RUGBY FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 125, 29 May 1922, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS. COLLEGE RIFLES' GOOD WIN*. GRAFTOX BKATS MAWSTS. SHORE'S FIRST WIN. 810 SCORE BY L'NIMSRSTTY. The club championship matches under the außpicos of the Auckland Rugby Union were played on Saturday under real winter conditions, the grounds in varying degrees of sloppinesa, aud the atmosphere, damp and chilly, though there was little rain during l the progress of the ganios. At Eden Park, where there was a fairly largo attendance of spectators, despite the. forbidding weather, Urafton and Marist Brothers provided a battle royal between two strong forward teams. Play in th» first half was hard, close, and rather dull, but it opened up in the second spell and liceame very exciting as the game progressed. There was no score till the last twenty ruinutes, when after a series of thrilling attacks by the teams in turn tiral'ton got a try from an open dribbling rush, the score being improved by a goal, and a little later a mixed dribbling ana passing rush gave them another try that was not converted. Marists on several occasions throughout the second spell missed scores l,y the narrowest of margins. Grafton wein by 8 points to nil. A considerable crowd of spectators watched the Ponsonbv nnd Coilege Riiles : game on Victoria Park, wnerc Ponsonby j sustained their first deleat of the se-.i- | son by six points to nil. College Rifles ! played a good all-round game, their backs handling well despite the conditions, while Ponsonby played without their customary dash. North Shore had their first win to the extent of 17 points to 10 at Newton's expense on the very sloppy No. 2 ground at Kden Park, where the game was evenly contested throughout. Newton lost several players through injury, and il was only in the concluding stages of the game that North Shore established their lead. _ University proved much too strong for Eden, aud ran up a total of oS points to nil. GRAFTON V. MARIST OLD BOYS. Two scores In the last twenty minutes of a game thnt had been evenly* contested throughout, play being almost entirely dominated by the forwards "aye -Grafto'i n wlu by eight to oil. The two teams wer'o so evenly matched in the forward line, and It was a day for the forwards, that play was dull throughout the first spell oil account of th e game being kept tight by both packs. But in the second spe.ll they both upened out, and play at once became interosilug and exciting. It wus at this stajte that Marlsts missed Malloy and Bradv froui their rearguard, for the hacks ail round had a great deal of Individual saving work and backing up of the forwards to do and the superiority of Craftou in this respect won them the game. U was from a louse breals-away. rush fov the forwarde that I'reutico got the flrs't score for Orafton, and this was followed by H. Gaaparich coming on tlie scene nt the end ol another similar movement and sfiuding a pass on to XI. Lamb, to enable the latter to notch Graftou's second try Fludlny converted the tirst. Both before and ufter these scores the Marists were on Grafton's Hue time and again, Earlly Anderson, 'Power and Dochertv just mlusiuc scores. In the early part of the game Austin filled the place of fullback for <i raft on, anil he was showing conspienous ability iv the position when he had to retire in conse'jueuee of a nasty shake-up from a bump by an opponent when he delayed his clearing kick too long. A general re-arrange-ment of the Urafton backs saw Find lav go up to centre threequarter aud 'Hughes in to tlrst tive-eigbths. while in the absence of Buckland. the position behind the scrum was taken by E. Gasparich. nnd M 'Lamb was on the end of the tbreequarter line. Individually the "backs played well, but the style of game and the coudltlous did not permit of a real trial or the're-arraugeinent The uippiness of Gasparich and Hughes was a great asset to the side throughout aud both TT. and M. Lamb were always there or thereabout. Moore Nicholas (I'Brien and Helander were most frequently the leaders in the sweeping forward rushes of the team that were a feature or the game. As already indicated, the ■Mnrlsis held their own in the frout line Anderson. Tower. T. Casey and McDonald being most conspicuous when the play opened up. 