RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 100, 1 May 1933, Page 13

RUGBY.

CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS. SPLENDID OPENING GAME. MANUKAU'S HARD FIGHT. •Unlike most first of the season matches, the same between Manukau and Grammar, the big attraction in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship which kicked off on Saturday, was a game full of interest, with plenty of spectacular movements. Grammar won. Taken all round, all matches were of a splendid standard. It was a perfect day for the opening, and a good attendance watched the play at Eden Park. University and Training College provided an interesting curtain-raiser, the speed and cleverness of the 'Varsity backs triumphing oVer the inexperience of their younger opponents.' Grafton put up a surprisingly good fight against Ponsonby, and ran them to 15-20. .This was played on No. 3, Eden Park. Mainly through the bustling tactics of the Marist forwards, they beat Technical College Old Boys by threo points at the Show Grounds. A 6inglc point separated College Rifles and Otahuhu after a hard game, Otahuhu winning on their own ground. Results were:— University 26, beat Training College 3. Grammar 17, beat Manukau 14, Ponsonby 20, beat Grafton, 15. Marist 6, beat Technical 3. Otahuhu 14, beat College Rifles 13. OTAHUHU'S NARROW WIN. Considering that it was their first game, ■both Otahuhu and .College Rifles gave a sinprising] v good display at Otahuhu, the score, 14-13, in favour of the home team being a fair indication of the run of play. It cannot he said that there was a really weak link in either back division. For the winners, White, as usual, was a safe custodian, and did not give his supporters much to worry about. The wings, CJarke and Peterson, ran and tackled well. Clarke can show a great turn of speed, ana, once he gets going, he takes a lot «f stopping. Mason, who has come «P frpm •*« junior ranks justified his inclusion as centre by giving a bright display The first Jive-eighth, Hill, one of the smallest I'layers in the grade, was nippy, and was not slow to see an opening. The captain, Inglis, played a fine game at half, scoring one try and virtually scoring another. He must stand a good chance for provincial honours this season. Gladding, a new recruit with senior football experience in Wellington, Kapler, and Whangarei, is an asset to the club. He is fast and has ability, but does not handle cleanly. He looks more like a wing than a second five-eighth. For the losers. J. Kirk, a new star in Auckland senior firmament, was well wortn his place. He certainly has pluck, goes down well, and is not afraid to tackle low. The wings, Stewart and Brown, showed a clean pair of heels, and, when necessary, a nice sidestep. Frankham, at centre, is young, and will do better with more experience. He deserved his try. Vear, second five-eighth, was the blues* best man. He saved well on many occasions, and was in practically every offensive. He is a useful place kick. His inside, Wales, showed nothing like his brilliant Marathon club form. Apparently his injured knee is unfortunately a severe handicap. S. Kirk, behind the pack, played a cool game, but did not seem to get many opportunities. When they did come his way, he fed hie lacks well. Both sets of forwards were evenly matched, and stood up well to some hard work. The Collegians fielded the heavier pack, but Otahuhu made up for. this by their fitness, and were able to give> theit rearguard more of the ball. It would be unfair to pick out any player for special honours. They were all triers.

SEVEN CONVERTED TRIES. Seven tries were scored in the match in which Ponsonby defeated Grafton, and every one of them was converted, the final score being 20—15. It was a hard and even match throughout, with the pace turned on all the time. Both sides showed a good leavening of promoted juniors, one or two of whom displayed considerable promise. .. A feature of the match was the way the scores hung together—never was there more than a converted try between the teams. Grafton made a great show of strength to set the game going and they drew first blood when Mitchell bustled the ' Ponsonby full-back and Dick camo up fast to score a try, which Paton converted. • Ponsonby equalised when Hook went on his own from a passing movement and cut • in smartly to score, Pearman ••.onverting. ■ A good run by Roberts paved the way for Grafton's second try, which was registered ' by Finlayson. Again Paton converted, and I Grafton had a handy lead again, but before i half-time smart footwork by Jamieson had Grafton guessing and Solomon took a pass ! to charge over at the posts. Pearman I converted to make,'it 10 all. The second ' half had not been }long in progress before Davis picked up near the Ponsonby line . and battled over for a try, which Paton converted. For along time the black .and 1 whites held their/ lead, but at last poor i tackling allowed Solomon to canter down . the side line and round to the posts for a try, which Hook converted. With the k scores even the closing stages were , spiritedly fought out, it not being until almost on time that ponsonby hoisted the ' points which made them the winners. ■ Grafton's trouble came when an awkward . bounce had Paton guessing, and Ramsay ' kicked through and raced on to pick up I and score at the posts. Hook registered the final points of the game by putting over an easy