RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 154, 30 June 1919, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

UNIVERSITY STILL IN THE LEAD. BIG WINS FOR COLLEGE RIFLES AND POXSOXBY. GRAMMAR 12, MARISTS 9. • COLLEGE GAME A DRAW. Tihe big attraction of the Rugby on Saturday was the first meeting: lor the season of those keen rival I rollejre fifteens. King's and Grammar, j which drew-a large crowd of spectators j to the Showground, where the game was i played as a curtain-Taiser to the game j Grammar Old Boys v. Marist Brothers! Old Boys. The game in question proved ! a fine exposition of Rugby, well up to i traditional college standard, and it ; aroused intense enthusiasm among par- \

tisans. Anticipations of a well-contested j match were fully realised, for a: ■nildly exciting game ended "in a draw, j a try for Grammar School being matched ; by a penalty goal for King's. The following game between Grammar j Old Boys and Marist Brothers Old Boys ; provided a fast, even game, which ended j in a win for the former by 12 points to nine. The chief match at Eden Park, between Grafton and University, also attracted a fairly large attendance of spectators; in anticipation of the championship leaders. University, being defeated. Grafton flattered their supporters by running j ■up eleven point* in the first few minute*, j but by half-time University had morel, than evened matters, and a period of i disorganisation in the Grafton play in j the second spell enabled University to ; get a commanding lead. The game ended i ■ in a win for University by "20 points to | 14. j The other two gamer on Eden Park were rather one-sided, Ponsonby defeating Xewton by 41 points to three, and College Rifles beating Parnell by | 2(j to six. i UNIVERSITY V. GRAFTOX. University, playing with the sun in their | faces, were" the tirst to get going, and th-_- ;. game settled just outside Graf ton's twenty- |. live, till a long kick by Kingston cleared' xhe way to the ceutre. Here the Graftou forwards got going, and the ball was nip- i .ped up to Wakerley. to Hughes, who driuWed on. and the forwards took it on to .: Bear the line, where Nixon picked up and ; > Ecored. His kick sent the ball just outside i the posts—Grafton 3, University 0. The j Kirafton pack continued to outplay the fniTersity forwards in the hard work, and they \ ■ up a determined attack. After several tallies they went almost to the line, where iDanrell and Turner carried on in a handling I>out. and sent on to Ilansch. who scored. CNixon goaled—Graftou b. University 0. <;rafton forced. From the drop-out Graf- 1 ton went to the attack, and Gasparieh got I The ball, tn kick and follow- up, beating . !Birnie. Koliinson came round and got the 3>all. but Gasparicli bustled him to kick ' ■wildly for the line, and Nixon took the ball : Just inside the side-line, and ran ou to score at the corner. The kick, a good one, just : lailed—Grafton 11. University O. ; So far Grafton had had pretty well all '. iheir own way, and in the opening stage* j of the second twenty they continued to assert superiority. particularly in front. The next score, however, came to University. Grafton were trying to open up a passing liout at half-way when Eliffe cut . off, and kicked past Kingston, and Thomas i "won in the race for it. and scored. The . Melt failed—Grafton 11. University ;!. University now put more spirit into their game, and a score came again 'to them very •luickly. From the ruck the ball was

