GRAMMAR'S GREAT WIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 99, 29 April 1929, Page 14

GRAMMAR'S GREAT WIN.

Old rivals provided the main attraction oil No. 1. I'onsonby, opening against the wind, showed at once that they were out to rely on their backs. The attack continued till the white pack woke up and came with a solid forward drive. which ended in A. Knight going within three yards of the chalk. Again Grammar forwards asserted themselves, and Appleton getting offside in his 23, P. Skelton added tinec more points. Conwav took a mark from the feet of a solid Grammar dribble. Then the blue backs swung out for spectacular passing but L. Hook missed Lucas' transfer. The teams changed over, Ponsonbv with the wind. Soloman and Bunting threatened trouble with a good passing duet. Next the whole blue back line made an effort, but failed to finalise. Kady showed tho weakness in the Ponsonby defence to half-way and then cleverly stopped R. Hook's dash for the line. The pace was a cracker. Bell made a magnificent dash but v.. downed ju-t. short of the line. P. Skelton missed from a penalty, but his pack kept hammering till Fraser saved with a long punt. Came next Ponsnnbv's turn on attack, with Olsen stopping them twice. Then Lucas made a magnificent opening in the white backs, was through in a flash, drew the defence to the wing and sent infield for Cammick to score a brilliant piece of tactics. McNVilliams failed at goal. Opening the second half, Grammar were quickly aggressive, Cathcart carrying the game into the 25. the white backs opened up here, but Ponsonbv held out till Lewis fooled his wav through, in quite a Ponsonbv manner, for a try which P. Skelton converted. Ponsonbv forced Grammar within a minute. The whites' retaliated with just as sudden a dash, and Bell snapped up. fended a couple of tackles, and passed to P. Skelton, who beat Fraser, to score in an easy position, and miss the kick. L. Hook showed his old form in a corkscrew almost through the white's, but Corner came back with a sprint and punt that left the blues defending. His quick following up of a further dash led by Potter enabled tho little Grammar half to add 3 more points. Grammar were securing in the scrums, and Corner fed'his backs well, but the blues took every chance at handling, knowing their only hope lay in the speed of their backs. Up and down the field went the play at astonishing pace, but mostly in Ponsonbv territory, where a tight struggle developed by the grandstand corner in the final minute of the third spell. G. Skelton, Potter, Battv, and A. Knight in turn were almost over ere the ball found touch. Olsen was caught napping from the change-over, and R. Hook just missed a score. From a scrum under the posts McWilliams forced himself over for a most determined try, Lucas goaling. Still dominating play, the Grammar pack stormed up against the wind to the blue line, to be sent back by a penalty. Again Batty led them up, and again Ponsonby cleared, Gardiner missing the return. The blue forwards, with their best loose rush of the day. got within two yards, only to be solidly pushed back over the 2.1. Solo dribbling by L. Knight came right through to Fraser, who saved, but was beaten when the two brothers repeated the manoeuvre. A Ponsonby back had just sufficient toe to come across and find touch. Right down field came Ponsonbv with accurate handling. A score looked certain, but R. Hook was grassed just off the line, and the bell went with tinboard reading: Air. F. Sutherland refcreed.

GRAFTON PREVAIL. On Saturday at the Showgrounds, Grafton. after making an inauspicious debut, eventually succeeded in defeating College Rifles by 14 to 6. The game was scrappy, as is usual at the beginning of the season, but brighter play towards the closing stages redeemed it from being bad. College Kifles kicked off into the wind, and after a period of uninteresting end-to-end play drew first blood, a sliarp-thrust passing bout ending in Webber cantering over well out. Grafton stung by the reverse, stormed at the blues' citadel and the equalising score came soon after when Finnel secured from the tight near the chalk and dived over. In the second spell College again assumed the lead when Williams landed a goal from a free. Tlie black and whites came back again, however, and Wanoa, to top off a dribbling rush carried practically the whole length of the field, planted tiie leather over the line, his kick failing. In thc_ second half Grafton took matters info their own hands and monopolised most of the ball. Towards the end of the first spell Finlayson and Wanoa lead a rush, with the hall at their toes. which culminated in the former topping off th. l effort by gaining a well-earned try, to which Wanoa added the major points. In the last session play brightened although if. was for the most part on the blues' line. Hammond secured possession near the line and bullocked his Way over to give Grafton the game by 14 points to College Rifles' 6. I NORTHCOTE AND BIRKENHEAD CLUB. The final nraetice of the Nortbcote and Birkenhead Rugby Football Club was held on the Uttle Shoal Bay ground on Saturday, over fifty players putting in an appearance. The match between the third and fourth teams resulted In a win for the thirds by 8 to 3. Tt has now Been decided to enter the following four teams in the Rugby Union's competitions commencing next Saturday: Two teams, third intermediate grade; one team fourth grade ; one fe.am, seventh (a) grade. Over 70 players have been enrolled and the promising material available augers well foe the future prosperity of the atv dab.

