RUGBY MATCHES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4647, 28 April 1902, Page 6

RUGBY MATCHES.

OPENING OF THE SEASON. A chilly wind and a grey sky gave character to Saturday afternoon, but notwithstanding these deterrents to public attendance, there was a mustir ef patrons quite up to the Wellington average for opening games of the Rugby season. The Athletic Park, on whicii the two city fixtures were played, has been greatly improved since last season. The principal alteration has been the levelling of the old cycle track. This alteration at once gives the spectators a better onlook. The grandstand has been considerably lengthened, and at either end high wooden wings have been put up to break the force of t.ie prevailing winds. Along the railing of the ground a long plain seating plank has been run for the benefit. of the multitude, and, generally speaking, the park authorities have shown a commendable and business-like desire to provide comforts for their patrons. The turf of the park on Saturday was so brightly and uniformly green that it aroused terms of commendation from ail. xo anyone who remembers the state of slough into which two years ago a couple of wet days used to change the ground, its present condition seems wonderful. The attention given by the custodian to the drains is the chief factor in the present improvement. The display of football on Saturday was quite down to the level of opening games, and there was the usual complaint by spectators on that account. Occasionally a piece of good play enlivened the sameness of tameness and prevented the disappointment of onlookers from turning to enduring grief. The outstanding event of tho day was the last try scored by Wellington, which was reminiscent of last season’s try of the Now South Welshmen against Wellington early in the second spell of that game. Tho public on Saturday recognised tho merit as spontaneously as it did on the previous occasion. A noticeable feature of the four teams playing at’the park was the preponderance of youths in the teams. Petone especially was so characterised. The bulk of the young players put in hard work, but there was noticeable a lack of knowledge of the finer points of the game that — although only to be expected—should be remedied by advice from tho older players. In the Athletic team, there were two very noticeable instances. One back waited .for the ball till its first hop, and another sought to pass his opponents by running backwards. Th'e Wellington team was sound in the rearguard. and weak in tho forwards. The latter’ will have to show improved form if the Wellingtons are to win the championship this year. Tho Oriental team on the day’s play was the best combination on the ground. Its win was a distinctly popular one. The failure of the teams to show good form in the initial games is not to be wondered at. No doubt, in a Saturday or two more the play will reach tho good stage that characterised it last season. WELLINGTON v. PETONE.

The Wellington team assumed the aggressive a couple of minutes after 1 kick off. A pot at goal by Meredith failed to rise, and then Petone forced down. Wellington came on again, but “Riddle” Ryan foiled the charge by a clever pick up and difficult punt. After a charge up field by the Ryan Bros, and Chambers, Wellington came down again and bustled Petone’s full back, Levison scoring a try. 3—o. Parry, for Wellington, made a fast run to the Petone twenty-five, and there passed out well 'to Kember, who lost a try through slipping. The play shifted across field, and there A. Wilson got a try, which, being converted, made the score B —o. Scanlan ran in and scored Wellington’s third try. 13—0. Petone attacked for a fleeting space, ahd had an unsuccessful pot at goal, after Vhich a passing charge —Meredith, Scanlan, Meredith—resulted in a fourth try for Wellington, scored by Meredith on half-time. 16—0. When the second spell began, Wellington ’did some bad passing, and Petone maintained an attack which was assisted by a disposition of ,their opponents to treat the ball as an infant. A free kick at goal was taken by M. Ryan, who made a fine effort that barely failed to score. Wellington rallied now, and Scanlan rushed through the forwards and scored a try that was converted, 21 0. Wellington maintained the invasion, and soon S. Wilson got across and scored. The try was converted.—26 —0. Petone cleared its line, and by short rushes got to Wellington’s twenty-five, where Dick registered Petone’s only score by a fine goal from a mark. 4—26. Soon afterwards the Petone full-back presented Jacobs with a try. 29—1. A brief spell in neutral ground was followed by another Wellington try, scored by Beard, and converted into a goal,. 34 4, Wellington’s final score was the best play of the day. Jacobs ran to the left touchline, and, finding himself jammed there, doubled in-field, and there passed to S. Wilson, who ran on and then transferred to Burnett. The latter player got safely over the line, and made the total score 37— i, just as the whistle blew for no-side. The conversion of five out of the nine tries scored was a big improvement on some of the place-kicking records of last year. Petone, it should be mentioned, had only fourteen men to represent it. - Mr' A. O. Norris acted as referee. ORIENTAL v. ATHLETIC.

