RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 244, 14 October 1926, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

LONDON NEW ZEALANDERS. A meeting of the London New Zealander Rugby Football Club was lately held to consider buying the freehold of a fully-equipped sports ground at Norbiton. The property, now owned by the Pearl Insurance Company, is about six minutes' walk from the Norbiton Station, about a mile from Kingston Station and within easy reach of Raynes Park Junction. The Wimbledon-Kingston tram route also passes it. The property has an area of just over seven acres. Near the entrance is a substantial timber and corrugated iron pavilion, 71 feet by 42 feet, which has two grandstands able to seat more than 400 people. There are also other small pavilions on the ground, and six grass courts. There is room for two Rugby football pitches, leaving enough space for a cricket pitch / between them. An expert valuer conI siders that the present value of the 1 ground is £4000. The present owners are obtaining rents from various clubs amounting to about £400. Ponsonby Team's Record. The senior champion team of Auckland, that of Ponsonby Club, has the following record for the season. It suffered defeat in the last game: Beat Grafton 37—8. Beat Grammar 14—3. Beat Marist 22—8. Beat University 36—3. Beat College Rifles 15—0. Beat Grafton 36—3. Beat Grammar 14 —5. Beat Marists 23—6. Beat University 18—3. Beat College Rifles 15—9. Beat "The Rest" 27—9. Beat North Shore 6—5. Lost to Grammar 6 —ll. Gener.. Pars. The greatest secondary school in New Zealand to-day, from the point of view of Rugby, is New Plymouth Boys' High School, says the Christchurch "Sun." In five years the school has played 19 school games, of which it has won 15, drawn one, and lost three. In the season just passing it beat Wanganui Technical College by 20 points to 19, Te Aute College (holder of the Moascar Cup) by 16 points to nil, and Auckland Grammar School by 22 points to six. New Plymouth has retired from the Moascar Cup competition, but an indication of the quality of this year's team may be obtained when it is remembered that Wanganui College, which won the inter-collegiate tourney in Christchurch this year, was soundly beaten by Te Aute. Few Rugbyites realise just what a great strength Grenside is to Hawke's Bay football, says a Napier critic. In his club games this season he has been as consistent as any, and this consistency was carried through to the bigger games. No player has nad such a strenuous season as Bert Grenside, but now, although it is the end, he is tit and ready for more. If Grenside's form next season is as good as it was this season, then there will be something very wrong if he does not earn the siiver fern. Next to Elvey, he is the best winger in the Dominion, and he has a big advantage over Elvey in stamina and strength. Reviewing the season, "Scrum," in the "Napier Telegraph," says:—The ignominous level to which has sunk the flaunted might of Wellington Rugby indicates that something is wrong in that huge centre of population, and determined efforts should be made in the Empire City to restore the level of the game there. The game could do with some improvement in Auckland also. Canterbury comes out with a very fine record indeed. They gave Hawke's Bay the game of their lives in the Ranfurly Shield contest at Christchurch, when the Bay team were hard put to it to win by 17 points to 15. Just prior to this game Canterbury had toured south and defeated Otago and Southland. POLLARD CUP FINAL. GAMES ON SATURDAY. The final meeting for the season of the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Football Union was held last evening, Mr. H. Frost presiding. Congratulations were extended to the Grammar Old Boys' Club on winning the Charity Cup. A sub-committee comprising Messrs. Gray, Potter, Tilly and Coldham was set up to compile the annual report. Following are the arrangements for Saturday's Rugby football matches in Auckland :— Pollard Cup Final.—Marist v. Grammar, Showgrounds No. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. G. Peace. Third Intermediate Grade.—Ponsonby v. Parnell, Showgrounds No. 1, 1.45 p.m., Mr. .1. Shepherd ; Grey Lynn v. Grafton, Showgrounds No. 2. 2.30 p.m., Mr. E. Dixon. Other Matches.—Paeroa v. Paeroa Old Boys, Showgrounds No 3, 3 p.m., Mr. D. V. Moore; Manukau Yacht Club v. Cruising Club, Onehunga No. 1, 3 p.m., Mr. C. Schnaeur. i ________________