RUGBY CHAMPIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 240, 10 October 1932, Page 12

RUGBY CHAMPIONS.

GRAMMAR RETAIN! TITLE. DRAWN GAME WITH PONSONBY. END OF THE SEASON MATCHES. Grammar Old Boys, through drawing with Ponsonby at Western Springs Stadium on Saturday, won the Auckland Rugby Union' 6 senior championship for the second time in succession. Until the last three minutes of the game, Ponsonby led by three points, and it appeared that they would run out winners and earn the light to play Grammar again for the championship title.

; Fortunes changed quickly, and the last three minutes were a Grammar whirlwind. They made a desperate, sensational rally, and threw the 'ball about in thrilling manner. It was a dazzling attack, which paved the way to cnampionship honours. Play swung from flank to flank, and the ball was handled with unerring accuracy by almost a dozen Grammar men. Then, with a swift and bewildering change of tactics Lendrum found a gap in the Ponsonby defence and sent an accurate kick across field to Savoury. The winger was caught, but A. Knight appeared from nowhere, gathered in the bull with admirable determination, and set sail for the line. One Ponsonby player 'grasped at the substance but caught only the shadow, another attempted to collar Knight round the neck, but was tossed-aside, and the big Grammar forward crashed his way over to score the try which retained for Grammar the Gallaher Shield. _ It was a spectacular and sensational climax.

Actually, there was not a great deal of difference between the two teams. Territorially Grammar had just a shade the better of the 'first spell, and Ponsonby made most of the play an the second* The Ponsonby backs were far mi ore enterprising, and some of their attacking movements deserved three points. Jamieson was the shining light in. the Ponsonby attack. He was ever a danger, racing away in electric bursts, ever a pretty puzzle to the Grammar defence. It 'was a pity for Ponsonby that he did not get the support he deserved. Eraser did good and grotesque things,, and Tetley compensated for all his wrongs on attack by a' resolute and faultless defence. The wings were given few real opportunities. Kerr-Taylor got through a hard afternoon's work with considerable credit. F. Solomon played a shrejvd game as the Ponsonby rover, and his anticipation on defence was outstanding. The hardestworking forward on the Ponsonby side was unquestionably S. Solomon, and it was fitting that he should have scored the two Ponsonby tries.

Injuries to players caused a rearrangement in the Grammar backs, and the fiveeights line from the Colts' team, Stehr and Slyfield, played senior for the first time. They showed themselves to be a clever, pair, with a perfect understanding of one another's play. Slyfield particularly impressing as a player with real Rugby .brains. Stehr did many clever things, but was inclined to kick just a bit too much. There were times, too, when he unloaded too soon, and other occasions when he sent the ball on with Slyfield in a hopeless position. Taken all round, however, the play of the colts showed the crowd that next season here are two players who will probably be of considerable value to Auckland Rugby.

Right up to bis best form, Corner gave eplendi-d service from behind the Grammar pack. His fearless defence 6aved Grammar many times. Lendrum gave a sound exhibition at centre three-quarter, and he can. take credit for working a clever ruse which paved the way to Grammar's thrilling, last-minute try. Weir, at fullback, was always a stumbling block to the Ponsonby attack, and i£ there had been a weaker player than Weir in that position, there may have been a different story to record. Weir's positional play was faultless.

The .Grammar pack certainly showed up in more favourable light than it did against Poneke the previous Saturday, and they played far better concerted football than did their opponents. W. Knight, a cousin of A. Knight, took his place in the senior ranks for the first time, and proved himself to be one of the best forwards on the ground. But they all played well, and again were well led by Waiter Batty. The game, which ended in a six-point draw, was a fitting climax to a crowded season. GRADE GAMES. Seniors Grade.—Champlonsihip final: Grammar 6, drew with Ponsonby 0. Grammar retain the championship. Third Grade.—Manukau t>, beat Ngaruwahla 3. Schoolboys' Grade.—lntermediate grade: Eden 3, drew witli Suburbs 3. Junior Boys'.—Manukau 3, beat Combined Onehunga and Te Papapa teams 0. House Matches.—Abels 12, beat W. Window Co. 7; McKendricku 15, beat' Bridgens 5; Lovett's 18, beat Entrican's 10. MATCH AT OTAHUHU. At Otahuhu on Saturday afternoon Training College defeated the home team bv '24 points to 17 in a particularly fust anil open gam?. » GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. THAMES. Thames 15, beat Auckland reps. 12, in a game at Rhodes Park on Saturday. The first half of the game was fairly even. Two penalty kicks by Vear and a try by Stewart saw the half time score Auckland 0, Thames 0. In the second half Thames had the better of the game. Tries were scored by Strange, Abraham and Percy (two), anil a penalty goal by JDufty, while Scone scored for Auckland. Mr. T. ,T. Buchun vras referee. Bllerslie 15, beat Thames third grade 5. Thames seconds 9, beat Ponsonby thirds PAEROA. Sprague Shield. — Final: Railway (holders) 10, beat Post and Telegraph (challengers) 3. TAURANGA. Tauranga representatives 16, teat Waihi representatives G. This was the linal match of the season. Eden third grade 22, beat Tauranga juniors 15. GAMES IN* THE SOUTH. PALMERSTON NORTH. - Goldfinch and Cousins Cup.—United 25, beat Old Boys 3. Feilding Old Boys 10, beat K:ia Toa 4: WANGANUI. Final.—Kalerau 16, beat Technical Old Boys 9.

PALMER MEMORIAL.

CUP PRESENTED BY MR. MARSDEN CAUGHEY. A handsome silver cup, to be known as the Palmer Memorial Cup, in memory of the late "Bert" Palmer, Auckland representative and All Black, has been presented to the Auckland Rugby . Union by Mr. J. Marsden Caughey. Mr. Caughey told the' Rugby Union that he was desirous of perpetuating the memory of "Bert" Palmer out of his grea.t respect for him as a perfect gentleman and his great assistance to Rugby, particularly his interest in and assistance to junior footballers. A special committee of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union has been set up to decide on a suitable competition for the trophy. So far no decision has been made. One of the suggestions is that the trophy should be for annual competition between the champion club teams of Auckland and Wellington. The matter will probably be decided i at the meetiug of the management committee next Wednesday evening. ]

STILL SENIOR.

GRAFTON BEAT B CHAMPION'S. By their defeat of Parnell, winners of the senior B grade championship,' at Western Springs Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Grafton retained the right to play in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship next season. The match was played as the curtain-raiser to the championship final, and Grafton won by 23 points to 16. Grafton, who finished up at the bottom of the championship ladder, were always a little better than the opposition, and the score was a reasonable indication of the ebb and flow of the play as respectively befell both sides. Parnell made a gallant fight, and their forwards were a hard set of battlers all the way, but they were not given the support from the backs which would have meant so much.