs prevented a score. Quinn reversed the position by sprinting cleverly to the New Zealand line. The local three-quarter line then moved down the field in an all-conquer-ing rush, but an aimless pass prevented a certain score. Brain and O’Rourke repeatedly penetrated the defence of the All Blacks, but the movements invariably lacked the final touches. Wilson-Hnll fed the three-quarters well when opportunity offered. Alter further give-and-take play the Blues received. a penalty, and Wearing opened the scoring with a goal. The visitors hotly replied. Parkes and Brown were prominent, and then from an infringement by the home team in a scramble Dufty kicked a penalty goal to equalise the scores.

The first try was the result of a swift move on tho part of Carr, who gathered at top speed and sent the ball to O’Rourke, wdio dodged two opponents before sending Brain across. Wearing converted. Hardman scored soon after, Wearing’s kick missing by inches. The visitors then scored a penalty-try, which was awarded through Brown being interfered with after parting with the ball.

Thft All Blacks quickly assumed command in the second spoil. O’Brien gathered from a weak kick by Finn, and struggled over, Dufty failing to convert. Wilson-Hall crossed a few minutes later, bringing the totals to 13-10 in favor of the visitors, whose forwards at tins stage were combining with the backs in pretty movements. Dufty added two penalty goals before the final whistle. New Zealand 17 New South Wales 10 POSITION OP TEAMS.

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS A v. PACIFIC B. These teams met at Montecillo, the ground being sodden. Christian Brothers, who were much the heavier team, early had tiro seasiders in trouble, and from a scramble near the line Turnbull got over, Donnelly failing to add to the total with the kick. O’Connor secured from the loose, and passed to Cusack, who ran in at the corner. Tho kick again missed. T. MTvewen picked, up and potted a nice goal, and later the Pacific backs mulled the ball on tho lino, and J. MTvewen scored. Cusack converted. The Greens hemmed their opponents in their own territory for of the spell, the strong-hvincl adding to the defenders’ difficulties. The spell ended: Christian Brothers A 13, Pacific 0. Pacific attacked for a time in tho second spell, but the hefty Green forwards broke away again, and scored at the corner. Donnelly sent the ball over with a beautiful kick. A little later M'Kewen badly beat.his vis-a-vis with the dummy, and sent on to Connolly, tho latter transferring to O’Connor. O’Connor passed in, but Pacific forced. Both sides tossed the ball about freely, but faulty handling lost innumerable opportunities. The next score came as the result of a great solo effort on the part of O’Connor, who made a 100yds dash to ground under the posts. The" kick failed. Byrne scored Pacific’s only try after a nice run down the line. The kick went awry. Holloway was the last to score after a dribbling rush from over halfway. The game was not devoid of spectacular incidents, and Pacific showed great improvement on their previous display. The final scores were; Christian Brothers A Pacific B 3 Mr G. Childs was referee.

ATHLETIC v. KAITANGATA. Athletic kicked off .against a strong Smith having a shot at goal for tho visitors, but the wind carried the leather to the side line. Kennedy’s effort a little later proved no more successful. The visitors attacked strongly, but the town team’s defence was sound. Williams and APKay put Athletic on the offensive, and the latter dashed_ over. Tho kick lust missed. Athletic _3, Kaitangata 0. Athletic returned to tho attack, their backs showing more dash and enterprise. but the solid Kaitangata vanguard forged their way back again. The miners were awarded another' penalty, J. Crook this time being; entrusted with the kick, hut he failed to draw blood. Rodgers and Kennedy were battling hard for the visitors, whose forwards gingered up the proceedings with their Soccer touches, Kennedy spoiling a ~ood scoring chance by kicking too viciously. The Athletic hacks failed to take advantage of tho scoring chances offered them by the opposition, whose rear division were also sadly astray. The game, was rather uninteresting' for most of the spell, developing into a glorified vSoccer match. There was no further score in the first half. On resuming tho Kaitangata forwards worked their n ay up field, but a long kick by Williams saw Donnistou hot in pursuit, tho hitter scoring, and also converted. Athletic 8. Kaitangata. 0. A series of lino kicks placed Kaitangata on the offensive again. Athletic, however, wore taking full advantage of the wind, and play was soon hack, where Jolley forced his way across. The kick failed. Athletic 11, Kaitangata 0. Kaitangata continued to play pluckily, the forwards frequently breaking through tho opposition with their fine, dribbling rushes. The game was only bright in patches, the heavy ground and greasy ball evidently not being relished by the resnective hack divisions. After some rather dolorous play in the Kaitangata "twenty-five, in which Sullivan appeared to “rabbit” over, Webber got across. Semple failed to add,the extra points. Athletic 14, Kaitangata 0. Athletic continued to have much the hotter of the remainder of the game, but there was no further score. Tho final tally was: Athletic .... 14 Kaitangata () Air C. Snow was referee.

CITY B v. CHRISTIAN BROS. B. These teams met at Chisholm Park, when City B won by 6 points to 2 points. City played four men short in the first half. They were more fortunate in the second half, when three others went on. City kicked off, and a hard scuffle followed. Erom good passing Maekev scored the first try for City. Connely missed with the kick. City B 3-0. Play all through was more or less ragged. Connely, however, scored again, but the kick taken by him went wide. Strode (Christian Brothers) kicked a penalty goal. City B 6. Christian Brothers 2. Prom' then on the game was slow, and the final score was:— City B 6 Christian Brothers B ... 2 Mr J. Underwood was referee. CITY A v. PACIFIC A. The game between City A and Pacific A, played at Chisholm Park, resulted in a win for the former team. Erom the start it was apparent that the City team was the stronger. In City’s forward lino Tart, Cameron, and Eckhoff did most of the work, while Watson, Alexander, and Jacobs proved valuable backs. Davis and Wall were the best Pacific backs, and Brown, Atkinson, and Strode were good forwards There was no outstanding feature af the commencement of the game. After about ten minutes’ play Alexander opened City’s score with a try. This was not converted. Citv 3-0. Shortly afterwards Eckhoff (City) .succeeded in scoring the second try. City 6-0. Good piny followed, and Hunt again increased City’s score by taking the ball over the line. Watson’s kick fell short. City 9-0. Shortly before half-time Alexander scored his second try. Clydesdale took the kick, but missed. City 12-0. On resuming, a passing rush by Pacific nearly resulted in a score. Alexander, from a neat passing rush, again managed to score. Watson converted. City 17-0. Others to score for City were Crossan, Clydesdale, Cameron, and Alexander. Alexander's try was converted by Clydesdale. Crossan scored the final try, which Jacobs converted. Pinal: — City A 36 Pacific A 0 The referee was Mr Devcrcux. IN OTHER CENTRES CHRISTCHURCH. Marists A 20, Sydenham 3. Addington 9, Diarists B 3. AUCKLAND. City G, Diarist 5. Ponsonby 20, Athletic 5. Devonport 11, Newton 3.

Team. "d o (>> tJ *3 a o fa to fa to rt 0 J i2 5 Q fa fa fa City A 9 9 0 0 318 46 18 Chris. Bros. A 9 / 2 0 158 75 14 Athletic 9 7 o 0 122 68 14 Kaitinigata 9 .‘5 6 0 89 114 6 Pacific A 9 2 7 0 48 209 4 City B 4 2 2 0 27 52 4 Chris. Bros. B 9 1 8 0 37 193 2 Pacific B ... 4 0 4 0 20 133 5