POLLARD CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 197, 21 August 1928, Page 14

POLLARD CUP.

THE LEADING TEAMS. GRAMMAR IN FRONT. Tlupe matches of the Pollard Cup series have l>eeii played, hut some of the teams have' been drawn for only two games to date. Of the unbeaten elub« frriiminar Old Boys lead with three wins, Marinta have two wins and a draw, Manuknu (the holders) a win and a draw and College Rifles two. wins. 'The only senior B side to come through without a defeat so far is Technical Old Uoyft, which has had two wins. Through being largely drawn on for rep. games University and Ponsonby hava suffered defeats, though the latter held up bravely until Saturday.

GRAMMAR V. NORTH SHORE. The Grammar-Shore game was .somewhat of a scratch game, as neither side could field their strongest men, owing to the two representative matchcs. The fj ram mar fifteen was composed for the jjreat part of juniors. Shr/re was tho same, fJrammar had control of the game light from the kick-off and 11 erev once did Shore look like scoring, lhe white backs worked well together and Schnauer, playing at full-back, came up as an extra and succeeded in scoring two tries, as well as converting three, lhe forwards worked hard and gave their backs plenty of the ball. The Shore side, playing a losing game right from the kick-off, did not have their hearts in tho game. Their forwards could not •ompete with Grammar, and, as a consequence, the backs saw no ball and were continually on the defensive. Grammar, however, could not be resisted, and at the final whistle had run up the good total ot 30 to 0.

PONSONBY GO UNDER. With most of Ponsonby's fifteen representing Auckland in the rep. teaftis that played on Saturday, it was only to be expected that the "Ponies" would have much difficulty in fielding a team to meet City in the third round of the I'ollard Cup series, at the Show Grounds on Saturday. In fact, when the whistle sounded for the teams to take the field, Ponsonbv were left with only eight men t and had to wait on the third grade team to finish their match before they could muster up their fifteenth player. In spite of their drawbacks, Ponsonbv must lie considered a very unlucky team to have lost the match, and it was only by one of the much-dreadcd field goals that they went under, after having the better of the game throughout. Perhaps the best player on the field was Ernie McManus, who this week was playing on the wing, while his brother Ted took hi? place behind the scrum, but the Ponies' ill-luck continued, and Ernie had to leave the field with injuries to his nose. Next to him Ted was the most outstanding back in the blue and blacks' rearguard, this in spite of a hard game a few minutes previously. Fraser, the fullback, put in some very fine runs, and on one occasion had the City defence beaten when he slipped and fell, thus losing what seemed a certain try. J. Rudling also played a useful game at five-eighth, while of the Ponsonby forwards Hogg and Bunting were outstanding. The veteran, K. Ifwersen, again had the misfortune to injure his ankle, and it now seems as though his football days are over. A very promising player in the City rank:- is McLaren, the second fiveeighth. He has a very fine cut in, and always runs his man into position before lie lets the ball go. Kerr-Taylor also played a fine game at centre three-quar-ter, while Doonin, at full-back, saved his side on numerous occasions, and it was he who potted the winning field goal. All the red and black forwards worked hard, with Weightman outstanding.

MANUKAU V. TRAMWAYS. Manukau easily defeated Tramways on their pwn ground by 22 points to nil. It was a sparkling game of Rugby, with Manukau always having the upper hand. When Manukau (the present Pollard Cup holders) took the field only six senior players were oai hand and their third grade in termed iate team filled up all the other nine positions. Great credit must be given to these players, who played bright football and, although giving away plenty of weight, proved their science.

T. Lipseombe, at full-back for the winners, gave a fine display. C. Brimble, at centre, played a good game, being ably supported by his brother, "Arab" Brimble, who delighted the crowd with his solo play. Bryers, at first fiveeighths, was at times' brilliant, timing his passes well. The brains of the light Manukau team was L. Simmons, who, at half-back, was easily the outstanding player on the field. He is a very heady player and cool, feeding his backs like clockwork. The forwards' were light and fast. Their tackling was sound and in the loose they gave the ball well to their half. Housham, Laird and C. Pepper were the pick of the van, but the other juniors must be given credit for their display in the tight work. The Tramway fifteen were big and heavy enough, but their condition showed lack of good training. Their bac'.:s were very poor, their handling being deplorable for a senior fifteen.

Tries for the winners were scored by W. Taylor (2), J. Laird (2) and H. Cunningham (1). T. Lipseombe converted two and kicked a penalty goal.

TECHNICAL OLD BOYS WIN.

