ITEMS OF SPORT

New Zealand Tablet, 25 June 1914, Page 43

ITEMS OF SPORT

FOOTBALL.

The Rugby football matches in Auckland on Saturday resulted as follows: —City and Ponsonby drew, neither side scoring; University beat Marist Brothers by 8 points to nil. Downing, McKenzie, and ,1. O’Brien, three members of the Marist Brothers’ team (writes our Auckland correspondent) have been included in the New Zealand team to visit Australian next month, whilst an exmember, Carroll, now hailing from South Auckland, has also been selected.

Again bad weather interfered with the sports on .Saturday in Christchurch. Early in the morning steady rain set in, accompanied by a strong and very cold wind, with snow on the hills and in the city . Throughout the morning rain pelted down, soaking the playing grounds, so it was decided to postpone all fixtures. Football was played under very unpleasant weather conditions in Dunedin on Saturday, hail and rain showers falling during the afternoon. In the Rugby contests. University met Southern, the result being a draw, each side scoring 6 points. Kaikorai (15 points) defeated Union (nil), Dunedin (nil) drew with Zipgari, and Fort Chalmers (8 points) defeated Pirates (nil).

The North v. South Island Rugby match on Saturday at Wellington resulted in a win for the South Island by 8 points to nil, after what was little better than a mud scramble. Rain fell during the afternoon, accompanied by a cold biting southerly wind, and the ground was already churned up by the curtain raiser between St. Patrick’s College and Victoria University, which ended in a draw (3 points each).

The following were the results of the Association matches in Dunedin on Saturday: — High School Old Boys (5 goals) beat Northern (2 goals), K ait an gat a (G goals) beat Maori Hill (nil), Ravensbourne (4 goals) beat Roslyn-Wakari (2 goals), Mornington A (2 goals) beat Mornington B (nil). Owing to the state of the Oval the match between Christian Brothers and Green Island was not played. In the third grade Christian Brothers won by default against Normanby, and in the fourth grade Christian Brothers A (3 goals) beat Southern (2 goals). In their second match of the present season, Marist Brothers’ junior team, Invercargill, beat Waihopai-Wai-kiwi by 47 points to nil. Maher and Broad scored three tries, Matheson two, and several other members secured a try apiece. Mannix and Maher were the best forwards, and Broad, Orange, and Prendergast played well in the backs. The senior teams of the school were to have met later in the day, but the huge score piled up against the juniors kept most of their elders away, so that the Marist seniors won by default. In the primary schools’ senior competition (writes our Christchurch correspondent) the two unbeaten teams in the senior grade —Marist Brothers and West

Christchurch —met at Hagley Park on Friday last. The first quarter of an hour was fairly even, but after that the Mansis ran over their opponents. Williams, playing the blind side cleverly, scored the first try. From a line out Fahey scored, and Sloane kicked a goal from a mark — 9 points to nil at half-time. In the second spell Williams (2), Main, and Fahey scored tries, two of which were converted by Main — 2s points to nil. The winners, both forward and back, showed splendid combination, the footwork of the forwards and the fast and sure passing rushes of the backs being above what is usually seen in the schools’ football here. The Marist junior team beat Normal School by 9 points to 6. Barker (2) and Jones scored tries.

The Celtic Club (writes our Oamaru correspondent) was again very unfortunate in striking very bad weather for their match against the Waitaki High School on Thursday last. The ground was partly under water, and play was consequently mostly confined to the forward division, both packs playing a fast and dashing game, in which Celtic quite held their own, the first half ending 3 to nil in favor of the School. After half-

time the players livened up, the Green pack with a fine rush carrying play to the School line, where Cooney scored, O’Donnell adding the major points with a good kick. From this on the Celtic forwards took charge of the game, and only lack of a scoring back division saved the School from a decisive defeat, they being repeatedly forced down. With 10 minutes to go the scores stood—Celtic 5, High School 3, when the latter broke through and scored. Celtic promptly returned the play to the Reds’ twenty-five, but a penalty to the latter resulted in their landing a. goal. With an irresistible rush the Green pack took the ball down into Red territory, but the failing light at this stage nullified the kicking of Celtic's back, and on the call of time the School added a try to their score, play ending 12 points to 5 in favor of High School. There is no questioning the fact that Celtic has a great pack, fleet of foot and well trained, and for collaring would put many back players to shame. The back division is the weak spot in our club, and if a few good lads could be drafted into the ranks of the rearguard the team could look forward to a clear run for the banner. Corcoran behind the scrum, O’Donnell at centre, and Mansell as fullback, played up to form, while every man iu the pack worked like a Trojan.

The previous notes, which appeared in this column concerning the Celtic Football Club, Timaru, referred to the lack of interest displayed by the senior players in their non-attendance at practice. It is now, however, pleasing to record that ' a new leaf has been turned over,' and practically every player attends when the team assembled for training. Mr. J. Murphy, as coach, is bringing out in the players the fine points of the game. The lost ground at the beginning of the season is being fast recovered, and the team is making rapid strides on the road to victory. At the recent seven-a-side tournament they were runners-up, being defeated by Pirates by only h a point. The fourth graders were beaten by High School —10 points to 3. On last Thursday week Celtic defeated Star by 6 points to 3. Last Thursday thev met Zingari, and again won by 6 points to 3. The team has again the privilege of being represented by T. Lynch in the South Island team, which plays in the North v. South match at Wellington on Saturday next, 20th inst. On last Sunday morning players and supporters received Holy Communion in a body, large numbers of both senior and junior players being present. During the course of his address, the club's president (Rev. Father Murphy, S.M.) congratulated most warmly the club on its splendid exhibition of faith in fulfilling this, one of its most important, obligations. Team to Tour Australia. The following team has been selected for the tour of Australia. The men will leave for Sydney on July SiBacks: Green (West Coast), Taylor (Canterbury), Weston (Auckland), McKenzie (Auckland), Black (Otago), Roberts (Taranaki), Lynch (South Canterbury), O'Brien (Auckland), Loveridge (Taranaki), Jim Ryan (Wellington). Forwards: Williams (Otago), Francis (Wellington), Cain (Taranaki), Bruce (Auckland), Irvine (Otago), Downing (Auckland), Graham (Otago), Ranji Wilson (Wellington), Carroll (South Auckland), McNeece (Southland), Fisher (Bullcr), Murray (Canterbury). Of these McKenzie, Taylor, R. Roberts, Lynch, Loveridge, Williams, Cain, Bruce, Downing, Graham, and Murray were members of the team that toured

California last year.

HARRIERS.

The St. Joseph’s Harriers, Dunedin, held their run on Saturday from Santa Sabina School, Northeast Valley, as guests of a number of lady friends of that district. Messrs. Butcher and Doudle were entrusted with the paper, and laid a good trail over Pine Hill and through Leith Valley and Woodhaugh. The runners showed good staying powers. The first four home were McErlain, Kennedy, Roughan, and O’Farrell. Afterwards the members were hospitably entertained by the ladies, and a musical evening was spent.