LOCAL MATCHES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14984, 11 August 1919, Page 8

LOCAL MATCHES.

lhere was a large attendance at the Reserve on Saturday afternoon to witness the senior grade match between Old Boys and Rowing Club, which resulted m a draw after a keenly, contested game. In the curtain-raiser match, a junior grade contest between -High School seniors and a combined team from V.M.P. and St. Pat's, the former proved the winners by 17 to 8. In the » Domain Huia had a rather easy win. from V.M.P. j HUIA V. V.M.P. This match took place on the Domain, and was a very poor class of Rugby right hvough. V.M.P. went -on the Held with about twelve men, and filled up later on. Soon after the start of the game Westhall got over, .but no goal resulted. Huia had the best of tho game from the kick out, and tries were j scored by Campbell, Ellery, and Tui, but Hui, being badly m want of a • good place kicker, could not convert any of the tries. la the second spell the game was a bit more even, but it was not ; senior football by any means. V.M.P. brightened up for a bit and Smilei" scored m a good position, but no goal resulted. From the kick out FulTer followed up, and got over, ' and this time they landed a goal. Play still continued m, Y.M.P.'s twenty-five, and they were forced down twice m quick-succes-sion, but Huia were not to be ,dehied, and Murray got over again. They failed with the kick, and soon afterwards the whistle sounded, leaving Huia victfrrs by 20 points to three. In. future the Union should ,see that these matches are started to time, for V.M.P. did hot get on the ground until a - quarter past three, and that. always makes the matches lp* e m finishing.' _ - ■'■<• -" .r*-l OLD BOYS v. ROWING CLUB. 14. this match. Old. Boys lacked off, and after some give arid take play Pollock found the line m the Rowing Club 25. Fleming put m some good work, and nearly scored, but Rowing dub.Relieved. Pollock aagin put Rowing Club on the defensive, and the Old Boy forwards looked dangerous for some riiinutes, Fleming and Humphries being/ conspicuous. Rowing dub' .backs secured the ball, and found the Kne near half-way. After some interchange, of kicks Harris (Rowing Olub) took; a mark, but Pollock received the ball well, and attempted a "pot," which Was very nearly successful. Uninteresting play followed till Deyery'Jgained' a: lot of ground. The Rowing dub full-back mulled the ball, and Old Boys just failed to score. Good kicking' by Pollock and Dods, backed up by the ,Qld Boy forwards, kept Rowing Club on the defensive. CojtteriU, Humphreys, \ anji Fleming led a good rush, ; which ended on Rowing dub's line, a force resulting. Then Bean (Rowing dub) got away and found the line m Old Boys' 25. A mark by Lysnar. relieved, and Humphreys, following, up well, put Rowing Club again m danger, j : Old Boys kept up the attacks for. some .minutes, but failed to score, arid Uo'wing Club took play to half-way just as the spell ended. . ".".'., .".'') Rowing dub attacked from the .'kickoff, but Langlands and Smith saved the situation, and returned play to ; halfway. The Old Boy forwards took a hand, and a good kick found the line m the corner. 'The Old Boys' backs attacked, but a Rowing dub back intercepted, and put m a good run. , Old Boys returned play 'to the opposing 25, but Leckie (Rowing _ dub) sent them back with good kicking. Rowing Chib now seemed to use their weight a bit more, and for a quarter of an hour had the upper hand. Harris had two good, but unsuccessful attempts from free kicks, and the Patty dribbled close to the line". Rowing Club got over- from the line-out, but were called back for a knock-on. Old Boys forced, but Rowing dub kept up the attack. From a scrum Rowing Club, backs got going, and after a fairly good, passing^ rush Bean scored m good position. ' Harris failed with the kick. Ho wing Chib 3, Old Boys 0. Rowing Club kept up the attack for some time, but m the last, ten minutes Old Boys bucked up and kept play m their Opponents' 25. Miller kicked across, and Langlands had bad luck m not scoring. From a free kick Pollock kicked a goal, evening up the scores. From the kick-off Kelly (Old, Boys) kicked down the field, and Old Boy forwards took play into Rowing Blub'B 25. The ball went out of play, however, and time was called., the game ending m ' a draw — Old Boys 3, Rowing dub 3. JUNIOR. The match -between High School and the combined teams, representing St. Pat's and V.M. P. proved a very interesting and spectacular game, the school team proving the victors by 17 (5 tries and a convert) to 8 (one try, convert, and penalty -goal). Mr.- G. Gillett was referee. ■ •. 4 . .

(By Specator.) . , : The match between. Rowing Club and Old Boys proved rather uninteresting, oemg a forward tussle throughout. On the whole I think Old Boys had slightly the worst of the luck, as they con : sistently pressed throughout the first spell, and had bad luck m not notching a score. Pollock also just failed to pot a goal, after a good effort. At the commencement of the first spell and for some time during its progress, ■Rowing Club held the ascendancy, their forwards packing well and using their weight to advantage. From one of the forward rushes the ball was sent out to their backs, who culminated a pretty movement by a well earned try. Harris' kick was weak. Then 0.8. forwards began' one of their characteristic rallies/ and rushed the ball 'towards their ; op, ponents' line m- excellent style, Flemming being particularly noticeable. At .this stage Devery ecored an apparently legitimate try, but the referee gave R G the benefit of the doubt. Shortly, after, wards a R.C. forward gave a penalty m front of the goal and Pollock had no difficulty m. scoring, making the; totals even - R -C- played a forward game throughout, and made ho effort 'to get their backs m motion. O.B; did hot get the ball from the scrummage as often 'a? usual, and when they did the %U did 1 not reach the wings as it should" ha'T-e done. " ' . '•

; Of the players, R.O.'s ' full-hack put m some good work, although his taking was sometimes at fault. Harris, playing at wmpf three-quarter.- was riespdnsiblo for some fine line kicking; he shoulj make an excellent full-back. Kelly, an old timer, put m, some useful play at times. Walters' did not imprest me

greaty. Bean was usefut, but did not! play up to his usual form. Leckie j played a really good defensive gthW at { half uiitil he was knocked out. Of'thci. forwards, MeGuiiie played up to liia accustomed form, and was aiways on the ball: Melloi 1 also played a solid game, as did T. Heeney, wno was responsible for tome good open play.- Patty makes a good lock, and works from start to finish. lI.C-'s rover was apt to be offside occasionally, but otherwise played a line game. For (fid Boys, Langlands, at full-back, gave another good display; he had a great deal to do, and made no mistakes. Barker iv too slow, and plays too near to, his forwards. Dods' passing is erratic; vrould play better wing. Miller had very little to do; should play centre' three-quarter or second five-eighth for| .his club. Kelly entered the field again for the first time since his injury, but 1 liecids a few more games to strike form. Pollock played a hard, safe gnhie ; he is a great defensive player, but liable to hang on too often m attack. Smith, a new player, gave a good exhibition ; should improve -with a game or so. Devery was m, everything as usual. , Flemming : This player gave' his best display this season, and headed rush j after rush m fine style. Humphries: 1 In my opinion the best forward m the Bay. Nolan : A g\jeat grafter ; pity so slow. Lysnar : A plucky little grafter. Langlands : An. acquisition to any team ; always on the ball. Cotterill : A consistent, useful forward ; needs a little weight. Winter gave another hard, keen display. .