'Behind the scrum Earlly played his usual clever game, and Thomas I was a tower of strength io the side by virtue of his pace nnd good handling, while I Scott gave Indications of being dangerous when opportunities should come his way At [lines Do.herty was prominent at tlveelghth. and the college boy Held shuwe«i distinctly promising form. i EDEN V. UNIVERSITY. The match between University and Kden, replied iv au overwhelming win for CnlpfaTed 1 ' of: T C™ /round, „£' ~,f means an liuereetiug exhibition as the superiority of the Hiui-nrnful team Willi i apparent right from start t« finish, and In I the couoluiMug portion of the game It was I simply one score after another for l"nl- I vi-rtiMy. At times Men uiatle an effort I to attack, but they were so continually on ' the defensive attempting to stem the'tlde! and urevent further β-coriUc that their i efforts were fruitless, although there ' was at least one opportunity when K<Jeu miirht have registered a score University obtained their flrs.t score early in the game, when Rrinsden dashed over and scored a try. which Hopkins converted. Park, securin,. the ball, made i an opening, and slipped .uross, securin" ' a further try. whirl, Hopkins again converted, -bringing the University .-cor,. ~,, to in. Fro,,, a passing rush by the backs Wiseman, ithe speedy velag obfiined another try, which ..M-iliiken failed to convert. Kor nn Infringement Rrten was awarded a penalty in front of their opponents' gonl. i, ut Baker failed with the kick. The spell ended: University 13. Kden were compelled to force -n-fthin n very few minutes «.» resuming play, and the TlnlyerKity attack conitinund as In quick succession TVrry and MWamani scored. The first try ivns not converted. I ■but nopklnn. -the University half, kicked a ' i good goal from the second, nnd the blues led by 23 points ito 0. (Tark scored an unconverted try. nnd Terry quickly added another three points, making University's total C! 7. This wne further increased by a try by nrinsnen. nni] converted by .Miller made the total 32. 'Home cx.-ltement resulted n few minutes later when an lEden player was ordered off the flehl for unseenilr conduct. University continual successfully with their farcin s tn<tl.-s and were continually In (heir opponents' territory. MUllken secured the Imll in mid- ' HPld. which he passed to M<-Xnmara. who after a (mod run, scored a try. which w:is not. converted. .lust on time Brendel crossed the line with comparative case, makl-ns ithe score as 'the whistle sounded" Unrversity 3S. Eden 0. FOUR TEAMS LEVEL. J 1 College Rifles got n thoronirlily deserve<l victory over Ponsonby at Victoria Park s adapting themselves tmreh better to the conditions than did the hitherto unbeaten 1 Ponies. It seems nn axiom of Kuirby foot- < liall that on a vet dny handling is'not to ' be utilised nt nil. but Collese showed that the new style of ißugliy can be played under wet as well as dry conditions; and that was were they beat 'Ponsonbv. l r ast following up hv the forwards and some quite i clever handling by the backs were the tactics Indulged in by the TUtlcs. and ■ wheretiß Ponsonby backs Invariably punted ( the leather into the hands of the opposition College threw It about, and their flrst try came from a nice movement in which r four players participated. Grierson started 1 the bout, and finally received from a throw) . infield from Barker and scored. A few ' t minutes after Pilling kicked a good goal. '. i These were the only scores of the match. I . which .ns a whole wns In the winners' ! ] fnvour. At times the Ponsonby forwards', outpbived College, but .ns snnn ss the brill | got out they lost their advantage. The . . result of the march lenves Ponsonby. f"ol- i , lege Rifles. Grammar nnd Grafton all lprel : I at the head of the competition, each team I i having sustained one defeat. j j

NORTH SHORE V. NEWTON.

