RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

DAY OF CLOSE MATCHES.

TRAINING COLLEGE DRAW WITH

PONSONBY.

SHORE TOO GOOD FOR RIFLES.

Saturday was a day of close and hardfought matches. Although a cold wind blew, almost 5000 people watched the games at Eden Park. They must have been delighted that they went out to the Rugby camp, for they were treated to three close games. The crowd soon deserted No. 1 ground—where 'Varsity and Marist played a no-score game—and flocked about the touchline on No. 2, where Ponsonby and Training College provided some of the best club football that has been seen in Auckland for a long time. On No. 3, Grafton and Grammar had a hard match, the black and whites winning by two points in the last minute. Out at the Showground the Shore team was too good for College Rifles and came out at the end with eight points to spare. It was a day of good and fast football.

GAME WITHOUT A SCORE. The game between Marist Old Boys and University was largely a duel between tin* Marist forwards and the 'Varsity backs. Time and again, however, the student rearguard managed to get going, only to find that the Marist backs, if not a scoring combination, were sound and determined tacklers. Not a point was scored by either team, despite the fact that the game was fast, open and willing, both teams just missing scores several times by the narrowest of margins. A BRILLIANT CONTEST. Training College fully justified their inclusion in the top-grade by halting Ponsonby's winning career in a game which was full of thrills, and ended in a draw with Ponsonby managing to avert defeat only in the closing stages of play. From kick-off to final whistle the match was crowded with brilliant incident, and at half-time the Teachers led by 9 points (two penalty goals by Matheson and a try by McNaughton) to 3 (a try by Lucas). Throughout the second half Ponsonby were occupied in a series of desperate efforts to pull the game out of the fire. In the final twenty Woods and McManus scored tries which evened the scores, and the game finished 9 all.

TOUCH-AND-GO FOR GRAFTON. Till the call of 110-time the GraftonGrammar game was in doubt. They did not warm up thoroughly, until the second twenty, at which time Grafton had a lend of . 3 points, a try by Liddle, as the result of a strong run and timely pass by Finlayson. Grammar evened the scores with a try,by Cornes, at the end of a nice bout, but an Individual effort by Ruru put Grafton again a try in front. A nice ruu jind pass by Hook ended in Cornes scoring again, and later Gardiner put a penalty goal over. Another effort by Fin lay son. ended in a try, and half-time came wlthfthe scores level,- 9 all. The neck-and-neck store continued throughout the second half, Knight and Batty scoring for Grammar,' and Stevenson kicking a. penalty goal;for Grafton. .Tust on .time . Lockie scored j another try for Grafton, and by converting it, Stevenson gave victory, to his side bjr. 17' points to 15 SHORE GET THERE. At the Showground, the North Shore team won a desperately hard and fast game against College Rifles by 14 points to 6, despite the fact that the Ellersiie rear 6, despite the fact that the latter's rearguard was reinforced by \V. ltarelay, the captain of last year's Maori team. Play was characterised by all-round' dash and combination on Shore's part,: smothering the efforts of the older team to get going. Although Shore had the better, of the first half, they claimed the lead only by a try by Page at half-time, and almost immediately the second spell started this was wiped out by two penalty goals by Pilling. Then Shore played a desperately hard finish, and tries were added by Meikle, Walsh and Clarke, one of which Johnston converted. The game thus ended in a win for Shore by 14 points to 0.

MARIST B V. ELLERSLIE. In the B division match between Marist B and Ellerglle, the former scored a oonirortable win by a margin or 8 points to nil." Earll > scored a try, which he converted, and also Kicked a penalty goal. TRAMWAYS V. NEWTON. In a fast, open game, Tramways beat Newton by 17 points to 11. For the winners Rogers and Hargreaves scored tries, and McKoy converted one try and kicked three penalty goals, while for Newton, N. Simmonds and R. Simmonds each scored a try, and Callaghan converted one try and kicked a penalty goal. TECHNICAL 0.8. V. SUBURBS. Technical Old Boys 8, beat Suburbs 0. Scorers for Technical Old Boys: Ainsley and Keane, one try being converted by Harris. It was a fast hard game, marred by accidents.

