RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6612, 31 August 1908, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

wkllington defeats CANTERBURY. an INTERESTING CONTEST. flloiTmci fomlitioir-i picvailf'l ter (In' .'■'anlcrlmi-v-WclliiiKlnii Ru;{b,v mal <-Ji on !he* Athllte I’liik i,n Satanla.v ■i lI fooiofjii- Tin' friimc, Mliioh ivaa «i1..,..,.,.,1 ..,..,.,.,1 I,y crowd of 10W |lco|)lc, wiia„ hilci’c.-liut,' one, lull of csciUiiK incident. Wellington li.ml Hie RfvJ of the I,|„V. e-fK;ciji 11 v in the secoml s|iell, ami v.ou by It |ji)iii*s iu 0. Tin-: TKA.MB.

Wellington (blm'kj • i‘uii-hack. -I. I'yf'H; Ihree-dunetere, .MaUnwni, Mitelmaron. Mvenson; live-eight In. Magee MeJ.eod: half, Itelx’ite; wing tenvim . .Avery: terwnriH, Ready. Hamilton. "Ranji \\ i ■ Min, A. C. Wilson. Rusli, Alelvellae, ,>)iudHaute rlniry (r..d-aml-lilaelH v l''nll-l)ack, Doeil; tlme-nnmtei-e, I'r.vcr, Macon, Ait hen livi-eighths, Weston. O ray; hath linens: wiii K -fonvar<l. Mel-niul; tenvante Thompson. Mahoney, linker, Monzuv. IVurtl. Wobh, I'lvnne. TUI’. FLAY.

Tim visitors won the tow, ami lir - lington kicked oil agaiiißt a strong wind, olid with tile Sim in their e.ve«. ilusii mil Uie 1 m 11 into Ihe rede twelitv-livc’s wlu-re .Mcl'liail got possi esi'in. ' lie illicitnted a, i assing rnsli, in which (1 ray nnd .Mason al-o took p'ait, I'hirting play into the hlaeks’ quarteri 'la v remained at I lie twenty-live lor e'/me time, the red harks indulging in a ei/nsideriilile amount of parsing, wlueh, however, gained litlle gii.nnd liurns Jt'Kiml t<JU<;h Oil UIC tj lilf. 4 Ur» J UiKS OU(I from Urn line out lbirn>, I 1 I’vci, .'niu Weston got away, jan-sing nicely. >' lon was grasserl just in time. From : tic «rmill tim hull enme out; Id the blacks, wlm were relieved by a kick by h'oberls. Hhailliolt got away with the hall at his I'eet, and invaded Hie reds territorv. Roberts kicked finely, and A liken mulled, but the ball bounced oil him, ami rolled over into Wellington's hall, where it was cent into loach by Ryan. .Mitchinson failed to take the bull from a. long kick, and was emotlierrd by Ur' reds. Jliirns and Cl ray‘got the ball’ and pierced almost |« the Wellington line. Rush and Shndliolt took the finll buck into the visitors’ half. Tim blacks were awarded a free-kick for odnidc play in Canterbury's twenty-iive. [’van’s nltenipt hn kirk a goal, although n'fine one, failed. flood kicking by fryer and Webb snw the ball again near Wellington's goal, bat. .McLeod and MeKellar broke away, and brought it. bark. A few seeonds later .MeKellar again gut away, “l.’iniji” Wilson missed a pass which, if taken, would have placed the visitors' line in grave danger. After scrambling piny, Rash picked up the ball, ami throw it to Avery, whence it went to Atngee, who, although collarid. just managed to fall over the line. Refill's kick went just outside the posts. Wellington. 3: Canterbury, 0. Right (Tom the drop-oul, Mr('hail, Weston, and Aitken broke right away, ami Ryan had fo save by kicking over the deadhall line, from a kick by Ryan, fryer go! the ball ami passed to Gray, who was standing off-side. The consequent free-kick gained a great deni of ground for Wellington, but fshndbolt got off-side, spoiling a fine piece of forward work, in which Avery nnd Rush were prominent. The reels worked slowly to the home end. Here Evonson intercepted a pass and pot well nwn.v, passing to Afitrhiiison. The ball then went to McLeod. ami bark to Evpnmn, who was collared and dropped Ihe ball. Magee, who was following (dose behind, picked up the ball ami scored in the corner, Hynn again failed to convert. Wellington C, Canterbury lb 'The reds now livened tip, and a passing movement started by Barns put the blacks' lino in danger, Ward being blocked just on thn line. The visiting backs wore throwing the ball about in groat style, although the passing was chiefly of the "across the gre'ind'' order, little advantage heng gained. Ryan mulled the hall, which went into touch on 'Wellington’s line. Tho reds were awarded a free kick for an infringement of Hie rules of tho Kornminngc. but Weston’s attempt to kick a goal was a failure. Daring a, scramble in front of tho blacks’ goal Aitken attempted to pot n goal, but without success. Wellington shortly afterwards had to force down. For about fifteen -.minutes Canterbury pressed the blacks hard, but without success. Evcntunity Roberts was caught napping, nnd belli" unable to kick passed to Ryan, who was smothered on the line. Baker snatched up nnd fell over the line, witli jovcvttl blacks hanging on to him. Weston converted with a fine kick. Wellington (!■ Canterbury 5. Half-time ■iounded immediately afterwards. SECOND STEEL. Although placing against tho wind in tho second half the rods got away at the start, nnd tor some time had Wellington penned up. Gray got away well, and kicked into touch, although he seemed- to have n clear field in front of him. The Wellington backs kicked high, but tho wind had gone down considerably, and they did not get the assistance from it which Canterbury had bad in the first spell. The .black forwards got away, and play was removed to tho rods’ twenty-five tor tho first time- after about ten minutes’ play. The pressure was sustained and the ball eventually went isto touch.ia-;;o»l. A lino rush by Mitchinson nnd Evenson gained .a deal of ground for the blacks, but the hitter was forced into touch before lie had readied the lino. Roberts broke away from Imlf-way, and after a Stroud run, passed to Mitchinson, who covered a great deal of ground. Ho then passed to Matheson, although ho might Imvg scored himself, and Matheson mulled the pass right on tho line, throwing away a glorious chance AloLeod got away, and after a beautiful dodging run passed every one of the red hacks, hut lost his balance and fell just before he reached tho lino. A serum was hehh ‘Hid from the ensuing scramble Magee nicked np and scored. Ryan converted finely. Wellington 11, Canterbury 5. Roberts got tho hall from tho kick-off, nnd passed to Shndbolt, who sent the ball on to Evenson, the rush taking play right back again on to tho reds’ line. The reds forced piny hack to halfway. hut McLeod got the ball, which went from him to A. C. Wilson and then to "Ko.nji” Wilson, who was collared just in time. The blacks continued to press, hut Fryer relieved with a fine jam. followed bv a. long left-foot kick into touch. Weittoii broke away, nnd ran finely. Ho passed to Mason, who had no one to beat, but the latter knooked-on light on the line. Tho black forwards, amongst whom "Ranji” Wilson and MoKollar were prominent, j look possession, but Burns relieved witli a fine kick. Avery marked a kick by Doeil nonv half-wny, but the rod frontrackors charged down Ryan's kick. Tho blacks continued to press Canterbury hard, but the red backs, especially Docll, played excellently in defence, and kept their line clear in n wonderful manner. Towards tho end of thn game Fryer made tho best run of the day, covering about two-thirds of the field, and dodging almost the- entire black team. He was, however. collared before ho Vlio line, and the blacks, getting the ball, rushed it bark past half-wny. During Ihe last few minutes tho reds were very bard pressed, nnd had to force down several times. Tho game ended in Canterbury’s quarter with the score —Wellington 11, Canterbury 5. Mr V. Mackie, of Wellington, was nn Jlficicnt referee. FOURTH-CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP. In exciting contest was furnished in

