RUGBY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3987, 12 August 1930, Page 23

RUGBY LEAGUE.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. DUNEDIN. MAXWELL CUP COMPETITION. Fine, but dull, weather prevailed on Saturday. wh e n the Maxwell Cup competition was advanced a stage further by the Otago Rugby Football League. Only two matches were played owing to the Kaitangata team being unable to fulfil its engagement with Christian Brothers A. The defection of the country team was due to the fact that an extra shift had to be worked in the Kaitangata mine, with the result that the players could not get away. The grounds were in surprisingly good condition considering the weather experienced earlier in the week. An attractive game between Pacific and Christian Brothers B on the Caledonian ground resulted in a win for the former by 23 pointe to 8, while on the Oval City accounted for Athletic by 19 points to 5.

COMPETITION POINTS. The following table shows the positions of the teams engaged in the competition:

PACIFIC v. CHRISTIAN BROTHERS B. The play was fairly even at the start of the match between Pacific and Christian Brothers B, but eventually the latter became aggressive. King, who was playing at full-back for Pacific, put in a fine-run, which shifted the scene of operations to the centre. A fine loose rush by Pacific threatened the Greens’ line, but hard kicking nullified the effort. Another fine, run by King was the next outstanding incident, and excellent play by Pacific just afterwards enabled Amos to score near the posts. A. Davis failed with the kick at goal. Pacific maintained the upper hand for some time, but J. Lee put in a great run from his own line, and transferred play to the Pacific twenty-five. The Reds, however, soon worked their way to the other end by fast and open play. From a passing bout started at the Greens’ twenty-five, G. Davis cut through cleverly and scored in a fairly handy position. A. Davis converted. An attack by Christian Brothers was checked, and the Reds then assumed the offensive, but J. Lee came to the rescue in good style. After a good deal of open play Christian Brothers got the upper hand, and a nice passing movement ended in W. Lee scoring near the corner. J. Lee failed with the kick at goal. Towards the end of the spell Amos charged down a kick near the Greens’ twenty-five and carried on cleverly scoring well out. A. Davis converted, and at half time Pacific led by 13 points to 3.

At the commencement of the second spell Christian Brothers attacked strongly, but Pacific effected a clearance. Shortly afterwards King got the ball, and put in the best run of the day. scoring behind the posts. King converted, bringing' Pacific’s score up to 18 pointe. M'Kewen figured prominently in a pretty movement, which took play inside the Pacific twentyfive. After a lot of even play the Greens broke away again, and F. Blackledge made a dash for the line, but was thrown against the corner flag. After a brief attack by Pacific the Greens made a desperate rally, and the Reds were penned down near their line for some time, but a force down was the only result. A fine run by J. Lee was the next feature of the play, and shortly afterwards he finished off a pretty passing movement by scoring behind the posts. The scorer added the major pointe. Towards the finish the Greens attacked, but A. Davis intercepted a pass, and got clean away near his own twenty-five, ending up a fine run by scoring behind the posts. Wall converted, and the game ended with the scores: Pacific .. 23 points. Christian Brothers B 8 points. The game was controlled by Mr Townsend. CITY v. ATHLETIC. The game between City and Athletic, played on the Oval, was very patchy, neither side giving a bright exhibition of the code. City secured an easy win, although most of the score was compiled in the final stages. City kicked off, and an exchange of kicks followed. M'Cabe gathered in the ball, and kicked across the field. Williams followed up. and went over to score wide out. Clydesdale failed to convert. Some fairly even play followed, although Athletic frequently penetrated City’s territory, where M'Donald made two attempts to kick goals from penalties, but the ball fell short. After being penned in their own twenty-five for some time, the Athletic backs broke away, Gardiner and Clark being prominent. The movement, however, broke down past halfway A minute later the City backs took a hand. Nelson broke through from a scrum, passed to Watson, who then transferred to M'Cabe, the latter beating two opponents to score in a handy position. Clydesdale was again unsuccessful with the kick. The next incident of note was a rush by Athletic. Campbell secured possession in City’s twenty-five, and finding an opening, scored wide out. M'Donald added the extra points with a good kick The half time scores were:—City 6. points. Athletic 5 pointe. Athletic had the best of the play for some time when the game was resumed. There was some hard play on City's line, but a force down was the only result. Two penalty kicks awarded to City brought relief. A few minutes later Nelson sent his backs “away from a scrum it City’s twenty-five. From M'Cabe the ball went to Clydesdale, who cross kicked. Watson gathered in the ball in fine style, and made a brilliant run along the line from halfway, and scored wide out. Clydes; dale’s kick went wide. City came down the field in a hard rush from the kick off, and Ramsay, gathering up in Athletic’s twenty-five, scored between the posts. Clydesdale converted. A few minutes before the call of. time Clydesdale broke through from past halfway, and evading several opponents, touched down near the posts. M'Cabe was successful with ths kick. The final scores were:— City 19 points Athletic 5 points Mr F. Sim was referee.

