RUGBY HONOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 210, 5 September 1932, Page 11

RUGBY HONOURS.

GRAMMAR STILL LEAD. PONSONBY'S LUCK HOLDS. DEATH OF AX ALL BLACK. Saturday's Rugby brought with it a football accident which ended in tragedy. B. P. Palmer, All Black, and skipper of ; the Otahuhu side, died in the Auckland -. Hospital yesterday following a collapse • in the match between Otahuhu and -J University, at the Showgrounds. In the E* same match V. C. Butler, the University > captain, was carried off, and now lies in ■ hospital with head injuries. j The big match of the day was that be- ; tween Manukau and Ponsonby at Eden ' Park, and the game provided some of the ; best football seen in club matches this season. The first spell was good, but the second was one long succession of thrills. Ponsonby's proverbial luck held good, and a penalty goal in the last couple I of minutes gave Jamieeon a chance to '■ bring his side victory. » Grammar and Training College provided I the curtain-raiser at EMen Park, the | former having little difficulty in winning ' by 19' points to 3. It was by no means ' a great game. Otahuhu put up a surpris- | ingly good fight against University, at the j Showgrounds, and went down in the last few minutes by 13 points to 19. Marist ! had a runaway win over Grafton at the Domain, scoring 32 points to their . opponents' six. College Rifles romped home against a weakened Technical Col- [ lege Old Boys team by 19 points to nil. ! The same was played at Victoria Park. • The Prime Minister. Rt. Hon. G. W. ■ Forbes, the Hon. R. Masters and party, S watched play at Eden Park. f Results were:— 1 Ponsonby 16. beat Manukau 13. j Grammar 19, beat Training College 3. .University 19, beat Otahuhu 13. ; Marist 32. beat Grafton 6. College. Rifles 19, beat Technical 0. 1 The championship table is:—

SPECTACULAR PLAY. With the scores at 13 points all. the last few minutes of the Ma:»ukati-Porisonb.v match at Eden Park was a whirlwind, with Ponsonby using every trick of the trade In their efforts to clinch the deal. The pressure on the Manukau defence was severe, but the defcnce never looked like wilting. In the end Ponsonby triumphed, but they can by no means take all the laurels, for it was more by good luck than good management that they were victorious. A penalty goal close in just on time gave Jamieson a chance to seal the issue. It was n game of two distinct phases. The first spell was good, with periodical lively incident, but the second reached dazzling heights, as play swung swiftly up and down the field. Ponsonby led by 13 points to 0 at half-time—a handy lead.. But Majiukaii laid themselves out to reduce that lead and it was their determined efforts that provided most of the colour. A magnificent field goal from near half-way by Turei brought them within three points of Ponsonby's score and a few minutes later a penalty goal by the same player put the teams on even terms. At that stage it was anybody's game, with the odds slightly in favour of Manukau. They played the fast, spectacular game which thrill's the crowd, they threw the ball about in the open, telling way, and turned shadow into sunshine. Territorially, Manukau had all the better of the secqnd spell. The result might just as easily have gone the other way, and it was unfortunate for Manukau that McLaren, the half-back, was penalised for holding on at such a critical stage of the match. Manukau made one last gjorious effort to save the day. They failed, but they are to be congratulated for their bright, open and fast exhibition. Weakened by the absence of Heazlewood and Berridge. Manukau surprised even their most ardent supporters. Brimble, a substitute five-eighth, did all that was asked of htm and a good deal more. In fact. BrlmMp was one of the best backs on the lield. Karly on he showed himself to be a player above the ordinary run of club live-eighths. He studied the outlook before making a move, and plied his men round him with subtle and generous touch. His display was one of the best exhibitions of five-eighths play seen on Eden Park this year. On tills occasion. C. Stuart was the weak link, in the Manukau attack. His handling was always under suspicion. Turei, back in his old position at fullback, let his side down badly in the lirst spell, but compensated for all his errors In the second half by a solid game, aud. what is more, by adding seven points to his side's tally. Kahu, Rutherford and Paddy did some fine work among the forwards. Ponsonby's experiment of playing Jamieson at centre-three-quarter was uot a great success. Eraser and Tetley were far too slow at five-eighths, and the three-quarter line suffered in consequence. With Jamieson at the top of his form, it was a pity he was not moved closer in so that he could have engineered the moves of-which he is capable. McManus did some excellent work behind the scrum. Kerr-Taylor gave the Ponsonby supporters some uneaßy moments, but usually managed to get out of trouble. The Solomons and T. Carter were by far the best of the Ponsonby pack. So Ponsonby won by 16 points to 13. COLLEGE RIFLES ON TOP. College Rifles were on top all the way. when thev played Technical Old Boys at Victoria Park on Saturday. Even when the greens had the advantage of a strong directly following wind, they could not attack. For the better part of both halves they had only their own twenty-five to work in., A score of 10 points to nil was deserved and was an Indication of the Plt Much credit is due to the dark blue pack Evervman did his bit. both where he conld be Seen and in the tight. Of the four tries, the forwards were responsible for three. Vear kicked a goal and Albreeht got oven Stone, Ross. Souter and Donald wfere always in the picture, and the try by the last* named was a piece of good work. Against the wind the pack did the right thing _in keeping the ball close. They did the majority of the hard work on Saturday. The backs had to do defensive work mostly, and they .did not fail. H. Brown, Albreeht and Year played sound football. . - 11l the first half the Technical backs did mors- open work, but they did not judge the wind well. The task was difficult. Inaccurate passing spoilt many movements. A. Koane did well at full-back, considering he is a forward. Of the forwards. Bowling. McMiken and Hardle.v stood out. the trio being never far away from the ball. They had good opposition., , r ? GRAMMAR EASILY. ■Training College started off their match against Grammar in the curtain-raiser at Eden Park with only thirteen men, but twenty minutes aTter the start (hey were reinforced by another. Towards the end of the first spell the teams were put on an even footing by the fact that Mclndoe went off with cramp in the leg, and Walter Batty look his place at first five-eighth. Training College could not stand up to the heavier Grammar side, and went down by 3 points to 10. . , , Thcro were occasional bright and spectacular movements by the Training College team. Townsend, at five-eighths, opening up the play with every opportunity, and proving to be the best back on the fie'.d. It was Townsend w*ho launched most of the Training College back attacks, and it was Townsend who helped his side out of difficulties time after time. There was some gallant work done by the Training College forwards against heavy odds. Webber and Mars always fought the hardest, and they were the leaders of some fine loos« rushes by the Training College forwards. Grammar were not forced to extcDd themselves. With the forwards winning the ball at will, and Corner playing his usual sound game behind the scrum, the Grammar backs were able to parry out many raids. Grain- , mar's forward superiority was demonstrated , in the second spell when Walter Batty lett t the pack and took up the running at first five-eighth. Although he was a little slow I to move, he played soundly in the new position. Weir was his usual solid self, and ! Buckley and Garlick showed any amount of 1 dash. Matheson again gave a good exhibi- < bltion, and in the second spell gave the < Grammar attack extra punch by joining < In three-quarter line movements. There were periods of entertaining play on the part of both sides, but Grammar were ( always master of the situation, and eventu- a ally won by 19 points to 3.