MANUKAU V. CITY. Though there was little of combined play and what little there was was shown by City, this curtain-raiser was a keen game, with the suburbanites tiring visibly towards the end. City won by 13 to 6, tries for them being scored by J. McLean, \V. McLean and Manslll, while Kabu forced his way across twice for Manukau. UNIVERSITY B V, OTAHUHU. In a fast match at Otahuhu the Utirersty team defeated the some side comfortablv by 25 points to 11. UNOFFICIAL MATCH. Waitemata senior B, after winning bv default from Takapuna, played a fast match with Kingsland thirds, which resulted : Waitemata 9 Kingsland s SECOND GRADE. Eden 18, beat Grafton 3. Ponsonby 6, beat Parnell 3. Grammar O. B. 19, beat University 4.

THIRD GRADE.

Parnell 3, beat University 0. Marist 21, beat Otahuhu 3. Kingsland won by default from Suburbs. Hauraki United 3 drew with Waltemata 3 University A 12, beat Kohimarama 9. Eden 15, beat Grafton S. Ponsonby 26, beat Mount Albert 0. Technical College 15, beat P.W.D. 0. Manurewa won from Grammar O. B bv default. Ponsonby B 8, beat Shore A 3. Manukau 43, beat Grammar 0. Otahuhu 9, beat Eden 3. Kingsland 3, drew with North Shore 3. Technical O. B. 34, beat Manurewa 3. Grey Lynn 38, beat Parnell B 0. Ponsonby 6, beat Suburbs 0. FOURTH GRADE. Grey Lynn 39, beat Takapuna 0. . Kingsland 3, drew with Suburbs 3. Marist 42, beat Green Lane 9. Ponsonby 27, beat Grafton 5. Manukau won from North Shore by default. Eden 9, beat Technical O. B. 3. FIFTH GRADE. Papatoetoe 11, beat Waltemata 3. Grafton 8, beat Otahuhu 3. Manukau beat Technical O. B. by default. SIXTH GRADE. Green Lane 42, beat Kingsland 0. j Ponsonby won by default from Technical O. B. Manukau 19, beat Ellerslie 0. ■ Grey Lynn 8, drew with North Shore 3. Marist 46, beat Suburbs 0. - P-APJtfPJ&tM 4V J

IN THE PROVINCE.

WHAXGAREI. Senior: Maungakaramea 16, beat Kamo 0. Junior: Horahora 6, beat High School 3. Third: High School 6, beat Horahora 3. Portland 8, beat Onerahi 3. Portland won by default from Onerahi juniors. AT HIKURANGI. Hikurangl 18, beat Mangakahia 0. HELENSVILLE. Helensville and Parakai drew. I'arakai A, defaulted to Kaukapakapa. TUKEKOHE. Patuinahoe 8. beat City 3. Senior.—Ramblers 11, beat Star 3 Junior.—Ramblers 8. High School 3. City 6, White Star C. WAIUKU. Seniors.—Aka Aka G (try by Pullar and converted goal by Keary), beat Waipipi 3 (penalty goal by L. Wilson). _ Juni°rs.—Waipipi 3 (penalty goal by J C HAMILTON. Old Boys 13, beat Frankton 3. City 39, beat Technical Old Boys C. TE PUKfI. I'ongakawa 9, United 0. TE AROHA. „J e u° r T llot S l ,rin S s ». City 3. Samson and Harrison scored tiies. Murphv kicked a penalty. Twiggs scored for City Jerriers 17. United 3. •Juniors. —City 5, Terriers nil. United 8, Hot Springs 3. Third Grade.—City S. High School 3. TE KUITI. 'IV Kniti defeated Aria 12 to nil Piopio drew with Hangatiki, 3 all It- Kmti Juniors defeated Aria, oV to nil. MATAMATA. Th^ r second games in the first round of nV«vJrf l^ al c Ut « a ® üb_Unlon '» championships, played on Saturday, resulted • \rf s i e^L° r o~K Va . ,re w e .6- beat ratetere S; Walton 9, beat Matamata 0; Hinuera 7 beat Waharoa 0. * Juniors.—Matamata 15, beat Walton 5: Wairere 14, beat Waharoa 0; Patetere 15. beat Hinuera 3. Third Grade.—High School 6, beat Patetere 0; Matamata 9, beat Wardville 6. MORRINSVILLE. Senior Grade.—Kereone 21. beat Tatuanui 0; United 30. beat Waitoa O. Junior Grade.—Tab una 9. beat Terriers C ; Kereone 13, beat Waitoa 0. RUAWAI. Tangowahinc 47, beat United o Ituawai 19. beat Nukehuia A 10 Nukehuia B 6, beat Tangowahinc 0. Dargaville 6, beat United 0. High School 8, beat Dargaville 3 Southern IS, beat Ituawai 0.

