RUGBY OPENS IN RAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 99, 28 April 1924, Page 8

RUGBY OPENS IN RAIN.

GRAMMAR BEATS GRAFTON. PONSONBY DOWN STUDENTS. j I mariSt and shorf gkt wins. I SCBUKBS AXD NEWTON DRAW. I A pelting rain as the result of a thunderstorm breaking just as the opening matches of the Rugby season started on Saturday had a decided bearing on the character of the games, and made the conditions, which had promised to be almost ideal for fast football, trying for j botli players and spectators. A large crowd which had gathered at Eden Tark for the purpose of following both the j Marist-C'ollege and Gramniar-Urafton matches, was constrained to devote its attention to the latter game, by reason of having to shelter in the grandstand.-. They were given a good exhibition of fast Rugby, particularly in the iirst half, before" the ball became sodden, and . even in the second half, when the conditions were responsible for frequent mistakes, the play was interesting and exciting. Grammar got an early lead as the. result of starting a combined dash j off mistakes by their opponents, and fine | goal-kicking by K. Ifwersen added six more points to the first converted goal, before Grammar got another try by I taking advantage of opposition errors, which' Ifwersen again converted. Meantime a footrush by Orafton was finished | oIT by A. Cooke scoring, and B. Keary j converting, and the game ended with Grammar the winners by 10 points to 5. College Rifles put up a good fight. , against Mari*ts, whose backs have not yet got Into swing, and an interesting game ended in Marists being the winners by six points to three. I'onsonby and University fought out J a fast and even game at Victoria Park, in which neither side was able to get the back division into good combined workin" order, and TVinsonby won by two penalty goals, kicked by Gregory. In their first senior match. King s Olil Ttovs had a hard tussle against North Shore in conditions that rather favoured the latter, and Shore won by six points to three. Play was mostly among the forwards in the go between Newton and Suburbs, and it was of a very even character, the game ending in a draw, nine points all. GRAMMAR V. GRAFTON. 1 \ thunderstorm broke just before the ™m P started and the kick-off came in a «linw.-r of vain with It-* result thnt both l)iill and "round were p. visy. At the outBet firnfton set up an alfack per medium of forward work and a nicely placed kick i , ' o? \t !E s ?crS c £^S^ I and sent on a forward who passed to !^ U^e^;S.^raUarreafton |°The second quarter ol the game was started in lashing ran »?" I was unmanageable, though 0™"°" »«P* trvitic to sei the backs poing, and there was a pood deal of scrambling play, Grafvirtus? «j !ti line l.J■ R. Cooke, and then A. Cooke led a rush back to [lie centre. Koary NlPhnlns and X Cooke were proimneut in to Omwunar-s Quarter, in close piny Grammar worked to attack, but Nicholas bended a C.nifton footrush back, and B. Ke.trr missed a shot at goal from a free, ■md when Grarton infrin.ccd similarly a minute or tivo Inter. K. Ifwerson landed a aoal Grammar S. Orafton 0. Almost imniediatciv afterwards lfwerson repented tho performance from a slightly longer rnnae, when Kntelit was illegally obstructed and the learns turned round for the last' quarter with the score: Grammar 11, (irnfton 0. . , Grafton I'iit more μ-insior Into then- play and went for n more open Karae at foot wnrk -it once sending Grammar to defence. ami a footrush '■' A. Cooke worlns and B. Keary convertlug. Graintiiar 1!, Orortoii 3. Again the colours atbivkpd. j Goodacre K.-ivinK well. Ram again came ! on as Grammar set up an attack. I hut (iraftou dribbled clear and a 'dash by It. Cooke ant! Richards improved ! the pain. C.rainmar came back, but despite i a line dash by C. Hndeloy were unable i to get through 'till just on tho finish of the i jiiinie when a mistnkc by CooUe let WHj Hums away to s.'ore between the posts. laud Ifwerson to goal. The game ended: I Grammnr Iβ Craftou 5 Mr. Sutherland was referee. I ••—— NEWTON V. SUBURBS. On No. -2 ground at Edon Turk on Saturday afternoon Suburbs and Newton played v drawn p:un«', nine nil. The Newton pack made tho best of their Kiiperinr weight, bnt the Suburbs side indulged In bead; piny that should have given them flic match, and the combination dlspluyed put their tenm in the very comfortable position of il—:; whou there were only ten minutes left to piny. The first try was scored by Ness, of the Newton back division, but during the first half Lincoln. with a splendid try from the half-way, and C. Cray with a pood flolti kick, turned the game in Suburbs - favour. On resuming after half-time. Lincoln was ■ nsnlu Ruecosoful with a try in the corner. •Alter tins, however, with the pround beconiiiifi broken up on account of the tain, and the leather rather elusive, tho advantage appeared to be more with the IN'ewton men : . but Suburbs looked certain winners until

