"WOODEN SPOONERS" WIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 225, 23 September 1929, Page 13

"WOODEN SPOONERS" WIN.

CRAFTON BEAT MARATHON,

Although Grafton finished up at the "bottom of the A section table, thus entitling them to the wooden spoon of the Auckland Club championship, the black and whites were good enough to beat Marathon, the B section champions, in the curtain-raiser at Eden Park on Saturday. Grafton thus retained their status ar/l will play in the A section again next season. As a spectacle the game wag a frost. Many of the players in both teams were obviously stale and the standard of Rugby shown was about as poor as anything seen at headquarters this year. With a dry ground it was anticipated ■that the game would be productive of some spectacular movements, but in this respect the supporters of"both teams were bitterly disappointed. _ Dropped passes and mistakes in fielding were astonishingly numerous and often the kicking was sorrowfully weak. In the first half neither team could do allything right, and even in the second spell, when the play brightened up a fraction, the quality was still a long way below what it should have beei.. Generally speaking, the match was ragged in the extreme. Grafton opened their score in the first quarter with a nanalty goal by Xicklin, and just before half-time Paewai went over for an unconverted try. Marathon rallied in the second half, and Bishop scored a try which was not converted. Just before the final change an opening by Moore let Hall romp over for Grafton's second try, Avhich Paewai converted. In the final flutter Liddle scored an unconverted try for Grafton and Gifford broke away to give Gardiner a try which Paton converted, the game ending Grafton - I 4 Marathon ••» S

UNDER FLOODLIGHTS,

PONSONBY V. TECHNICAL 0.8. Under the floodlights at Blandford Park to-morrow evening Ponso'iby, the Auckland Club champions, will meet Technical Old Boys, winners of the Pollard Cup. The game should be fast and open, with plenty of thrills, if a line may be taken from the WholesaleRetail match, the first evening Rugby game to be played at Auckland. The teams will be a? follow:— Ponsonby. —Fraser, McLeod, Lucas, L. Hook, Cammick, Jainieson, McManus, Soloman, Palmer, Heywood, Edgars, McWilliame, Bunting, Righton, Ashley. Technical Old Boys.—D. Keene, Common, Haslain, Cooper, Porteou?, Turbitt, Harris, C. Keene, Malcolm, Rosevear, Coll, Corlett, A. Keene, Lambert, Stacey.

A curtain-raiser will commence at 7.15 p.m. between the Ponsonby and Technical Old Boys junior grade teams.

JUNIOR RESULTS. SECOND GRADE. Technical Old Boys IS, beat Grammar A 6 THIRD INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Ponsonby 11, beat Marist 0. FOURTH GRADE. Otahuhu 9, beat E ?n S. FIFTH GRADE. I'onsonby 15. beat Manukau u. SEVENTH CRADE. Eden 9, beat Parnell 6. PRIMARY SCHOOLS. 28, beat Hauraki Plaint 0.

WELLINGTON DOWNED.

HAWKED BAY'S FIXE DEFENCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) j JCAPIEH, Saturday. Hawke'R Bay defeated Wellington to-day bv 31 points to 11!. A feature of the sanvi was the home team's defence, all Wellington's points coming from penally goals. Hawke's Bay started at a .ureal pace, rushing the ball to the Wellington end where Brownlie picked it up and bullocked over under the bar, within three minutes of the commencement. Grer.skle s luck nit! the upright. Wellington replied almost as promptly, Heazlewood kicking a loyelj penalty goal from near half-way. Ilawke s Bay 'returned to the attack, and Grenside bad a shot at goal, but missed, and a lew minutes later Evans failed with another. A few minutes later Grenside kicked a goal. Wellington took a turn on attack, ami Heazlewood landed another lovely goal. Within the next minute Hawke a bay were awarded another free-kick during a hot attack, but the chance was missed. A few minutes later another penalty was. •riven against Wellington, and Evans "oalcd A few minutes later Evans kicked another goal, and half-time came with the score • Hawke's Bay 12, Wellington G. Hawke's Bay made a strong attack on the resumption, and a splendid passing rush ended in Hapi diving in at the corner. Grenside converted with a lovely kick. A few minutes later Browulee broke clear and passed to Botherway, to Hum. who dived over. Evans goaled. A few minutes later Brownlee intercepted a pass and three forwards handled the ball. Hapi scored the try. The kick was missed. Hawke's Bay were now running over Wellington, and a few minutes later, from a fine piece of in-and-out passing. Ruru scored. The kickwas missed. From a drop-kick by Heazlewood Wellington got right tinder the posts. where they were given a freo kick, Hwizk , - wood goaliug. After Wilson and .1. Gemmell had missed attempts at goals. Porter and Nieholls collaborated in a hue movement that took play to the Buy's quarter, where Heazlewood landed another fine goal. From a Bay attack the ball went out over the line, and Huxtable, instead ol! forcing, ran up and attempted to pass to NMcholls. Steere intercepted and ran over in the corner.