kick. ' One factor that played a part in Poni sonby's win was the ability of the blue and black hookers to get the ball from most of the scrums. This gave their backs many opportunities, and only lack of combination prevented heavier scoring. Campbell, a newcomer, was called upon to do a lot of work. In tills he showed that he was not afraid to go down on the ball when necessity arose. M. Hook, in the centre of the three-quarter line, caught the eye a good deal, while a likely recruit to the pack is Gillett. Jamieson, who captained the side, had the Grafton backs guessing a lot, and made several fine openings. Ponsonby are fortunate in having a number of their best forwards back again, • including Solomon, who got through a lot • of work in the second half. 1 The Grafton backs got only a small share • of the ball and they were called upon to do 1 a lot more tackling than they would have 3 wished for. Paton was sound, the ball that • he missed to give Ponsonby the winning 1 try being a difficult one. The outstanding ' back was Roberts, behind the scrum. Who • was nippy in attack and resolute in de- ■ fence. A likely newcomer to the pack is ' Mitchell, who worked hard all the time. " Finlayson turned out again, and his I experience helped the black and whites to t keep a good hold of the game. ■ When the Ponsonby pluyers took the / field, only three of them wore numbers, and at least one of these was incorrect ; according to the programme. Especially [ at the beginning of the season, when there « are a number of new players in the team, i the public have a right to know just who is who, and it is hoped that ail teams will 9 be numbered correctly for the next round 9 of matches, i .— ———~~" ——— MANUKAU'S FINE FIGHT. s True to their reputation as a team that • can foot it with the best, Manukau put » up a remarkably fine, fight asaWGramII mar, last vear's champions, in the big match I of the day at Eden Park. Mamikau's ; team has been rearranged, and on -first: 1 dance it has been rearranged to conslder- » able advantage. There are several new 1 fa They' have a back line capable of doing 3 spectacular and efficient things There is D -Hunter who won much praise for his worK s K|nwfl there .frßrtaM* an else- : - trie little first flvereighth, and C. sstuart, t of last year's team, who worked well to- <• eether- Berridge, the Manukau skipper, is s fn thfl'centre, aid he should prove to be the real brains of the attack. He made y one tforlous, desperate effort to save the a day for his side just on time, and with r feints" nd swerves, he carved a passage y for a«movement that deserved to succeed. i- Carrinjrton and Webster are two new wing e both of whom showed plenty 1 of nace The full-back is Spencer, another newcbmer, wlio got through a lot of work

with a minimum of mistakes. The forwards were always dangerous in the loose and stood up well to the heavier Grammar pack when tight work was necessary. Prominent among them were Johnson and Pepper, two newcomers, who showed plenty of dash. , Grammar impressed as a team likely to be even more dangerous than they were last year. The back line has been strengthened, with the inclusion of Sly field, a fast and brainy second five-eighth. Corner is again behind the scrum, and with the usual splendid service from him, the back line should settle down into a splendid attacking force. There is any amount, of pace on the wings, with Buckley, of last year's team, and Currey, a dashing promoted junior. Pollock, Lockingtou and Gillett are three young forwards who show any amount of promise. Walter Batty is leading the team, probably for his last season. The game itself was full of interest, especially in the second half, when the Manukau backs started to throw the ball about with abandon. The elusive Brimble was a real danger and often flashed through the defence. Far too often his good work was in vain. With an 11—6 lead and half the spell gone, Manukau had their tails well up, and at one stage it appeared doubtful if Grammar could hold them. But the Grammar backs got to work. In one glorious movement, in which the ban travelled from the half to Currey, the wing, Savory picked up and.scored when Currey had been tackled about two feet from the line. Then came another try to Grammar, Buckley racing round the opposition to score wide out. With only three points separating the teams, Manukau made a. gallant effort to even up, but their hopes faded when their final movement collapsed. Manukau's bad luck in being beaten by slender margins clung to them. Grammar 17, Manukau 14. MARISTS DEFEAT TECHNICAL. Thanks to a smart, bustling pack, Marists had all the better of their encounter with Technical Old Boys and defeated the wearers of the green jerseys by six points to three. The margin would have been greater but for the inadequate support sriven by the winners' rear division, who lost many opportunities of scoring through faulty tactics and over-eagerness at critical junctures. . ._ For the initial game of the season Marists had introduced several new players, of whom the most notable was Cooney, last year's junior five-eighths rep. This player thoroughly justified his Inclusion, for he was conspicuous on attack throughout the came, and, having plenty of weight and stamina, was a hard man to stop. Technical also had a leaven of new blood. These included Oldbury, a promoted junior, and W. Sutherland, formerly of