Championship Matches.

NZ Truth, Issue 110, 27 July 1907, Page 2

Championship Matches.

[(By "Pakeha,"S

The gloomy weather and keen biting wind was doubtless responsible for a marked diminution m the number of Park habitues on Saturday afternoon. The several contests panned out as follows :— Athletic 3, Oriental nil ; Wellington 16, Victoria College 10 ; Petone 14, -Melrose .3 ; Poneke 9, St. James 8. The. Oriental-Athletic game was a contest between two powerful sets of forwards, with ordinary backs, and the result was not an interesting one for the onlookers. Thie strong breeze blowing across tlie ground did not allow the teams to open the game up for when Mhe ball was thrown out the wind carried it forward, and a scrum was the result. The backs on neither side had many chances for combined play, as the wing-forwards nipped any passing m the bud. Towards the end, however, when the blue forwards obtained *tbo upper hand, their backs made some attempts to score, and both Gordon and Atkinson nearly got across the coveted line. The try scored by the blues was the result of a nice cross kick by Gordon when blocked on the line. Madden was played at full for Oriental during the first spell, and was

none too safe. He was caught on his own line by t.he opposing forwards, who narrowly missed,, scoring on «m or two occasions. He played trtes-' three-quarter m the second spell, Iml was not at all prominent. Highet relieved Madden at full m the second spell, and performed creditably. MatWeson had little to do, but gave his opponents an opportunity to score through taking; the ball from his full-back when off-side. He also got into trouble through waiting to take the ball on the bounce. Cleary. at five-eighth, made one or two pretty dashes, but was not supported. Anderson-, at centre three-quarter, did some good defensive work, but had no opportunities to shine m attack. Scott, at half, stopped some dangerous rushes, but was handicauped by his forwards not securing the foal I. The Wells brothers -both played well on the wing, but were penalised occasionally for not following thc ball back m the % scrum. ' The forwards played solidly m the tight work, but lacked vim m the loose. McColl and Hamilton- did not secure the ball as often as on the previous Saturday. Lile, Manning and Collerton were most noticeable. Cunningham:, the blue full-back, was not of ton called on, but got m some nice line-kicks. Atkinson was tried at wing threequarter, and apart from, a little nervousness got through very creditably. Evensen got through with' his usual complement of good play for his side, his kicking being, of immense advantage to % tiis tefa'm. Gordon,., .on the right wing, is improving with every game, and with a little more weight should develop into a really good three-quarter. ' ' " O'Meara was not as prominent as usual, not havins; got over a K-r-pck received on the previous Saturday. Pownall got through a heavy. ' afternoon's work very creditably at half. O'Sullivan, on the wing, injured his leg early m the game, and " retired at -half-time, his place m the team being taken by Jack- Cunningham, amid Patterson, ■ the new man, going into the scrum. Cunningham filled his new position, ably, and was responsible for some nice dribbling. Murray, who had been resurrected to fill a vacancy m the team, gave probably his 'best display of the seas-' ort, and set his team a good example ih the way of collaring, going low. and bringing his man down neatlyThe gave a solid display, and won the game for their "side. g_3tandea still manages to beat his opponents for the ball m . the SGrum, and shows, up prominently m ths open. Wilson, Bell, .and Osborne were the pick, and showed- up prominently ih the loose work and on the linp. Baker cannot resist the opportunity of going for the ball when' p5-side and on Sa/burday as usual was cav&hfc and his side penalised. . Very few people went out to Petone to' see the Petone-Melrose . eor,-r test, a*nd those enthusiasts that did musj; have been greatly disappointed. The game, however, was evenly contested, despite tlie disparity m tho scores. It was the same old tale with Melrose— the forwards were on^ minute pushing home an attack, ths next busily defending m their own twenty-fives— bungling by the backs invariably being; responsible for this. Both packs worked hard and the best possible spirit was shown, but the game was quite strenuous enough. In fact, both teams are to be commendied—hard knocks were given - and taken, but there was an entire absence of dirtiness. The Petone backs were solid, and occasionally brought of! some neat passing bouts. The effort by which Read obtained bis' first try was a particularly pleasing one. Each man drew his opponent nicely, and passed at the opportune moment, Read putting on the finishing touches wi±£i _ a well-judged dash, which landed him just inside the corner flag. The Ryan brothers put up their usual sound game, but Jimmy Barber was not convincing ; he seemed to he trying to write his name on the ball, and spoilt several good chances. Read was the bright particular back on the blue side. His all-round play was really first-class and surprised even his most ardent admirers. Clem Green was kept very busy and came out of the ordeal well. His immediate opponent, Kerr, was also very sound, and, m conjunction with Church, carried off the honors among the Melrose backs. It behoves the red 'three-quarters to pull themselves together, and "thus give the two young; bloods a chance to "come out." Brewer had to retire at half-time through an injury, and Claridge took his place, but the change only made mattersi, if anything, worse— "Peggy" was not himself. The three-quarter line was continually out of position, the taking had, and the line-kickina; worse. McKay was a great offender m this respect. It was an exception for him to find the line. Shepherd played- very pluckily at full-back, and igot through a lot of work with credit. Of the Petone forwards, McGill, Tyne, Knight and Hardham were prominent, but the whole nack suffered by comparison with Melrot-2. The Melrose forwards would do credit to any combination, granted that tbey lacked something of their usual "devil," yet they put up a sterling performance, it was worth the journey out to see a particular rush m the second spell. From some t\_?ht play m their twen-ty-fives, the forwaras bustled through aiid then moved m a solid body to the Petone line— forwards and backs went down before them. When a dozen yards from the line, something happened,, and the red backs took a hand, and .the next moment the ball was out at Melrose twenty-jive.