Hawke's Bay 31 | Wellington 1WELLINGTON EASILY. TARANAKI FADE BADLY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Early in the season Taranaki defeated Wellington at Hawera; to-day Wellington returned the compliment with interest, piling on the points in the second half to win by 44 points to S. The game opened brightly, the ball being thrown about freely. Taranaki wore early on the move, going right down to the Wellington line at the start. Way swung upheld then, but after K. Fookes, with a dribbling effort, had gone close to scoring, Galbraith, with a splendid run on his own, slipped through the Wellington defence, beat the full-back. Pelham, tmdlv, and scored a try. Cheevers missed. Wellington replied spiritedly, and Mackenzie, picking the ball off the ground "sold the dummy" beautifully, and paved the way for a try by Mackay. The kick was unsuccessful. From a lme-out the Wellington backs were served, ana Rushbrook ' cut through to score a try under the posts. Lamason converted. A little later, when the visiting backs got possession, Wellington had a narrow shave, Mackenzie forcing just in time. Hunter placed . i'aranaki on attack, and from a ruck the ball went out to the backs, but Boswell sent a forward pass to K Fookes. who, after getting over, was recalled. Mackay followed up with a great run for Wellington, being stopped a few vards from the line, but from a scrum Rushbrook repeated his earlier effort. Lamason converted, and at half-ame the score was:—Wellington 13, Taranaki 3. Taranaki increased their score within a few minutes of the opening of the second spell with a try by Fowler, after a movement in which Galbraith figured prominently Cheevers converted. U elhngton 13 Taranaki S. There followed an attractive bout of passing, in which Pelham, Mackay and Rushbrook took part, but the latter was caught off-side. However in the next minute Elvy ran over for a try, which Lamason conveted. The Wellington backs were playing bright football, and after a frisky passing bout had delighted the crowd, Diederich finished off the effort with an unconverted try. Wellington again attacked, and Neal scored under the posts. Lamason converting. After Taranaki had made an advance to Wellington territory, the home team got on the move again, and Diederich scored a further try. Mackay, Rushbrook, Neal and Elvy next figured in a passing rush, which Cave topped off. Lamason converted. Scarcely was the ball in play than Claridge scored, Lamason again converting. Lamason added a final try, which he converted, the game ending: Wellington 44 Taranaki S • i ___^_——— —

JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES.

MANUKAU'S TWO-POINT VICTORY. The Auckland junior representative team was defeated by Manukau by a margin of two points at Papakura on Saturday, after the best game seen in that centre this season. Even play marked the first phase or the game, with both sides failing to finalise their efforts. Manukau were the first to draw away, Pepper landing a nice goal from the side-line. Manukau 3, Auckland 0.

Fast raiding by the Manukau forwards got the Aucklandbacks in trouble. Kelsey sent to Stephens, to Duder, for the latter to get a good try, which was converted. Manukau S, Auckland 0. Playing buoyantly, Jlanukau returned to the attack and a scoring break by Alexander gave Duder a good conversion chance. Manukau 13, Auckland 0.

The Auckland backs pulled themselves together, and after a bright burst of interplay, Garlick sailed in on the wing, the try being converted. Manukau 13, Auckland 0.

In the second half, the Auckland team play showed marked improvement. A sharp forward rush broke the country defence and an unconverted try resulted. Mnnnkau 13. Auckland S.

Playing with sustained dash, the Auckland forwards again drove Manukau back. From a set scrum the ball was heeled sharply and McVeagh flashed over in a good position, to get a good unconverted try. Manukau 13, Auckland 11.

Clever handling by the Auckland backs got Manukau into a tangle and a bright handling movement brought another try and put Auckland in the lead. Auckland 14. Manukau 13.

