A DRAB GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11227, 5 June 1922, Page 7

A DRAB GAME

ATHLETIC DEFEAT SELWYN. The Athletic and Selwyn players met in the curtain-raiser to the PonekePetone match, the players taking the field at half-past one, and playing two thirty-five minute spells. They were all numbered on the backs, but what for was not apparent, for a search through the official programme did not reveal the fact that these teams were supposed to play on Athletic Park. The Rugby Union should see to it that their official programme contains at least the names of players taking part in the matches, as that is really all a man buys the programme for. There are a couple of pages of interesting notes of np-to-dste happenings, but the pages and pages of advertisements are not much of a recompense fo rthesi xpence paid for the publication. The Athletic and Selwyn players were making their first appearance at Athletic Park, and the majority of them were therefore unknown to the bulk of the spectators. The game for the most part was a series of forward rushes, hard kicks, and some fine saving woik by Brook, the Athletic full-back. Wogan scored a try for Selwyn in the first spell at the end of a good dash but failed to convert bis own try. McCarlie was prominent in most of the Athletic forward rushes, and Swain impressed a lot by much good work. In the second half Gibson drop-kicked a goal for Athlebo from a penalty kick, and Swain scored a try which Gibson converted, the final result being— Athletic g Selwyn ..... 8 The features that impressed were a fine take and- run bv McCarlie;' Christie and Swain combined in a forward rush that was one of the beet items of the afternoon, the latter scoring tho try; McCarlie was declared off-side at the end of a dash goalwards by the Athletic players in combination; a good kick and follow through by Brook, in which tho Athletic fuli-bacK misseu tho try by Inches; and a certain try lost through Malmanche dropping the ball just when about to fall. These were all in the second spell, when the Athetio team had the wind behind them and should have scored many more points than they did Wogan was the outstanding piayer on the Selwyn side, who missed do CliUnn’j assistance.

BERHAMPORE WINS WEIGHT TELLS AGAINST WELLINGTON. ' ‘ . The advantages of tho amended kicking into touoh rule wore interestingly exemplified at the Duppa street ground on Saturday morning, when Berhamporo defeated Wellington by 20 points to three. The new rule was applied on frequent occasions, with resulting Satisfaction to the onlookers. Interest in tho match was fairly keen amongst' the small crowd of barrackere who toed the side-line. Tho teams turned out as follow Berhamporo (blue).—Full-hack, Brooks; three-quarters, Matheson, Riddiford and Hickling; five-eighths, Walters and Howard; half, Hay nee; forwards. Bell Watson, Whitorod, Mouatt, Malin, McHerron, Duncan and Scott. Wellington (black and yellow).—Full-i back, Duncan; three-quarters, Frator,’ Cooper, and Tennant; five-eighthe, Gibson and Castro; half, Hughes; forwards Fyfe, Butcher, Hepburn, Webb, Clark. Whyborn, Herd and Reed.Berhampore’s weight told from the start, and Haynes and Howard opened up a movement which almost bore fruit. Tho ball went a cross "field near tho goalline, whore Hickling made a bolt for the corner. Ho was pushed out on the flag and came to grief in the gutter. The attack was renewed, and it was not, long before Mouatt opened up the Ber. hampore account, falling over just out side the posts. Watson added the goal points. Wellington were not readily settling down to the game, and made a loose defence. Mouatt further added to tho blues’ points by successfully negotiating a penalty kick from behind tlfe twenty-five. Berhamporo 8 Wellington 0 WELLINGTON HAVE AN OFFENSIVE! Wellington raised a yell from the bant by initiating their first offensive movement, which gained thorn useful ground. De Castro Iroke away from behind the sorum and made a gallant hut unsuccesful shot at the posts. The blues reversed*" tho positions, and Haynes and Mouatt in turn attempted to rnn over from a line-out, being pulled down close on the line. Haynes made another bolt for it, this time turning in, but be was smothered by the yellows, and a scrum was ordered. Webb saved the situation with a beautiful kick to tho side-line, and a sequence of scrums ensued; near Berhampore’s twenty-five. Hughes proved altogether too slow in getting tho ball away along the back lines, ana several likely movements -broke down. Spirited barracking for the Wellington side saw the play speed up considerably, and fast dribbling rone in the forwards were the chief features of the next few minutes. Tho Wellington attack, the brightest period of the game, was renewed determinedly, and Borhampore were obliged to touch down. A fine try soon followed The backs eet the boll in motion, and after several players had handled Butcher ran through near the sticks. The kick failed. Berhamporo - $ Wellington 1 3 The blues retaliated hotly, and Hickling got over to score just within the dead area. Watson made a bad job of the kick. Wellington were awarded a free kick shortly before half-time, hut the ball fell short. THE SECOND SPELL. The game had hardly been renewed when Mouatt marked in a nice position, and made good with the kick, 14—3. Wellington stolidly) endeavoured to again break through, but the movement eventually resulted in the opposing hacks getting the ball away. Brooks, the blue full-back, made an excellent run across field till the whistle brought him