MARISTS TOO GOOD FOR GRAFTON. In the game between Marists Old Boys and Grafton, there was little difference over the first half, but in the second spell the blues overwhelmed the opposition to win by 32 points to 6. Play on the whole was very ragged, and except in patches was scarcely up to senior standard. Grafton were further weakened for this match by the absence of Larsen and Hardie. Marists fielded a strong team, and their forwards virtually controlled the game from the start. This gave the backs plenty of opportunities, which they consistently threw away in the early stages through faulty handling and poor combination. As- a consequence the first half concluded with the modest score of six points to Grafton's three. Wilkes had scored for Grafton, while Smith and Stowell secured tries for Marists. Starting the second half, Marists made all the play, and within a few minutes of the start a good opening by Cooney gave Smith another score. Conway's kick missed. Another loose rush by Marists sent the ball rolling over the line, and in a scramble for possession Cooney got a try. A few minutes' later i'oy cot over from a passing bout and S. Hadley converted. Assured of victory, Marists indulged in useful practice, and some very attractive work was given by the backs as they tossed the ball about with cheerful abandon. Cooney picked up about 30 yards out and potted a lovely goal. With play more open Grafton caught the opposition backs out of position, and Bunting scored from a loose rush. Two more scores were made, and both went to Marists, one a try by Evans and the other by Smith, the latter being converted « *-" 00ne y- Grafton made a persistent effort to add to their score, but wi;h no success, despite a number of tine dashes by Dickie; which were only a few yards short of the line.

'VARSITY BEAT OTAHUHU.

i ? minute rally saw University beat Otahuhu at the Show Grounds on Saturday by 19 points to 13. For 'Varsity tries were scored by Caughey (2), Brooker and Bush. Bush kicked a penalty goal and converted a try, and Mulvihill converted a try. For Otahuhu Palmer' and Clark scored tries, which Pearson converted, and the lastmentioned also kicked a penalty goal. It was one of the brightest games seen at the Show Grounds this season, but was unfortunately marred by two accidents. The football was clean and high class. The dash of the Otahuhu forwards and their control of the ball in the scrum cramped the style of the 'Varsity backs, who had to make their own play. After Palmer was hurt Otahuhu did not get the hall in the scrum, and with that fact their defeat may have been due, but it must be conceded that the last minute tries scored by Caughey and Bush were high class efforts. The second spell, with time off added, lasted about one minute short of an hour. During that spell Palmer and Butler were taken off the field unconscious, and there were other stoppages. For University Bush played well at fullback, his goal and line kicking again being a feature, although he missed a- fairly easy shot at a most critical period. Caughey gave flashes of brilliancy, and Mulvihill did good work at times. Colgan, McVeagh, Drake and Stacey were the pick of the Varsity forwards. White, the Otahuhu full-baek, did well. His taking of the ball from high kicks earned rounds of applause, and he stopped rushes in good style. Pearson was the pick of the th.-ee-quarter line, and Ingiis got the bali away smartly from the scrum. The passing of the Otahuhu backs was very snappy at times. Of a good, even pack of forwards, Arnold and Palmer played outstanding games, the former being particularly prominent throughout the game. Otahuhu had the best of the game territorially and were unlucky to lose.

