RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12770, 16 April 1910, Page 1

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

- • I The Nelson and Rival Football Club 3 held their opening matches at" the Park last Saturday. Both teams had ' a good muster ana a good display of football was given. | The annual match between Past and present Collegians was also played at the College. After a good even game the scores were 12 each. At one, time the Old Boys came off victorious by 18 1 points to 12. : The season, was opened at Wellington by the annual seven-a-side tourna- ' I ment, before about 2000 people. -PetI one won the competition, defeating ; Poneke rather easily in the final. i | The Park is at present in rather ' ! poor condition. The grass is dead and ' the ground very hard.- There have been fair musters at the Park of an even- ' ing, and there will be practice matches ' to-morrow. , . ! The Nelson Club's team this year •will be almost as strong as last season. The forwards will bo practically the, same, but the backs will bo without' the services of Irving and Scully. i The Rivals are said to- be consider- ' *. ably stronger than last year,"but, how- ! ever, Stapp, Neale, Chapman, Bennett, ■Bunker # and Hannigan are said to be certainties as taking no active part. | ' '.The Albions are' keeping quiet. W. Ryan, aPetone forward,. is playing for - them this year, and Gorson is reported as returning to Nelson shortly. The Old Boys will be rather on the weak side, having "lost Edmondson and \ Sandel from their backs, and several -; forwards.