FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16848, 13 May 1918, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

OPENING OF THE SEASON

The Rugby season was opened on Saturday on good grounds and in excellent weather. The amended rules were enforced for the first time, and play was fast and exciting. A fair number of people attended matches at Eden Park, but the attendance at the Show Ground was not what is expected at the opening rounds. At the Show Ground, University met and defeated Ponsonby. and at Eden Park College Rifles overcame Marist Old Boys, and Grammar Old Boys beat Grafton.

UNIVERSITY V. PONSONBY University played the first quarter with the sun behind them. Ponsonby first attacked, but Goldwater, kicking high, brought play into the Ponsonby twenty-five. A breach left University clear, and the forwards, going well, took the ball over, Gasparich scoring. Goidwater failed to convert. The second quarter began with a concentrated attack by University, and a student crossed the lino, but was called back, being off-side. Play continued to bo fast and Righton, kicking high for. Ponsonby, Lock followed up, and beating the University backs, scored. Kelly's kick failed. Within a few minutes Molloy carried the ball over, but was penalised. University kept up the pressure, and a passing run brought Baird across the line. Gasparich failed to convert. No other score resulted in the first spell. On resuming, play was brought well into the Ponsonby territory. Ponsonby cleared, and brought play to the other end, Aitken scoring. Kelly converted. Ponsonby were now in the lead, and exciting play followed the kick-out. Play was soon brought into Ponsonby territory and, after some fast work, the University fullback scored. Goldwater, whose kicking was not up to form, failed to convert. Play was up and down the field until the final changeover. University immediately attacked, and kept at it, scoring three times—lnglis (2) and Brinsden— time was called. The scores were — University 18 Ponsonby 8 Mr. A. Wetherilt was referee. COLLEGE RIFLES V. MARIST OLD BOYS. This game evoked considerable interest. Marists won the toss, and had during the first half a strong sun at their backs. A weak return from the kick-off started play in the Marista' twenty-five. The Marists' forwards got away with the ball, and the pack went over the line, P. O'Connor scoring. The kick by Fitzgerald went wide. Rifles attacked, and some good back play followed, Marists' forwards tackling well. For Rifles Pooley secured, and beating the fullback scored behind the posts. With equal scores, the game livened up. At the changeover Rifles attacked, but good work by the two O'Connors put them on the defensive. Bannister further improved Marists' position, and a cross kick by Finnegan to Burns enabled the latter to make an opening and to pass to Belcher, who scored. Burns converted. Marists were well ahead, and Rifles came up. A dribbling rush' inside the Marists' twenty-five ended in a score by Brown, Laxon failing to convert. Marists scored again in a few minutes, Burns placing a goal. No other score resulted before half-time. After the spell. Rifles set up a combined attack. Harty broke away and passed to Grierson, who scored. Play was 1 kept in the Marists' ground, and Rifles came ; again and again to the attack, nothing, how- ! ever, resulting. At last Laxon sent a good pass I to Wilson, who scored, just before the bell : sounded for the last quarter. Rifles kept up the pace and scored twice, tries being gained by Grierson and Laxon. The game concluded : — College Rifles 18 Marist Old Boys . . . • • . 11 Mr. W. J. Meredith was referee. GRAFTON V. GRAMMAR OLD BOYS. This game provided an exhibition of good fast forward play. After ten minutes of solid play Grafton took the offensive, and the Grammar fullback delaying. Hansen scored for Grafton. Burns kicked a good goal. Grafton continued the attack, Moe Kronfeld for Grammar getting his side out of trouble by a good line kick. Grammar came up smartly, and from a scrum about half-way hooked the ball out neatly, Ross passing to Marsden, who transferred to Molloy, the i latter scoring easily near the comer. Taylor kicked well, but failed to convert. Leo Kronfeld essayed a good run down the line, and passed to Ross. Reid got the ball to Boardman, who scored near the posts. Taylor converted. The second quarter commenced with play in Grafton's territory. Conynghsm soon broke through the opposition and scored. Molloy failed with the ! kick. Play remained fast and open, and in ; a short time returned to the Grammar twenty-five, the defending forwards relieving the situation. Again Conyngham got from the pack, and scored near the posts just before half-time, Taylor's kick hit a post. The second half opened with Grammar, on the offensive. The defending for- | wards came up well, and play became exciting. A penalty kick to Grafton, near their posts was sent to the line by Nixon. Ross secured, and scored after a dashing run. McI>eod failed to convert. Grammar now took the initiative, and scored three times before the whistle blew. The final scores were: — Grammar Old Boys ... ... 28 Grafton 5 Mr. Cliffe was referee.

SECOND GRADE. College Rifles beat Grafton by 15 points to 9 University beat Marist Old Boys by 12 points to 3. THIRD GRADE. Purnell beat Newton by 13 points to 5: Ponsonby drew with Normal Old Boys 3 points each; Green Lane beat Marist Old Boys by 3 points to nil; Suburbs won by default from University. UNDER LEAGUE RULES. COMPETITION CONTINUED. The competition under League rules was continued at Victoria Park on Saturday, there being a good attendance. Ponsonby beat Newton, City beat Maritime, and Grafton won by default from North Shore. NEWTON V. PONSONBY. Ponsonby started by taking the ball into Newton territory. For a breach by Newton Ponsonby were given a free kick. Maddison kicking a goal. Ponßonby again attacked, and Walsh made a good run. but McGregor missed a pass, a scrummage ending in favour of Ponsonby. Newton kept up a solid defence and the game was soon taken back to midfield. Ijoose play kept the teams about midfield til! another Ponsonby attack sent Pullen following the ball into Newtc>n's twenty-five. Newton soon after commenced an offensive, and a free kick gave Castles a shot at goal. He missed, and Newton again attacked and were awarded another free kick for off-side play by Cndman. Ponsonby again attacked, their forwards playing well except for off-side tactics in the scrum, for which they were penalised. Walsh got. the ball from a scrum and passed to McGregor. who scored. Maddison failed to convert. After further play Minogue kicked a goal from a mark, and the spell ended with Ponsonby in the lead. The game be- ■ came one-sided after the change over. Good work by the Ponsonby forwards and good back combination steadily increased the score, and the game ended after Williams had registered Newton's only score. The kick was a failure. The scores were: Ponsonby 21 Newton . . . . .. . . . . 3 Mr. F. Thompson was referee. CITY V. MARITIME. City pressed hard from the start, and in several rushes Maritime's line was threatened. Kukutai attempted a pass, but Wilson sent the ball well into the City twentyfive. Both teams tried hard. The first score went to City, from a try by Mitchell. City continued the attack and overwhelmed Maritime's solid defence. Play was then taken into the City twenty-five, and Rukutai securing put in a daring run. Ho was collared, and Maritime coming up well drove City back within their own ground. The first spell ended without further score. At the change-over Mitchell returned Wilson's kick to Maritime's twenty-five, and Francis from a penalty punted to Dufty. Both parks were working hard, and some good play resulted. The ball was worked across the field and back until Davidson came round and scored smartly. Francis missed the kick from an awkward angle. Maritime came up with a rush, and in the loose Stallworthv. leading the pack, passed to Cross, who scored on the corner. Dufty failed with the kick. City returned to the attack, and their last score resulted from a penalty. Stanaway kicking a splendid goal. The scores were: — City 8 Maritime ..5 FIFTH GRADE. City, 10 points, beat North Shore, 0. SIXTH GRADE. City, 12 points, beat Richmond, A,