RUGBY LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 19275, 14 June 1926, Page 10

RUGBY LEAGUE

POSITION OF TEAMS. The following table shows the relative positions of the teams engaged in- the senior grade competition :

CHRISTIAN BROS. v. PACIFIC. Pacific, who have been showing considerable improvement in recent game.s, immediately sot up a strong attack, G. Davies getting over in a good position for Keen to convert. Christian Brothers were given little respite, and the Greens found themselves in sore straits for a time, but the seasiders’ backs could not put on the necessary finishing touches. L. Davies looked as if he might get across after he had cut off' a pass, but he was earthed, and Christian Brothers took a turn at attack, Walsh eventually scoring near the corner. A little later the Greens were over again, thanks to some good work bv Bennetts, who transferred to Woodhouse for the latter _to ground near the posts. Bennetts just missed with the kick. Both sides took turns about in taking the aggressive, Keen, for Pacific, on one occasion breaking through and punting near the twentyfive. He was beaten, however, in the race to the line, and the Greens forced. Play was very even for the remainder of the spell, and some of it was' of the spectacular order. Just before the spell ended G. Davies retired, his place being taken in the second half by C. Mason, The spell ended; Christian Brothers 6, Pacific 5. 'There was bright play apleniy when proceedings reopened, with the Greens tossing the leather about with enterprising zest. Fitzgerald gathered up nicely and transferred to J. Walsh, who sent on to J. O’Connor, the latter being grassed near the line. From a scramble there bo fell over the line with the bnII. Bennetts failed to add to the total. O’Connor got possession again and rushed in from the twentylive. Ho seemed to accelerate ns he went, and was over the dead-ball lino, which is now only 15 yards from the scoring line, before lie realised it. Consequently a certain try went a-begging. There was some more pretty passing movements, in which the ball was handled several times, fore and aft, bv the Greens, Bennetts eventually diving over near touch. S. Blackledgo made a good attempt with his boot, but the ball just fell short. Raciiic, with 7 points the worse of the argument, were by no means discouraged, and they attacked with vigor, ami after keeping their opponents in their own twenty-five for some time, Wall scored. Keen took the kick, the ball hitting an upright. The Beachcombers kept up the pressure, and were battling away valiantly against a heavier and moie experienced side. The Greens then rush from one end of the field to the other, the forwards as well as the backs handling the ball with precision. Pimley was I,eld up on the hue, and play went hack. Pacific made great efforts to cross again, but the Green defence withstood the attacks until the end. 'The final scores were:— Christian Brothers 12 Pacific 8 Mr S. Atkinson was referee. ATHLETIC v. CITY. Owing to the Otago team being on tour several vacancies on each side had to be made good with new players, thero was nothing particularly bright about proceedings in the opening stages, thero being a chronic inability on tlie part of the backs to show any of the crisp passing that lias been such a characteristic of their play this season. There was too much kicking, whilst Jacobs (City’s half) repeatedly failed to pass out to his own backs when bo obtained possession of the bail from the scrums. Athletic had the advantage for a time, but the City puck swooped down upon their opponents' line. The Black-aml-White backs, however, roluscd to take advantage of the scoring opportunities, and eventually a good kick by D. Sullivan saw Athletic once more pounding away at the City defences. Athletic were awarded two penalty kicks in succession, but both failed. There was still no suggestion that it was a League game in progress, kicking still being the chief occupation of both sides, even when three or four backs were clamorous for a sight of the leather. There was one bright episode, in which D. Sullivan and Dormiston indulged in the first real bit of passing of the game, but the latter mulled at a crucial moment, though ho gained a good slice of territory before doing so. City worked their way back, E. Hickey getting over the line with the ball in bis possession, but ho failed to earth it. A little later City came back again. Bring picked up the ball from the feet of two opponents, but passed wildly, ami Coxbead gathered up and rushed across. Clydesdale’s kick missed. Athletic dashed upheld, 1). Sullivan scoring, but A. Sullivan failed to increase the total. Play was fast, though lacking in spectacular incidents. D. Sullivan got across again a minute afterwards, J. Eraser (Athletic’s full-back) having bad an ineffectual pot in the interval. A. Sullivan’s kick missed. In the five minutes left before the half-time whistle there wore several bright patches, in which both sets of backs showed up more prominently than in the earlier stages. There were no further scores, and the spell ended : Athletic 6, City 8. A strong gale raked the ground on the resumption of play. Athletic attacked with tremendous gusto, Jelly getting across. D. Sullivan’s kick missed. Athletic still continued to harass Inst season’s competition winners, and Dormiston scored the best try of the game. He bent several opponents badly, and, evading a tackle, grounded under the posts. M’llroy sent the ball across. Athletic appeared to have their opponents well beaten, and if it hadn’t been for the manful manner in which Jacobs picked up the ball in the face of determined rushed by the north-enders there would have been a much bigger tally against his side. Harrison looked to have a certain try, but he failed to bold the ball when over the line, and City forced. Jacobs was responsible for taking play past halfway by breaking right through the opposition, but the City backs were still failing to do anything right, and play shifted back. The remainder of the spell was fast and furious, hut woefully barren of spectacular incidents. Roth sides were equally to blame for the ragged display bv their indiscriminate use of the hoot. The game ended ; Athletic ... . ... 14 City 3 Mr Snow was referee. KAITANGATA v. KAIKORAI. There was a fine open game at Kaitangata, the match being witnessed bv a large crowd. After 15 minutes of fast, interesting play, Bolan the miners’ scoring account with a