kicked to Kingston, who was downed by Thomas before he could get rid of it, an-1 the ball was dribbled on over the line, where Miller scored. Brinsden goaled— • Grafton 11. University 8. The equalising score came almost immediately. Nice dashes by Lewis sent Gcafton back to their quarter, where they were forced. The drop-out, a weak one. was marked, and ■Lewis kicked a fine goal—University 11, Grafton 11. The game now became deliriously fast and exciting, play swinging from end to end in great style. Kingston had to retire with an injured leg, and the Grafton hacks were re-arranged. Almost ! immediately a fine touch kick by Ross seat I Grafton to near their line, and here University opened up a passing bout, which ended in Robinson scoring. The kick failed, and the spell ended —University it, Grafton 11 Early in the second sn?!; a touchline dash Hnghes and Xixonl and a timely iupass resulted in Turner scoring—Grafton 14. University 14. Then the blues took a tur-i on the attack, and got the lead, as th.> result of Ross marking, and Brinsden placing a goal—University 17. Grafton 14. The last twenty opened furiously, but with ! play for some time at the centre, till I Thomas made a break from the line, aid started a rush, in which the ball was sen*, to Eliffe, who scored. The kick went wide] and the score was—University 20. Grafton I 14. Almost immediately afterwards the ' Hues" tally was added to by a passing i tinut —the best of the day—which Lewis ' finished with a strong bumping run that i enabled him to score. P.rinsdeu failed to 1 convert—University 23, Grafton 14 Un ! - ' versify now opened up the came to find the opposition disorganised. A high kick hv Milhken caught XLxon unready, and he fumbled, with the result that Miller drio- I tiled on. picked and passed out to th» ! handy Eliffe. who again outstripped the i defenders and scored. Thomas failed to ! get the kick there. ' University o 0 ! Grafton 14 ' Grafton rallied, and set up a determined : attack for a considerable spell, and Xixon i Just missed a shot at goal. They came back at the attack and were ou the line .■when the whistle went. !ilr Meredith was referee. v PARXELL V. COLLEGE KIFLES. Playing four fifteen-minute spells Par- i ? e " kjVk'-l "IT :<-•■»"*. , lißht breeze. CI- ' lege Kifles Lacks immediately went into i t&elr opponents' twenty-five, but a fine kick 553 &5T U n7' U«w£ ™g SSPonj" i'ii'u"'?, 1 f "" ' et his * m ' p """'" i°tte e H-h c l'"' 11 kiVke<l 01,70f iV.'.'.ln'.'i's 1 ; 2SS?! J^^'^i'^aveX 1 bme™a!; •ivi t iiu,i f ,(>. i lit* t i;iii came (, nt to 4 'tut The kU* Within a minute hard kicking by the' Hoes sent the ball over tiie lln» „ Btlehard* just beat Stopson for It I ' ronvertlns.—College niae.« 8, Parueli^n'!! 1 Sutherland got over. WU™ kick fa College Rifle* 11. Parnell "il. failin S— Fast, loose play marked the oneninStages of the second half, with tl, e P g am e etronsly in favour of the reds. Ri^£t in the blues' territory they got the ball, but Hall hnng on too long, and enahled I'oolev t.. get clear away to the Parnell full-back From a loose rush following this Grierson cot tlie liii 11. n ml split it ncr< >ss tlie i>-it with a neat pot.—College Rifles 15, Tarnell nil. The red forwards, tvho were playiria now -with much better dash, came rl s ht downfield from the kick out. and Casley from a piece et close work near the line wormed his wav over, and scored a -well-deserveO try. Simpson kicked a "poster."—College Kiiles 15. Parnell 3. The response of the blues to this was tc set their backs going again. Griersor transferring to Keepa. who scored near tin posts, but the kick did not improve tl)< score.—College Rifles IS. Parnell 3. The blue backs now took cunrge of th< camp, and threw the ball about merrily ■Within a couple of minutes Grierson wa! over, no goal resulting.—College Rifles 21 iMrnell 3. Wilson followed his clubmate n mlnut* later with a line stroug run. which beat al opposition. He converted his own score and the third spell ended—Colleze Rifles 2« Parnell P.. College Rifles rushed immediately to th attack on changing over, and gave thei i