I he match for the f.inp between Southern and Pctone. The game, ended iu a draw, cadi side ing S point-. Had either wen they would have been the elmim.iondii}. holder* for I lie .-’fa-on. In the opening efnge-s of Ihe tird -pell Southern made a couple oi -m.d but: pacing attack*. Southern were the fii>t to *core, Miles, Parker, 'Vi t.lr-rai I. and dray part imputing in a rush, the la.-t named scoring. Cut hne converted. There was no turJ her score in the Hr- I spell. in tim second half Hvan, the IN ‘..one full-back, had an unem-'cv-ntl diet, at goal fiom a mark. The Macks’ fir* I; try wa* due to good piav bv L’van. lie got the ball iron, his 'five-eighth*, eut iu nicely, and, passing to Collier, the latter ecored by the post*, iivani converted. Miles scored the second ‘try for Southern, (.iuthiie lading to enhance. Just before time, after a very rd ten nous struggle, Redone succeeded jn equalising matte is. Perry, working the blind side, got (dean through lo the Southern full-back, who collared him, but. let: linn go, Perry just falling over. It van made a splendid attempt at goal, but just failed. Mr C. Atkinson was referee. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. WELLINGTON v. WAfRAR-APA. Two school matches were played at tho Athletic Park on Saturday morning between teams representing the Wellington ami Wairanvpa school*. In tho secondary school game Wellington won by 3 points to nil—a try scored by Poole. Tho winners were lighter than their opponent*, but knew more about the game. Iu the contest between the primary team* Wairurapa avenged the defeat of their confreres, winning by H points to 0. .Manning scored a try in the first *pell, which Nix conveilcd, while the latter kicked a gool from a murk in the fcccond half. A football match was played yesterday between thucombin*o carrier* and Kier and Co. The game resulted in a win for tin combined team by 31 points to 8. RANFURLY SHIELD MATCH. TARANAKI BEATEN BY AUCKLAND. ntEBS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, August 29. The Ranfurly Shield match played here to-day between the representatives of tlie Auckland and Taranaki Unions was won. by Auckland by 9 point* to nil. There* was an attendance of about eight thousand. Tho weather, though fine, was chilly, with a heavy wind during the first spell blowing down tho field. Auckland had the best of the luck, for after playing with the wind iu the first spell it dropped to a breeze when they had to face it, Auckland’s pack again demonstrated its superiority, and rendered the* efforts of the Taranaki backs to open up piny rosultle.ss. In tho first spell Gillett kicked a penalty goal ami scored a dry. In the second spell Murray scored a try after a very clever piece of back play between Wilson, Johnston and himself. A great deal of the play was uninteresting, Auckland's pack at times keeping play very close. Mr J. Williams, of Dunedin, made a very capable referee. A “curtain-raiser” between the Waiuku seniors and Auckland junior representatives resulted in a win for the local juniors by G points to 3. OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND. A ONE-SIDED GAME. DUNEDIN, August £9. The Rugby match Otago v. Southland was played to-day in the presence of a large number of spectators. For tho first half-hour Southland hold the advantage, but after that Otago asserted superiority, and soon after the opening of the second spell tho result was beyond doubt. Otago’s strength lay chiefly in the forwards, who generally secured the ball in the scrum and’ put in some splendid work iu the loose. Southland had tho advantage on the line, and followed up better. Neither side gavo a brilliant display in the back' division, but the home team was slightly better iu this department. The gam ended in favour of Otago by 28 points to 6.