back for a breach, when he again, bolted aorp&s on the other diagonal to score amidst much excitement in the corner, | VVatson again failed with the kick. | 17—3. Webb made a bold run when j the yellows opened up an attack, having hard luck by being pulled down in | a scrimmage on, the line. Gibson, sbortI ly found an opening on the left wing I and pn being tackled centred excellently. A penalty wag ordered against I berharopore in front of the sticks, and I Frater missed from short range what [should have been a certain goal. In the concluding stages of the match Wellington were penalised on their, own line, and Mouatt again made sure of the kick. The same finished Berliampore 30 Wellington 3 Mr It. Fordyce gave satisfaction with the whistle. COMMENTS ON PLAY SHOWING. Wellington made a brave stand against their heavier opponents, and while they seem to have the makings of a good steady team they lack the necessary organisation to put the finishing touches on. the forwards* work. Good coaching should make them a team to be feared. The ba'cks were the best section of the Berhampore team, and most of the field work developed upon them. Hickling, Walters, and Brooks played sterling games for the winning team, the last-named showing excellent form. Walters was, as usual, a dependable worker, and Hickling was frequently dangerous on the wing. Mouatt was very useful in making goal .points and kicked reliably. The forward division of the Wellington team pitched well into the game, and put in good work in the scrum. Hughes, at half, vae weak, and was the spoiling factor in many a promising opening. Gibson, Be Castro, Butcher and Webb were outstanding players. A WILLING ENCOUNTER MARIST TOO GOOD FOR ORIENTAL In spite of the rain, the match between Marist and Oriental, won by the former by 13 points to 8, was witnessed at Kilbirnie Recreation Ground on Saturday morning by some 1500 spectators. Oriental played without Gair, and 'his place as wing-forward was taken by A. Gilchrist, who put in some excellent work. From the kick-off Marist made a determined attack, but a pot at goal by Creed went astray. Oriental rallied, and from a good pass by Adams, Scott managed to score a try, hut Adams did not improve tho occasion. Oriental, 3; Marist, 0. Some dangerous looking play in the Marist twenty-five followed, but no score resulted. Then Marist again attacked. Poor passing lost them several chances to score; but. finally, Creed got the ball, and with a short dash secured a try at the corner, which Murphy converted. Marist,' 5; Oriental, 3. A strong rush by the Oriental forwards, however, ended in Moffitt scoring a try, which Adams converted. Oriental, 8: Marist, 5. From then on till half-time Oriental was kept on the defensive, but Marist failed to .score. ) -*Fromi j)ba restart Oriental attacked with vigour and determination, and a hard struggle ensued in Marigt twentyfive. No score resulted, however. Markham and Mahoney succeeded in relieving the situation; and Markham took the ball down the field in fine style. A penalty. in front of the coal was given against Oriental, on account of A. Gilchrist hcldimr the hall; and from this Murphy kicked a goal, making the game 3 all. Some give and take play followed, in the course of which good work for Marist was done by Tancred and Crotty. coarse of a strong Oriental'a penalty kick was a warded,'but Adams, though kicking well, failed ta score. A strong rally by the Greens then took the ball down the field, once .more, and Troy picking up from the loose in ■ front of the Oriental coal scored a fine try. Murphy con verted; and nothing more being scored, the game thus ended Marist. 13; Oriental 8. Mr T. Fletcher acted as referee. PLAY AND PLAYERB * "stray'notes on the game. Creed's attempt at a pot shot at goal in the initial stages of the game was a wellconceived bit of play. Unfortunately, however, he screwed the hall too much, and thus missed his objective. The way in which the Marist team bucked up after the Orientals had scored their first goal was astonishing. Marist. completely took the upper hand for a tiflie; but by faulty. passing among the backs several chances were lost. , Then came the short dash by Creed, 'his try and its conversion by Murphy, which so roused Oriental that by a strong forward rush they again got the upper hand. / Towards the end of the first spell Marist should have scored again; but when the one 'his way Tancred hesitated, and it’wag. lost. Markham and Mahoney did good con-, sistent work for the winning team, freauently relieving the pressure when the Oriental forwards were endeavouring to push: a vigorous attack home. About the middle of the second spell, Crottv (Marist), by passing to Troy, who failed to take the pass, lost what seemed to be an almost certain chance of scoring had Crottv retained the hall. i LOWER GRADES Matches in the lower grades resulted as follow JUNIOR. Old Boys 15, Poneke 3. Berhampore 35, Wellington 3. THIRD. Y.M.C.A. 28. Old Boys 0. Poneke 34, Wellington 3. INTERMEDIATE. Poneke 31, Stop Out 5. Y.M.C.A. 19, ’Varsity 3. Berhampore 14, Karort 4. FOURTH. * Berhampore 0, Hutt 0. Petone 19, Poneke 5. Institute 22, Wesley 3. fifth:, Y:M.C.A. 5, Marist 4. Poneke 18, Berhampore ft, SIXTH. Y.M.C.A. 3, Eastbourne S. Institute 24, Athletic B 0. SEVENTH. Ponfeka B 6, Y.M.C.A. 0. WIN FOR HAWKE'S BAY OVER WAIRARAPA A CLOSE GAME. rBB PRESS ASSOCIATION. NAPIER, June 3rd. The representative match, Wairarapa v. Hawke’s Bay, was played to-day in the presence of about 3500 people. It was an even, though somewhat ragged, game, relieved by a few bright flashes. It ended in a win for Hawke’s Bay by 14 points to 12. Tries for the winners were scored -by Hepia,. Grenside, and Barclay, all the outcome of good passing. Akuira converted one try and Kirkpatrick goaled from a drop-kick. J. Donald and Cook scored tries for the visitors. On© was converted by Knowles. Southgate potted a goal. The weather was flue and the ground in good order. Mr F. Tyne was referee