REPRESENTATIVE GAMES. Southland 11, beat Otago S. Taranaki 23, beat Hawke's Bay IS. Wanganui Hi, beat Mnnawhenua 15. GRADE GAMES. SENIOR GRADE. Ponsonby 16, beat Manukau 13. Grammar 19, beat Training College 3. College Rifles 19, beat Tech. 0.8. o University 19, beat Otahuhu 13. Marist 32, beat Grafton 6. SENIOR B GRADE. Kalpara Reps. 13, beat North Shore 0. SECOND GRADE. Marist 6, beat College Rifles 5. Grammar 0.8. S, beat Tamakl 3. Grafton 5, beat Technical 0.8. 3. Northcote 13, beat University 6. THIRD GRADE OPEN. Newton S, beat University A 0. >orth Shore 15, beat Eden 11. THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. Technical 0.8. 10, beat College Rifles 15. Lniversity 6, beat .Marathon 3. Grammar 0.8. B 33, beat Eden 0. Ponsonby 11, beat City 0. Grafton 17, beat Training College 3. Northcote beat North Shore bv default. Manukau A beat Technical Old Bojs by delault. Grammar A 11, beat Marist S. FOURTH GRADE. Parnell S, beat North Shore 5. Eden S, beat Manukau 3. FIFTH GRADE. Technical Old Boys 14. bent Roskill 0. Ponsonby 29, beat Marist 0. SIXTH GRADE. Ponsonby 9, beat Eden 0. Manukau 20, beat Marist 9. JUNIOR BOYS. Intermediate Grade.—Ponsonby 14, beat Grafton 6. Junior Grade.—Roskill heat Ponsonby by default; Suburbs 3, beat Pauinure 0 ; Newton S beat Otahuhu 3. HOUSE MATCHES. Ponsonby Boys' Band 13, beat Mt. Eden Boys' Band S. Sbarland aud Co. 12, beat KempthorneProsser 0. SUNDAY SCHOOL MATCHES. St. Aidan's Bible Class (Remuera) G. beat St. George's Bible Class (Epsom) 0: St Matthew's (City) won from St. Barnabas' (Mount Eden) by default. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. OTOROHANGA. Senior Knock-out.—Semi-final : Otewa 20, beat Old Boys 8. THAMES. Senior Cup Final.—Physical Training 12, beat College Old Bovs 0. Junior Cup Final.—College Old Boys 20, beat Physical Training 6. PAEROA. Junior Knock-out Competition (Williams Cup).—Paeroa Old Boys 33, heat Karangahake 0. ' Inter-club Senior . Return Match.—Morrinsville 24, beat Paeroa 5. WAIHI. Senior Knock-out.—Waikino 12, beat Veterans 9. TE AWAMUTU. Final Finlay Cup.—Matamata 3, beat Waipa 0. Juniors.—Waipa 9, beat Otorolianga 6. Playing for Waipa against Matamata, A. Jackson fractured his left leg. PUKEKOHE. Massey (challengers) 5. beat Pukekohe (holders) 3. Waiuku led s—o at half-time, with a converted try by Jackson. In the second half Ward scored ail unconverted try for Pukekohe. Play was confined to the forwards, in which department Waiuku excelled. Soutji Auckland .Tunio? Championship.— Pukekohe 9, heat Franklin 0. TE AROHA. Senior Final.—Hot Sprlags S. beat City Combined 3. OPOTIKI Mcintosh Shield.— Athletic Juniors 6, beat Opotiki Maop*s (holders) 5. Athletic scored a try aud kia*ed a penalty goal. Apanui Shield.—Opotiki polders) 33. beat Galatea 5. The following scored:—P*.J Opotiki : Maunsell (2), Jones (2), HawJHns, Black. Paul Brown and' Sonny Kelly, jnd Black converted two and Sidney one. Galatea's only try was secured by who converted. TE R. . i l. Te Kuiti (Maniapoto) 20, heat United (Ootorohanga) 11. Tilly scored four tries and kicked a penalty goal for the winners. Toko 11, beat Hangatiki 6.

t Points Ch. Team. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Grammar ... 32 10 2 — 119 58 20 Ponsonb.v ... 12 0 2 1 313 71 19 , University .. 12 8 4 — 308 118 1(5 ; Marlst 32 5 3 4 131 84 14 1 Manukau ... 12 « 5 1 101 81 3 3 Col. Rifles .. 32 4 5 3 100 1.18 11 Technical . . 32 3 0 3 74 109 9 Grafton 12 3 9 — 75 173 6 Training Col. 12 3 9 — SO 127 (> Otaliuliu ... 12 3 9 — 109 131 6