RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 233, 2 October 1928, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

■VARSim TRIUMPH.

EXCITING CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP.

PONSONBY LOSE THEIR CROWN.

" "Varsity win!" A yelling, cheering mob of undergraduates, hate waving, broke through the gates and on to the field to hoist the blue jerseyed fifteen shoulder high. Hakas, war-cries. It was a scene of the wildest enthusiasm, for Ponsonby, chief of the Rugby camp for four years, had been beaten by the students. Thus ended the final game in the Auckland Rugby Union's championship series at Eden Park on Saturday. With the final whistle Auckland Rugby r- far as the senior games are concerned halted, and will not be on the march again until the 1929 season. Saturday's game served as a fitting wind-up to a most successful football year, and the win to the students is likely to do more good than harm. Not that interest needed stimulating, but in no sport is it good that one club should hold sway too long, and Ponsonby had been in command since 1924. It was a win well earned and popular, and even the Ponsonby barrackers joined cry with the others of the crowd in giving the blues a cheer. Eden Park has seen more brilliant games, but Saturday's match was chockful of interest and better far than the majority of representative fixtures that have been staged locally this season. Right till within a few minutes of the end it was anybody's game, and even then the more optimistic of the Ponsonby supporters hoped against hope that their side would achieve the sensational and snatch the fat from the fire. Members of both teams, speaking after the match, were mostly of the opinion that the game had hardly been as good as that a few weeks earlier when the sides battled magnificently to an eight-point draw. Be that as it may, the championship final was good enough to leave the sweetest taste in the mouths of those who saw it, and more. No one will gainsay the fact that University won on their merits. In the actual figures the only difference between the teams was six points, but an analysis of the totals puts the students' victory in letters of a bolder type. The University side scored four tries, one of which was converted, to one try, which was converted, and a penalty goal. On the day they were the better team, although their superiority was hardly so marked as on the occasion when they trounced their formidable rivals at their first meeting of the season by 25 pdints to 8. Despite, the fact that interest in affairs football was on the wane* and the summer sports of yachting, cricket, and tennis were making their first call, both ilubs were able to place strong teams in the field. University took the ground according to programme, but a notable > absentee from the Pony rearguard was R. Hook, whose rise to the first flight of local players has been one of the features of the season. Owing to the latter de ?iency, Jamieson, another player who has introduced himself to the public this season, was shifted on to the wing. Cammick dropped back into the centre of the three-quarter line, and Pope was brought up from the reserves to play second five-eighths. It was unfortunate for the ex-cham-pions (the prefix I seems strangely out of place after an absence of four years) that one of their best backs should be on the casualty list, but supporters are emphatic that even at full strength the blue and blacks would not have been able to turn the scales in their favour. At the%dendale end of the terraces was a Ponsonby stronghold, and it was from this point that came the cry, "If Lucas and McWilliams were only here!" But they were helping to tot up a cricket score against Victoria at Melbourne.

Minns' Great Try.

Percy Minns, who scored University's two first tries, was hailed as the hero of the match, and doubtless deserved it, a-lthoiigh there i "T"l were, half a dozen others who played lip almost as spleni didly as he. In the first twenty Minns was not a great deal in the limelight (in fact he dropped a couple of passes); but five minutes before halftime he scored one of the finest tries l seen locally this season. With a very limited amount of room to work in, he was given the ball outside the Ponsonby twenty-five. Showing a great swerve, he w'ertt past the first of his would-be tacklers, and once at full speed lie romped through in a brilliant solo effort, to score behind the posts. His second 'try, though hardly so spectacular as the first, was also a good one; and he figured in several other dazzling runs before the finish. Keene was continually in the limelight, opening up the game for his side or nipping a Ponsonby movement before it was properly launched. As a spoiler Keene is on a plane all his own, and his sense of anticipation alone would make him a player streets ahead of the average. Carter, behind the University pack, lost nothing by comparison with McManus, and seized eveiry opportunity, to throw his back machine into gear. McKay, promoted for the match, scored two tries, while Goodwin put a severe strain on the Ponsonby defence. Linton, Anderson and Brooker were as prominent as any of the forwards.

1 Eraser, the Ponsonby fall-back, was not at his best, his tackling being hardly as good as at the start of the season, when he made his debut in senior Rugby. Jainieson, too, has played better games. McManus was back to his best form and tried all his tricks, as did the mercurial L. Hook. Cammick and Berridge were bright in patches. The Ponsonby pack worked hard, despite several weeks of spelling, and stuck to it to the end. It may be said that University won because they showed the more initiative, but their defence, too, was better than that of the fifteen that went under.

WAIKATO UNION.

