SATURDAY’S RUGBY.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17386, 11 June 1928, Page 5

SATURDAY’S RUGBY.

CITY’S DECISIVE WIN.

SOI.ID GAME IN COUNTRY

BALL PROVES ELUSIVE. A wet ball and sticky ground on Saturday detracted from spectacular Rugby at Thames but the crowds n.t both places got their money's worth. At Wharepoa the spectators continually encroached upon the ground and hindered the officials—a lact that might bo dealt with by the officials of that Club and the Union. There were several easualities, Gilmore, in the Citv-C.0.8. match receiving a broken nose, whilst Gardiner broke a bone in his hand in the P.T.Ramblers game. City 14, beats C. 0.8. 3.

A fair number were present' at Rhodes Park to witness the second meeting of City and C. 0.8., the former team winning decisively by 14 points to 3. Teams were:—

City.—A. McConnell, J. C. Elliott, R. Comer, F. Moran, A. Winder, T. Dufty, T.'Henderson, A. Campbell, M. Hayward,G. Burgess, T. Abraham, E. Robson, C. Hjkaiiro, R. Smith, C. Abraham.

C.O.B.—\V. Gilmore, L. White, B. Harrison, J. Kelly, E. Wells, G. Buchanan, W. Kelly, E. Kelly, It. Elisor, C. Campbell, S. Watson, P. Maxwell, L. Adams, M . Brunton, A. Twentyman. C. 0.8. kicked off facing the lulls, and play went to Blue territory. A free, kick to C. 0.8. was marked by Dufty, who put the Blues on the offensive. A Blue passing bout broke down and the "Whites gained a little ground. In a scrum City were penalised and C. 0.8. took play to their opponents’ 25. Play swung across field but Gilmore, waiting for the bounce, let City away’ Harrison sent the Blue back temporarily; Winder, in return, finding the line well down. A free kick to City saw Winder’s kick go wide and taking advantage of fumbling by C. 0.8. A. Campbell secured and scored. Winder’s kick was a wash out. City 3, C. 0.8. 0.

For a period play remained in Blue territory. Alter the kick off City gradually assumed the offensive and, hooking the ball from the scrums, kept the Whites busy. Kicking too hard enabled C. 0.8. to force, but bad handling of the return of the drop-out gave City a big” advantage again. C. 0.8. recovered some lost ground, when play crossed the field, but Gilmore, being caught in possession, a. hot rally ensued on the line, ending in Winder having an unsuccessful shot at goal, C. 0.8. forcing. From the lrop-out the Blues gained ground witli a passing bou and a free kick to City saw Winder make a good but unsuccessful attempt to goal, C. 0.8. forcing. The drop out was called back for a scrum, from which City initiated a passing bout, Moran being pushed out in the corner. Gilmore here retired with a broken nose, Satchell replacing him. C. 0.8. cleared, but play swung across field. Again poor handling cost C. 0.8. a try, Henderson snapping up and crossing over in the corner. W inde rfailed to convert. City 6, C. 0.8. 0.

With play in neutral territory City were penalised, play being near the Blue 25, when change over sounded, with the scores: —

City 6, C. 0.8. 0. City’s kick off was brought back for a scrum and play remained near halfway. Offside by the Blues saw C. 0.8. claim a scrum instead of using the advantage of the wind. The ball went out to White, who made a nice dash along the line, and centred. City were in trouble but cleared and worked up to half-way. A free kick to C. 0.8. saw Adams’ kick from halfway fall under the bar, City forcing. With play in Blue ground Dufty marked, but the kick was called back for a scrum. C. 0.8. forced City back, but Dufty cleared nicely. A free kick to C. 0.8. saw Adams have an unsuccessful shot at goal. City forcing. Adams headed a White rush and a rally near the line ensued. A White passing bout went across field, the hall eventually going into touch in goal. 1* rom the drop out C. 0.8. came back, but from a scrum Henderson cleared and City, with a passing bout, took play to halfway. Dufty secured from a lineout and punted well upfield. C. 0.8. came hack with a loose rush, but kicking too hard, City were able to force. An exchange of kicks followed the drop out, C. 0.8. continuing to hold the advantage. City woi'ked back near half way but a breach let C. 0.8. away again. City made considerable headway but C. 0.8. returned to the attack. Winder marked and being caught in possession of Wells return, the Blues w r ere in trouble. A free kick brought relief and play went near C.0.8.’s 25. An exchange of kicks and marks saw play go to neutral territory. A. Blue passing bout was spoilt by C. Abraham getting off side. McConnell, in return, sent play hack to half way. C. 0.8. went a-way in a passing bout, but when in a good position, a wild forward pass enabled Hayward to mark and clear as half-time sounded, An exchange of kicks after the kick off ended to City’s advantage near C.0.8.’s 25. A Blue passing bout went across field hut C. 0.8. broke it. Weak handling by the Whites let City to the line and T. Abraham scored, Winder failing to convert. City 9, C. 0.8. 0