The Oriental kick-off was blocked by Kelly, and after a lot of loose scrums play settled on the Oriental side of the middle line, with occasional sallies to the defenders’ goal. Had there been any combination amongst Athletic backs a score must have resulted, but as it was the Orientals were more than equal to the task set them, and by use of the touchline seconded so well their forwards’ efforts that within a quarter of an hour the Athletics (blue) were hard-pressed at their base. The blue backs failed to get off their kicks, and thereby they handicapped their • forwards’ efforts. C. Bush made a creditable shot at goal from a free kick, but he missed by a foot or so. After the kick-out, the whites (Oriental) came again to the attack. F. Roberts made a fine opening, ( but he had beaten his fellows, and had no one to pass to. A scrum followed, and then the same player neatly dropped a goal from the twenty-five line. 4—o. Athletic had a short view of the Oriental posts, but the whites cleared by combined play, which was assisted by bad fumbling on the part of two of the blue three-quar-ters. From a loose rush in the vicinity of Athletic goal, Lowe got a try, which F. Roberts converted. 9—o. In the second spell the bay men held the upper hand most of the time, though occasionally Athletic by forward rushes made ver.v fair attacks, which mmht

have produced scores if they had been better supported by tho rearguard. As it was, however, nothing resulted from them. Lowe again scored a try for Orientals, which increased their score to twelve points. These three points were the only ones put ou in tho whole of this spell, and therefore the final result was—Oriental, 12 points; Athletic, nil. Mr G. Katterns was the referee PONEKE v. OLD BOYS.

As both of the above teams had been carefully training during tho last mouth, it was expected that the contest at Petone last Saturday would bo of an even and an interesting nature, but the play may bo described as a series of loose rushes, occasionally relieved by a passing run by the Poncko backs. The Old Boys more Gian hold their own in the scrums, but their backs were constantly called on ro stem off tho attack of tho Poneko back division. Dodd kicked off for Old Boys, and play began in tho whites’ (Old Boys’) twenty-five. From a scrum fifteen yards out, Old Boys came through with a rush, but wore cleverly stopped by Robertson. Honour and Swoonoy dashed down the field, but when they were a few yards from the lino the whistle sounded for a throw-on. After a series of loose scrummages, Mcllay, with - tho ball at bis toe, broke away. Slattery followed up smartly, and carried the oval to the line, where Robertson obtained possession, and registered the first score. No goal resulted. 3 0. Bartholomew, from a throw-in, initiated a forward rush. Poneko backs stemmed the attack, and their forwards rallying round, took play to Old Boys’ twenty-five. Honour eventually, picked up and made a dash for the line, but he was cleverly stopped by Buttle. Norling secured the ball from a loose scrummage, and made a fine run. On being tackled, ho passed to Robertson, who was thrown out of bounds at tha corner flag. Old Boys cleared their line, only to bo troubled again with a determined attack by Manning, Robertson and Slattery. A force-down resulted. Soon after the resumption of play, Davis marked the ball, and Slattery kicked a goal. 7—o. Play was then confined to mid-field. From a well-packed scrum Old Boys hooked the ball, and heeled out to Logan, who made a splendid dash down the field and carried tho oval out at tho twentyfive flag. Poneko gradually worked tho oval back to their opponents’ territory, whore Mann picked it up, dashed over the line, and scored a try. 10 —0. Fast, open play followed tho kick-off. Logan secured the halt and passed to L. McKenzie, who in turn transferred to Ingles, who made a short dash up tho field and was pushed out of bounds at tho centre flag. From a scrum which followed the throw-in, Davis secured tho leather, and passed to Slattery, who made a fine run/ and registered a third try for Poneko. 13—0. Poneke returned play to their opponents’ territory. From a scrum near the line, Old Boys came through with a fine rush, and carried tho oval out at tho twenty-five fldg. A loose, dribbling rush followed, and Pago secured the ball and dashed over tho lino and scored for Old Boys. 13—3. From about ton minutes to tho call of time, play became fast and interesting,, Old Boys’ forwards putting in some splendid work. Manning made a fine dash', up the field, where ho was beautifully collared by Slater. The whistle sounded soon afterwards. Poneke, 13; Old Boys, 3. Mr J. H, Laughton was the referee.

On Saturday evening Mr A. J. Kellow, who has been transferred to the Nelson office of Levin and Co., was entertained by his fellows of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Football Club. Mr Kellow has been an energetic member of the club on and elf the field, and the members on Saturday showed their appreciation of his efforts by presenting him with a memento of esteem.

MESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, April 26.

In senior football matches to-day, Linwood beat Merivalo by 11 to nil; Christchurch beat Albion, 13 to nil; Sydenham beat High School Old Boys, 13 to 3. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON, April 27. At a meeting of the Provisional Committee of the Manawatu Rugby Union on Saturday, it was decided to call a general meeting of delegates for Monday week. It was recommended that a football be presented for competition among the district primary schools.