INCREASED CREDIT BALANCE.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) MATAMATA, this day. At the final meeting of the season of the Management Committee of the Waikato Rugby Union, the treasurer, Mr. C. Speight, submitted a rough balance of accounts. This showed the amount in the bank as being £180. After all outstanding accounts have been met it was estimated the balance would be at least £150, which is approximately £70 more than the previous year. It was decided to place £120 on fixed deposit. A letter was received from the Auckland Union stating that it could see no strong reason why the control of the Peace Cup should be handed over to the Waikato Union. At present all matters in dispute are referred to Auckland. The letter was received. In answer to an invitation to the donor of the Boyce Cup to vest control of the trophy in the Waikato Union, a reply was received declining the request. The Cambridge Union, writing on the same matter, said it would prefer that the cup should remain the property of the Cambridge Sub-union. Members of the Waikato Union, commenting on the letters, pointed out that, a| the trophy Was for competition amongst its sub-union junior representatives, they had now no recourse but to ignore it as a trophy. A recommendation jvas made that all sub-unions hold their annual meetings earlier next season to allow of a commencement of the season two or three weeks earlier. This was thought to be advisable for farming districts. The New Zealand Union wrote stating that as most of the loans maturing had been earmarked for previous application it could not hold out hopes of considering the application of the Hamilton sub-union for a loan of £2000 for some time to come.

NEW STAND FOR WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, Monday.

In order to prepare for the erection of a new grandstand at Athletic Park, the demolition of the old stand, which has served for over 30 years, was commenced to-day. The contract for the new structure has been let by the Wellington Rugby Union at a price stated to be about £25,000. The work is to be completed before next season. The new stand will have seating accommodation for 4000 people and dressing rooms i fitted on modern lines. #

PROPOSED SAMOAN TEAM'S VISIT.

(By Telegraph.—Own, Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, Monday. Referring to the growth of Rugby football in Samoa, Mr. V. Hawke, formerly president of the Samoan Rugby Union, and one of the founders of the game in the Islands, told members at a smoke concert of the Pirates Club that there were now eight senior teams in competition in Samoa, and that it was hoped before long to have a Samoan team touring New Zealand. He urged the Rugby Union authorities to endeavour to promote such a visit, which would do much to improve the standard of the game in Samoa.

REFEREES' ASSOCIATION.

THE ANNUAL MEETING,

Members of the Auckland Rugby Foot ball Referees' association held their annual meeting last evening, Mr. P. Mackie presiding over an attendance of over 50 members. Mention was made in the annual report of the highly satisfactory membership of the association, but it was also stated that still more active members would be an acquisition, as the number of matches for control increased each season. It wr.s hoped that the weekly discussions on papers prepared by members would be con tinued, as they had proved of considerable benefit. Congratulations were extended to Mr. F E. Sutherland, who had been selected to control the two Test matches, and to Messrs--Stretton, Shepherd, Peace and Panll, winhad controlled representative matches. It was stated that the relations between the association and the Auckland Rugby Union bad been most cordial throughout tht season. The election of officers resulted as fol lows: President, Mr. S. Kronfeld; vice president, Mr. D. V. Moore; treasurer, Mr G. Peace; executive committee, Messrs. I' Mackie, E. C. Stretton, E. Dudson; examinn tlon board, Messrs. A. Panll,. J. F. Potter E. C. Stretton; representative on the Aue'. land Rugby Union, Mr. S. Kronfeld; repr* sentative on appointments board, Mr. K P. Bennett; vice-president New Zealan Rugby Referees' Association, Mr. F. E Sutherland; representation on junior man agement board, Mr. A. M. Macky; delcpat to the annual conference of the New Zen land Rugby referees' conference, Mr. S Kronfeld; decisions board, Messrs. I*. Mackie, A. Paull, F. E. Sutherland.

INDISCRIMINATE TRAVELLING.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") DUNEDIN, Monday. A trenchant criticism of the Indiscriminate travelling of Rugby football teams nowadays wai launced by Mr. Mr. E. V. Fairbairn at the annual smoke concert of the Pirates Football Club. Mr. Fairbairn expressed the opinion that the Ragby Union should take a stand in the tnatter of stopping indiscriminate travelling of football teams from one end of New Zealand to the other. If the union decided it was going to curtail travelling he felt sure many other provinces would fall into line.

"TUSSY" SMITH'S BENEFIT.

HAMILTON, Monday. As the result of the match between the Hamilton and Grammar Old Boys' Clubs on Saturday, over £100 has been added, to the fund on the well-known plaver "Tussy" Smith, ex-Hamilton rep. Mr. Smith, who was captain of the Hamilton representative team for 15 years, has been ill for a prolonged period. For a number of years he acted as sole selector In the Waikato.