Championship Matches.

NZ Truth, Issue 103, 8 June 1907, Page 2

Championship Matches.

The fine weather on Saturday drew a' large crowd to Petone to witness the contest between Poneke and the suburban team. It was generally anticipated that it would toe a tight go, arid so it turned out, but when the final stage of the match was being reached the superiority of the Petone men seemed very evident. Quite an exciting feature of the game Was the fact that Poneke led at half time by two points. When the game had progressed for a little more than haH-an-hour, and the score stood Petqne 6 to 5, the referee fouled the ball during a Poneke attack and robbed Wallace of what looked like a certain try under the posts. The Poneke captain was juut about to sc o op the ball up about five yards from the' goal line without an opponent to beat and the referee unfortunately stepped m the way. For all that I think Petone were more than eight points superior :'n the second spell, though the reds maintained that dogged defence which characterised their play m the Oriental match. From a casual survey of , the play one might form 'the opinion- that the Petone backs were superior to the city men, but their play probably shone more because it was performed behind such a clinking forward team. The, red forwards certainly held\ up well against their redoubtable op- | ponents,, hut m finish anil brilliancy they were not m it with the Petone men. They we're unable to hook the ball very frequently, and they lackied the staying capabilities necessary to carry them through such a match. Up to a certain stage their combination was fair, but nearly all their forward, rushes which started prominently, were burst up by an Unlucky kick. Indeed Ryan never had anything like a hot rush to go down to, for the ball always arrived his way a deal ahead of the player. Individually, there w*as no one among the red forwards who compared with tihebest of the Petone men. Byrne was very prominent m all the Petone rushes, and when he notched his try it was thoroughly 'worth the three points. Considering his size Byrne, musters a good show of pace,ami he; /appears thoroughly trained and fit to see out the hardest match —a factor - which no doivbt contributes largely to his .consistent form. Cross, was m great nick also, and early m the first spell he startled Wallace by successfully charging him twice m succession. Slater, however, solved t-ttat difficulty. McGill and Wright yf ere probably the best of the remaining! forwards, arid m the last twenty minutes the former did some great work, He is a, typical Petone forward, however, as far as vigor is concerned, and when he bumps or throws an opponent he puts rather too much energy into his effort. Among the, Petone backs J. Ryan, at five-eighth, played a , sterling game, and the two tries m the first spell fell, to, him. His kicking was first-class, with the exception of his pot at goal, which was a wretched attempt, and made when he should have sent the. ball to Barber. . Green played splendidly, started rush after rush with, always neat pass. The second try recorded for his team was the result of a smart run, from the scrum by Green and a pas's to Ryan at the correct time, A great point m the midgjet's favor is the fact that he displaysno eagerness to score. On Saturday; however, he was one of the three to make an unsuccessful pot at goal. In the Petone ihreequaxter line there was nothing to enthuse over. Bar'oeri, at centre, was not at his best by; any means, and mulled on more than one occasion. Like Green and Ryan he essayed a drop "kick and massed the posts. Hardham'g try m the second spell was the termination of a nice passing rush, but he should have been grassed/ by Magee. The latter started running towards the Rimutakas when Hardbam took' the ball and the Petone man was left a clear opening. ,M, Ryan, at full-hack, was m great form, and made few mistakes, but) 1 his work throughout the second spell' was very, easy. Poneke backs were unhappy m the majority of their passing rushes, a fact which, seemed to be due to a (Weakness m Skelley's play. The'nve- ; eighths seemed to be off color,* and never, seemed to worry about sending his kickfe to touch. They either went straight above his head or foack towards Ms own goal. Early m the first spell he got his side into serious trouble by passing m his own twenty-fives, and that when very near the goal posts. Instone seemed to shape very well at half m the first twenty minutes, and some of his defensive work' was really good during that portion of the game. He also managed to send the ball away from the scrum m a talcing manner,, but later on his play deterioated. Wallace played a good game and I had to bear the brunt of the Petone attack. . I think he would have been wiser to. have swopped positions witvh Skeiley early m the game, but I mayb e wrong. From Poneke's first try Wallace kicked a fine goal, but after' that his attempts reminded '. me of the* place kicking against Bedell-Sivwright's team. Toohill „was very useful m the attack,, bu.t he should have dived low at Jimmy Ryan when that player registered Petone's first try. The