Technical Old Boys played Suburbs at the Avondale racecourse and inflicted a defeat on them by the margin of two points. The game was played on a comparatively dry ground, and some bright pieces of play were witnessed. Technical Old Boys could not field their usual team, but still the emergencies they called upon showed promise. Suburbs' play was an improvement on last Saturday's play, and at times they had the opposition busy defending. Both net of forwards seemed to revel in the tivht work, ami it was really a battle of might and strength on many occasions—Suburbs most times.

Technical have a good set of forwards who do not shirk their work, and play good hard football. The leading lights on the day wereundoubtedly McMiken, Grant and Wiley. This trio on several occasions showing out well. Amongst the backs the players who got through the most amount of serviceable work were Turbott. Ilaslam and Hogg. Technical Old Boys' score was made up of two unconverted tries one by Turbott and one by Harris.

Suburbs showed a little' improvement in their play. This team alwavs to play better when up against a strong opposition than, when the opposition la only moderate. The forwards got through a large amount of work, and it was no fault of theirs that they were not on the winning side. The most noticeable were Bert Sly. Green*inith and Mercier The backs? still could do with a lot of good eonehii.„', but some of them played good football. Thorn, Grey, and McKwan showing out to most advantage. Their score was the result of a drop kick liv Grey.

INTERCOLLEGE TOURNEY. NELSON, Monday. The intercollegiate tournament concluded this afternoon in beautiful weather. On Saturday. Nelson and Wellington played a drawn game, and under the rules governing tl'ie tournament in such an event the team longest out of the finals goes in, which, in this case, was Nelson. Wangnnui easily accounted for Wellington. 20—6. Wanganul played much bettor than on Saturday, although the opposition to-day was not so great. Tries for the winners were scored by Geison (2). Mackenzie (2). and Bethell and Geison kicked a penalty, and also converted three tries. For the losers. Griffiths scored a try, and Te Moona kicked a penalty goal. In the final Nelson met much bigger and heavier opponents in Christ's College, but up a tight and did cieditably to be beaten only by 12 points to • . The local forwards played a fast game, wimp the tackling of the whole side was <1 ''Hilly, and prevented the fast Christ Col-I'-sro backs from making the score much heavier They threw the ball about delightfully and put In some thrilling movements. Geison and Mackenzie played well among the backs, and Bethell and Robertson were prominent in llie forwards, while for was outstanding. I<ean. T.nmsden and Aitken scored tries for the winners, while McHard.v kicked a penfor*Nelson. 1,1:1,1 kickt 'd two penalties

WELLINGTON REPRESENTATIVES. TEAM TO PLAY WAIRARAPA. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The following Rugby team has been selected to represent Wellington in the match- against Wairarnpa at Carterton on Wednesday for the Ranfurly Shield Cumming, Maekay, Kamson. Brown. Chaney. Mackenzie. Coman. Porter. .Tessup, Coulston, Blacker. J. Shearer, Sly, B. Wilson, O'Regan. Emergencies: Backs, Peterson, Pickering; forwards, McPherson, Graham, With the exception that Porter replaces Edgar, who was Injured on Saturday, the team is identical with the side which defeated Auckland.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. BAY OF ISLANDS. The most important game to be played under the jurisdiction of the Bay of Islands Union on Saturday was that between Okalhau and Kaikohe, at Ohaewai. Okaihau won ®—5, and thus hold the Main Shield. Scorers for the winners were J. Repla, W. Da vies and E. Cooke. In the Pearson Cup match Kawakawa juniors (holders) beat Kaikohe, 6 —3. HELENSVILLB. In the representative match on Saturday Kaipara 18, beat Wellsford 3, after a fast, open game, the Kaipara team especially throwing the ball about very freely. For Kaipara A. Dye (2), L. Vercoe and J. Farrelly scored tries, C. Keane converting three. Wellsford scored an unconverted try. The team which represented Kaipara on Saturday will defend the Brake Shield against Whangarei at HclensvUle next Saturday. The following team has been selected to represent Kaipara third grade against Marist fifths as a curtain-raiser: —Fullback, W. Phillips; three-quarters. Hoist. Sliuttleworth, Mormon ; live-eighths, Hnrlin, B. Sellars ; half. Hall ; rover, McMurdn ; forwards, Robinson, Naugljton, Phillips, Sheffield, Barnes, Williams, Clifton. Reserves: Wintour, T. Keane, Phillips, Moyle.

WHANGAREI. By drawing with Maungakaramea (3 all), Ilikurangl joined Old Boys in the lead for the senior championship. In the Junior final Onerahi beat Horahora.