RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 126, 28 May 1918, Page 3

RUGBY.

AIAKIST ULJJ BUYS V. (iHAtIU.\. Spectacularly this game was a decidedly interesting one, full of excitement, and with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle. As a display of good football, however, the match was a disappointment, for it was an exhibition of brilliant flashes by individuals with little effective combined work. For the greater part of the. four quarters the Marist forwards displayed a superiority in the loose, and almost invariably secured the ball from the scrum. Their backs, however, possessed no cohesion, and made little of the chances with which their pack presented them. Their defensive work was much better than their attack. The blues' first score was the product of good footwork and following up by their forwards, but the other tries, though well deserved by those who scored them, were the results more of fortunate accidents presenting opportunities than of concerted effort. Grafton forwards were not quite equal to their opponents in the loose, and much inferior in scrum work, but there were occasions when, led by Hansen, they etood out prominently. When chance offered, the black-and-white backs handled the wet ball well, but, though close to it on several occasions, did not succeed in crossing the blues' line. Their two scores were from a couple of fine penalties kicked by Nixon. A feature of the game was the friendly spirit existing throughout between the two lifteens, and the entire absence of any reprehensible tactics. POXSONBY AXD GRAMMAR. The battle between Ponsonby and Grammar Old Boya, on a heavy turf (No. 2 ground, Eden Park), was, as the saying goes, much of a muchnese. The wearers of the blue and black found the plaj-ing conditions more to their liking against the white-jersoyed fifteen, which aims at the open, lively rearguard action rather than the stolid forward assault. Rigorous tackling and initiative on the part of Ponsonby gave them an advantage, while the wet ball and the going constituted a well-nigh hopeless problem to Old Boys, who, judging on their form, have lost none of their agility and eagerness, and can be relied on to take a deal of beating on a dry ground. Ponsonby had a full and even team, which deserves credit for a good showing. Kelly at full-back played like a enampion, being safe both on defence and in attack- The three-quarter line was also Bound on defence. Righton and Crawford worked together excellently as five-eighths, but found planty to do in smashing Old Boys' back play. Poison again showed up behind the scrum. James (rover) was useful, but was generally up against it. Prentice and Aitken were the pick of the forwards. A youthful exponent, Kerr, worked solidly, and is the sort of man who might be tried in the backs or as rovpr. VVynyard was fair as custodian for Old Boys. He may improve. Molloy, Adams, and Goodwin gave good exhibitions, and Marsden (second fiveeighths) did likewise, but Drummond provided the best individual display on the ground. He is fast and nippy, and uses his judgment. Roes, at half, was always in the thick of the fray, and knows his job. Leo Kronfeld was a tower of strength to his side. His breakaways at times were exciting. He requires better support (and, incidentally, a very strong jersey). Of an even pack Conyngham, Cashmore, and Taylor were prominent. A FAST, BRIGHT GAME. Exciting action characterised the course of the College Kifles-University game on Saturday, right through to the climax of a score by University, which gave them the game. It is a long time since two Rugby teams capable of high-standard play contested a game so evenly matched in "Eden Park, and the spectators enjoyed every minute of the match. Where play is fact and varied, as it was on this occasion, it is almost invariably the result that any score which eventually comes seems simple and lucky. But it can not be argued that University did not deserve their score, though on the run of the play College Rifles were decidedly unlucky not to have scored half-a-dozen points. Both forwards and backs on each side put plenty of ginger into their work, and bright incidents of nice passing and dribbling and clever spoiling and saving werp frequent, with Trussing, Lewis, and Birnie doing great work for university, and Griereon, Laxon. Welson, and Kewiti fully matching them on the other side. So there was no monotony. University, however, were lucky to catch Harty having an off-day with his kicking, for consistent off-side breaches endangered their goal on many occasions when an accurate place-kick might have put on six to nine points. Apart from the play of those already mentioned among the backs, Gaeparich, Lacy, Thomas, and (Jibbons. of the University pack, and Keepa. Hartv Brown, and Bagnall. of the Rifles' vanguard, were regularly prominent though not v man in either team let his side down at all in a gruelling »amc It will be interesting to see how these teams fare against each other when they get a dry ground and ball.