OPENING OF THE SEASON.

Northern Advocate, 18 May 1914, Page 5

OPENING OF THE SEASON.

ATHLETIC DEFEAT COLLEGE

OLD BOYS

In showery weather the Rugby football season opened on Saturday afternoon at Kensington Park. The junior fixture, Athletic v. College Old Boys fell through, neither team taking the field. A good deal of interest "■"•"■jeeentred in the senior match, Athletic v. .College Old Boys, and there was a fair attendance when the game started. The teams took the field as under: College Old Boys (red). —Fullback, Palmer; three-quarters, Galbraith, Harrison, Knight; five-eights, - Day (capt.), Lloyd; half, Brown; wing forward, ; forwards, Parr, Cameron, Bedlington, Taylor, Ellis, Jones, Steadman. Athletic (blue). —Fullback, Millington (capt.); three-quarters, Cowdell, Otter, Nesbit; five-eights, Birt and Noakes; half, Lee; wing forward, Gallagher; forwards, Marriner, Wood, Hogarth, Callaghan, Drummond, Kerr •and Halswell. Mr W. Tucker was referee. Athletic lost the toss and kicked off, Harrison returning the ball to half way. The red vanguard broke through from the throw-in, but Millington stopped the rush and sent them back with a good kick. Then Day, with a long line kick found the blue 25. Old Boys carried the first scrum, heeling cleanly, but an attempt to pass with the greasy ball was resultless, and Millington raised the siege by finding the line. The play of both sides was/scrappy and Tagged, rush and counter-rush being the order of the day. Athletic backs at this stage tried hard to open the game up, and Noakes inaugurated one passing bout which saw the ball go through four pairs of hands in pleasing style. Keeping up the pressure, Athletic were awarded a free for an infringement near the red 25, but the shot went wide, and Harrison kicked well up the line. Near the Athletic 25.McGregor cleverly snapped up a mark, but Harrison's shot . was poor. Marriner and Kerr came away at ,the head of a hard rush, but Palmer saved nicely and gained some ground with"a line kick. Following the throw-in, Day passed to . -Harrison to Knight. The latter ran well into the Athletic 25 before getting stopped. Here the blues were penalised, and Harrison again failed with a kick from an easy distance, s*v' but at arx acute angle.

The sides turned round with play* at centre.

Parr set the ball rolling, and an exchange of kicks between the respective back divisions saw play settle down at centre. Cowdell njaTde a pretty dodgy run 'nearly! right through the blue backs, but lacked support. The blue forwards were now playing well, together, Marriner and Kerr standing out by themselves. Parr and Bedlington figured in a rush which saw play/ transferred to the Athletic 25, and there Harrison threw away a good scoring chance by a wild pass to Galbraith. Marriner with a rush shifted play back to half way, and further suport saw play transferred into the red 25. Noakes picked up and passed to Lloyd to Otter. . The, latter dropped the ball, arid a certain try was lost. Athletic kept their opponents on the defence, and Cowdell had a resultless shot from a penalty. A moment later the same player got in a pretty, swerving run and all but got over. There was no score at half time. Play through the third quarter called for little comment. The two

packs fought it out, but the blues appeared to be getting the "upper hand slowly. Once Haswell broke away at the head of a rush, and Palmer was applauded for scoring well.

The last quarter opened with the blues attacking hard, and the red vanguard tiring and slowing down. For close on ten minutes the blues kept Old Boys penned in their 25, and nothing but the fine defence of the backs kept them out. Finally, the end of one rush saw the ball go over the line close to tire posts. The bounce beat Palmer, and Kerr who followed up fast, dropped on the ball and scored. Cowdell placed a pretty goal. Athletic 5 College Old Boys 0 The conclusion of the spell was marked by spirited play, and several stoppages were made for minor injuries. Parr, at the head of a rush, carried the ball into the Athletic half, and play remained there until time was called.