adversaries a warm time till Hall secured I and put in a good jinky sprint to College ] Rifles - full-back. Wilson marked here, i but Simpson returned his kick, and open, midfield play followed. Then Rasniusscn got possession, and, after a strong run, in which he beat several opponents, passed to Jerrat, 'who scored. The kick failed.— College Rifles 2t>. Parnell 6. Time Dlew a minute later, with the scores unaltered. Mr. Geo. Grigg controlled the game. MARIST BROTHERS OLD HOYS V. GRAMMAR OLD BOYS. Grammar Old Boys versus Marist Brothers Old Boys was an appropriate contest to carry on the afternoon sport after the Coliege'duel, as all players had at some period of their career figured in the limelight or college matches. The two blues (Marist) faced the sun, and were immediately ; I placed on the defensive. Grammar backs I igut moving und Badeley was nearly over. i Soon after he did better, Cleal making a I nice opening, and haudiug out to him in the i twenty-five area. He streaked past the full-back, and scored in the corner. The ! kick failed.—Grammar 3, Marist 0. Graham made a solo run, which took play in proxi- ! mity to Grammar's line. The whiten i rushed back, and the backs participated in la nice run. which ended in Coruaga kicking ito the corner to Beehan; the latter's rein ho: pursplt. gathered up and scored at 1 the corner. The kick failed. —Grammar |C. Marist t>. Tykes missed a score after I the kick out through Courtney hesitating . Ito dive for the ball after he had doubled lover the line, and the whites kicked into mo man's land. After a forward scramble, i Casey secured, and ran over on the blind ■side with no opposition. The minor points i were not added.—Grammar 6. Marist 3. ! Soon after the resumption Grammar had an unsuccessful shot at goal. They engineered a series of assaults, and a fine passing bout broke down when McLeod's pass weut adrift. tiadeley secured in the loose, and a score seemed imminent, as he was : well supported; his pass was dropped, howi ever, by Molloy. The whites were over--1 shadowing their opponents, and after the I Tykes had been awarded a free, a similar ] advantage came Grammar's way. Mc- ; Cullough utilised it to good effect, aud kicked a nice goal.—Grammar l>, Marist 3. ] Tykes now had a tur.i at the attack, and I from an infringement Pilling had a kick in ja handy position. He pilotted the ball nicely ; ! through the posts,, and the score on ehang- ! iug over for the last quarter was—Grammar ; ]!>. MarUt 6. At this stage Fisher, who had suffered a broken collarbone in the first j spell, retired.' Play had not long been ill I progress before the whites iucreased their : . lead, per medium of a passing bout. Good- i win was the last to handle, and he crossed at the corner. A good kick failed.— Grammar 12, Marist f>. They almost re- ' ipeateel tlie performance in the next few minutes, the bout this time lieing ou the other wing. Tykes at last took a hand in the attack, and their forwards held a teni- | porary advantage. The white backs were. I however, too .superior, and neutralised. The , Tykes swarmed back, and forced play to the ; corner, but Grammar heeled from a" scrum, ami Molloy's kick got a little relief. Then a clever mark gave Pilling another oppor- . tuuity. which he made the most of.