RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 124, 25 May 1920, Page 9

RUGBY.

The senior championship continues to grow in interest as it grows more and more apparent that out of the seven teams there are five co evenly matched that no game between any two of them is a foregone conclusion, while the sixth team has all the elements of a combination that may at any time upset the calculations of the prophets. Marist Brothers, by their game against Grammar Old Boys, demonstrated very clearly that the win the previous week against College Rifles was no fluke; and Ponsonby gave unmistakable warning, by their flutter against the Rifles, that they are a power to be reckoned with. As matters stand now Grammar and Ponsonby are in the lead, but there is so little between the contestants that the whole complexion of the championship may change before the first round finishes. Next Saturday Grammar has to meet College Rifles, and despite the fact that, last year's champions have had their colours lowered by University Marists, and Ponsonby, their standard and style of play is euch that no great Kiirorise would he occasioned by their beating Grammar. The other frames for fUturdav are Ponsonby v. Grafton, and University v. Newton. The positions of the teams in the championship list ate:— Points Clip. P. W. t,. For Agst. Pts. 'Rrammar 3 » — "> 27 0 ■ Ponsoiifcy 3 3 — 48 11 6 , Oolleee Rifles ..4 1 3 74 53 2 H'nlwsMy 2 1 1 33 36 2 Mnrlxt Bros. ..a 1 2 34 40 2 ■ nrafton S 1 2 24 (V 4 2 . 'Newton 3 — 3 0 40 — GRAMMAR'S HARDEST GO.

T-ast year Grammar Old had a salloping team that made the f| cc for the flnrt spell, nnd faded out in tl«k*.ist Mtter 20 minutes. They proved fr>y tireir |>erformnnce aralnst Marist IRrothers on Saturday that they nnw have the—well, what polite people cnU the constitution f> see n hard E>m« rifflit to the flnlßh, nnd still have a punch left. l For three parts of a fast, smelling forward jrame 'they had somewhat the worse of the deal, and then, facins a final twenty minutes against the wind, they rallied and straightway pat on two forward scores that settled the argument. Ar a matter of fact they outlasted the Marist team, whose forwards ran themselves off their feet and tired palpably towards the end of t.'ie game.

A feature of tlie flrst spell was the fast, solid rushing of the Tyke forwards, who frequently broke away In a bunch, and varied their footwork toy occasional short passing ibonte. 'While they nil got down to it In good style, their rover, Hale, a l)lK, rnklnjj cliap, was especially prominent. Out the 'busiest boy on the field was Earlly, the Marlst half, -who played to and with his forwards In clever fashion, varying his turtles well by occasional snappy play towarda Ms baclra. The forward* and Karlly were chiefly responsible for the lakes'- scores; the other back* confined their attention to stopping and defensive work rather than trying to find scoring spots. Singe, at flve-eightbs. was rather out of place, but he was unlucky In that several centring "kicks, Intended to enable hie forwards to 'bunch"on the Grammar line, were over-carried by the wind, and gave tile O'Brien's quick, accurate Heldlnj and kickIng were particularly helpful to his side After having been pretty well smothered for the flrst part of the game, the Grammar forward* came to light sensationally in the last quarter, when Taylor, M<rCullough and Arnold were particularly effective In breakaway wort. The backs got together In only one really top-notch passing bout, but it was t brilliant one. and brought about a score \>i /. 'Badcley. Despite the continuous sailing t>y the other Bide, however, the Grammar backs never let their side down, and they all showed more ,, than'ordinary Initiative. ■Good and the !B«deleT ; brother*, were outstanding in this respect, while. Inynedlately the opportunity came. 'Nicholson Rave a taste of unsuspected quality by n elxty yards' dash that brought a try end really settled tie Issue in favour of Grammar. The game wae one of the most •strenuous and exciting forward tussles played to date, and It was a notable feature that there was not a suggestion of undue rougnnees to mar the play at any stage of the game, which was played In exemplary spirit.

COLLEGE AGAIN SURPRISED.

iFor the third Saturday in succession College Rifles had to submit to something approaching a surprise dereat. the latest being accomplished by Ponsonby. and Incidentally the most severe beating that the Rifles have yet sustained. The Blflee pack was weaker than usual, and in this department they were outplayed, while the rearguard also failed to display much combination. The wind was a factor that bad to toe considered in accuracy of play, tout even when allowln e *or the circumstances that contributed to the College defeat, full credit must be given to iPonsonby for maintaining their unbeaten record. Though the match was devoid of spectacular football. Ponsonby have the necessary material to develop into a sound team, the chief fault at present being lack of combination and cohesion between the two sections or players. A feature of the game was the accuracy of the goal kicking, each side getting hnlf its points, throush this medium. Thompson kicked two goal; and ■Murray one for Ponsonby, while Pilling got -three of the Rifles' six points In a likemanner Of the lndlvldua play it is hard to single out. any member of the IPonsonby team, excepting tho full-back Thompson, who played a really brilliant cnine. Ills handling was a treat to watch, while he knew what to do with the ball when he got it. 'Ross was nippy at flve-elglith», but the backs did not ibring off any good combined action. The forwards are a hardworking lot, and had their opponents beaten in most departments, though College were hookine more frequently. Of 'the losing slue tho only players to stand mit for good play were Melnues and L. Fletcher. ißoth are fast forwards, and followed up well, Mclnnes getting the only try as the result of these tactics. There Is , something wrong, with the College attack near the scrum, wille their defence is also ' weak, and an improvement will have to we - effected in this department before success ! comes their way.

GHAT-TON V. NEWTON. In this same It was bard to recognise Newton as the same fifteen that took the field against Pmisonibv on the previous week. Their forward play had improved out of all recognition, and In tlic loose, for the major portion of tlie time, their vanguard held the tipper hand. It was really the superior speed of the backs that gave Gmfton Uielr substantial victory. They did not Tiesitate to throw the leather about, and though many of their Pa*»ug bouts were wild, they more than nullified the grafting work of the red pack. Tackling was not a strong point with the losers. On several occasions Xiion forced his way through weak opposition, and changed defence into attack. -For Newton Well* shone out In the loose, while Murray and Wilson were most conspicuous among Uie hacks. The last-mimed Is a. promising youth with pace and stamina, wht, would ibe dangerous if he were well supported by those nearer the scrum. Nixon s running and kicking were a great help to his side on many occasions, while (Laitfbwas to the foVe throughout the game, which, by the war, wan played in four 13-minute spells.

THE INTEK-COLL.EGE GAME. The Int«r-Colleslate match was rather disaDDolntlng in character. Player* were SSeFtSo in that the ground washeavy and greasy, and they had to play a considerable part of the second spell ?n semi-darkness, but alter making due allowance for these the fact remains that neither team ehowed much combination. In point of play there was little between -he eldes The Wellington forwards showed some excellent cross dribbling but with the Option of M. L Smith their handling: of the ball was not good. M. U bmlth, Hanson, and Day were, the outstanding players of the pack. The Auckland pack proved quicker t5 take opportunities in the loose to get the ball up and away to the backs. Thomas, Mllllken, and Gasparlch showing out in this respect, while Inder proved a find as a scoring forward of the did much In the way of cbmbination. At times the Wellington passing was pretty and well-timed. but the running was not straight enough to be effective. Jackson and Aitken were the most dangerous of the backs. The Auckland backs made an individual game of it and in tills style of game Philips was most effective. Auckland's win by 19 to 0 rather Batters the local elde on the play.