HAWKE’S BAY DEFEATS WANGANUI. NAPIER, August 29. The representative Rugby football match Wanganui v. Hawke’s Bay was played to-day in beautiful weather, and resulted in a win for Hawke's Bay by 11 points to nil. In the first half a mark secured by Wall for Hawke’s Bay was converted by him. and Kenyon obtained a try, which Wall converted. In the second spell the local side never gave their opponents a chance, but the only score was an unconverted try, secured by Wait. About five minutes after the start of play a regrettable accident happened. Wanganui were forced and from the kiqk-off tho ball came to Symes, Hawke’s Bay’s full-back. Hogan tried to intercept, Symes’s kick. Symes’s foot caught Hogan on the shin nnd the bone was broken. Tho injured man was attended by the St. John Ambulance Brigade and removed to the hospital. The occurrence was purely accidental, and was much regretted by all. Souter filled the vacancy in the Wanganui team.

WELLINGTON B TEAM. GOOD WIN AGAINST NELSON. NELSON, August 29. The representative match Wellington B v. Nelson, played this afternoon, resulted in a win for tho former by 21 points to 3. The ground was in splendid order, but n strong wind blew diagonally across the ground. In the first half, playing with the wind, Wellington put up U points. Gardiner kicked a penalty goal, nnd Houlihan and Osborne scored tries, Thomas converting the latter. In the second spell Osborne and Murphy obtained tries,- which were converted by oaruincr and Thomas respectively. Smith kicked a penalty goal for Nelson. WAIRARAPA v. BUSH UNION. MASTERTON, August 29. The Wairarapa and Bush Union representative teams met at Carterton today. The weather was fine nnd the ground in good order. A fast game was witnessed, interspersed with plenty of scoring on both sides, AVairarapa had Ibo better of the game, and won by 29 points to 12. But for the fine play of the Bush forwards the score against them would have been much greater. They secured the ball iu the scrum every lime. Wairarapa repeatedly changed their front-rankers, but all to no avail. The amount of dash the visiting forwards put into their play was something surprising. The local pack put up a good fight against them, but it was in the back division that Wairarapa held tho balance of power, notwithstanding that they were unable to secure the hall from the scrum. AVairarnpa put up a meritorious performance, considering that practically the same team played a hard game against Wanganui on the Thursday before, and a number of them wore suffering from injuries received in that match. The inability of several older players to take part, in the match against Bush Union, and also against AVanganui, left the way open for younger and untried players to show their worth, and they came ont with (lying colours. Jlnn'y coivtcnd that tho selection committee should long ago have tried this experiment. One of the most dashing forward

