RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 167, 17 July 1928, Page 15

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

LZFEAT OF LEADING TEAMS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS,

y\\r FORWARDS WIN THE DAY.

beat Ponsonby on Saturday on their merits. It was no flukey victory. On tlie* day the better team won. The Onehunga team took the field determined to wipe oft the defeat inflicted upon them ten weeks previously—a result which did not fairly represent the respective merits of the teams—and they succeeded, although it was not until tlie timekeeper was beginning to get fidgety that they got the points that gave them tho win. All through the game the scores see-sawed in a fashion that kept the big crowd keenly interested. Ponsonbv opened the figures in the first quarter,, but Manukau evened after the change round, and before half time they got°a five-point lead. The champions wiped off the deficiency in the third spell, and it was level pegging until the final chance. Amid cheers from the Ponsonbv supporters, the champions went to the front with a converted try. but Manukau rose to the occasion in great style, and were almost immediately tip on level terms again. With time almost Up both teams strove desperately for the lead, and it was Manukau's efforts that bore fruit, the scale turning in their favour to give them a Win by five points. It was a popular victory. Th*.same crowd that had cheered Manukau in defeat cheered them in victory, and there was a host of hand-shakings as the winners filed into the dressing-shed. On the day Manukau would have been unlucky to lose. Territorially they had the better of the game. although their backs rarely showed combination, the good work of the forwards entitled them to the win. As a spectacle the game was not up to the standard of the Universiyt-PorJson-bv clash a few Saturdays ago, but it M as exciting, especially in the second half. A feature of the game was the way the Manukau forwards handled the ball, quite outshining their backs in this respect. Ten minutes before the start it looked tls if Manukau's chances of victory might be considerably lessened owing to the non-appearance of their full-back, Austin, and their half-back, Leneham, but the club has a useful reserve stock, and Dykes and Byers were put in to fill the vacancies. Ponsonbv, too, were unable to line out According to programme, a minor alteration in the scrum being nccessary. The Manukau forwards played a fmo jjame against their experienced opponents, keeping at it all through. Briinble, who was back in the firing line after a couple of weeks on the injured list, toiled hard, and Sather!cy, whose following up earned -him ' a try, was as good as any of the other forwards, with whom little fault could be found. Golding, the rover, r.corcd two of Manukau's four tries. When he romped over to touch down <JII LUC St-t'UIIU Ut .TMion it was to put the finishing touches to one of the best movements of the day, the ball having been handled by seven or eight pairs of hands, both backs and forwards. Although the backs were unable to show much combined work there were a number of bright individual flashes. Falwasser <*ot more chances than Albon, on the other wing, and put in quite a few spectacular dashes, the Ponsonby players finding him very hard to get hold of. Sturmey was in good kicking form and converted all three tries he attempted. The fact that he missed an easy penalty shot from dead in front was probably due to the fact that the sun Was at a very awkward angle. Neither Byers nor Dykes let their side down, and Rata was well up toform. Indecisive passing and faulty handling were the backs' chief faults. Tho Ponsonby backs were not that much better than their opponents that they were able to win. As a combination they were superior to their opponents, but their thrusts were hardly keen enough to cut through the Manukau defence. McManus, Jamieson, and R. Hook were about the best on the day. L. Hook has been so consistently in the limelight this season that it is almost unnecessary to add that he again got through more than his share of work, although caught off-side by the referee on a couple of occasions. Righton, who earlier in the Season was reported to have retired, again turned out with the pack, and apparently will not be seen in a referee's jersey this season. POINTS FOR CITY. The meeting of Grafton and City at the Epsom showgrounds on Saturday provided one of the most spectacular and iiifghly exciting games of the season. City won, but they were exceptionally lucky in doing so. The contest was fairly even until the last spell, when Grafton began a series of battering attacks on the red and black citadel, with City only making occasional retaliatory movements. In this spell City did not display the true sporting spirit, for they were content to rest with a three-point lead and hold the game up with quite unnecessary line-kicks and marks. Together with these reverses Grafton wero deprived of at least three points when Turei dived over for what appeared to be the fairest of tries, but the referee disallowed the try. Apart from £his spell the game was well contested, with the fortunes fluctuating first in favour of one side and then the other. Undoubtedly the gem of the match' was Turei's try —that which was allowed — when he cut through and beat nearly ftll opr>osing backs before toucTiing down. Auckland Rugby at the present time has a wealth of good full-hacks, but it is doubtful if any display given this season could surpass that of lAngley on Saturday. His fielding, particularly air work, was beautiful "T*