— Grammar 12, Marist 9. The last few minutes of the game was played in the fast- ; approaching twilight, and in ordinary circumstances woulu have been the most ex- ; citing portion of the match. The final bell weut with Grammar maintaining- their • three points advantage. Mr. Donovan was :referee. XEWTON V. POXSOXBY. In a distinctly one-sided game, Ponsonby ; beat Newton by 41 points to :'.. Play in the first half was open aud willing enough, but Newton occasionally reversing the per- ■ sistent attacking by Ponsonby Tries in this half were scored for Ponsonby by Windsor (converted by Prentice). Poulson '. (unconverted). Fry (converted by Doherty) and Lucas (converted by Kelly), while P.ighton kicked a penalty goal. Kellv kicked a goal for Xewton. the hulf ending with the score—Ponsonby 21, Newton 3. In the second half Newton made rather a better showing, but Pousonby 'had not much difficulty in obtaining and keeping the offensive. Minogue was the first to score for PonKouby. but Prentice missed with the kick. , Itijrhton was next, and then Prentice scored . two more, o ne of which he converted him- • splf ;iinl tlie otlier w;is convert&(l l>v St Ceorge. Just before the whistle sounded : finally, Kelly potted a goal from the field bringing the tinal score to—Ponsonby 41

FOURTH GRADE. Ponsonby 54, beat Suburbs 3. Parnell 5, drew with Marist Brothers A SECONDARY SCHOOLS' MATCHES. THE COLLEGE MATCH. A trying sun was the only untoward element as far as the conditions affecting play were concerned, and it fell to Grammar 'School's lot to play against it in the i first quarter. Grammar twice attempted I passing bouts, but Allen intercepting made a great run along the Hue to the glee of the red and gold supporters, anc placed the reds in a good position, from which ■Grammar School got relief by forward play. King's College came back to the attack, and were awarded a free-kick when Buckhind picked out <>f the scrum. Hereabouts the blues opened up a passing liout which relieved the tension. This success spurred .ac backs on to further efforts, and Klng-» College were hard put to it to avert a score. Eventually one of these runs met I with success. Stretton putting mc flnlshinsr I touch to a good opening, and dived over at I the corner. The kick failed.—Grammar School :i. King's College nil. Grammar forced the pace, luit nullified I their efforts by infringements". Heard I put King's College on the attack with a high kick, but Grammar School came back ! again, only to see Eddowes intercept and i make a nice run. but was brought to bay by I I Millar. A fine kick from a mark founil I King's College in Grammar School's twentyfive. Turning round for the second fifteen a a blue back immediately put his side on the attack by a strong run and tick, and I Wrinht did further good service in the j movement. Matters looked dangerous for ! Grammar School when Phillips Intercepted j with only the full-back to beat The latter was. however, equal to the occasion. Grammar School's forwards predominated Jin some dose play and opened up to their I bucks, who ■ »re only kept out ny strong tfl*"lclin". licliof C3HIP to tlip defenders nt ; Inst, when Vosper took a cross-kick from Stretton and ran to half-way before he was collared. A thirty yards kick by Phillips was marked by the Grammar School fullback. Then Milnues was almost o.ver. and half-time scmnded as King's College forced a hard kick. King's College opened up the second half lin characteristic fashion, and pressed : Immediately to Grammar School territory. I They were awarded a free in a uauny ptisii tlnn, and with a splendid effort Keegan , ! equalised the scores. —Grammar 'School 3, I i King's College .".. The venue of play was rushed to King's College twenty-five. Taylor and iMqtctt Interchanging several times. King's College retaliated, and some fine open piny results! in Phillips and Vosper Initiating a splendid bout. Grammar School forwaTfls swarmed back to the attack, and Eddowes. ! now at full-back for King's College, spoilt his work by hanging on. The pace was fast and furious, and a great spell of play was witnessed in King's College ! I twenty-five, and