TARANAKI BEATEN A WIN FOR WANGANUI. GAME PLAYED IN BAD WEATHER. WANGANUI, June 3. The Rugby match, Wanganui v. Taranaki, was playvxl here to-day in wet weather. The home side won by twelve points to nine. Wanganui had the best of the game throughout, the backs passing well and showing better combination than their opponents. In the first few minute® of the game Wanganui attacked, and Delves, picking up in front of the posts, potted a goal. Play fluctuated, and eventually Wanganui was penalised. Hooker goaled, and the score was unchanged at half-time. Steady rain fell, and the ball became slippery. Early in the second half Wanganui got within striking distance, and Smith, after fielding a centring kick, scored under the posts. Baddeley converted. Taranaki made hard efforts to score, hut the Wanganui defence was sound. Hooker, whose kicking was a feature of the game, placed two more penalty goals, and the 6Cores ' were even. In the concluding stages the Wanganui backs outplayed their opponents, and a fine passing run, in which all the backs figured, let Head over near the flog. The home ‘ side kept its lead -until time was called. TIMARU COMPETITIONS SEVEN-ASIDE MATCHES. TIMARU, June 3. The annual seven-aside tournament was held to-day. Over JO teams competed in four grades. The ground was in perfect order. The attendance at the Caledonian Grounds this attornoon tor the finals was a record. The weather was right for play. The breeze was rather cold for the onlookers. In the finals. High School Boys won the senior grade, beating Celtic. Pleasant Point won the seoond and ' fourth grades, aud - High School the third. IN OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND RESULTS. AUCKLAND, June 3. Yesterday’s Rugby results are:—Marist Old Boys beat Newton by 3 points to 0; College Rifles heat University by 11 to 3; Grammar Old Boys beat Grafton by 9 to 3; North Shore beat Eden by 29 toO. DUNEDIN MATCHES. * ' DUNEDIN, June 3. The Rugby results ate : —Kaikorai _ 19, Alhambra 6; University A 22, Taieri Rovers 11; Zingari Richmond 6, Southern 5; Dunedin 8, Port Chalmers 3; Pirates 42, Union 3. GAMES IN CHRISTCHURCH ALL POSTPONED. CHRISTCHURCH, June 4. On account of the wet weather all the Rugby football, Association football, and hockey matches • yesterday were postponed.