Poneke three-quarter seems very, anxious to improve his play, and will no doubt be a better defensive player as time goes on. He is always a good scoring man. ' Mitchlnsbn played a sound game at centre, but he was rather too well marked to display his usual brilliance., Magee's forte "was his charging j which was usually • accomplished after a Petone lack had got rid of the ball and was too late to be effective. Slater did not appear to be m his best form, but he made no serious mistake,' unless it "be : that he might haye v collared > Hardham when Magee missed him. The full-back was playing towards the ottie'r side, and. had scarcely any time to reach Hardham, but probably George Spencer,, m a similar instance '"Would have displayed anticipation of the score and saved it. ■ ' ■ ' . In perfect weather," the Senior Shield competitions ware advanced another stage on Saturday last, when Petone beat Poneke by 14 to 8, Melrose defeated St. "James by 10 to 5,, Wellimigtoai went under to Oriental* the figures toeing 15 to 6, and Athletic whipped Victoria College to the tune of 29, the collegians failing todraw Wood. ■ The great interest centred m the Betone-Poneke matiih on the suburban ground was responsible for a 'very, moderate attendance- at the Athletic, Park, where Melrose, and St. -James and Wellington, ,'apd Oriental< ,;bried conclusions. The. 'turf was /much on. the soft side. The . Welliimgton-^rien-ta I . game was most runin'teres'tdjig ;and at no stage cou*d •it-.be. i to-i}o.63E- i §aidV.oitimg. Neither; teajm played wiiaji : any, semblance of vim. or comibinatjon and eabh man went practically on Ms "own." 1 ' ... .- \.-^ : . .■:';;■:, Th© Oriental forwards. were stronger than their '■ opponents, and With more aggressiveness m '". the loose, when the chanoes of scoring happeneitt along, should have easily doubledtheir'tally. The Wellingiton pack-wis never a solidified formation, and oh the line-out and m the open there' wajs no system, life or tact. Individually, the "Orie", backs' executed some flashes o^good .playv but they displayed mediocre form; 'as a body! In nearly a; dozen* • instances, Where easy openings eventuated', Robe its and his men* failed to get the machinery going smoothly to take •■'the chances offered. , ■ Faulty handling, weak touch-line Kicking, and ignoraiiee generally iii all that appertains to 'back play* ■ collectively and individually \ ■ were the eha* racteristic features' of the We^ingtc i n rearguard's display. - The yellows* backs repeatedly- failed to > find the line to advantage, consequently their forwards got much more graft than was necessary.,: . :• < :.:*- . „ Cleary got. a- nasty bump -.on-tbi head, which made him drop hack to full-back m ,the first spell. Roberts, who was' not looking- for -trouble,, or wounds, , m View of the Inter-Island match,' took up this role after th-o 'breathing period ... The place-kicking was'i^uly awful. Seven tries .Were scored, yet m no single instance, were- -the scores improved upon. Same of .the shots at gjo&l were within .very easy -striking distance. Though there was no great, tattlian^ cy about -ths- St .• James-Melrqse tv &- sle, the proceedings ware geqaeraliy lively, amd < ttoe ball went . from, line ; to line with rapidity. ... .'. Throughput the game the blue scruknmagiers were stronger and .more, strenuiojis tiiah their, lighter .opponebts. They';biad:- tJie r - ec6i?&wte<}2}% .'of; and pushing power,, but riot iM"''lsn£out and m the open/ the "Jimmy"forwards held the upper hand. ' ', Melrose made the game: as tight as possible, the only tactics calculated to stay the hamdsof iiieir bppbnahts from scoring. The St. James, on the other hands, were anxious to open up the play and make matters lively. Whenever they did, Melrose had its hands full iiv checking 'the onslaught. The stamina and dpggedness of the blues, however, lasted long enough to wear down the younger/ club's representatives; whose forwards., were not sufficiently weighty or i>oweriul enough to withstand the repeated pressure. ' Knowing the tactics of the Me^rbse forward >brigade, the, . ''Jiminiei*' Worked plans to act as a foil to its operations,, but the youngsters afer not well enough yerse>d in-,' strategical Rug^y just yet to make' : them' a com^ plete success. The little understand* ing between wing anflwing did not come off as :Was /expected, and its execution ultimately I6d to ths St.. Jimmies' undoing. "Their . Wheeling was-indcely e'&ecuted, a-tod when ■oti defence served them m good stead. On a few occasions, the St. Jim«i forwards put m someneat toe-wor'k> and one drJlb'bllinig rush, led 'btyßunck'* enhetg. wMOh carried th« Mil more than three parts of the field; Was th£ best of its kind seen oh t^e Park this season. A tendency for "too mu6h boot" at -the crucial mofflifent -lost the Jimmies two capitel chances of scoring m th^ first Spell.' In the op'en rushes, the lads put m some very good work, the following'-up \»in^ executed m a 'body and with , slick* ness. Outside of George Spencer, the && play of the Melrose rear-guard, either m attack or defence, warrants no oomment. On 1 the) other hand, the St. James division sav-e their,, forwards servk-eaMe assistance,, fts. 'play, all round being neat, natty, and timely. The handling of the ball- was accurate, the kicking forceful, but not always utilised to "the best ajdvanta-tfe, the tackling generally sound, and the stopping sure, on most occasions. As an attacking : side, the St. James' backs are a clipping set, atttf with more experience they will be a thorn m the side of the strongest of our senior combinations. The otd veteran, Harry Roberts, has "schooled" them well, but methinks he

