Rugby.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18550, 25 August 1928, Page 5

Rugby.

SENIOR GAMES. The second series of matches in the Rugby Union’s knock-out competition for the senior challenge cup were played at Lancaster Park to-day. The weather was fine and the grounds in good order. The attendance of spectators was small. Merivale and Old Boys met on the Oval, and Albion and Christchurch on the south ground. On the west ground Technical played Varsity, but this game did not count in the competition, as these teams were eliminated in the first series. As a curtainraiser a game was played between the Wellington and Canterbury junior representatives on the oval MERIVALE V. OLD BOYS. Merivale and Old Boys met on the Oval. The teams were:— Old Boys—A. Brown, IJ. Ogler, K. Mortlock. W. E. Merritt, G. £>. Innes, J. H. Harris, G. Cox, J. P. How, E. Turgis, F. Bowes, A- Jacobs, C. Harris, F. Foley, I. Gray and G. Greer. Merivale—X. Brosriahan. G. Rhodes, I. Brown, H. Goodman, C. Oliver. T. Davies. W. Oliver, R. Xorrie, J. Kirkland, G. Suckling, K. Kearney, P. Serra, W. Crofts, T. Rountree and L. Maginness. C. Oliver kicked off for Merivale against the sun. After a short Merivale attack the Old Boys backs went away in a pretty passing, movement. Ogier, Cox and Mortlock handled for the last-named to cross at the corner, only to be called back for a forward pass. The Mericale forwards swept down the field and Brown forced just in time. Old Boys, throwing the ball about in

great style, went down the. field in a magnificent rush which ended in Harris crossing at the corner. Merritt failed to convert. Old Boys 3, Merivale 0. Play which had been bright and open slowed down a little until the Old Boys backs went away again. Harris cut in brilliantly, sending to l/ow who scored. Merritt missed. Old Boys 6, Merivale 0. The Merivale forwards stormed the Old Boys line, and a fine run by Kirkland ended in a bunch ot forwards going over in a bunch. Norrie missed. Old Boys 6, Merivale 3. Merivale attacked, and Xorrie just missed with a penalty. Old Boys returned with a bright passing rush. Low went down the touch-line, but his pass went astray. Merivale attacked and Davies potted at goal. The ball appeared to go over, but the referee ruled otherwise, and Old Boys forced. Low led the Old Boys into Merivale territory, but Kirkland made a fine run back. Half time sounded with the scores: Old Boys 6, Merivale 3.

Old Boys attacked at the beginning of the second spell and Innes failed from a penalty near the touch-line. Play was mostly forward, and the spoiling work of both teams presented any passing movements proving successful. Frequent penalties to Merivale put that team on the offensive, and at length O. Oliver goaled from a penalty near the posts. Old Boys 8, Merivale fi. Norrl*gained fifty yards with a splendid kick but the Old Boys forwards returned play to Merivale territory. The game was now one mainly of whistle, penalties to Merivale being frequent. The Old Boys forwards made a great rush, but Norrie cleared. C. Oliver made a bright dash, only to be grassed near the Old Boys line. Old Boys attacked, but Serra led the Merivale forwards back and some hard play ensued in the old Boys’ twenty-five. C. Oliver cut in and bustled the Old Boys defence, for Xorrie to score and C. Oliver missed the kick. Merivale 9, Old Boys 6. Play was now dull and uninteresting, consisting mainly of fox-ward struggles in mid-field. Just, on time C. Oliver kicked a penalty goal for Merivale. The final score MERIVALE 3 2 OLD BOYS 8 Referee, Mr K. H. Perrin. ALBION V. CHRISTCHURCH. The game in the early stages was marked by ragged play. The Christchurch backs staged a passing rush, but Albion intercepted. Tbe.ir forwards broke through but a chance of scoring was lost through a. knock-on. An even stage of play followed, each side taking a hand at attacking, but without much success It was a poor display of football. Stephenson had a shot at goal from a penalty for Christchurch, but the ball fell very short. From a scrum Stephenson broke away cleverly. rie carried on to half-way, where he was stopped. Christchurch came at it again. They worked p?ay well inside the AI Dion territory. Hero from a scrum Christchurch heeled the ball, but their backs failed to take advantage of the opportunity. Christchurch kept up the pressure, but fairly strong defence on the part of Albion helped to Keep them out. Penalty kicks assisted Albion. Kobilliard made a great dash through the centre anil gained ground, but. a forward pass spoilt what otherwise would have been a good effort, Christchurch continued to have the better of the. game. However, their combination was at fault. Albion attacked and G. Mortlock had a chance of scoring, but he got a bad pass on the wing. Then from a penalty Smith had a long shot at goaf for Albion. It was a good attempt but the ball fell just a bit short. Albion attacked and they fully tested the Christchurch defence. Lilburnc came

through with a nice, run, but he was brought down a few yards from the line From a fairly easy position Smith had another shot at goal for Albion, but. his direction was wrong. Albion had the better of the concluding stages of the first spejl. Lilburne was again to the fore. He punted over the head of the full-back, but the kick was too hard and the ball went over tbn "dead- line. this stage O’Connor retired Injured. I-Ja.lf-time was called with no score to either side.

