RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1933, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ROSS DEFEATS EXSELSIOR

CLOSE MATCH AT CASS SQUARE,

Fast and vigorous was the match on Cass .Square on Saturday when Ross seniors defeated Excelsior, hitherto the leading team in the competition. By their victory :on Saturday, Ross have drawn level with Excelsior, each having won three and lost one, and Ross avenging themselves for their defeat in the first round by Saturday’s losers by 14 points to 3. , The other senior match set down for Saturday, Kiwi v. -Pirates, ■was postponed until the end of the season as neither side was able t-o field a full team. There were changes in both sidc 6 i n Saturday’s match, Excelsior being weakened by the absence of B. Kelly -and Freitas owing to injuries, their places being taken by Palmer and A. Thompson -each of whom made their first appearance this season. In the Ross team Sair.do, usually a forward, turned out on the wing.

The match throughout, was very even, the scene of play changing rapidly from one quarter to another, and at all t,ime fi was it interesting. It wa s accompanied -by continual barracking for both sides on the part of th. e large crowd, among whom wa<s a large contingent of supporters of the southern team.

Willing, fast -forward play together with ifrequent brief movements on the part of the Excelsior backs characterised the first spell,’ and ' Honours were move or loss even,. Excelsior having a . lead of two points. From a. scrum in front of the line the Red backs went away and it wa s left to Connolly to dash over at the corner for L. Hughes to 'convert. Just before -half time Wright secured from the ruck and dodged through to cross over for a good try. Rosg had frequent chances

to increase their lead through infringements by Excelsior, but Jones was without his kicking and four attempts failed, two of them being com-

paratively simple. The -second spell saw a change in the position, R-oss assuming the lead when

•Thiele scored from a loose ru-sh, 'Kirkland adding the major' points. There wa s ia protest from a number of spectators <jn ’ the line opposite the grandwhd claimed that the 'rush •should have been pulled up -for' a knock-on. Ross maintained their

slender lead until the end, .detei’nti n edly defending -against the Excelsior on " slaughts, especially towards' the- And

when' the latter made desperate 'efforts

to retrieve the position. Ross, however, wei’e content to keep them at bay by continually finding the line. Throughout the match there - ” wag -a number of stoppages -for injuries, and the game concluded in the half light.

Both sets of forwards gave a fine

exhibiton. The fast ROss men excelled in the loose when oii attack, and were a, hardy proposition when defending their line. They iwere; always on the ball and broke up, many, a iled attnci? by their fast following pp, Kirkland, Jones, Wright and gyke s stood out in the day’s play, although the others, although perhaps not so conspicuousdid their full -share;

In their rearguard, the players showed little inclination for concerted action, too many movements being broken up by their fast opponents, but judicious kicking, and S olo efforts gained many a ,n advantage for the side, while their defence was a!mo s t all that was desired, Johnson, behind the pack gov through a lot of work with credit, bo\n on defence and attack while Dewar-»iiv Thiele showed plenty of thrust. Mason at full back came- in for plenty ; of work, and fulfilled it well.

The Excelsior pack were no whit behind their opponents in any sphere of the game. I n the set scrums they gained am advantage in possession o-r the ball, while in tbe fcose they carried all before them' at times, but like Ross they did not Ret up : from start to finish and gave' t*M spectators some thrills when they went ’into action. King, Kelly, apd Hughes were generally to the fore, and were always strongly supported.

The Excelsior backs were disappointing in the second spell, and re-arrange-ments in the positions had the result of vital advantages &eing lost. Hughes, through injuries went to full back for a time, and George came -, into fiveeighths, and Schroder at centre, the attacking power was weakened. Individually, . however, they did good work, and MuR and Schroder both took watching, Davidson was generally sound, nnd initiated numerous rear movements, while on occasions he went through “forwards on his own and was always hanjly to the ball. Hughes’ .kicking " was -a great asset and often found the line well down. The wingers, Thompson and Connolly did not get many opportunities. Generally the match 'wa« full ot incident, qt wa,s fast and willing ;,nd the Ross victory was popular. A. Cut-bush was referee

JUNIOR .MATCHES

Playing on Cass Square Scnoof uufeated Ivokatahi by 9 to 6, three penalties to two tries. Kiwi defeated Pirates at Rimu by 11 noint-s (two fields goals and a try) to 3 points.

FIRST UNIVERSITY TEST

N.Z. DEFEATS AUSTRALIA

AUCKLAND, May 20

In vai .spectacular game the New ZealandNUniversity Rugby team to.day defeated the Australian University reps, by six tries? (five . converted) to two trim's (one con'-erted) tat Eden. .Varic. The attend a neb was 15.000.

The clominateig' feature of the game wafl the brilliance of the Otago in,side

backs, : Rae, Uttley .and Fookes, vho gave a fine three-quarter line ample opportunities. The scorers for New Zen; in j w-'i-: Caughey (2>, Milliken (2), Andrews and Dunne. Bush converted three tries and Rae two.

For the Australians tries wove s 'ored by Kennedy and Mackey. Westfield converted one.

RESULTS FROM OTHER CENTRES

DUNEDIN, May 20,

University, with five of their players absent .at the teet at Auckland, and also without Gillies who is injured, (suffered /their first defeat when beaten by Southern, 14-3. Varsity is still the popular pick for the Otago championship. -Southern and Pirates (equal) at present lead for the championship. Other results were : Kaikorai 9, Union 3; Pirates 6, Zingari 3; Taieri 27, Varsity B 11. AUCKLAND, May 20.

Three senior Rugby games flayed before the Varsity test to-day resulted: Ponsonby 11, College Rifles 0; Grammar 21, Marist 13 ; Otahuhu 14, Varsity 6. Varsity were without nine of the men who played the Australians (six in the test and three injured.)

WELLINGTON, May 20

Senior A -Rugby; Poneke 16, Old Boys 12; Athletic 11, Eastbourne 8; Hutt 21, Wellington 10 ; Marist 10, Petoile 8; Upper Hutt 16, -Melrose--geiwyn 11; St. Patrick’s 11, University 6.

CHRISTCHURCH, May 20

Rugby football matches were pl a yecl here to-day in clear, fine weather. Results : Christchurch 14, beat Old Boys 6 ; Sydenham 13 beat Lynwood 3; Merivale 30 beat Varsity 13; Albion 6. beat Athletic 5

NELSON, May 20

Senior Rugby; Nelson 14, Rival, s 13 ; Pirates 16, Waimea 0 Senior -Hockey : Federal 7, W-akatu 2; Waimaf 3, Stoke 0

GREY RESULTS

In the senior games -Cobden defeated United by 17 to 12 ; Blaketown defeated StiTg by 20 to 6, Kumar.a junior s defeated Blaketown by 13 to lid. ■- ■