There was remarkable ebb and flow in the final phases of the game, with the fortunes of each team hanging in the balance. Splendid sustained effort by the Manukau forwards swamped the Auckland line and amid great excitement Atchison dived across wide out to give Manukau the victory. Manukau 1C Auckland 14.

TARANAKI IMPROVE.

POVERTY BAY BEATEX. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, Saturday. Taranaki recovered form sufficiently to defeat Poverty Bay's best side by 10 points to 0. The home team seemed to take things lightly- at the start, but soon found the visitors very formidable. A high wind affected play in the early stages, but it slackened after the change over. Taranaki proved adept in handling, both backs and forwards joining in rushes that had the home defence baffled time and again. Walter led the visitors in good style, and his forwards were superior, while the rearguard more than held their own with the clever Bay backs. Where Taranaki showed up best was in turning any mistake of their opponents to advantage, their tackling and covering being outstanding, and giving them many openings for turning defence into attack. Tries for the winners were scored by Crawford, Walter, Robinson (2) and Hunt. Cravord goaled from the field. For the losers Be'.imtt and Caukon scored unconverted tries. After their defeat by East Coast on Wednesday Taranaki were expected to prove unsuccessful against Poverty Bay, but they showed a very different kind of Rugby.

CLOSE SCORING. WAIEARAPA DEFEAT WAXGAXUI. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' ' WANGAXUIi Saturday. Wairarapa defeated Wauganui to-day In- the narrow margin of three points, although YVunganui, toward the end of the came, '"wore within an ace of scoring three or four times. The visitors played first with the wind, and piny was very willing. The VTanganui forwards were doing must of their team s work the back division being very faulty. The tackling of Wairarapa was solid. Oxley opened the scoring for Wanganul, ■renins possession of the ball in the twentySve and dashing over. Tiller's kick failed. From a free 10 Wairarapa, in a handy position, Fuller goaled. and tho visitors followed with a try by Mill. Fuller goalecl. Tilley kicked a penalty goal for Wangauui. Cooke scored the nest try, after a nippy run Fuller Jailed. Oxley engineered a trv. which Wills scored, and Wairarapa fed by 11 points to 'J at half-time. Wanganui attacked ■ vigorously in the second half, and in a passing rush Carlson dropped tho ball just as he was about to cross the linn. Then Fuller outpaced the opposing backs, sot over, and lost the ball before he could touch down \ forward rush resulted in Wills crossing and Wanj-'anul led, 12—11. A swift passim: movement let Fuller away, to score under tin: gonl. He also converted, and Wairarapa led. Hi—l 2. Kilby got Tillej nnd Carlson away, and the latter scored. i(i_lo Another rush speedily followed, and Kilby completed the movement. Wangiinui "led by 18 to IC, but a gift by them resulted in .T. Reid running over from the twenty-live unopposed. Fuller goaled. Wauganui attacked strongly, and were within an ace of scoring three or four times, but the game ended without alteration to the scores. Wairarapa ~\ i Wtiuganui 1!=

CANTERBURY WIN,

SOUTH CANTERBURY OUTCLASSED. (By TelcKi-apli.— ri'ees Association.) CKRISTCHURCH, Saturday. South Canterbury were Heavily defeated by Canterbury in a match her:- to-day. ' Even play marked the opening stages. From a penalty Lilburnr scored three points for Canterbury. The Canterbury backs were playing good football, and Hart scored twice in succession, Lilburne converting the second. Scrimshaw scored next, and Lilburne converted. From a penalty I ilburnc lucked another goal. Canterbury had a penalty awarded against them, and Straw? kicked u good goal. Manchester scored next for Canterbury," but the lack failed Merritt scored for Canterbury, and I ilburne converted. The half-time score was . Canterbury 27, South Canterbury o. In the second spell Mullan scored early for Canterbury, and Lilburne added the major points." South Canterbury took a turn at attacking, and from a scrum under the Canterbury posts King picked up and scored. Strang missed the kick. Trotter scored next for South Canterbury, and Strang converted. Lilburne then scored for Canterbury, and converted his own try. The South Canterbury forwards worked nlav to the other end of the field, and from the rush a South Canterbury forward scored. Strang failed with the kick. Canterbury 37 South Canterbury 14 INTER-ISLAND MATCH. SOUTHERN SELECTION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Saturday. The selectors have chosen the followin!? to represent the South Island against the Forth in the annual match at Wellington next Saturday:— Full-back.—Harris (Canterbury). Three-quarters. — McDonald (Marlborough), McClymont (Otago), Olliver (Otago). Five-eighth?.—Lilburue (Canterbury), Strang (South Canterbury). Half-back.—lloldcn (Southland). Front Row. —Cotterill (Canterbury), Burrows (Canterbury). Lock.—Sonntag (Otago). Side Row.—Hazlett (Southland), Stewart (South Canterbury). Back Row.—Freitas (West Coast), Snow (Nelson). Wing-forward. —Scrimshaw (Canter bury). Reserves. —Back: Innis (Canterbury). Forward: McCable (Bullcr). Carleton Oliver (Canterbury), and Geddes, Bird, and Morris (Southland) were not available. The New Zealand Kugl>7 Referees' Appointment Board has selected Mr. S. Hollander, of Canterbury, as referee for the North Island v. South Island match, and Mr. R. Herd, of Otago, for the New Zealand v. Maoris match.

