SOLID GRAMMAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 163, 12 July 1926, Page 10

SOLID GRAMMAR.

GRAFTON FORWARDS MEET THEIR MATCH IX FRONT. Grammar won the toss, and chose the Slight advantage, resulting from a cold" cross wind. Shortly after the start a penalty against Grafton for handling the bill on the sroimd enabled Ifwersen to land a Roal from outside the Grafton tweutrfive. Grammar 3, Orafton 0. Austin made two good, but ineffectual attempts to poal from penalties, and Ifwersen also had another shot from a mark in a fairly easy position, luit missed. Play was of a desultory nature, until the end of the spell. Grafton were badly caught napping at the start of the second quarter. Goodacre's kick-off caught the Orafton forwards out of position and by nuick folowing up, Goodncre got on to the ball ngai'n and kicked through to the Grafton twenty-five. Gardiner followed up In great style, snapped up the ball, and scored an easy try, which Ifwersen converted with a splendid kick. Grammar S, Grafton 0. On resuming, Grafton livened up and Ituru, the Maori three-quarter showed out, hut a smart bit of play ended in Stewart going through and passing to Finlayson. who scored a fine try in the corner. Austin converted with a beautiful kick, making the scores. Grammar 8, Grafton 5, A few minutes later, Rum put in a brilliant run od llir far side, and passed out to Farmer, who scored a try in the corner, which Austin was nnable to convert. Thf heavy wind was putting a premium on passing, and neither side was attempting much in the way of back movements. A spell marked chiefly by hard forward play concluded with the scores unchanged. Solia paclc work marKeil the opening stages of the third quarter. ITalr way throng'u the spell, a rousing forward rush by the Grammar scrummers, who were putting more dash into their play, resulted in Lush scoring in the far corner. Ifwerson was unable to do anything with a difficult kick. Finlnyson led several vigorous Grafton rushes, and Hughes also showed out well, but the Grammar defences were fully equal to the occasion, Ifwersen putting ill several smnr clearances Early in the fourth session. Austin had a shot from a penalty, and this time made no mistake with the kick, which made the I scores cloven all. The Grammar forwards. | however, fairly surprised the '"side-liners" by the manner in which the. went for tho opposing vanguard. They were all over (irafton in the middle stnges of the spell, and Corili-s put the finishing touches to n fust ground rush ■•■ Grafton's twenty-five liy scoring in the corner. Ifwersen found the distance too far. Cnifton made n series of spasmodic efforts tn equalise in the closing Btngi-s, hut their piny lacked their customary -ginger." h, addition to which backs iinil fi.rwnrila were not linking up well at mc vase u( the scrum. The ljual scores were :——

Ornmmar .... i i «rnf.0n......■.....•.•.::;;:: A Mr. l , null was referee.