RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1925, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

AUSTHALiANS DEFEATED, / ' lx • — (Per Press Association, j'la;. ■ ; A W ? —iiil vy,. -• ::77 W WELLINGTON,' May ;20. n'.At Wellington to-day/.' the Victoria College team beat the Sydney University touring team by; >l6pts to 8. The first spell was fast and open, while the second spell was notable lor an impi’ovemeilfi in- the home team’s, tactics.,. against the-ivlrid; Victoria 'College won. by their better-'generalship, and. the cohesion of their back line, in which AValpole-and the three-quarters played like champions. The l first spell was lively, the home backline making violent efforts-to open up-play apainst the visiting forwards. Sydney scored first, Johnstone crossing after a blind side move.. The kick failed; Five minutes '’later Victoria. College gained-ft lead, AValpole crossing' after a fast rush; O’Regan converted the try rilliantly, - ) The home team scored again at once,Martin Smith crossing, and -O’Regan again-converting. ..•■ • ; •.' ' " O’Regan next kicked a penalty goal. Sydney then countered; ■ Lamport corkscrewing his way through and Williams converting the try.-. H". : Th© second spell was a long, even struggle, -in which the home side’s tactics?were ;superior. There was no further- score-till the last minute, when Kells crossed for Victoria College. . Three players chosen'■ -to represent the Now 'Zealand University at Sydney are unable to: play; Olsen- (Auckland) will be replaced by Carter (Auckland), Alexander and Mahon (Christchurch), who are on the injured list, give way. to Gilbert (Otago) and Sceats (Wellington). ■ - AUCKLAND DISPUTE. AUCKLAND, May .19. iTie organisation for the proper control of Rugby-football games, in Auckland has been temporarily' thrown out of gear just when things had been got into smooth running order, by tile action of the Grammar Old Boys’ Club in verbally objecting to a referee, Mr P«ach, after he had been, appointed by the- Appointment Board? alleging; bias, on hi*? part against the club-. Although the Rugby Union confirmed the appointment, the referee declined, to act and requested an investigation. The game was played on’ Saturday under another referee appointed to fill the extraordinary vacancy. " A sequel to the affair has been the resignation of the Appointment Board, and a resolution by the Referees’ Association requesting that the'Grammar Club be required to substantiate its allegation or withdraw it and apologise with an addendum that if the affair is not satisfactorily settled by Friday next 110 member of the Association will control any game in'which the Gram-' mar Club is interested. The position; in short, is that until the -matter is satisfactorily settled there iss no machinery, for the appointment of referees for thb gaineg on Saturday, and tlje referees decline to act under a makeshift arrangement.

ALL BLACKS AND LEAGUE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, May 21. The “Daily Telegraph,” commenting on the fact that the All Blacks who toured England were excluded from tbj team which Is to visit New South Wales, says': —The question arises whether the New Zealand Rugby team will 'contain any' of them. It is rumoured that had the arrangement for the coming' tour been conducted by the New’ South Wales League instead of the New Jealand League, an effort would have been-made to-secure the .services of several All Blacks.

The “Telegraph” • adds : A member of Yhe mahagement committee, of the New South Wailes Rugby 1 Union is now in.-New Zealand'completing arrangements for the New Zealand&rs’ tour, and no doubt some effortiwill be made to include some All Blacks in the Rugby League side. WEDNESDAY’S MATCHES. The "Wednesday Rugby Competitions under the auspices of the Rugby Supiporters’ Association,, were inaugurated yesterday, when the : attendance at Victoria Park was "good. The Banks v. TraUeS match, resulted In a victory fur the latter team by 6 .to nil. Tries were scored by lurtill’ and Goodall. In the-match Law and Insurance v. Civil Service, the former team won by 15 'to 11- ■ Tries were scored by D. Derinehy, P. Jamieson-(2), and- were, converted by Dunford ; (2) and Jamieson (1)‘. lor the Civil Service,- Sotheraii scored and B. Brown converted. Sotheran and Brown also kicked penalty’goals. ’ ! 'The satisfactory results of the first day confirm the optimism of the Supporters’ Association and justify them in fostering the ’gaines.

The following will represent Star seniors against Excelsiors at Hokitika on Saturday next: Steel, Thomas Goodall. Reynolds, Mosley, • Doc. Brown, Nelson, Bring, Herring, Jarden, Russell, J, Brown, G*. Brown, Sherlock, Turtill, (2). (Notes by “Hooker’'). Tlio first round ulf the senior competition was concluded last Saturday, with the exception of the ExcelsiorI’nitcd fixture, which has been put back until the end of the competition. The positions of the teams arc as. follow :—■ i •

The day was ideal for football last Saturday and the large attendance at the'Park witnessed a keen struggle be. tween, the Uniteds and Stars. Although the Ambers ran out winners by nine points, it. was not a true indication of the game. Time after time the Blues were within an inch of scoring,: over-eagerness spoiling several •chaiices. The next meeting between these two teams should draw a record ■ gate. Barrytown played their first 'match in the junior competition and were only defeated by a- potted goal td-a 1 try, which brings |im the old question of four points for a pot again three lor a try.’The'country team are to be ■’congratulated on their Spoiling spirit, and will extend 'the local fifteens before the season has gone far. •• The Star Fourths just succeeded in beating Technical'by Bto 6, and the" Ambers will need to be at their best on .Saturday next to'hold ithe Uniteds.

