UNIVERSITY'S SENIOR PACK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 156, 5 July 1927, Page 12

UNIVERSITY'S SENIOR PACK.

GRAMMAR 0.8. V. 6RAFTON. With a heavy, slippery ball, and a ground on which both pace and foothold were difficult, Grammar triumphed over Grafton because the whites set themselves down to a style of play that better suited conditions. Almost throughout they kept the ball among their forwards; not once during the ■■afternoon did it travel the whole line of their rearguard, and feet triumphed where hands failed. There were times when two or three of the backs combined well, and there was one when a score looked certain if Badeley had passed out instead of trying to force his way across, but Grammar backs gave their most useful service in defence. In footwork it was Batty's day out, and time after time his dribbling reminded one of Dick Fogarty at his best. Knight also shone with the oval at toe, he and Batty breaking through repeated attacks of the Grafton backs and turning defence to attack. Potter roved assiduously, but caught the referee's eye on more than one occasion. Much defensive work fell to E. Singleton, who did not hesitate to get down to it, and well deserved the reward of the try that came hie way. Grafton badly missed Finlayson, who is on the sick lint, and may not don the black and white jersey for several weeks. Wanoa was certainly the pijbk of their pack, grafting solidly in the tight, and getting in several break-aways. For his size and build he showed more than one good burst of pace. Compton, too, was a hardworking forward, and Munro followed up keenly. The Grafton hacks got more than an even share of the ball, and on a fin« day might have put a different complexion on the game, but I

BIRCH CUP. . COROMANDEL, V. TIIAMKS. [ The weather conditions wero anything . but favourable for the Rugby fixture here ; on Saturday, when Coromamlel rtps. chal- ; lenged Thames for the Birch Cup. The , cold rain which fell throughout the match , made the ball and field very greasy, thereby. ; preventing any concerted movement by the backs on both sides from being carried out I successfully. Even under these adverse ! conditions there were several fast passing runs which were just checked in the nick of time. Thames predominated in weight. , but this advantage was counterbalanced by l the Coromandel back division, ably marshalled by O'Brien. The game hnd not been • in progress long when Pratt secured, passed . to Harrison, who beat his man, then to , Mnran, who dashed over near the corner. Winder's attempt fell short. Thames 3, ■ Coromandel 0. ' Coromandel adopted the long throw-in to their advantage, and from a short kick by Pratt, O'Brien marked, his kick just going under the bar. Play was confined to midWeld for some time, the game being slowed up by offside play, In which Thames were , the principal offenders. The first spell ' ended with no further score. Thames re-opened by forward rushes, in • which Lomas was most prominent, carrying the ball into their opponents' territory, ' where Pratt was again responsible for : setting the Thames backs in motion, and a fine dashing run by Harrison took him . over the line. His attempt at goal failed. ■ Thames 6, Coromandel 0. Some smart work by the Coromandel backs, in which Goudie, Wilcox and O'Brien shared, had Thames again defending, when a good line kick by Pratt carried play to mid-field. From a dribbling rush, by Thames forwards. Lomas took the leather past the opposing backs, and scored between the goalposts. Winder putting ove.r an easy goal. Thames 11, Coromandel 0. REFEREE'S MEETING. At the weekly meeting of the Referees' Club last night, M:\ H. Rule presiding, a report was received from Mr. M>, Kronfeld that the Tramways Senior B team did not oppear at Avondale on Saturday to play "Waitematfi, and lie awarded the game to Waitemntn, which team was in attendance. The set-rotary was authorised to reply to a request from the Ohneawai Association for information on certain points. In consequence of Mr. F. E. Sutherland's nbsence the proposed discussion oa tht o :-side rule ■vas deferred. '