MANUKAU BEAT CITY. Manukau played City a' iMi li!!I. lb ■>.-; 11 Ifa Hi winning ca~i y i>\ .In point.- Ii I. Cilv kicked off against 111" wind. an.! v. uomeut later K. lfwersen kicked a penalty roal. City Manukau i>. A period ol ragjged pln.v followed. anil Waiene pul Manukau on tin- attack with a useful kick h'alwasser broke away and was ?■'*">]"• p■■■ 1 ii City's twenty-live. I'rota a lnns«» serut: Serridge Kicked clear, Waiene marking am his side on the attack. Ke: - r-Ta \ loi -en l City into Maiiukau's liall". Wal-m 1" 1-• • 111 a free sent his ha-ks awiy. From : mark near halfway !!. I'letch >r drop kicked a jii >a 1. City t>. Man'ikau >i. Waten, Imi t in good work and from a melee ii front of the goal 'I'. 1-1 ill.i•'dropped a jiml. Oily <i, .Manukan t. M.it.:i'-:a i bro'.i iway from their own half and taylor »va> iwarded an otist rnct ion try. Waiene eon relied. Mannknn It. City ii, Fa'd'v play let City away, but Brimlde, I.aird anil Taylor put in a good iiiovenienl. a mtuii invitig the situation. Manukan P. C:;y ■ ; From tiie next line out Salherh broke away and passed to .1. Hrimlde. win ran over unopposed. Waiene converted Manukau 14. City li. From the kick-oil' Linden put in soa:< good work. llryers broke away to Oity'> twenty-live. hut the City forwards too the hall to half way. l'alwasser put in . brilliant solo run. being well slopped h;. Sotrenson. lfwersen was hurt it ihl; sti'.a but carried on. From the en-uln;; li:. 1 out Manukau were penalised for ofi play, lfwersen pul City on the at'::c\ w'll a good line kick. From a serum Manuka, were penalised, and lfwersen :n : -<cd tin shot, l.ipscombe clearing. I'ily were w>\\ attacking strongly. .1. i'.rimble saved. Oily again broke away. Allen M-oring wide on; lfwersen missed. Manukaa 11. Civ '•> Ilere'.vini broke away, but W.aten- sln'ppn the movement near the line, I'll, walively at times among the for"..' >ds r>riiub!e saved fivin a hot City 50i1:.., 'i'utv was next ju'omi ae|>t from ,i | , from halfway r.rwrs bro'.e a * 11 . p.,. - ir. to l'alwasser, who score I hen.• l ;: i Waiene converted. Manula.u ill. Oil, :i Over cagernesv eo-t Maoakan auo-ba i try, Satherly nearly •.•coring Oololnj. was again pi na i> d !■: >IV - i 11. I*' let eh e r broke awav igiat in .•iipporled. All lb- Mi a a ~;n , , ~,,, bined in a ttaivemet.:. I. a ;. a mi i.ppOM'd. Wale:!- i,a s . ,j \t •; i; i;k.-»-i 1?" 1 "if J' I njtirir,-. li'M at, tie game f. r" ; few mi::'itcs. Again .M ia a. a aita.-ke. ■' body, aad f• in a |..i-- a,.- movemen I.i nden score.l Wati ae - .-1 t h • kick" Manuk in city li i.r.g at :>r-k> aw;ij but Kerr Tiiyl. r s:vi d 11. :, :. .' W : 'i again prominea: ('i; s ia-'c ,t llrimble broke a uav. p.-n g '' i w );o scored Tit: ei vrt •["- . ended ,-liori,'v af:i l uaii!-. Manukau city •» M 1• . I'cace re: creed I lie ,'a ll.e.