RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 236, 6 October 1930, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

GRAFTON BEAT MARATHON. SENIOR B CHAMPIONS' BOLD BID. I Id. the only senior Rugby match played on Saturday, Grafton, winners of the "wooden spoon" in the A division, defeated Marathon, winners of the senior B division, by 14 points to 12. The game, which was played at the Showgrounds, was not a brilliant exhibition 'by a long way, but the closeness of the scores kept the interest up until the end. It has been Grafton's ill-luck to experience two or three lean seasons, and they have been hard pressed to maintain their status. Marathon, on the other hand, have shown much improvement, and each year their claims fox* inclusion in the senior A division have been stronger. When Grafton finished up at the bottom of the ladder last year they had to meet Marathon, and they won a scraggy game by 14 points to 8. At the Showgrounds on Saturday the senior B team made a slightly bolder bid for promotion, and the margin against them was only two points. In a sense the colours were unlucky to lose, as they scored four tries to their opponents' two. In the first few minutes of the game Moore kicked a penalty for Grafton, Marathon replying with an unconverted try by Salmon. Another unconverted try by Dixon gave Marathon the lead, but a second penalty goal by Moore made the figures six all. Early in the second quarter Gardiner scored a try, which put Marathon in front, but just before the breather Finlayson, who played an outstanding game, notched an unconverted try for the magpies. Marathon showed the way, 12—9, when Wales scored their fourth unconverted try, but in the final 20 Saunders cut his way through the colours' defence and touched down for a try, which Moore converted. There was no further score. OTAKI CUP. WIN BY SHIPPING OFFICES. The annual matches for the Otaki Cup between the Auckland Shipping Offices, the Customs, the Harbour Board, and Customs Agents were played on Saturday at Walker Park. Harbour Board 8, beat Customs Agents 3. Shipping Offices 9, beat Customs 0. In the final. Shipping Offices 17, beat Harbour Board 5. For the winning team tries were scored by Altken, Evans, Speedy, Pepper, Dixon, and Speedy's try was converted by Lindrum. For Harbour Board McCarthy scored, and the try was converted by McLashan. The four teams held a smoke concert In the evening, when the cup was presented. PROF. ALGIE FAREWEIXED. UNIVERSITY CLUB GIVES DINNER. Members of the University Rugby Football Club tendered Professor R. M. Algie a farewell dinner at the Royal Hotel on Saturday night. Mr. R. O'Shea presided. Professor Algie, who Is president of the club, will leave shortly on a holiday tour to England and the Continent. He was presented with an attache case as a mark of appreciation of his services to the football club. Professor Algie will be on tour for about 15 months. GRADE RESULTS. FOURTH GRADE. Manukau 3, drew with Eden 3. HOUSE MATCH. Entricans 5, beat Bond and Bond 3. POST OFFICE MATCH. Hamilton 9, beat Auckland 5. FRIENDLY MATCHES. Trinity College 5, beat Paerata 0. 4th Battery 14, beat 21st Battery 13. GAMES IN PROVINCE. WHAKATANE. Wliakatane Primary Representatives, captained by Jack Rand, won their round in the competition, beating High School B, B—38 —3 and 11—3; Taneatua, 5—3 and 9—3; and Ruatoki, 10 —6. OTOROHANGA. Manlapoto Old Timers met Otorohanga Old Timers under perfect weather conditions and in the presence of a * large crowd, and were defeated by 12 points to 11 after an exceptionally good contest, the forwards doing particularly good work. For Otorohanga L. Pearaje, R. Symes, Best Clarke and W. It. Ilarty scored tries, and for Maniapoto Kau and Cole scored tries and Anderson kicked a penalty goal and converted a try. An Otorohanga player, Murray Pratt, had his collarbone broken. The match was in aid of the funds of the I'lunket Society, which will benefit by over £20. PUKEKOHE. Te Kauwhata 9, beat Kia Ora 6. HAMILTON. Fifth Grade.—Technical Old Boys 9, drew with Hamilton Technical Old Boys 5.