FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 143, 16 June 1917, Page 14

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. What effect the war is to have on the Rugby campaign next season will be revealed at the annual meeting of the California Rugby Union, says an American writer. With Stanford University drilling to a man, and most of the members of the clubs answering to the call to arms in one capacity or another, it is possible there will be little Rugby played. But players and officials are resolved to keep the "Rugby flag" flying in some form or other. If necessary, the different military organisations here will play games. "The game has given so many fine soldiers to the cause of democracy that we must not allow it to die," said "Ric" Templeton, of Stanford, talking on the subject. PRIMARY SCHOOLS MATCHES. With Ideal weather conditions, Saturday last produced come excellent school football. Interest naturally centred on the meeting of Remuera and Ponsonby, the two unbeaten fifteens in the A grade, who provided an exciting struggle. Remuera won by 6 to 3, but on the play it was either side's game, the victors having to thank their hacks for their win. The boys from the eastern suburb handled the ball well, ■and whether in attack or defence did not •hesitate to throw it about. Their rearguard showed up to much better advantage than that of their opponents. Ponsonby's superiority lay in the forward division In fact so hard did their pack work that when no side sounded they had quite worn down their opponents, Who, towards the conclusion of the game, \vere hard pressed. The return meeting of "these two schools will be weli worth witnessing.

' With the exception of Mt. Edea's victory over Devonport all the remaining A Grade fixtures proved close contests. The conversion of a try gave Te Papapa a win in an even game with Newmarket, while a cleverly potted goal secured for Mt. Albert the honours over Epsom. Normal, in the second spell of their match against Vermont Street, played much better than in the first half, during which several wearers of the blue and white evinced a too prominent desire to talk. In the B grade Beresford Street were much too strong individually for Onehunga, who, however, despite being let down badly by their backs, struggled gamely to the end. Neither side showed any combination, and though Onehunga played much better than on the previous Saturday they still expected Olaen to do all the work. With a good team of backs behind him this lad would make a first class scrum half.

Parnell and Point Chevalier both had run away victories. These two teame are the only ones in the B Grade possessing any cohesion, and as a result seem to have the honours in this section to themselves. They and the heavy Ellerslie side of the C Grade could meet any school in the competition on fairly even terms.

The only C Grade contest to evoke rooch' interest was that between Napier Street and Bayfield, which was fast and exciting throughout. Bayfield had probably the better of the play and but for a glaring mistake by one of the team would have left the ground victorious.

A persual of the table appended will indicate the positions of the teams in the three grades now that four rounds have been completed. In Section A, despite the fact that three schools have not yet scored a point, there is a distinct evenness among the competitors which is very creditable to the new grading carried out by the executive, and is conducive to the production of an improved standard of Rugby. Aβ mentioned above, Parnell and Point Chevalier, by their superior combination, are much above their opponents in B Grade. In this section the match between Avondale and Beresford Str.eet has yet to be played.

Had the now too heavy Ellerslie team been placed in another division, the evenness of the A Grade teams would have been repeated in the C Grade. Maungawhau is at present at the bottom of the list, but though this side received a bad "drubbing" last week, it should yet improve, for it contains some good solid material only awaiting proper handling.

m Cbp. Won. Lost. Drawn. Pts Remuera 4 _ o I'onsonby 3 j. _ 6 \ermont 3 j _ 2 Mount Eden 2 2 e -Normal 2 1 1 ? Te I'apapa 2 1 t « Mount Albert 1 i A 4 Newmarket 4 _~ 1 Uevonport _ 4 _ " " ; r s ° m - 4 - 0 B GRADE. Point Chevalier ... 4 — _ o Heresford Street .. 3 _ _ 2 '; arn «'l 3 1 _ e (irey Lynn 90 ° IUi-hmond Road ... 1 o •. 2 Mount Roskill .... £ 3 2 % Onehnnira _ q ■■ r C GRADE. Kllerslie 4 _ _ o Napier Street .... 3 _ , S Vermont B 3 , x tlnyflold % J "7 8 Newton West I 0 \ \ Newton Enst ! 5 _i | >elson Street _ 3 . * Maunyawhau — 4 _ i