City, throwing the ball about, kept the Whites' defending. Harrison blocked a Blue passing bout and sent C. 0.8. away to half way, Dutty stopping their progress. A free kick to C. 0.8. was brought hack for a scrum from which City broke away. A short punt by Dufty threatened trouble but Adams marked to clear. C. Campbell and Adams headed a White rush to half way and then C. 0.8. started a passing rush which broke down. From a scrum E. Kelly broke away but was downed before trouble threatened and an exchange of kicks and marks left play at half way. A tree kick to C. 0.8. was sent into touch near the Blues’ 25 and another free kick to C. 0.8. saw Adams fail to goal. Dufty punting away downfield for C. 0.8 to force. From the return of the drop out C. 0.8. took play to Blue territory witli a passing bout, but play swung across field and City again assumed the offensive. Welsl marked, but City

came back near the -5. City gained further ground but the Whites sent play back to half way. A free kick* to C. 0.8. was followed by an exchange of kicks, Winder ending it by finding touch near C. 0.8. J s line. Adams cleared, taking the ball upheld' at his toe. City came back and a C. 0.8. player, being caught in possession, the \Thites were in trouble. City, using tliier weight, pushed C. 0.8. back and T. Abraham scored. Moran failed with the first kick through C. 0.8. catling out, but made no mistake with the rekick

City 14, C. 0.8. 0. Then came the change over. The final quarter opened rather sensationally. Harrison kicked through the Blues from the kick off, and following up fast, kicked past McConnell and outpaced him, scoring by tire posts. Adams’ kick went under the bar.

City 14, C. 0.8. 3. The kick off was brought back for a scrum in which the Blues were penalised. The kick did not shift play, which remained near half way for some time. C. 0.8. had a brief turn at attack, but City broke away from a scrum. A free kick to C. 0.8. pulled them up, but a rebound bad the Whites in trouble. C. 0.8. gradually cleared and a Blue passing bout, breaking down, C. 0.8. took play to their opponents’ 25, but C. Abraham sefit them gack. A free kick to C. 0.8. was marked by Hayward and an exchange of kicks ended in Blue territory. Wells gained ground for the Whites and from a free kick Adams had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Winder returning well down. A free kick to C. 0.8. enabled them to regain lie lost ground but Dufty sent them back by marking. Following an exchange of kicks City broke, away but a knock on spoilt. C. 0.8. took play back to half way but a free kick to the Blues saw play return to C.0.8.’s 25. The Whites cleared and play was near half way when time was called. City 14, C. 0.8. 3. Mr. G. Buchan was referee.

A CLOSE GAME.

RAMBLERS 3, P.T. 0

A wet field, rain and a slippery ball did not make for good football at Wharepoa on Saturday, but nevertheless the Ramblers-P.T. game wag a hard-fought battle from hell to hell, with play very even.

The teams were: P.T.—Boyle, McMahon, Cameron, Woofe, Grubb, Donnelly Gardiner, W. Pollock, ■•Trebilcock, E. Hayward, J. Strange, Hudson, Tonge, Phillips, G. Pollock.

Rambers.—W. Green, Artie McCollum, H. Bax, C. Elliott, H. Park, Allan McCollum, W. Savage, J. Thomas, M. Kinlock, W. Percy, D. Clark, A. Newland, G. Percy, T. Brown, O’Hara. P.T. perhaps were a bit unlucky to lose a try, but were fortunate also that the wet ball saved them at least a nine-point deficit from free kicking. Ramblers attacked from the bell and were given a free within a minute of the start. Savage’s kick with the wet ball missed. Prom the drop out Reds again attacked and Percy kicked through, the ball going over the deadball line. Again Reds went for it, but Percy got off-side and the free enables Whites to clear. Park was the next to attack for Reds, but a P.T. man robbed him of the ball and took play upheld. Ensor showed up in a dribble, and Artie McCollum only forced in time. Again Whites pressed but offside play spoilt their chance, and the free put Reds on the attack once more. Offside play by both sides was monotonous, the whistle going 14 times in the first quarter for that offence. Parkes, Allan McCollum and Elliott took play well up the field, but Gardiner whipped the leather from under their toes and got away, only to lose the slippery ball, on the line. Green forced and within a minute Reds had charged down and Whites had to force. The change-over came with no score.

The Red forwards came down with the hall at their feet, but Hudson cleared and the Redg started to choose scrums instead of line-outs. Thomas got away, but the slippery ball was hard to handle,', and again and again both side's lost ‘possession when in a good position. ‘Play was of an up-and-down scrambling nature for the balance of the spell, and half-time came with the score board blank. Soon after the resumption the Reds got away and from a scramble Artie McCollum dived over. No goal resulted. Ramblers 3; P.T. 0.

Scrambling play followed and both sides attacked in turn, chances going begging owing to the state of the ball, the forwards doing the major portion of the work.

In the final spell, P.T. livened up and twice invaded the Red back area, on one' occasion the ball going over the dead-ball line and on the other a Red player forcing just in time. Noside went with the score:

Ramblers 3; P.T. 0Mr Henderson held the whistle.

Second Grade. Ramblers juniors gained the first win for several years by decisively defeating C. 0.8. by 17 points to 3. Third Grade. P.T. 9, C. 0.8. 6. Fourth Grade. High School won from P.T. by default. Primary Schools. Country 11, beat Central 0. For Country Murray and McGregor scored, converting one try and also kicking a penalty goal.