RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 155, 4 July 1927, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

PLAY ON HEAVY GROUNDS.

PONSONBY'S LAST-MINUTE WIN. great finish at edex park. " i: club premiership was adanml another stage on Saturday, despite ad vers a weather conditions.* On htavy grounds at Eden Park two highly exciting games were played. University ana 1 onsonby were pegging level till 'He last minute of the game, when desiderate I'onsonby efforts, in which Lucas v-as the outstanding iigure, ended in a Ifst-minute try which gave them the " "■ equally exciting game next < i lesulted in Grammar defeating ( i ■ ion b} 11 to 4. At Shore the home ;• :;i was beaten (J—o by Training College. and at Lpsom College Rifles defeated Marist Old Boys by 3 to ail. A STIRRING GAME. Despite hea--y pr round and creasy ball, the ■ finsonby-Uniyersity nintcli was one of the ■ ■'Most and nio'sr exciting seen this season. niversity went for the open same from the mp, and I'onsonby responded in kind, with 'w result that the aspect of the game was aiiily changing as the mistakes ini.from the conditions resulted in ■ i.i'-k ir-in.ir changed to defence in a twink- ' "■fc I'onsonby scored first, a penalty goal by Short. From this point play was full of ircnzied excitement as ea« h team in turn ;ook up tlie attack. Eventually University ■ qualised as the result of a penalty goal by I.utler, and scores were even at half-time. Throughout the second spell Ponsonby made uesperate efforts to notch the winning points, while University, though having rather the worst of the exchanges, also made open play from their opportunities, neither side could gain any permanent advantage, though each in turn was near to Scoring, and a draw was hailed as the bell rounded. But the game was not yet Inished. and before the ball went out of ouch Lucas got away in a dash, and "tnted over 'Varsity's line, for Knight to ■ llow fast and score. Short missed the but Ponsonby had won by 6 points to GRAFTON V. GRAMMAR. The Grafton-Grammar game was also a fe.en and exciting one throughout. Early 'n the game Grammar got the lead, a penalty goal kicked by Turei, and, though irafton several times just missed scoring, lalf-time arrived with Grammar 3 points ip. Early in the second spell a potted goal »y Farmer put Grafton in the lead. They *ere, however, unable to hold up against the Grammar forwards, who took charge, •jnd were chiefly responsible for tries by Monteith and E. Singleton, one of which e.as converted by Turei, and Grammar won <>y 11 points to 4. MARISTS V. COLLEGE RIFLES. The College Rifles-Marist Old Boys' game was characterised chiefly by smart attacking play of the Rifles' backs, who continually threatened to bring off a score, and kept the Marists busy breaking up the sallies. Early In the second twenty a variation came with «. loose rush by the Rifles' forwards, and Lawn scored a try. For the remainder of the game, though the Marists at times rallied in open play, the Rifles' backs were Jominant, but were unable to penetrate the apposition defence, and College Rifles had to be satisfied with the win by 3 points to nil. SHORE GO DOWN. At North Shore the home team met Training College on a ground which was very muddy, and play throughout was governed by the ground conditions, being largely a scramble. There was no score in the first half, but early in the second spell Anderson and McNaughton each kicked a penalty goal for Training College. North Shore attacked strongly for most of the remaining time, but were unable to score, and the win went to Training College by 6 points to nil. GRADE GAMES. SENIOR B. Otahuhu 3, beat Marist 0. Newton 0, drew with Ellerslie 0. University 13, beat Technical 0.8. 8. Waitemata and Tramways did not play, as there was no referee. Manukau won by default from Suburbs. SECOND GRADE. Technical 0.8. 8, beat University B 3. Parneli 5, beat College Rifles B 0. College Rifles 5, beat University 3. Shore 11, beat Grafton 6. THIRD OPEN. Takapuna 6, beat Marathon 0. Grafton 0, beat University 4. Eden <>, beat Kingsland 5. Marathon 6, beat College Rifles 3. Public Works 6, beat City 0. Otaliuhu 6, beat Kolii 3. University B 30, beat Shore 3. ■Waitemata 9, beat Orakei 0. Orakei were playing four men short. St. Heller's 0, heat Technical 0.8. 0. THIRD INTERMEDIATE. Grammar A 6. beat Suburbs 3. Ponsonby B 25, beat University 0. Otahuhu 9, beat Papatoetoe 3. Grafton 9, beat Manurewa 3. Manukau won by default from Dilworth. Ellerslie 13, beat Shore 3. FOURTH GRADE. Grey Lynn 18, beat Suburbs 0. Technical Old Boys 3, beat Grafton 0. Marists 18, beat Eden 0. Green Lane 0, drew with Otahuhu 0. FIFTH GRADE. Manukau 6, beat Otahuhu 3. Grafton 10, beat Eden 0. SIXTH GRADE. Grey Lynn 10, beat Suburbs 0. Ellerslie 8, drew with Ponsonby 8. Richmond 52, beat Point Chevalier 3. SEVENTH GRADE. Manukau 26, beat Rechabites 0. Public Works 9. beat Takapuna 0. Gladstone 21, beat Point Chevalier 17. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. Grammar A 0, drew with Sacred Heart 0. HOUSE MATCH. Smith and Smith 18, beat Phillipps and Impey 9. WAIUKU REPRESENTATIVES. Following an A and B representative trial match on Saturday afternoon, the Waiuku Union's senior representative team was chosen as follows: —Fullback, N. Ryan (Aka Aka) ; three-quarters, J. Molloy (Waiuku), J. Noble (Otaua), T. Wilson (Waipipi) ; five-eighths, McGarvie (Waiuku), B. James (Waiuku) ; halfback, D. Gleeson (Waipipi), rover, N. Harvey (Walukn) ; forwards, I. Muir (Aka Aka), Ballantyne (Otaua), B. Keary (Aka Aka), F. Harvey (Waiuku), A. Kerebs (Waipipi), T. Aylward (Waipipi), T. Hickey (Otaua). Emergencies: Backs, A. Wright, Frear, Kidd (Aka Aka) ; forwards, Johnson (Otaua), Cairns (Aka Aka), G. Muir (Otaua). WAIROA RETAINS BARRY CUP. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) » WAIROA, Saturday, to-day between at Walroa |f« O oS. r Th^ strenuous struirel«&„t , throughout, a j