Simmons kicked a splendid goal with the wind, and luipey got an easy try through Suburbs' errors on the goal line, tor mc Inst couple of minutes Suburbs rallied in an effort to pull off the victory, but the same unished : < Newton |J Suburbs J PONSONBY V. UNIVERSITY. Tbls came was evenly contested throughout, rind in the opening stages both trams in turn got advantages to which the finishing touches wore not added. T IODKon ':, were forced by v run between McLaren ana Hamilton on the Wind side. Tile HjeilW ' ball led to many nl.st.ikos. but Gregory it splendidly once in pulling up »J? r "*"K rush by Miljar and Keegan. r " nsn " b .? irac more aggressive in the second quarter and eventually Gregory klcccd a straight goal from n penalty. In tne second halt University had tb« better of tt-e iramo for a considerable time and opportunities of pvpniae the score from peniUies were not turned 1o success. In tnn (inal rcw minutes I'onnonby of ncked strongly and were awarded a penalty n n handy position. Gregory agnfn send ng it ,'ver the bar. The game cuded— I'nnsonby v, University 0. KING'S OLD BOYS V. NORTH SHORE. In Hiclr first en mc in th« senior grade. King"" Old Boy/ "em defeated by North i am n-r™.» feu hroupho.it the first half, ami play vms £?»"£ Kines Old Hoys 0. OM Bny« pressed for iwlSnd^io ,^^^^ r.-.ls pave Shore a chnncr- to increase their lead ami M Reed Ilirked a Riiod goal. Six point* heb ml. King's made strenuous efforts to score, which were :.t last rewarded 1,,. Crlbhlc -ritin- .-.cross in n. position too lV..m rnr'n.'nrS tn convert. With bnt » 'few minutes 10 piny, excitement ran high. ibut there was no ultprntioti in the score I when the hnnl wblatlu blew. i North Shore <; I King's (Jld Boys ■'• COLLEGE RIFLES V. MARISTS. i Marlßt obtain*! three points by a placed .penally kicked by f-ierß wlil.it. the first few miuutiti of the jianie, nii'l with this encouragement they fcopt un a stroii; attack, almost breakins through on several oee.aBions. After doialnatins the game for twenty minutes Tykes we.re awarded another free kick, and Peters notched three ni..re points. Mariat ft. Colleg- Rifles 0. \ftcr some tight ffirt In the Marist twentylive Todd toi.chi-d down for College. The kick failed. There was little individual effort in the final quarter, which was dominated by the Marist forwards, and the finnl whistle'sounded with Hie scores: Marist R College Rifles 3 Mr: W. Meredith was referee. COUNTRY FOOTBALL. rt'KEKOHE. Trie football season opened in wet weather. Senior: White Star 5, Taerata nil. Knmhlers 12. City nil. I .liiulor: High School 27, Paerata nil. Whin- Star G. Ramblers nil. Wesley College IS. City .!. DARGAVIIXK. M>rtTni:i:N wairoa. Championship matches were played at Kalhu. Tekopuru. Dargaviile and Ora[pohue Juniors defeated Dargaviile 5 to Tangowahine Seniors beat Dargaville 0 to , r >. Tangav.aliiue had the best game. United seniors beat Southern nt Kaihu by 11 to !>. I "l'ukcbuia juniors beat Southern No. 2 at Te Kopuru. H to ::. Southern No. I and United juniors played a drawn game, at Kaihu. TAKKOA. At I'aeroa the weather was showery and the atlen'lnnoe fair. Rpsults of matches. Seniors: East 3, Suburbs nil. A good ' fast game. Try was scored by W. Smith. Juniors iWcst 11. Netherton 7. Third Grade: West 11, Higli School C. MATCH AT WAIHI. The football season opened on Saturday with a match between Foresters and Returned Soldiers, which resulted in a win for the former by ]f> to S. MORRINSVrLI.E. The Rusrby ■ season opcued witli a strong northerly wind, followed by heavy rain. All games were evenly contested. Results: — SENIORS. Terriers .1 Walton ". T. Goble scored a try. converted, for Terriers, and Glenn scored a try for Walton. Kereone 5. City 4. Parsons scored a try and C Stoupe converted for th? winners, and Stoupe potted a coal for City. JUNIORS. Terriers 12. Mangateparu 0. Kereoue 0, Tntuanui ". MATAMATA. Matamnfa Union's competitions commenced on Saturday. The senior gft.l'e lietwnui ■ I Wnlton and Matama'ta won hy W'i!f"ii. Ifi to nil Fausett two. Harrison and Mci Ciregor converted two tries. The winners I were better trained and showed resourceI fulness. In the junior competition Matamata beat ' V.'airere S to nil. ! THAMES. 7n the football, ecuiors, the Old Boys ■ scored 11 v. City 9. 1 Rovers were 7 y. Ramblers 2.">. Pirates made 22 v. Kopn nil. ' In the second sii'ado the Old Roys were J nil v. Physical Training 17. 1 In the third grade Physical Training 3 1 tied with Ramblers :!. In the schools match South School were j no v. Convent «il. • MASTEKTOX. In the senior match at Masterton' Red ' i Star seniors defeated Carterton (last year's J ] champions) by 14 points to six. Vangioni ' I scored three tries and Wickens scored for ' ! the winners, one being cnnTcrto'l. Knowles ' I and Ilolmwood socred tries for Carter- . • ton. ' Masterton seniors lieat Greytown seniors ." to nil. In the junior championship Greytown were 2ft v. Carterton 9. SOUTHERN MATCHES. DrXKDI.V The Kiicl.y results were:— T"tiiversity A fi. Zingari o. University B 1">. Dunedin It. Pirates 34, I'nion nil. Kaikorai 20, Southern nil. '. WKIXIXOTOX. The Hugby cor.ipotitions comenced on Saturday. Senior 'e>-;ilts are:— University 0, Selwyn 8. Athletic 11, Old Boys nil. Poncke :i. ltcrhampore 3. Pet one n. Hutt nil. Marist 13, Wellington nil. » cnnisTciiuncn. . I T?!!Khv results wr-rc:-----i Old Boys 3t, I.inv.-ood 5. I University 6, Albion :'.. Merivale 24, Sydnham 3.