try, and a little later M‘Kinney, who nut. in a groat run down field, increased his side’s tally to half a dozen. Lunn was the next to score. 'Hie home side led by 9-0 at half-time. In the second spell Crossan, alter a brilliant bit of play, scored and converted for Kaikorai. Johnson also dashed over the line for the visitors. There was a ding-dong struggle to the end, but the final whistle saw the scores unchanged, the figures being: Kaitangata 0 Kaikorai 8 Mr S. Devercux was referee. JUNIOR GRADE. Christian Bros. 13. Kaikorai 0. Athletic 11, Pacific 10. IN OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND. Ponsonby 19, Grafton 14. Marists 24, Richmond 10. North Shore 14, Newton 11. CHRISTCHURCH. Addington 23, Waimairi 16. Hornby 32, Sydenham 3. Marists B 24, Woolston 4. QUEENSLAND BEATS NEW SOUTH MALES. The match between Queensland and New South Wales was won by the former by 26 points to 11. WEST COAST BEATS OTAGO . The interprovincial match between the West Coast and Otago, played at Greymouth, resulted in a victory for the home team by 11 points to 8, after a fast game. The weather was showery, and there was a large attendance. The West Const, forwards, led by Mnuntt and Wright, proved the stronger, having the better of the scrums, and attacking more frequently than their opponents. _ Otago scored two tries, duo to good individual play by the wing three-quarter, Hickey, who stood out as the best three-quarter in the visiting side. Cameron was the best of the visiting forwards. Eckhoff was the most prominent back. Dodds and Cost were good inside backs for the West Coast side. In the first spell Hickey ran from halfway to score under the posts, Eckhoff missing an easy kick. In the second half tries were got for the West Coast bv Kennedy from a passing bout, bv Hansen from further passing, and by Wright from an opening made by jjouatt, the last-named converting Hansen’s try. The last score was a try by Hickev with another run from halfway. Eckhoff converted.

t-* c Si m < 73 r-j £ ■'43 eTeam. Playe Won. o hH 5 u G Point C *0 G to a E Athletic 5 4 0 i 92 22 20 64 9 City _ Christian Bros. 5 n 4 8 i i 0 140 ] 74 8 7 Kaitangata ... 5 2 8 0 a 4 74 4 Kaikorai 0 i 4 0 27 ] 00 2 Pacific 5 0 5 0 20 100 0