.should te content -with learning them '.Bt .few tricks at a time and wait aintil the lads have perfectly mastered, these before trying on other POhemes for the discomfiture of their opponents. , They . play well into one another's hands, are resourceful and versatile, are always on ,the alert to receive rthe ball and dash forward, and 1 hack «ach other up m systematic fashioa. tThey . jtnix . their play to good adffantage,,- and use their head, too, When 'necessary. They sometimes fail ftp find 'the line when kicking, a fact iwhioh such . ligiht-wel'gh't forwards as Jtheirs find . out. long before no-side Bvas 'called. But tor George Spencer Melrose [would have been m dire distress oftpn. It was George every time who pulled his team out of the fire, and iiis neat and - clevet saving "bits of play were' not lost on. the spectators. ; . His line kicking was forceful and accurate, and bis catching and fielding . certain and sound. .•'Peggy" 1 Claridge got a nasty kick on . tfhe thigh, m the first five minutes of the, game, and was ultimately ■compelled to quit the field, his place at five-eighth heing taken by Bert Warwick, who didn't perform too tad m the circumstances. . McKay £os/ his 'boot on to the leather with vigor, hut his play was not, what on© would call sound rigih<t to bedrock. His attack loses its venom by reason of his propensity to throw !up. the sponge when a stonewall;.in^hedifape of a safe tackier lobnVsvinfron't'-of him. ' Ja^; Spenser, 'Du Blois, Gilchrist and Hamilton were the most conspicuous- toilers m tha vanguard. Gilchrist and Dv Blois were grafting like ni jrgsrs Ifoe whole 'time, while Jack cishseived his ,jwind at times for; a great, burst: „ , Thomas, of whom it was said that he should have been m the selected team against Wairarapa, was only moderately successful. He turned his back on the "ro/ugh .stuff" several times,, .and • his line kicking lacked its usual accuracy.; He made several mistakes -when .on, defence. Thomas has seemingly a swelled - head, but he should - rememiber that he has a long snd rocky journey to accomplish before . he. can claim the j title of a great player. Ferguson, 1 at. centre, was sound right -through -and had his wings well together for attacking purposes. Warwick, however-, put thdtngs out of pear by getting to* far/forward when dashing for the line. When Ferguson had the passing, rushes m operation he invariably • drew the opposing backs to himself with a straight-a-? head daslr and always passed the leather with mathematical precision! and accuracy. His defence was solid. Crewes a-nd Warwick did useful work, though the lather's unreliability m taking and -kicking was often m- evidedc-3. O'Connor and' Roberts were ' of . all-round- worth, the stripling exploiting, with signal success at times. He is a versatile player, and is quick to size up the situation. Behind- •• the scrum Cozens had his hands full m stemming the Melrose forward rushes.., He showed capital judgment. Bunckeaiib?r@ sh-bw-ed : excellent footwork, and tackled with unerring dead'liness. He was also very strong on the fellow' up. Bruce is a young forward of whom' great things might reasonably, be 'expected, m the fupusaes sjtrenuQUsiyT is smarij _m the open, uses his head i well, and moteover _'^1 ays the silent game from start to np^side.. The selectors should keep their eyes 'on this young player.. Manning and Moffatt were also- responsible for solid work— a remark which might well apply, {to the others. ' Towards the end of the 'first spell the Jimjiiies,. with Ferguson -m the van; invaded Melrose territory, and Wright securing- the ball, which had been thrown, back m a passing rush, went •'" over the ohalkmark, Thomas converting. In the second fcalf , Gilchrist, from a scramble on the dine, got possession of the leather, and .touched down, .G. Spencer doing the needful.. Wii'thin a minute or two to no-side, hesitancy on the part of the St. James tacks as to who should take .."a, return, allpwed Melrose to smother their opponents, and Jack Spencer made a characteristic passage over the line, his brother again adding- the major points. The St. „' James baid a jsM-ndng chancie to . score von two occasions, a clear ; field heingj available for centre aad WAnsrihroe-^iuarters, with Bo possible hope of blocking their progress. A forward, anxious to emulate Hardcastle's . exploit m the f Butchers' " match at Dunerfin m 1897, preferred /to take a potshot at goa.l with , disastrous results (to himself andi has team. . The game between Victoria College and Athletic at Miramar was robbed of any interest by the superiority of the blue forwards over, the oDPosing vanguard. They took charg'3 of the game from the start, and Within a 'Quarter o f an hour had scored, four tries, of which Atkinson converted three and Evenson &ne. " : .' ' They 4hen took matters 1 easily, with. the. result that the College kept their : line clear till the last • few munut&s of the. game, when« three more tries were scored,, hut not improved upon. The College uefoace was' tvery. poor, Bogle teing. the only back up to senior form. The full back was very weak. Lynch, wingMtorward, was m good form, and was the best of the adyance ibrigade. Evensen, 'the blue -.^hre^quarter, scored a couple ©f tries, riihning. right through Ms opponents.. Pownall, who .was tried at wingthree^qiiarter, scored a try from a pretty along the line from outeide the defenders' twenty-five. Atkinson'' 1 ' made his re-appearance at halt, and infused a lot of dash into the game;, but. somewhat neglected: the man behind him. The forwards • played well toge'thei and_ at times with a lot of dash, but were inclined after the firs I twenty minutes, to lake matters toe easily. Towards the end, however they /livened : up somewhat, and were going strong when, the whistle sounded no-sade.