RUGBY HONOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 138, 13 June 1932, Page 13

RUGBY HONOURS.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES. LEADERS FIRST LOSS. PONSOXBY AXD GRAMMAR LEVEL. ' Played on slippery fields, Saturday's Rugby matches mainly produced strenuous struggles for mastery of the ball among the forwards, and although there Nvere few spectacular movements among the backs, all games were full of interest. University did just what one would expect University to do—they bent Ponsonby, the championship leaders. The .match was the main attraction at Eden Park, and after a titanic struggle in ■which the forwards levelled with the slippery brill. 'Varsity scored a .single try live minutes before the final whistle sounded. There was plenty of life in the game, especially in the second half.

A penalty try for Grammar Old Boys pave them a 9—B win over Technical College Old Boys, at the Show Grounds, and so Grammar's win and Ponsonby's defeat put the two teams on level terms again. Otahuhu brought about the surprise of the Rugby day by their overwhelming defeat of Marist. The score was 19 to nil. (Jollego Rifles won by eight points to three from Grafton. and a penalty goal, the only points scored in the match, gave Manukau a win over Training College. The championship is still in a most interesting stage, and the winners are by no means definitely in Bight. ' Results were: —■ Grammar O!' Boys 9, beat Technical Old Boys S. University 3, beat Poneouby 0. College Rifles S, beat Grafton 3. Manukau 3, beat Training College 0. Otahuhu 19, beat Marist 0. The following table shows the present positions of the teams:— Pts. Ch. 1 , . W. I;. D. P. A. PtS. Ponsonby 7 (J 1 — CO 30 112 Grammar 7 it 1 — OS 41 12 Technical 7 ."J 2 12 HO 53 S Marist 7 3 2 2 SI 57 S Manukau 7 -i :; — 57 49 s University .... 7 4 ;i — 03 75 S College Rifles ..7 2 3 2 (il 71 (> Grafton 7 2 5 — 3d !K) 4 Otahuhit 7 2 5 — 01 i>l 4 Training College 7—■ 7—■ 42 'J7 — BY A SINGLE TRY.

Three points, a try scored by Milliken In the Inst five minutes, gave University a splendid win over the championship leaders. Ponsonby, in the big match of the day at Eden Park. University won for several reasons —they kept the ball fit their feet, they packed a solid and honest scrum, and they did not attempt to feed a greasy ball to "their backs. It was a great forward struggle. At one period in the second half it looked as though the University p.i-ek would wilt and the defence collapse, but, when the position was most critical, they staged a gallant and remarkable comeback, and soon it was Ponsonby who were In danger.

Ponsonby tried to play their usual dryflay game with a wet. slithery ball. They failed. But in fairness to Ponsonby, it must be mentioned that their back attack was disorganised when Frankham went off with a broken collarbone. Fraser came on and took his place behind the serum, but it was not long before he was removed from there and Jamieson took on the job of half-(back. There was no great improvement, and time and a,gain the Fonsutib.v back attack broke down. Solomon, playing in the five-eighlhs line, did a great deal of work on defence, but he was by :io means a sound connecting link on attack. While Jamieson was playing iive-oighths, he pot. away with a couple of brilliant breaks, anil carved a way clean through the -Varsity defence. They were two manoeuvres which deserved to be crowned with success.

There wore t.imes when there was not ae much weight in the Ponsonby pack as there shoilld have been, but that was not the fault of the younger .Solomon. Bunting, or Hayward. Ponsonby found themselves opposed by a set of forwards who were full of determination, eight battlers who toiled untiringly. Drake, Stacey and Sherwood were frequently at the head of 'Varsity forward rushes. Sherwood, a newcomer among the University senior ranks, showed himself to be a forward of considerable promise. So much for the forwards.

(There were occasions through the game when both sets of backs had the crowd on their toes, hut those occasions were few and far between. Kerr-Taylor had a great deal to do as full-back for Ponsonby, and, although he was not brilliant, he was sound. Bush, last year's All Black fullback, recovered from an injury which he received on the first day of the season, turned out again and did his job well. His line-kicking was splendid. The fast 'Varsity three-quarter line were given few chances.

'Varsity's one and only try was a good one. At the height of a protracted 'Varsity attack Carter made a brilliant burst round the blind side of the scrum, cut out two men, drew Kerr-Taylor, and passed to Milliken. The winger put his head down and made one short burst and dive for the line. It was a lifting climax to a hard-fought came. Bush's kick sailed outside the post by inches.