WAIPA. In the senior match on No. 1 ground Te Awainutu easily defeated the newly-formed Arohena team by 21 points to 3. The play throughout was mediocre, being characterised by individual efforts. At half-time the score was 8 to 3 In Te Awamutu's favour, and it looked as though the country team would be hard to dispose of, but they went to pieces in the second half, and Te Awamutu added a further 13 points. At Parawera, Rovers seniors were defeated by the home team by 19 points to 3. At half-time Rovers led by 3 to nil, a try by Short. In the second half Parawera took charge of the game, and tries were scored by Bayly (2), Armstrong (2), and Kelly. Mate and Kay converted one each. At Pirongia the United seniors had a runaway victory over Ohaupo, winning by 30 points to 3. On No. 2 ground United juniors were far superior to Pirongia, and piled up 26 points to nil. Tries were scored by Balme, Murray, Taylor (3), Gregory, ' Martin and Johnson. Gregory converted one. An even game resulted on No. 3 ground between Rovers and Ohaupo juniors, the former winning by 0 points to 4. For Rovers, B. Speirs (2) and Fraser scored tries, while Turney potted a goal for Ohaupo.

In the third grade competition Ohaupo defeated Korakonui by 9 points to 3 after a keen tussle. Death, Catclipole and Mills scored for the winners and Hagan for Korakonui.

TAUMARUNUI. Seniors. —Athletic 3, beat Taumarunui 0. . Juniors.—Stars-16. beat Taumarunui 11. TAURANGA. The opening of the football season at Taurangii was in the form of a seven a-side tournament, which resulted as follows :— Seniors.—P.W.D. A 3, beat Te Puna nil. Juniors.—Cadet A 6, beat College Old Boys A 3.

Third Grade. —High School A 24, beat High School B 6; High School A 23, beat College Old Boys B nil. 100 Yards Senior Competition.—.T. Byres. • Place-kicking Competition.—G. Snell.

UNIVERSITY TOURING TEAM. WELLINGTON, Saturday. The Canterbury player Fookes, will replace Keene (Auckland), in the New Zealand University Rugby team to visit Sydney. GAMES IN THE SOUTH. FALMERSTON NORTH. Old Boys 22, beat Feilding Old Boys 0. Woodville 13, beat Kia Toa 5. Western United 9, beat Feilding 6. NEW FLYMOUTH. Old Boys 6. beat Inglewood 3. Stratford 15, .beat Tukapa S. HASTINGS. Hastings 29, beat M.A.C'. 3. NAPIER. Pirates 24; beat Celtic !>. High School Old Boys 14, beat Marist 0. MASTERTON. > Masterton-23, beat Old Boys 15. Cook scored twice and Harvey once for Masterton. * Grey town 14, beat Carterton 3. Gladstone 27, beat Featherston 13. WANGANUI. Old Boys 11, beat Pirates O. Kaierau IS, beat Technical Old Boys 12. PAHIATUA. Pahiat.ua 18, beat Southern United ■). Konini 13, beat Hamua 5. WELLINGTON. . Poneke 20, beat Old Boys 15. Athletic 21, beat Marist. 9. 'Varsity 17. beat Hutt 3. Petone 11, beat Wellington 8. CHRISTCHURCH. Christcburch 37, beat Merivale 3. Varsity 12. beat Technical 8. Albion -10,. beat Linwood 8. INVERCARGILL. Pirates 48, beat Southern 0. Star 22, beat Invercargill 16. DUNEDI^J. ' Kaikorai 6. beat Southern 3; Pirates 9, beat Zingari 5. Alhambra 18. beat Dunedin 0. Varsity A 28, beat Union 0. Varsity B 14, beat Taierl 9. ELVY FOR WAIRARAPA. (By Telegraph.—Press-Association.) PAHIATUA, Saturday. Definite advice has been received that W. Elvy, the All Black, is , coming from Christchurch to reside in Pahiatua next week. He will play for Mangatainoka Club.