McWILLIAMS NOT AVAILABLE. I\. G. McWillianiSj the Ponsonby, Auckland and All Black forward, is not available to play for the North Island against the South at Wellington next Saturday. 9 GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. TAUMARUNUI. In the Hetot Slueld match Xihoniho 9, beat Athletic 0. WHAXGAREI. Whangarei 25, beat Northern Wairoa 3. Whangarei easily retained the Harding Shield. Two thousand spectators were entertained by an exhibition which brightened as it progressed. In the first half the visitors actually had the better of the play, but they faded at the finish, and in the last quarter Whangarei increased their score by 19 points. "Bunny" Finlayson scored the best try of the day. dodging and twisting for 20 yards for a try beneath the posts. Other scorers for Whangarei were M. Sheriff. O. Wilfon, SI. Rika, Hemi and McLennan: two were converted by Wilson, and Finlayson kicked a penalty." For the challengers, Davies put: a free kick over. Ryan, of Whangarei. retired a quarter of an hour after the start'with an injured ankle. O'Shea was ordered off for striking another player. In a curtain raiser game, Whangarei Thirds 10, beat Wairoa 0. PDKBKOHE. High School 27. beat Ramblers 3. High School won the Pukekohe junior championship in one of the best games seen locally this season. The winners were superior in all departments. A scratch Pukekohe team defeated Papatoetoe thirds by 37 points to G. HAMILTON. The Peace Cup game between Hamilton and Piako. won by the home team by S points to 3, was hard and strenuous, and the victory of the local team was due to its superior fitness and dash in the last quarter. It was the h<-st Peace Cup challenge game s> , en at Hamilton this season. and drew a large number of visitors from Tc Aroha. Piako lidded a heavier pack and dominated forward play until half-time. In the later stages of the game the local forwards adopted the visitors' quick-breaking tactics with considerable success. Courtney was the most outstanding of the Hamilton forwards and his determined try was the i-esult of fast followinc-up. In F. Goldsbury and McLaren, Pinko had two forward? inf an excellent type. The two rovers. Rid die and Bnyly, fought an even duel. For Hamilton. Bayly and Courtney scored tries, one of which was converted by Halstead. N. Tfwerson scored an unconverted try for Piako. THAMES. Physical Training 20. beat College Old Boys 3. T ird Grade Championship.—College Old ' Dovi 13. beat High School 3. TAURANGA. Taurauga 10, defeated Morrinsville 6. Tauransa High School '22, beat Paeroa High. School 11.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH,

PALMERSTON XORTH. Senior sudden death final. —Kia Toa 11, beat Old Boys C. DANNEYIRKE. Snell Cup.—High School Old Boys S, beat High School U. Hunter Shield. —Pirates S, drew with Excelsior 3. Pirates won the championship. IXYERCAKGILL. Pirates 17, beat Star 3. . BLENHEIM. Tha Canterbury country team were defeated by Marlborough by 21 points to 15 in the last match of their tour it was a case of the good pack ot the home side opposing nippy and sure handling of the visiting backs. canterbury, in the first spell, scored two unconverted tries. Marlborough replying with one unconverted try. Favoured by the breeze in the second session the ' home team rattled up an additional IS points, comprising three converted tries and one unconverted try. The visitors scored three unconverted tries. MOTUEKA. Golden Ilay-Motneka retained the Seddon Shield again Kelson by 18 points to 11. In the first spell the Bay had much the better of the deal, but Nelson came to light in the second half in time to score S points to their opponents' o.