Helensville. R. Common, who had laid off for a season, was back in his old place at wing, while changes in the disposition of the team found D. Keane filling the role of full-back. On the whole these changes were justifled. The back division performed excellently and D. Keane got, through a difficult task with full credit. However, this sterling player could not be in two places at once and he was sadly missed in the front ranks, where a weakened vanguard wilted under the vigorous nnd persistent rallies of the Marists forwards. Swln. Hadley had his men in capital condition and they set up a fast pace, ffrhlch gave the opposition few opportunities to get their backs in action. The Marist rearguard showed plenty of enterprise, but their handling was very faulty and there was a pronounced inclination to run right across the field and sometimes to the rear. When, towards the dose of the game, an easing of the Marist attack cave the Technical backs a chance to handle the ball, they staged some pretty work which gave them their only score. It was a clean, hard-fought game, with small scoring. The first half was resultless in this respect, but early in the second half a penalty in front of the goal gave Swin. Hadley the chance to give his team their first score for the season. The same player was responsible for a try later on. Some of the spectators considered he was luckv to get a favourable decision as he appeared to knock-on. The kick at goal failed With only a few minutes left Technlcal's chance came at last. D. Keane started a movement inside his own twentyfive, and, innassing cleverly with Couper, ' the pair went the whole length of the field and Couper scored. D. Keane failed to convert. ■", _ ~ For the winners, Swln. Hadley was a fine inspiration to his team, and Judd also played a great game. Fleming, too, did well in the forwards. Behind the pack Cooney and Muller were outstanding, and Trigg, on the wing, made some fine runs. In the Technical vanguard A. Keane. Nelson and Bowling were always in the thick of the hard work. The backs were rarely in • possession. Both Common and Couper at : the respective wings were as speedy as ever.

SPECTACULAR 'VARSITY BACKS. There are real football brains In the University attack. They indicated in their match against a light Training College side—played as the curtain-raiser at Eden Park—that they will probably settle down into one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the competition. They have a splendid back line, and- with Caughey, the All Black, to direct the attack, they should produce any amount of spectacular football. McKearney lost no time in sending the backs away and Green, a new man at first five-eighths, was quick off the mark and sound on defence. ; Mulvihill did one or two clever things, but outstanding in the back line was Caughey, who played a beautiful centre three-quarter game. He appears .to have ! more pace than last year and he was always a puzzle to the Training College 1 defence. Mtlliken showed all his old dash, and Kedgeley collaborated well with his : centre. Bush, at full back, played his , usual safe game. Anderson and Staccy , were the best forwards. The Training College team, on the light ! side as usual, has several players of distinct promise. Inglis, a half-back of con- : siderable talent, did well behind the scrum. To Townsend, the second five-eighth, went ■ the honour of scoring the first try of the ' season. He played well all day. Pargeter, ' another new fnce, showed himself as a 1 wing of promise, and Lewis did exception- ! ally well at full-back. Gibson and Skip--1 per did more than their share among the : forwards. Once University had got properly into their stride, the game developed into a procession of 'Varsity backs to the Training College goal-line. They moved along in spectacular array, and sis clear tries went their way. Four of them were scored by the backs, the result of delightful movements, and two were scored by forwards the result of fast, loose rushes. 1 University 26, Training College 3. SENIOR B GRADE. Unlversltv 12. beat Eden 3. Grammar' Colts 37. beat Eastern Suburbs ' 3. Parnell 5, beat Manukau 3. North Shore 17, v. Technical Old Boys 9. GAMES IN SOUTH. TAIHAPE. Utiku 3, beat Pirates 0. Huia 6, beat Hautapu 3. Titiv,, ! Junior.—Hiwera 8, beat Huia 3; Utiku r- heat Hautapu 3; Huimai 16, beat Pirates "fhird Grade.— Hautapu 28, beat Pirates • 8. MASTERTON. Dalcfield 16, beat Masterton C. INVERCARGILL. Pirates 16. beat Star 3. , Invcrcargill 11, drew with Old Boys 11. NAPIER. Celtic 22. beat Pirates 9. Marist 15, beat Hastings Old Boys 5. CHRISTCHURCH. Svdenham 39, beat Athletic 4. Christchurch 17, beat University 9. Old Bovs 12, beat Lin wood o. > Merivale 16, beat Albion. 3. PALMERSTON NORTH. , Feilding Old Boys 41. beat United 8. Kia Toa 20, beat Feilding 3. Old Boys 18, beat St. Patrick's 13. - WELLINGTON. Poneke 8, beat Hutt 7. Wellington College 0.8. 17, beat Petone i Eastbourne 13, beat Marists 8. Wellington 34, beat Athletic 9. University 9, beat Johnsonville 8. , NEW PLYMOUTH. Tukapa 9, beat Old Boys 3. Star 6, b(>at Celtic 3. Clifton 8. beat Inglewood 0. Hawera 13, beat Okalawa 0. Opunake 17, beat Eltham 4. ! Waimate 9, beat Kaponga 6. I Empire Old Boys 3, drew with Patea 3. \ DUNEDIN. Southern 11, beat Alhambra 0. . 'Varsity A 29, beat Taierl 9. Pirates 14, beat Kaikoral 12. Dunedin 11, beat Union 6. ';* Zingarl 11, beat 'Varsity 3 ft.

