RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 51, 28 August 1915, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE item of interest to Rugbyites last Saturday was the final of the senior grade championship. The contesting team® were College Rifles (who held the advantage of a two-point lead) and Marist Brothers. A win or draw to College would have given them the season's honours, and it was generally considered they were capable of leaving the field winners.

The "Tykes," it will be remembered, in the first round nearly lowered the Rifles' colours, and on Saturday, playing with plenty of confidence, succeeded in bringing about their rivals' first reverse by 3 points to nil. The result places the two teams 'level, with a record of seven wins, one Ices and one draw each.

The ground was in a bad state after the rains durin gthe week, and the playing of a couple of matches earlier in the day also cut it up. Both teams were weakened by absentees. College suffered the loss of King, who was injured in the Wellington match, and 1 Bevan filled: his place. Owing to family illness, McDonald was missing, and was replaced l by a junior, Libcombe.

The play was confined' to the forwards, but many of the tactics were of anything but a clean order, and one player in particular did not hesitate to use both hands and feet.

The Tykes deserve their win, although Rifles had 1 bad luck in not drawing.

Of the winners' jforwardls l , R. Casey was on his best game. Barrett and Prickett were also very much in evidence. E. Earlly was a host in himself. Cloke shone, bait B. Clark was below form, his line kicking being weak.

Sellars and McHugli were most prominent of College forwards, while of the backs Wilson and! Barker attracted most attention.

From a scoring point of view, College Rifles are well in the leadi, having a tally of 124 with 38 against, while the Tykes' record reads 67 for and 48 against.

The Tykes met a heavy defeat from City, but Avon the match on protest, as the Central team played several Trenthamites who were former members of the Club.

The result of Saturday's game will necessitate a play off. Ponsonby and University settled their engagement with a game of the very ragged order. The western suburbs players won the day with the odd point in seventeen.

The result simply served to place an even number of Championship points to each team's credit.

For the blue and' black Hanlbn scored twice and! Avery once, but none of the tries were converted. The "students' account was contributed to by McGinley scoring and Prussing converting.

The curtain raiser to the senior match was produced by the secondary schools team King's and Sacred Heart. A win by nine to nil went to Sacred Heart, who had the best of play throughout. In the second grade Sacredi Heart also secured, a, win against King's to the extent of 14 points to. nil. I The third division saw further success heaiped upon Sacred Heart and again at the expense of a King's College team, 26 points to 3 going up against them.

The biggest Rugby win was in the Seven Cadet matches, when 90th Company iput on. 29 points to nil against 18th Company.

The New South Wales list of Rugby players who have enlisted stands at 1142. How is the list to be compiled by the New Zealand Rugby Union getting on ? asks the Wellington writer "Touchline."

The New South Wales estate of Blair I. Swannell, the great rugger international forward, who was kiilledi at the Dardanelles, has been sworn at £1,280. All goes to a brother in England.

Wellington "Free Lance" states: Just a coincidence Roy Lambert, captain of the Welington Club for two years, gave his lire for the Empire,'and now T. M. Grace, who succeeded! him as leader of the same club team, has followed in dying a soldied's death.

Next Thursday and Saturday the Auckland! Reps, will play return matches with Taranaki and W<ell|ington. The local sole selector, Mr D. Gallaher, has chosen the fallowing plovers to make the trip:—FullOla.rk, *D. Stewart, Barker ; half, Lang; wing forward 1 , 0. Stewart; forwards, G. Sellars, Casey, Grace, McHmgh, Campbell, Avery, Hanlon. Emergencies: Scantlebury and Hansel. The team is the same that met the Welinigton reps, at Eden Park on the 14th of Angus t. The players will return to Aulckland next Monday.

Another match of exceptional interest to Rugbyites will also be decided in the Empire City next Saturday. The occasion will be the annual match between the Newmarket (Auckland) and Petone Railway Workshops. The; Auckland contingent will be:—Parker, Johnson, Parr Belington, Stevenson, Barrett, Hoare, Barry, McDevitt, Waters, Dee, Carnahan, Barton, Martin (2), Hogan, Fobs 1 , Hedland, and King.