OTAHUHU'S TRIUMPH. Otahuhu brought off the surprise of the day by defeating Marist Old Boys by 1!) to nil. They ended the first half ahead B—o, and added eleven points in the second spell, so that there can be no question of the winners' superiority on the dny. Chief credit for the win must go to Palmer, whose effective hooking gave Otahuhu a monopoly of the ball from the scrums. The Marist backs had chances in the first spell, but failed to use them, and in the second epell they got little opportunity.-

Pearson, at centre for Otahuhu, scored three good tries, was in every movement, and played his best game this season. Showing .a fine turn of speed, he put in several fine runs, and on occasions he cut the opposing defence to pieces. He was outstanding, although the whole back line played really well, revealing line combination. Palmer was reaping a harvest with the ball, and the half-back, Inglis, transferred it smartly from the scrum all day. Palmer played a great game. His sterling Play inspired the pack, which outclassed the Marist pack right through. It would no unfair to discriminate, because all were good honest workers, but perhaps A. Jones caught the ey« most.

Conway was not able to give his men the opportunities that Otahuhu received. When the ball did come his way ho got It .away well, but Mnrists lacked the tlirust which they have shown in their other games. They were seen in a few promising movements, but they could not penetrate Otahuhu's Rood defence. IC. Mnith played well, and tried hard to get through. In the forwards S. Hadley and a. ■ MaeDonald worked well.

PENALTY GIVES VICTORY. Manukau and Training College had a Tory■ close, and not uninteresting, struggle fln the Ellerslie ground, and it was ovinia fact that Heazlewood was a little more accurate with a place kick than the opposing full-back. Douglas, that brought a Tiiree-point victory to Manukau. Heazlewooa turned a penalty to account about

lialf-way through the first spell, anil a few minutes after Douglas missed a similar opportunity. Later on in the game Douglas made a better but still fruitless effort. The JUck, as far as the kicking was concerned, iv s . even - f° r Heazlewood made a great eirort to drop a goal from the kick-out when juamikau were aggressive in the first spell. The forwards had a very even struggle. Jlanukau getting some extra weight into their Rerun, by the inclusion of the burly Kahu, *'lio, though inclined to take risks by offside Play, was noticed extricating his side from Rome awkward situations. Johnson had "aril lurk in missing a try towards the end or tile gamp when he carried on a dribbling rush started by Kahu. Had the Manukau '.".eta combined better the game might have '"■en finite a different story. McLaren and "if , two Stuarts made many openings, but ■f'onuently Borridge at centre let them ■V-wn. Sergeant, on the wing, looks as if If might develop into a good scoring man, while Turei evidenced that his logs still

'y-rl< quicker tlian his brain. The Training •'"liege half, •Crossman, and the inside flrp'•ießths. f'orkill, played excellent games. *Mie Kenny was a continuous bustler in a liard working pack.

ONLY A PENALTY TRY.

Grammar Old Boys beat Technical Old Boys f>—B at the Showgrounds on Saturday, nnd tlmii the "odd point was only possible with the aid of a penalty awarded In (lie last lew minutes of tin; gnnic. On the day there was little between the teams. Perhaps the weight of the white pack began to tell in the latter part of the second half. while u ball Inclined to bo greasy made handling less easy lor the speedy green hacks, and it was the rearguard that might have made, and almost did. make, the result different. In the first half there was nothing between the two packs, and the green van was superior in the open. In the latter stages the Grammar pack got going and mastered the play, particularly in the tight, though at no time could they have afforded to have let up. Even then it was only their weight. __ Tech, even toward the end. were almost as good in the loose. , , Every man in both sels of forwards toiled honestly, nnd it is scarcely possible to differentiate. \V Batty was the old Batty that Auckland has s'o olten delighted in, while Knight did his share in the .scrums, from the vast majority of which Grammar heeled. The whites have ii likely man in .Morgan, who was always in the thick. For Tech. Savory did his job well and truly, with McMlken not lar away. Both Keanes were in evidence, particularly in the open. To say that the Grammar pack was good is merely an added compliment to I heir opponents, tor it was only a penalty try, though Unit was well deserved.

Matlietson played an almost faultless same at full-back. His play was well up to representative standard. His tackling was deadly and hi.s anticipation at times uncanny—and his was no easy task on Saturday. As for tacklim.'. it is a pity that senior football in Auckland does not Indulge in more of the kind seen freely among both teams on Saturday. Blow and Hogg were conspicuous in this respect. Tech. Save a tast rearguard, and they were always dangerous. Both wings were up to scratch, though Couper spoilt his day by his foolish mistake in giving away both the penalty try and the game. Weir was as steady as ever and very solid on defence. Both he and Mncindoo let the ball out better and gave their wings a flutter. Previously they have failed to do this. Lendruni was sound, but no might have timed his pusses better. Buckley was the best three-quarter, having dash and determination.

COLLEGE RIFLES WIN.

Although College Kifles defeated Crafton by eight points to three, the dark blues gave no real proof that they were the bettor team. In the first hnlf, when they registered their eight points, they were more ou defence than attack and in the second Grafton registered the only three points that were scored. Still, the success of the blues was popular.