Tho Christchurch backs made play open in tho early stages of tho second spell. They threw the ball about freelv and brought off several movements that j looked dangerous, but they failed to gain the. objective. Christchurch kept up the pressure and their efforts were at last rewarded, Corks going over between the posts for a good try, which Stephenson converted. Boddington retired with an injured ankle, and his place was taken by Withell. Stephenson, who was playing a. dashing game, began a. passing rush. which was successfully rounded off when RohUliard crossed at the corner flag. Stephenson made a. poor attempt to concert. Christchurch 8, Albion ft. Christchurch continued to keep Albion on the defensive, the Blacks being seldom out of their own twenty-five. From a. penalty Stephenson landed a goal for Christchurch, making the scores, Christchurch 11, Albion 0. Then Albion rallied and they drove Christchurch hack. Albion were awarded a penalty in a fairly handy position, from which Smith landed a goal. Christchurch 11, Albion 3. Christchurch attacked strongly, and several times they came near scoring. Another try for Christchurch was scored by Moon, who got the hall from a. passing rush, in which Robilliard made the opening. .Stephenson missed with the kick. A little later Stephenson landed a penalty goal for Christchurch. Final score: CHRTSTCHURCII 3 7 ALBION 3 Referee, Mr E. E. Luttroll. TECHNICAL V. VARSITY. From tho kick-off Varsity attacked strongly, and within a few minutes J. R. Hawkes scored. The kick failed. Technical then got busy, the forwards going well. A free-kick in a good position gave Technical a chance, and W. Geayley made no mistake with his kick. Shortly after the Technical forwards broke away from a loose scrum, and Miller and Welch dribbled over the line, Miller scoring. Geayley converted. After a spell of dull play, during which Technical were having the better of the game, the backs were sent, away to let W. Angas over on the corner. The kick, with the wind against it. failed. The Varsity forwards then began to assert themselves, and play continued for a spell in Technical territory, but the defence was solid. Getting possession from a scrum, Tapper sent his backs away M a pretty movement ending in a try by. E. 13. Taylor. The kick failed. Continuing their attack, the Varsity forwards worked up to the Technical line, Drummond getting over in the corner. The kick failed. Half-time was called with the score: Technical 11, Varsity 9. Resuming. Technical made a determined effort, the forwards going well down. The movement broke up and the Varsity forwards took charge, of the game. For some minutes Varsity occupied Technical territory, th*e attack being mainly carried by the forwards. 'Gull play followed for a spell. Technical then began to attack. Angas, after a fine run down the line, scored on the corner. The kick failed. Technical continued on the attack, play staying right on the Varsity lino for some minutes, till Blazey, with a long kick, relieved the pressure. Play continued iu mid-tield for a sptell. There was no further score, and the game ended: TECHNICAL 16 VARSITY y Referee, Mr L. Cade.

JUNIOR REP. MATCH.

WELLINGTON DEFEAT CANTERBURY TEAM.