Though North Shore won by 17 to 10 1 b(*rp were spvprul wtnpos In thp panic thjit promised quite a different total. When tile green hacks opened up surprisingly well wllh a greasy Tjull and put ou a coupl'o of scores in the first ten minutes It looked ns if they were going to have things nil their own way. particularly since their forwards as well were all over the Newton pack. Then the reds woke up. Their forwards sluiweil more cohesion, an J t.heir backs threw the ball about with more effect mid accuracy than they showed in ilrv wen I her earlier lv the season. 'North Shore wit,, lending by «ie point ut half time, ami when the third iiunrter. In which they had ihe advantage i>f the wind, went by without any addition to the total, it looked as if Newton would come out on top. Kor the tirst five minutes of the lust quarter the reds iiißde desperate onslaughts on Nortli Shore's goal. Then came a dramatic change, Sonicrvillos ureal effort, which lalil him out as he fell on the ball under the posts, .decided the fate of the came, the issue of which was never thereafter In doubt. The North Shore park showed to advnn taye In sudden loose rushes, though on the general run of the game they wore not superior to their opponents, except lv tin department of tackling. Tile gree.n hack* showed plenty of iultlatlve. aud Jusga put Newton certainly had hard hick in the ■way of casualties. Impey, who was allowing lunch promise, whs Ihe first to retire, and when the final whistle went they could no! have had more than eleven oil the Held. The came, though absolutely free from roughness, was remarkable for the number of casualties that held it up for so lons that at the finish the players'were lndlstinirulshal)le from the Hue. I.lddle. /it full, was solid and resourceful. Karl played his best same of the season, ns nlso 'did ■Kelly, who put In an Immense amount of solid graft. SECOND GRADE. Kind's Old Hoys drew with Grammar Old Hoys, :; nil. Kllerslle 18, beat Pnrnell r>. Kor Kllerelie Knight. Koss. Davies and Smith obtained tries. Itobluson converting three. Wnthaui ! scored for Pnrnell. Simpson converting. I KllerMie put up n gront name, having only Ithirieen men throughout. i Training College 23, bent Thames Old iltoys 11. THIRD GRADE. Ponsonby <lre-.v with "Mount Albert, -no score.. Grey r.ynn 11, beat Mnrlst Brothers 0. College Klfles 21, bent 'Varsity 0. Ponsonby F! 14, beat City H 0. FOURTH GRADE. Richmond 33, defeated Newton -J J'onsonhy 8. Pnbnrlw H Marlst Brothers 13, beat Post and Tele graph ."!. Tries were scored for the winners t>y Wright. ISroftle. niiil Stormont, and Stormont and Brodle converted two. FIFTH GRADE. Ponsonbv 12. Suburbs 0. CADETS' ASSOCIATION. 33rd Company 0. beat 32nd Company .1. CHTTRCHES' ASSOCIATION. Cordon 3. drew with Onrhunen 3 St. David's 5, beat St. .lames 3. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. JUNIOR GRADE, nemuera 5, lient Mount Eden o. Napier Street H. heat Nelson Street « Vermont Street 27, beat Beresford Street VERMONT STREET SCTIOOr,!*. AN AMICABLE SETTLEMENT. The controversy about the Inclusion of Vermont Street School tennis in the primnry schools senior crude was amicably settled n't n conference on Friday, in which nil parties Interested were represented, lncludlii" delegates from the Auckland Rugby Union It was decided that the school should play under a district scheme, for which the dls trlcts had been defined and a recommendation was made to the Primary Schools Association that any future innovation dealing with the season's arrangements should be given notice of n month before the annual meeting. It was generally conceded thnt the larger field of selection In the Vermont Street School gave thnt school an advantage over the smaller nubile schools Incidentally It might be mentioned that Rome similar restriction will probably b<. railed for in the eyent of the new junior hid, school at Mngsland taking part In the Rugby competitions. " WAIKATO MATCHES. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent ITAMn.TON. Saturday The meeting between the o<l rivals-. <- it v and Franfcton, attracted a great deal ..'f nitererion. Tioitwithstmi'llng the unfavourable weather, nnd the <- r owd w ns treated to an nxc-ning cam( , ~,( T „„ t])p . y were the better .team, having 'trained rmriinrly. and when it can,,, to the List quar ten with n sirens; wind nralnst them, they were able to withstand the pressure that rrnnkton forwards put on. and won by 11 to n ti lw Wfls a Mronrs'unherl. win, driving dnwn the field, which mnrte "nod kickine alm'-st (houuli Manncetti. for City, kicked tw.. l.enutifvl coals while Buckingham nnd <5. clarkln were always in Hie riirpfpmi \ (-||v try „ se-ured by ■Cyril Clnrkln who took the ball nt the full from a short kick by S. Clarkin, and leaped over. Roll, packs' wer» good and nt one time were Irx-ked together f..r some time In a good push. Caddis I'Rinkton's si.-Ip-er. «-n< always prominent! us also Was iMnisey. (Jibs,,,,, and Hamilton! while Sanson in h.,lf was nippy •,„,] ~ tower of strength t.i lilo side. Mr T 'French handle,! |h,. game strii tlv iiu.i Impartially. gives Cily „ good lead forth.'old Roys J-, 'iriirtjrt Prothr-rs wns an open Biime. unit siii.Hid tint Old Hf.vs are »'• rather Improved team In coii.ert.vl hh.vp I nii»i!ts. wMle Nfari-t Brothers w er >npMerriilv stroiieflipnod by Ihei r n'iv h'.wid Old I!oy« won by 17 !■» S. their '■onibina' tlon eivliii' them (lie best of the ".itn.Wood* nnd Hγ Valenllne were the ~,ir' sfan'Tnu' pliiye-rs for old Hoy«. the doctor's tacl'ling JiPlng Bond, and .hi* breakaways were helnful. thoiiEli he wns rather Inclined to haiiif on too long. F,, r I |, P greens, at full wjis excellent belntr ensilv the liwt hack "n the srrniind for the <lny. ■Chn.mplon also showed up Oordonton bent 'Stars by 22 to 1.1. In the Innior :rra<le Wesley ben* Old Boys by 13 to 0. CAMBSIDG2. City Juniors defeated Cadets by 20 points to 0. " Leamington nnd Tlantnpn Juniors played a drawn cnine, with no score. City Seniors nnd Leamington piayert n draivn game, with no score. MOREUfSVnXE. The cup matches resulted:— Seniors: Kereone 3 (a try), drew -n-lth ■ Totuanni 3 <n penalty goal). i Juniors: Kereone 0. beat Tatuanui 3. i WAIHI. ! In the schools competition Bast defeated ] CouVblued (Plains ancf Convent) by 7 points t to 0. Stevens scored a try and'Thornton , kicked n goal from the field. ; Central C, beat South 0. Tubman secured i a trj- and goaled. , Inter-union mntc.hes between Walhi and - Paeroa (seniors and juniors) w?.re postponed i | owing to bad -weather, but the afternoon , later turned out flue. ROTORTTA. c 'Sa'turdny'e mntebes resulted-—Seniors: Walklte 10. defeated Putted .T For the 1 winners tries were scored by Mason and ] ■Stanley, and gonls by il'lnl and Stanley Kor the losers. Knrrell kicked a pensiltv. ( Juniors: Waiklte 8. defeated PnMed 3 i ■ITealey and 0. Clark scored tries for Waikite, and Pernio converted one try. Bull 1 scored n try aud Hintou improved the < wore for T"nite<l. Mnmaku 8. defen'ted 1 Kabukura ' <5. Mulinne and Mi-Cnrthy t secured tries for Mnniakn. and <lcard ■ kicked n 80111. Hnlketl nnd Walker scored t tries for K.-ihuUiu-M. Tliinl crnde; Wai- I ■ kite 'A. beat Knhukurn 0. Reke Simon I ' -cored for thn winners. Pulled 17 be-i t■ 1 Schools fi. Tries for thp winners werp 11 scored by Cleal (3,. Cnrhetr, and Hooper, ami a goal was kicked by ("leal. For I Echool, Phillips sained two tries. (

TAUKAHGA.

' la the Jordan Cup contest iv the senior 1 grade Te Puna defeated Tauranga by IT ! points to :s. in the junior grade. Cadets ' defeated Tauranjja by Iβ to 0, and KangaJ taua defaulted to Te Puna. ' TE PtJKE. Railway defeated Rovers by 8 points to r 3. nnd United defeated Kangluru by 5 to 3. ' In the junior grade. United defeated Rangl- ' uru b.v 28 to r>. I OHAKUNE. « In the cup competitions Pokaka beat ■ Ohakuue at (lhakune by 9 to 8 after a ■ keenly contested gnine. ; TAUMARUNTJI. r In the senior match. Okahukura 6, defeated Manunul 5. Crlbb and Hum scored for Okahukura. and Nairn scored for alq iiuuiii, 'lTiornt OD con vort In ij t Third Grade.—High School' 11, bear ■ Manunul (1. WELLIKGTON. [ Rugby results are ns follows: -'Varsity 1 1.1. beat Berhnmpore .".; I'nneke 14, beat Relwyn fl; Orlentnl 14. beat Old Roys S; Tetone 2R. bent Wellington 0; Marist 3 beat 1 Athletic 0. CHBISTCHTIRCH. ! Obi Roys HR. heat Albion nil: Marist 14. , bent I.lnwood ll: Sydenham (F.rtteltoni 14 beat Cbrlstchnri-h n. DTTNEDIN. Kalkornl Sn. bent Tnion 3: Zingarl 3 beat Alhambra 0; Southern 11, beat l> lined In 10" . Talerl IL', bent Port :!.