Williams was almost over j just before tile last quarter was begun, n I respite licin~ necessary here owing to Phillips getting a nasty liunip. ; With even scoring." the tension was j Ktraine.l as King's College bams attacked ] lin then- opponents- twenty-five, nut a long i ; kick neutralised, the effort. Honours were j eve,, for ~ ppr iod, and with about two : i minutes left «for play the players got » I ! i Iμ"*' tl"-""=!i Stevenson tnjunne his! 1 ' ?ho 3°? retlril 'E- The gamr set led in ' I mar -en-Gram- '] SECOND (SHADE. :e to" 8 ™ ~- The wlDnln S team points betag- aYo ,0 «£ minor JJ unconverted try for Kind's scored an 'c ;. c IBy Tele S raph.r^ ial tQ .^^ s^sr- A TS nt -^- ? P- - --e, seniors defeated Red « nil. Gladstones are mw i j, s PPints to points for the ehampi ? o^hfp d S by f ° Ur JE Maruntrou^^ *S* ««> .66) beat m

! THE REP. TEAMS. I ■ TO PLAY AT THAMES. AN© THE "UNDER 30" TEAM. The following team has teen selected to play against Thames next Saturday:— Pull-back, .Milliken: three-quarters,! Lewis, rt-rierson, and Wilson: five-eighths, | Gasparicli and Fischer; half, F. Boss; I Tover, Thomas; forwards, Prennce. Berrick, Boardman. BiUington, Turner, iFletcher, Sutherland. Emergencies: Briiisden, Laxon, TVells. Any player unable to make the trip is requested to let the secretary know at once. The following team of players under 20 years of age have been selected to play i against the combined fifteen of KlnK's College and Grammar School players:— Full - back, iMailoy; three - quarters, Nixon, Graham, and Pooley. five-eighths, Hughes and MeLeod; half. Poison; rover, Peters, forwards. MeCullough, Taylor, J. Jlolloy, Carley, Gallagher, Minogue, Blonifleld. Emergencies: Cornaga, Pilling, .Ross, Sin Hoy. The above teams are requested to meet for training at the Ponsonby Training Hall on Thursday evening next. THE THAMES REPS. The following will represent Thames against Auckland:—Heath. Dufty, Winder. Poland, Royal. H. Smith. 'Mooney, H. Smith. B. Johnston. T. Johnston, Brownlee, Alexander. Uayward, Wilton, R. Smith. Emergencies: O"Donncll, Delamore, Walshe, Blackie. PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

FRAXKLIX rxiOX. The second round of the Franklin Rugby S^urfa r . Ch ß^u?t n s?- Pc WaS COmp e ted ° a Seniors.—Pnkekohe. 3 (try by Blake) v. Bombay. 3 (try by Fowler); Waiuku i:t' v Tunkau 7. Juniors.—.Piik-ekohe 6. v. Bnmbav 0 (tries 1 I W, nn » rs n ' ere s< " ore,l h y " N - Blak<, and E. Sehlaeffer): Waitiku 1-2. v. Tuakau 0. THAMES V. WAIHI. (Frt>m our own Correspondent.) THAMES, (Saturda-r. Thames reps, defeated Waihl by ">7 tn 11 Good, clean, fast football was witnessed! Ihe scores were no criterion of the match. Thames showed better combination, especially the forwards. The backs were even. TAIHAPE. (By Association.) TAIHAPE, Saturday. The seninr oop f ootba i, matd,, Rovers versus iHua, was won by the latter by eijjbt points to nil. Dockerv, a Kover player, got his collarbone broken

The following indicates the position of teams after last Saturday's play, prior 10 the mid-winter vacntioa;— A GRADE. I\ IV. L. D. Pts. Vermont A 4 4 — — S Epsom 4 4 — — 8 Ponsonby A 4 .'! 1 — (i Ut. Albert 4 -1 •! — 4 Ml. Kden 4 •! -1 — 4 MaunfKiwhnu 4 2 '2 — 4 Newmarket 4 1 2 1 :i Remueru 4 1 3 i> Takapuua 4 :; i J Richmond Road .. 4 — 4 0 B GRADE. BayBeld A 4 3 1 7 Onelmnga 4 :{ 1 7 Napier Street A.. 4 3 1 — G Xen-toc West ... 4 1 1 5 Tp rapapa 4 " 2 4 Normal 4 2 •* 4 Point Chevnlier ..4 1 3 1 3 Beresford Street.. 4 13 *> Surrey Hills 4 1 3 _ ' .*" Parnell 4 4 jj C GRADE. Vermont TS 4 4 _ g Newton East .... 4 4 — S Nelson Street 4 4 — _ « Ellerslle 4 3 1 _ ? Bayfleld B 4 •> _ 4 Mt. Rosklll 4 2 — 4 Ponsonby B 4 jj 1 j Grey Lynn 4 — 3 1 j AvondalP 4 __ 4 n Napier Street B... 4 — 4 0