This Saturday will see the commencement of the 1 second round ill' 1 the sen-' Ur competition,’ when 1 Kiwis meet United on the Park and Stars journey to Hokitika to play Excelsiors. ■ The former ganle should draw a big attendance., The Kiwi, pack are a formidable lot and. Uniteds will find them a better .side than when they met previously. ' ' iStars will.olso have a hard nut to crack in Excelsiors on their own ground. Freitas will be missing from the South, pack, and Thomas from the Star backs. The junior- fixture Cobden v. Blake.

town, and the fifth grade Stars v. United, will be the curtain raisers. to the-senior.fixture at the Park, whilq the.- Star: and /United fourth grade.; Match will also be played at 3 p.m., s-d patrons are being well catered for. ' -, . - A-team' will be picked 'ironr- the following to reprqsen’t United Fourth, Grade against Stars 011 Saturday, at 3 p.m :—Gleeson, Grooby, Gage 1 , Guy, Brown, Meade, Marshall, Johnson;? .Hughes'," Rathbun;- Cox; Laing, Comerford, Sharpe, Young, AVil. son.,io o' > ' i J.' - : ■- 1.. The following team will represent United,..Fifth Grade against Stars at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday:—Turtill, Scott, Rathbun (2), iFergusson, Taylor (2), Kelly, Hewlitt, Wolsey, Comerford, Gleeson, Duffy, Lamberton,. Tindall, AV. Barbara, Baty, Dittman, Hartshorne. . . SOCCER. . VICTORIA v. ENGLAND. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, May 20. In fine, but dull weather, the English Soccer team defeated ARctoria by 7 to nil. The winners- were not extended. Victoria started well, but were,.unable to sustain their ■ effort. England’s passing, and also/,, their head tactics, coupled with cohesive forward play, dazed their- opponents. At half time England were four and Victoria nil, -■ . Robinson, the ; Victorian goal keeper was the. best of the local players. Barrett and Templeton were effective. For the. visitors AVilliams scored four goals, and Sims, Spencer and Seymour one each. The attendance was 5000. ■ ! G'KEYMOUTH v. REEFTON. During the week-end Greymouth entertained Reefton, the babfes of the Soccer' Code, and<a fast and interesting game was the outcome. Reefton created an> impression by their exposition of the game. The game opened in fine weather before a large'attendance, G rey mouth immediately making the pace. During o»e oi ' attacks, - Mclvor opened ; the scoring,' ' Fortunately'-for Greymoutli, the referee did not notice that the ball had been handled, otherwise this would have nullified their score. .This had a livening effect on the Reeftoil hoys, Clark being kept busy for the next ten minutes. Cook, however, relieved th-e pressure by a hefty clearance? which went to AVinstanley, who made a? beautPul run and 1 crossed; Mclvor taking''the-ball oil the‘fun, and bringing the-best< out of McCormack, who saved cleverly- a'iid' punted clear. Back came Greymouth and one of file visitors- wa.S, adjudged to have handled' ■ the- ball, and the referee promptly awarded a penalty. Kissock, who 1 took, the kick, was solmewlirit lucky in totinting ; ' the shot lacked direction, and it was only the force of it'that carried it'between McCormack’s legs. Play after this was of a give and take nature and halt time arrived with Greymouth leading' 2—o. On the resumption, Greymouth opened up a strong attack,. which they sustained fol- -'a- considerable period, but they had evidently left their shooting boots behind them, for'their attempts- t# score were very weak. McTvor, had one great try, which 'struck the cross-bar and rebounded into play. Reefton now took' up the attack, but the Greyniouth' defence easily repulsed them. AVinstanley, receiving a pass frbm Sharp, made a‘ glorious run and crowned it by scoring. Reefton now wakened - up, ■ and Greyniouth defence was hard pressed, but ultiniately.clear- • ed. 1 Back again clime Reefton, and Lowden scored with a low fast drive which left the goal-keeper helpless. This success spurred them on to further efforts, and they were' somewhat.' unfortunate in not scoring again. Gi-ef-niouth, however, rallied, and frofn now on kept Reefton on the defence until the final whistle, leaving Greyniouth winners by 3—l.

P. W. L. Pts. Stars . 5 3 -— b United 2 1 1 2 Kiwis 3 1 2 2 Exc'elsior 2 -- 2 0