GAMES IN PROVINCE. TE AROHA. Hot Springs 17, beat Terriers 11. Scorers for Hot Springs, Renton, Stockley, Street and Eastwood; for Terriers, Dufty, Haddon and Mikkelsen. Juniors.—Waihou 14, beat Tui Maoris 3; Elstow 3, beat Terriers 0. MORRINSVILLE. Kereone 29, beat Terriers 3. United 16, beat Eastern 6. "juniors.— Kereone 17, beat Terriers 0; Old Boys 14, beat Eastern B 0; United 9, beat Tainui 3. OPOTIKI. Country 14, beat High School 5. O.M.P. 3, beat City 0. Juniors.—High School 21, beat Country 4; O.M.P. 11, beat City 0. PAEROA. West 3, beat Netherton 0. Old Boys 13, beat United Public Service 6. "juniors.—Old Boys 3, drew with Hikutaia 3; West 6, beat Netherton 3. TAUPIRI. Gordonton 14, beat Taupirl 0. THAMES. Old Boys 6, beat United 3. Hui Mai (newly formed native team) 26, boat I'bvsical Training (1932 champions) 10. WHITIANGA. Whitlanga 9. beat Kuoutunu 3. Mr. J. R. Miller, of the Auckland Referees' Association, was referee. United 14, beat Kaimarama 5. CAMBRIDGE. The Rugbv season opened with a seven-a-side tournament. In the finals Northern seniors 19, beat Hautapu B 3 Junior Final.—Hautapu 10, beat NortUern °- HAMILTON. Old Boys 21, beat Railway 14. Frankton 13, beat Technical 0.8. 8. Horotul 9, beat Marist 3. •<» HUNTLY. Huntly 8, beat Ngaruawahia 3. Juniors.—Huntly 6, drew with Ngarua'WThfrd6' Grade.—Huntly High School 48, beat Huntly 0. MATAMATA. Patatere 30. beat Wardvllle 6. Matamata 18, beat Wardvillc 3. Juniors.— Rnungaitl 33, v. Wardville 0 , Walton 14, v. Waharoa 5: Matamata 24. v. Kaokaoroa 3; Hlnnera 10, v. Patetere 9. Third Grade.—Hinuera 8, v. Wharoa 3; Patetere 11, v. Matamata 3. , WAIPA. Te Awamutu 11. beat Plrongia 9. Rovers 5, beat Kihikihi 3. Juniors. —Ohaupo 15, beat Te Mawhai 5; Plrongia 9, beat Arohena 3. Thirds.— High School 20, beat Pirongia 0; Ngatunui 20, beat Ohaupo 19: Rovers 23, beat Te Awamutu 3. KAIPARA. Parakai 14, beat Waimauku 6. Kaukapakapa 27. beat Makarau 3. Juniors.—Silverdale 14, beat Riverhead 0; Parakai 12, beat Waimauku 0. TAURANGA. Cadet Old Boys 23, beat Athletic 3. Matakana 11, beat Te Puna 3. Juniors.—Matakana 13, beat Te Puna 12: Rangataua 11, beat Baptist 3; Country 3 drew with Matapihl 3; Cadets 27, beat Athletic 0. WHAKATANE. City 11, beat Taneatua 8. Paeroa 18. beata Poroporo 8. | . ■