ii i - - ----■■ tittii—mii i Gilchrist, without doubt, was the best' forward on the ground, and led his men admirably. The heeling tactics of both sets of forwards was not good. There is room for muoh improvement. By tha way, why do forwards persist m that insane knocki-n^-on, on thc line-out ? Both teams, though Melrose were the greatest offenders, lost yards of ground through this. Green and Kerr were only too pleased tb accept the easy marks.

To those who journeyed to Miratoar, the Poneke v. St. James game provided some interesting and close-ly-contested play, and though Poneke got honie once more by a margin of one point, it had by no means the best qf the struggle. The Poneke forwards are undoubtedly- "a fine set, working well together, overshadowing their light opponents m • scrum and tight work. That they were out for a win was proved by the manner m which every man grafted with a will and determination, and if this .form is retained they • will take some beating this season.

Of thc backs, Tilyard was easily fiist; making several, pretty openings, usually spoilt by Magee's failure to improve on them. This player appeared to want the ball all to himself, evidently relying on scoring by bumping his way through. With thc exception of Twohill, the three-quar-ter line appeared very shaky and without confidence.

Slater at tall was sure and safe, saving well by useful line kicks.

The Poneke backs without their forwards m such good fettle, would wrtainly be very much at sea.

Qn the St. James side, the forwards, though usually beaten for the ball—in scrums-— played hard and willing to the finish, and were well assisted by tie backs, who made the m«s.t of their opportunities. ©n tht line out there was little to gheose between ths teams, St. James makin?: it as open as possiule, tlie Poneke keepine; it close m, -hir.ns. The open work is where the' lighter set sscmed to be more prominent, and at dribbling seem to be improving every game. .

Manning, Bruce, and Stewart seemed a little better than their comrades on the day's play. "Rabbi" Wighton, thc scrum lock, was an absentee owing to an injury to his knee sustained on tne previous Saturday. His place was taken by Hope— a junior— who is a solid grafter m tight work, but lacks the necessary dash of a senior forward.

•Thomas, at full, is steadily regaining some of his old form, and is apparently relenting his past misdeeds. His line-kicking saved Mis side considerably m the second spell, and his fault of. allowing the ball to bounce before taking seems to be entirely disappearing.

Ferguson .was again the shining light m the three-quarter line, and Jt&d his running a little more lastto?: power, te would certainly have scored on one occasion, when he intercepted m his own territory, with a ele'ar -field m front, but was overtaken ten yards from home by Twohill.

Crowes and Neilson played very, fair but the latter player lacks the dash necessary for a scoring wing, 'and Evidently, his true position is as originally, front-rank scrummej. Roberts was m Al form, and made some pretty . openings. He

was ably backed up by, O'Connor, who is no doubt the most useful back to his side. He plays a spoiling same to perfection, and is very smart off the mark. His kicking also is sound, and his tackling certain.

Cozens at half, had no light. task m getting down to some of the red and black forward rushes, and proved himself by no means a shirker m this respect. I am afraid, however., that although very sound on defence and a most wiliing player, he lacks the smartness and attacking powers of a first-class half. When he succeeds m getting the ball away smarter from the scrum, he shall have overcome one of his chief failings. j Charlie Bell, a recently-promoted I junior referee, was most fair and efficient m his decisions, with one exception, when by some law or other he insisted on the St. James wing forward toeing the touch line when \ m the act of throwing the ball j out. The Wellington-Victoria College game was an amusing display. The j forwards of both sides seemed to re- j jrard the ball as the particular pro- j perty of the backs, and showed their respect for it by refusinp. to use their feet as a means of propelling it. . i V.C. scored first, and it looked as if it had the Wellington team beaten, but, after considerable mulling by the backs of both sides, the yellows transferred play to the other end of the field and scored. V.C. then jjiit its tail between its legs, and allowed their opponents to do as they liked as far as V.C. was concerned. The yellows, m spite of the inability of the backs to take the ball, managed to run up 16 points. Dobbin, who played full-back for V.C, did his best to assist his opponents by refusing to. touch, the ball • unless it was kicked squarely into hisarms.

Towards the end of the game V.C. scored a second converted try. The play of either side was not up to junior form.