RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3623, 14 April 1914, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S INTERESTING MATCHES. VISITING TEAMS SECURE THE .FRUITS OF VICTORY. ’Ac Rugby season was unofficially ope heel on Saturday last when three watches were played on the local jgrdnnds. The games occasioned, no .small amount of interest, and it is estimated • that fully 700 _ persons watched, the proceedings which took place on the Domain and on the Childer’s Road Reserve. _ The match between Pirates (Napier) and the Kaiti City junior fifteen attracted most attention', but the fixture between Waikohu and St. Patrick’s Club on the Childer’s Road Reserve was by no means neglected by the public. The other game played was a curtain-raiser to the Domain fixture, and was between the Garrison thirds iand the Kaiti-City thirds. The standard of play in all the matches was very fair considering that many of the players were sadly out of condition and that man had had no opportunity to practice. There were many bright incidents which showed Unit a number of the players had quickiy struck form, and that the material in view was most promising. The spectators fully appreciated these bright incidents, and if the attendance, of the public on Saturday at these games can be taken as an indication of the support that is to be accorded the game in Gisborne this year, then a very prosperous season is in store for Rugby football.

WAIKOHU (5) v ST. PATRICK’S

The game between St. Patrick s and Waikohu was played on the Reserve. Grass some eight or nine inches in length eovered-the whole of the playing area, consequently the play fell far below what would .have taken place liad the ground been in proper order The leeai backs could not get going, the grass keeping the ball dead, and mishandling was frequent. The men from the country, relying on their forwards, really played the game to suit the prevailing conditions, and must be given the credit of having a shade the better of the exchanges throughout the match. Playing against the sun in the first spell. Waikohu, though they failed to place any points to the credit of their scoring account, prosed the home team, hard on a number of occasions. Several attempts were also made at goal from penalty kicks without success On the other hand the countrymen’s line can hardly be said to have been seriously assailed at any time. In *ho second half the v sitors nmJe things willing and several last dasnes veto spoiled by offside play when ocgk-s appeared imminent. St. Patrick s also played livelier Rugby and made several vigorous raids into Waikohu s zone. Towards the close of the sped Waikohu were awarded a free 1» .ck in front of the posts but they failed to send the hall over ffie bar A lew minutes late-T, however, the count lymen made a aeterm nod assault on ot. Patrick’s line and Graham siicm-st m y crossed over. On this memum r.'U piloted the ball between the upngn s St. Patrick’s timn rm.o.- a 1 igorons effort to equalise matters but faulty handling marred wliat appealed a ceytain chance. s; souiuJeJ shoit.v after leavi'g VCaiK.hu "mi a w-.1-earned earned victory by 5 points to nil. Mr W. _?v. liu*£3 referee.!.

PIRATES x 7) v. KAITI Cl TV oi

The game let .won tlie«e iwu ten n s proved very erase and n tr-n-si mg Kaiti-City appeared to be stronger lh°n their opponents, but anv .advantage t;i ,‘v had in this direction was i j-.t by bad handling or the ball and several easy chances to register tries were lost through this fault. Ihe first soell ended even— neither side having scored. Shortly after the exchange of ends Napier opened then account, Bridges securing a try. Ihe attempt to convert fnued. KauiCitv instilled a little more ginger into their methods after this reverse and Parkinson evened the scores by notchimr a trv in an easy position. W inter then placed his side ahead by adding the. extra points. Kaiti-City maintained their lead until close upon ©all ot time when Dines turned the tide ot battle once move in favor ot the visitors bv potting a splendid goal. . l *- game ended without further scoring. “Mr A. Wallace was referee.

KAITI-CITY (10) v. GARRISON (8)

Two third grade teams representing the lvaiti -City Club and the Garrison Club put up a closely contested fight as a curtain raiser to the Napier Kaiti-Citv event. At half time Gairison led bv a three point margin— Kaiti-Citv having failed to score. On the resumption Kaiti turned on the scoring tap and ran up 10 points, whi.e Garrison had to be content with only five more. Kaiti-Citv thus won by 10 points to S points. Mr E. Somervell refereed. THE TEAMS ENTERTAINED In the evening both the visiting teams were entertained b\ the clubs they had plaved against. lvaiti-City gave the Napier team a very lolly entertainment at the Royal Hotel, a most pleasant time being spent the AVaikohu men were entertained at a dinner bv the St. Patrick’s Club winch took place at the British Empire Hotel. . Several members of the Napiei team returned home bv Sunday night s boat, the remainder, after haying witnessed the sports at the lark yes ei day, went South by the Takapuna last evening. -