Grafton played up well at the outset nnd sent ii dangerous raid to the Rifles' line. In thu drizzzling rain the hall soon became a slithery thins that was difficult to handle and none of the Grafton attacks brought success. Occasionally tlio blnos launched n counter-attack, but up till live minutes of half-time Grafton had had considerably the better of the play. Then Rifles sprang a surprise. First Brown jrot the ball from ft line-out and (lived over for an unconverted try. and then a sunlit pick-up by Kirk paved the way for a try by Williams which Year converted. Territorially, play was more even in. the second half. with Grafton making no admission of defeat. The first and only success achieved by the black and whites was the result of a line individual effort by Fraser. This fas£ forward got the ball from a Iliip-ort at mid-lield and raced clean through the CVllege defence. The Rifles' full-back got to him, but in trying to keep a look-out for the players who had come up in support, he let the man with the ball get away, "flay to the finish was spiritedly contested, were no further scores. 'Rifles had to thank their forwards for their success. With- Soufer, Stone, Brown and Williams always prominent, the Rifles' pack played tirelessly throughout, and in the set scrums got the ball more often than they lost it. Kirk was a great worker in defence and it was his clever pick-up of the greasy ball that made the opening lor liis side's winning try. An injury to Wales early in the game caused a rearrangement of the dark blue backs, Bishop coming in from the wing to the five-eighth line, and the. machine was not greatly effective. Poor passing often caused an attack to break down. Dickey, at fullback, was not seen at his best.

Moore, the Grnfton full-back, never lost an opportunity of running his backs into position and many of the Grafton attacks were started by him. Halls, on the wing, made a number of strong runs and was about the best of the backs, with Paton next in line. The latter's place kicking, however, was below standard. Among the forwards Finlayson and Fraser were outstanding. The latter is one of the fastest forwards in the competition.

GRADE GAMES. SENIOR B GRADK. North Shore 14. beat RosklU 13. University 4, beat Eden 0. SECOND GRADE. Y.M.C.A. S, beat Marnthon 3. University 20, beat Training College 5. Grammar Colts 0, beat Technical 0.8. 0. College Rifles 32, beat Naval Reserve 8. Tamaki 30, beat Trinity College fi. Grafton 0, beat H.M.s. Diomede 3. Grammar A ;". drew with ronsonby 5. Marist 3, drew with Northcote S. Panmure 14, beat North Shore 5.

THIRD GRADE OPEN. Ponsonby 10, boat Marist C. Eden 33 beat University B 0. Xorth- Shore 3. beat University A 0, Oratia 3. beat Papatoetoc 0. Technical 0.8. G, beat Newton 3.

THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. Technical 0.8. 14, brat R.N.R. 3. Manukau 10, beat Dilworth 0.8. 3. City 19, beat I'anmui-c .'!. Grafton 12, bent Papatootoe 6. College Rifles 30. beat Marathon 0. Suburbs 3. drew with Northcote 3. Grammar 29, beat Shore C.

FOURTH GRADE. Papatnctoe 28, beat Technical 0.8. 0, Ellerslie C, beat Penrose 0.

FIFTH GRADE. Marist 8, beat Northcote 6. Ponsonby G, beat Kden 0. Marist 0.8. 8, beat Northcote I! Suburbs 20, beat Roskill 0.

SIXTH GRADE. Ponsonby 14, bent Marist 5. Ellerslie 0, drew with Parnell 0. Suburbs 0, drew with Mnnuknu 0. Eden 22, beat Technical 3.

The secondary* schools' Rugby competitions were continued on Saturday, when two senior grade games were played. On the King's College ground King's defeated Mount Albert Grammar School by 12 points to i> after an interesting game. Auckland Grammar met Takapuna Grammar on the lattor's ground mid won by 17 points to 3.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE.

WIIANGAREI. Hikurangi 19, beat Horahora S. Old Boys 15, beat Kaikou 0. City G, drew with Maungakaramea C. .Tuniors.—Mangakahia IS, beat High School 11 : Horahora 15, beat Tanekaha 5 ; Waiotifa 17, beat Oneralu 11; Old Boys won by default from Maungakaramea. THAMES. Physical Training 10, beat Tapu 10. College Old Boys 4, beat City 3. Juniors. —Physical Training S, beat Ramblers G. PUKEKOHE. Old Boys 20, beat Kia Ora 0. Drury 8, beat Patumahoo 3. Juniors. —Old Boys 14, beat Patumahoe 0; White Star G, beat Clcvedon 3; Wesley College 11, beat Ramblers 0. Third Grade. —Drury 15, beat High School 0; White Star G, beat Wesley College 0. TUAKAU. Tuakau fi, beat Onewhero 5. Piikawa 0, drew with To Kohanga 0. The Pokt'iio-Bombay match was postponed.