IN OTHER CENTRES.

AUCKLAND. All senior games were postponed on account of the rain. CHRISTCHURCH. Hornby 32, Marist 8. Addington 19, Waimairi 4. Sydenham 18, Woolston 5.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM.

ANOTHER DEFEAT IN SYDNEY. SYDNEY, August 4. In a Rugby League return match Metropolis defeated New Zealand by 34 points to 22. The teams were as follow:— —• Metropolis. — M'Cormack, Boyle, Woods, Black, Kessey, Johnson, Lynch, Rogers, Benning, Thornton, Pearce, Bishop, and Lloyd. New Zealand. — Gregory, Dodds, Seagar, Meyer, Pearce, Abbott, Trautvetter, Eckhoff, Clark, Timms, Dufty, Littelton, and Jones,

The match was poorly contested, with indifferent handling and lack of team work by both sides. The 2000 spectators were disappointeG, and there were only occasionally bright enterprising individual moves. Both teams repeatedly placed themselves in advantageous positions co n purpose, and rarely were points scored as the outcome of concerted movements. They generally emanated from scrambles. Although the home side won by a comfortable margin of points, there was ’U reality little difference between the teams. The Dominion players opened w 41 and at half time the score was 18 points io 16 in their favour, but they failed to sustain their effort. At one stage in the second half, however, they rallied and regained the lead, the score then reading 22 to 21, but a local player, Boyle, relieved the tension by scoring two tries in quick succession, and before time was called another try, two of which were converted. The scorers for New Zealand were: Abbott (3) and Dodds tries; Dufty five goals. The eveniug newspapers here state that there is likely to be a heavy loss on the New Zealanders’ tour, and if more money Is not raised the visitors will be stranded. DETRIMENTAL, PROPAGANDA. SYDNEY, August 4. A conference of Rugby League representatives, including New Zealanders, was held to-night concerning the welfare of the game in New Zealand Attention was directed to a statement by an evening newspaper that the New Zealanders were likely to be stranded. Mr Ferguson, the New Zealand man ager, emphatically denied the allegation. I was also stated that the New Zea landers’ return fares were guaranteed before they left home.

Mr Savage deprecated such derogatory statements and a committee was formed with the idea of trying to stop detrimental propaganda.

Mr Clayton declared: " Any team that comes here under the auspices of NewSouth Wales is not likely to be stranded." SOUTHERN DISTRICTS BEATEN. SYDNEY August 6. The New Zealand Rugby League ream tad a hard and exciting game against Southern Districts at Young to-day. and the result was in doubt till the final whistle. The half time scores were 15 to 12 in favour of Southern Districts but when ♦he final whistle sounded the visitors had a four-point lead, ta« scores being: New Zealand 24. Southern Districts 20. The New Zealand scorers were:—BrisOane. Timms, Gregory, and Amos, Dufty kicking six goals. The New Zealand team was as follows:—Dufty, Watene, Seagar. Pearce Brisbane, Gregory. Abbott, Trautvetter, Stephenson, Clark. Griffiths, Timms, and Amos. A WIN AT NEWCASTLE. SYDNEY, August 9. At Newcastle the New Zealand team defeated a Newcastle district team by 25 points to 22. About 4000 spectators witnessed the game, which provided a hard tussle. The New Zealanders prevailed for the first half hour, at the end of which they were leading by 13 points to 2. Newcastle then came with a great burst, and' with two tries which were converted brought their score within one point of the New Zealand score at half time. After that there were great rallies, first one side and then the other scoring. At one stage Dufty landed a magnificent goal a-d New Zealand led by 20 points to 17. Newcastle attacked strongly, and just before the final whistle a local player. Gibb, crossed the line and Hawke converted, the final scores being: New Zealand .. 25 poinis. Newcastle . .. 22 points.

INTERSTATE MATCH. WIN FOR NEW SOUTH WALES. BRISBANE, August 9. In an interstate test match New South Wales defeated Queensland by 15 points to 12.

P. W. L. D. Points, i Cup pts. F. A. City 2 2 0 0 32 10 4 Christian Bros. A 1 1 0 0 44 18 2 Kaitangata 1 1 0 0 16 7 2 Pacific .. .. 2 1 1 0 28 21 2 Athletic .. .. 2 0 2 0 23 63 0 Christian Bros. B. 2 0 2 0 15 39 0