There was little to enthuse about In the junior interprovincial match between Canterbury and Wellington. Wellington won by 11 points to I*, arid on the run of the play were a trifle lucky to do so. The game was evenly contested, but Canterbury had bad luck not to score on several occasions. The Wellington forwards, who hud u considerable advantage in weight, dominated scrums and most of the loose play. The backs were fast, but the handling was at fault. The Canterbury inside hacks lacked initiative and attacking ability. The forwards, led by Pickles and Lewis, worked hard, and showed out in the loose. The first half was rathed dull, but play brightened up in the second spell. The teams were:— Canterbury—G. H. Hobbs. A. Rowe, It. E. Hastie, I<\ M’Millan, T. Young. G lies, G. Harper, E. Gasson, A. K. Woodham, J. Pickles, R. Lewis, It. Gibbs, G. Ell. H. Lanauze and R. Beattie. Wellington.—Currie, Hughes, O’Connor, Gorrie, Patrick, Grainger, Turner, Berry, Crichton, Wright, Fraser, Rev nolds, Gaudin, Middleton and Ross. Wellington had all the better of the orening play, the big forwards obtaining a marked superiority over the Canterbury pack. Scrummaging better, and showing good control in loose dribbling rushes, the Wellington forwards kept Canterbury well penned up in their twenty-five. The Wellington ba.eks were given plenty of the ball, but a weakness at five-eighths resulted in most of the passing movements breaking down. Ha-stie and M’Millan put Canterbury on tho offensive, and. after Lewis had failed from a penalty, M’Millan scored after a loose Canterbury rush. Hastie failed to convert from a difficult position. Canterbury 3, Wellington 0. Canterbury now improved, and some clever passing rushes kept the opposing defence busy. Pickles fielded a kick and passed to lies, who sent to M’Millan. v/ho .scored at the corner. The kick failed. Canterbury 6, Wellington 0. A Wellington attack saw Grainger cut in brilliantly. Running to the full-back, he gave O'Connor a clear run in under the posts. Patrick converted. Canterbury 6, Wellington 5. A Canterbury rush broke down at lies, and a weak kick by Hobbs let the Wellington forwards through, * Lewis relieved with a good line-kick. A great rush by Wellington ended in Hughes being pushed out at tho corner. Halftime sounded with the. scores:— Canterbury 6, Wellington 5. SECOND SPELL. The heavy Wellington forwards placed Wellington on attack In the second spell. From a scrum Patrick secured, and, swerving and dummying his way through the Canterbury backs, he gave Grainger a clear run in at. the corner. Currie missed. Wellington 8. Canterbury (5.

M’Millan led a strong Canterbury rush which caught the defence napping. Harper had a shot from a penalty, the ball striking the cross-bar. Pickles led the Canterbury forwards in a great rush, but a penalty saved for Wellington after some hot play under the goal-posts. Hastie was almost over, and in another run missed a try by inches. A force-down relieved Wellington. A Wellington rush ended in Hughes crossing at the corner. The kick failed Wellington 11, Canterbury 6. Canterbury attacked strongly, and several times scores were narrowly missed. From a penalty Hastie goaled. Wellington 11, Canterbury 9. Canterbury made, desperate efforts to score in the closing stages, but there was no further score, and the game ond<>d: WELLINGTON 11 CANTERBURY 9 OTAGO V. CANTERBURY. JUNIOR. REPRESENTATIVE GAMES. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, August 26. A junior representative game, Otago v Canterbury, was tho curtain-raiser to the senior match. Otago won by 12 points to 3. It was a rather poor exhibition, with Otago slightly superior in back and forward play. Sullivan scored Canterbury’s try. MANAWHENUA PLAY WELLINGTON SIDE. Per Press Association. LEVIN. August 25. The Rugby mat. h Wellington v. Manawhciiua was played in good weather and on a good ground. Both teams were very fit- Wellington .(black) kicked off and in the first five minutes scored l'roin a line-out at the twentyfive, Coman being responsible with a solo effort. Ho grounded the hall near the goal. Shearer converted Soon r f l erwards Manawhenua (red, white and blue) attacked strongly, the forwards working well together. From a

loose rush inside the twenty-five their captain, Tatana, picked up and dashed oyer in a good position. Taylor equalised with a goal. The black forwards threw the hall about irt great style, and a smart sprint by R. IL Mackenzie ended in a score alongside the goal. Shearer converting. Almost immediately afterwards Strange scored for the Blues in the corner. Taylor failed with the kick. With the. score Wellington 10, Manawhenua 8. excitement waxed apace. From Manawhenua’s back territory Taylor made a great run to halfway. passed to Roberts, who returned to Taylor, who crossed, but was tackled successfully. A further attack by the Blues resulted in Bummers touching down over the corner. Taylor failed to convert. The next score was for Wellington, Porter, who obtained posed by Mackenzie, and Ramson goaled beautifully from a difficult angle. The Blues next obtained from a scrum, and Wellington saved by a forcedown. Biues lost the services of Westwood. the five-eighths, through an injury to his leg. His place was taken by T. Parata. Tlic half-time score was: Wellington 15, Manawhenua 13. The final score was: WELLINGTON 28 MANAWHENUA 26 COOKE STANDS DOWN, OWING TO INJURY. (Special to the “Star") MASTERTON, August 25. A. E. Cooke was seriously injured in the shoulder in a Ranfurly Shield match against Wellington, straining the muscles. The shoulder arid arm are bruised, and he will not be able to play to-day in the North v. South Wairarapa representative match for the Brough Cup, but will have recovered by the time of the first test.