•(games on the was played by R. > Welcb, a very young Wairarapa player who • made a successful debut against Wanga--1 nui. He was ably assisted by Henderson • and IT. McKenzie. The local backs all • -Guyed well. Duggan had tho unique ‘ experience of scoring a try from fnII- • buck. The Bush forwards were a dn*h- » ing even Jot, but Ihe backs wore on ' the weak side. For Wairarapa tries • were scored bv Fairbrother (8), K. • Welch, Duggan, Henderson and J. ‘ O’Leary, two of which H. McKenzie con- • verted.' Fairbrother also potted a goal. 1 j The Bush score . onsisted of two tries ? (one converted), and a potted goal. Smith and Bissett scored the tries, one ; of which Smith converted. I -■ INTER-COLLEGE .MATCH. . CHRISTCHURCH, August 30. i A match was played yesterday afterl noon between Wanganui Collegiate school i ;ind Lincoln College. The game was a t vorv interesting one, and until the closing stages, when the superior condition and combination of the Wanganui boys fold, the agricultural students made a very good fight. In the first spell their forwards were rather better in loose work than Wanganui, but tho latter’s backs handled the ball better, and their line-kicking was generally more effective. The game ended—Wanganui 20, Lincoln a College 0. L RUAPEHU v. WANGANUI B. I WANGANUI, August 30. A match between the Ruapehu Sub- • union and Wanganui B team was played ( yesterday. The Wanganui team outf classed the visitors, who were defeated » by 31 to 6. ■ NORTHERN UNION GAME. ON AMATEUR LINES. r PBEBS ASSOCIATION. r DUNEDIN. August SO. Supporter* of Northern Union football are hopeful of gaining a strong footing here, before tho season i* over. One of tim promoters of tho game says: — {, W© have some forty players, including many of the best men here, who have intimated their intention of playing this game. We propose running it on purely amateur line*, and intend commencing practice matches in another week. We have i secured the Caledonian ground, and will pla> Wellington on it on October 3rd, . and also on tho Saturday following. We \ hop* to arrange a match against a Maori team for the Saturday after that. On [ the Inst Wednesday in September we play a match at Invercargill, and will ) pay player* for the time lost while away from Dunedin. We are not going in for i professionalism. If the New Zealand I Union decide* to improve the present 1 game we shall bo satisfied, but in the [ meantime we intend doing our best to [ push the new game.” i ■■ ■ ASSOCIATION GAME ; CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY ; DIAMONDS. The senior League Association competition was brought to a conclusion on Saturday afternoon. Diamonds beat T.M.C.A., while the unexpected victory of Rumblens over Rovers resulted iu placing Diamonds at the head of the list. DIAMONDS v. Y.M.C.A. The game was not a very brilliant one, some of the men indulging in oonsiderable wild kicking. Diamonds opened with a good combined run, Hathaway, Hodges, and Lowe getting within an ace of scoring. Y.M.C.A, retaliated, but a splendid effort was rendered fruitless. Diamonds’ first goal was the result of a good “’shoot" by A. Lowe, the second was obtained by the united efforts of Roddy nnd Hodges, while just before time Hodges netted a third goal. Mr H. Waters was referee. RAMBLERS v. ROVERS. An eunexpected defeat was inflicted bv Ramblers on Hovers at the Newtown Park. There was little football about the contest, play being very straggling. Shortly before half-time Edwards scored a good goal for Ramblers. They had all the better of the second spell—their opponents being without the assistance of Martin, who ricked his ankle—but no further score was recorded. OBITER GAMES. In tho Junior League second division Swifths beat Y.M.C.A. by 3 goals to 1. Coleman, Murphy, and Williamson, scored for Swifts. The Y.M.C.A, C team drew with the A team, each side scoring two goals. THE AUSTRALIAN GAME NEWTOWN v. CITY. Followers of the Australian game as- ’ sembled at the Basin Reserve on Sntur-' daj' to see the fourth meeting of the Newtown and City Clubs. Expectations. of a close and exciting finish were freely I entertained. Both teams were consider- f a[ily strengthened since their last meeting The game ended in a victory for 1 Newtown by 12 goals 18 behinefs (90 j points) to City’s 10 goals 11 behinds (71 points). Newtown owed their victory in no small degree to tho big ruck man Neville, who followed untiringly throughout. H© was ably supported by Booth. The former kicked three goals and the latter one from a very difficult position. Burn, roving, played up to his usual form. Hutchinson, centre and back, played splendid football, his cleverness m getting the ball, combined with good kicking, being a treat to witness. Peters, Kimpton, Ryan, Cook and King were also very conspicuous. City’s great weakness appeared to be in the ruck. For the loser*. J. House was easily first, and perhaps his play entitle* him to the best p,laced man iu the field. Payne, Robinson, Wilson. Jacobs, Spottiswoode and Gromie, who arrived late, worked hard to save defeat. Mr Pears© was central umpire, and Messrs O’Sullivan and HurIpy were line umpires. This victory now plgces Newtown with a substantial lead for premiership, ami the following are the positions of the clubs:—Newtown, fi wins, 2At points: Wellington, 3 wine, 12 points; City, 1 win, 4 points.