his line-kicking was noticeable for good judgment in length and direction. Should Langley continue to play as he did against City, the selector will certainly have to consider hitn for future representative teams. Of the three-quarters, Feigusson was always prominent and got through a useful day's work. Of the others, Judge, behind the scrum, worked hard and whipped the leather to his backs with precision and judgment. 1 urei s display was his best to date and it as evident that the new position suits him. Noticeable among a hardworking pack were Donaldson, Noakes, Wanoa and Finlayson. The la+ter in particular played a fine game and on one occasion saved what would have been a try with a timely mark under the posts. Karl Ifwersen's second appearance for City this season was lucky indeed for that team, for it was the famous "Iffy" who registered their six points with two beautiful place-kicks. Though he has lost some of his speed, Ifwersen was the master mind behind every City movement. Of the others Kerr-Taylor stood out prominently at full-back and gave a fine display of defensive football. He is evidently suited to the position and, like his vis-a-vis, Langley, was noticeable for clean fielding. Crook was not as prominent as usual, though he stood out with some good movements with the ball at foot, while Heard was the best of the other backs. The forwards all toiled hard. Fletcher, Fell and McLean outstanding.

At times exception was taken bv the crowd to the ruling of Mr. Stubbing, who refereed, and at times the game appeared to be beyond his control. Many of his interpretations were foreign to players and spectators, though his honesty of motive ia not for the moment doubted.

RIFLES' POOR FORM. It was neither by spectacular effects, bewildering strategy nor even good, honest Rugby that College Rifles were able to read "victory" on the score board after Saturday's game at Eden Park, i he win was obtained simply by reason ['* fact that the opposition wplamentably weak. The lade from across the water, who put up such a fine record during the last two seasons, have thiseason been dogged with ill-luck. On Saturday they were without the services of front-ranker Smith, five-eighths Stokes and wing-three-quarter Holmes, w liad been available tlie previous Week, and were only some of many defections in recent weeks. Under the circumstances, Saturday's combination included a number of youngsters wno, though keen and willing, lacked the weight and experience necessary to win senior matches. However, as al ready indicated, their opponents treated them lightly and instead of the father of a hiding they finished up with onlv a moderate deficit. But of Rifles--'.' Woo bet;de them if they cannot give a better display in some of the matches that are ahead. It was not Kirk's fault that trieß wero not more frequent. Jf w a & constantly making openings, but frequently had to carry through on his own for lack of support. McGregor and Donald in the sbacks, and' Stewart and Stan Souter in the forwards put in a good afternoon's work. Solomon was called upon to do more than one man's share for Shore and he did it well, ably abetted by Simpson and Clark in particular. THE PACK TRIUMPHS. Grammar-University contests have often been surprises. When the two fifteens met earlier this season a draw was the result, and a result that rather favoured the light blues. Still there were few who would have predicted a win for Old Boys on Saturday last. On paper Grammar have had one of the best packs Of the competition, but it hag been a pack which has often disappointed its supporters. On this occasion, however, it rose to its true form, and University, outclassed forward, were left with A fine attacking set of backs compelled to act mainly on the defensive. The Grammar forwards adopted the "three front row"' system ill packing the scrum, and though the personnel of this trio 1 varied throughout the game, its effectiveness was apparent, for seldom did such .good hookers a 6 Hlndenach and ; Miller secure possession. The whites ; had the weight : too, and for once I they used it thoroughly. Time after time their forwards, with Knight Brothers, Batty and Cathcart prominent, came breaking through upon the University backs. Carter and Jenkin were called upon to do heavy duty, and it was largely due to their splendid showing in defence that the margin of points was not greater. Jenkin in particular tackled magnificently, and the way in which he persistently grassed L. Knight was a treat to witness. The ex-All Black was in much better condition than on h's first appearance, and greatly strengthened the Grammar van. Badeley wasabsent from the back division, which had many opportunities and made far too ljttle of them. Weir alone was outstanding. On both attack and defence he gave fine all-round exhibition. Skelton continued the short-punt tactics which starved his wings and were ineffective against a side with greater pace. His goal, though, was a splendid effort. The three-quarter line was not exhilarating, but Schnauer at full played soundly. University forwards certainly met more than their match, but even then they were very in-and-out. Jenkin was a host in himself, and justified his selection as a rep. Few chances came to the three-quarters, and several of these Dickson spoiled by bad judgment, while Minns and Goodwin were left ? -menting. Bueh had plenty to do, and did the greater part of it well. His reliable beet gave 'Varsity their only points—a splendid kick clean between the upright a.