RUGBY HONOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 124, 29 May 1933, Page 14

RUGBY HONOURS.

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.

GOOD WIN BY MARIST

SENIOR MATCHES REVIEWED,

All matches in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship provided interesting contests on Saturday afternoon. Marist, playing vigorous and robust football, scored a convincing win over "University in the big match of the day at Eden Park. University, with three of their star players away with the University Test team in Dunedin, and one of their crack three-quarters on the injured list., were hopelessly disorganised among the backs. The curtain-raiser to the big game was that between Ponsonby and Technical College Old Boys, and the match proved an easy win for Ponsonby by 19 points to 0, the failure of the Technical inside backs contributing much to their downfall. Grammar journeyed to Sturgess Park and there overwhelmed Otahuhu by 32 points to 8, the speed of the Grammar backs paving the way to easy victory. Grafton played better football all through against Manukau at Onehunga, but even so, it was only in the last ten minutes that they triumphed. In quick time they ran up 15 points to win by 23 points to 11. Although they held a torial advantage for the greater part of the game, College Rifles could not beat Training College, the game ending in a draw, nine points all. Results were:— Marist 17, beat University 6. Ponsonby 19, beat Technical 0. Training College 9, drew with ( College Rifles 9. Grammar 32, beat Otahuhu 8. Grafton 23, beat Manukau 11. The championship table is:— Points. Ch. P. W. L. D. F. A. Pts. Marist 5 4 1 — 50 30 S Grammar, ... 5 4 1 — 94 bl b Ponsonby ... 5 3 1 1 00 40 7 University •.. 5 3 2 — 07 42 o Grafton 5 3 2 — S3 bo 0 Otahuhu i. .. 5 2 2 1 47,08 o College Rifles 5 1 3 1 42 oo 6 Training Col. 5 13 1 »* ? Technical 0.8. 5 1 4 — -4 ua - Manukau .... 5 1 4 — _u oo

ROBUST MARIST FORWARDS.

There is an old Rugby truism—a team will play only as well as it Is allowed to i.lav. And that is exactly how University, still favourites for the championship, were beaten by a, bustling Marist team in the "tar attraction at Eden Park. Marist won mainly through the robust and vigorous work of their pack, with their backs swift and impulsive enough to take advantage of the many weaknesses among the University rearguard. Their resolute tackling; too, was a feature of their all-round di The r 'game was by no means sensational. At times it descended to the depths, then rose again on a flood-tide of the spectacular For University lit was a grey day. Their backs were hopelessly disorganised and played, inferior football., 'With the brains of their attack, away—Mulvihill and Caughey—there was nobody to direct them. Green played indifferently and Miliken was bv no means a success at;centre threequarter, although he .did one clever thing which led to a try. They changed about, at half-time and Milliken went to his usual lace on the wing, and McKearney to the base of the' scrum. .There was little improvement and even. Bush could not pull the attack together when he went up to centre three.-qWter in the, last few "'Marist forwards won most of the laurels They played with amazing energy and could not be held on the day. Their loose work was splendidl with the Hadley trio, Evllle and Poland always in the lead. •• Coonw was outstanding among the hacßs, his speed at second five-eighths, and his lithe, bewildering swerve always being a puzzle ?o the University defence. He was given able support inside him by Friend, who, in turn, was'generously .fed by Connolly. At centre three-quarter Muller flashed in and out of the picture, a quaint nature of unreliability and brilliance. All the Marist backs appear capable of doing clever things. S. Hadley, the captain, played a "irewd, roving game, and sent his backs away with every opportunity. The win by Marist will probably serve as an excellent tonic to the whole team. In spite of the fact that Unv University attack was disorganised, that did not take away the glamour of the. Marist win. Marist were definitely the better team on the day. Their forwurds played the loose, fast-breaking game, and stuck to these, tactics from beginning to end.. The Varsity ,defence .was- slowly submerged. TRAINING COLLEGE AND COLLEGE RIFLES A DRAW.

Inn well contested game at the Show Grounds Training College and College Rifles- finishedi up with, a draw at nine points all. Training College were without the services of Pargeter in the three-quarter line and Webber in the scrum. A\ ebber s weight "was greatly missed in the pack, which had all the worst of the tussle against ' the bustling Rifles vanguard. Vetually the dark blues should have put up a big score. The forwards heeled out with almost monotonous regularity and Kirk wasted no time in shooting it out to his flve-eighths. These latter had a tendency to play too far back when in, the opposition's twenty-five, and from this cause probably lost one or two scores. but for this defect the Rifles backs gave a good display. They handled well and played a fine open game and had the defence severely tested time and time again. The •students were, literally speaking, "up against it" for most of the game and It was only dogged determination and the ability to utilise the ,few chances which came their way that enabled them to finish up .with an equal score. A curious set of coincidences featured the initial scores. Townsend, playing fiveeighth and numbered 5 for Training College, kicked a fine penalty goal from midway between the half-way and twenty-fiie yards marks. y Within a couple of minutes Vear, the opposing flve-eighths. and also with 5 on his jersey, equalised the score with a similar class of kick, the distance and angle in each case being virtually the same. ...» In the early part of the first spell there was not much between the two teams, bvt as it progressed Rifles showed 'a distinct advantage. Their backs commenced to throw the ball about and the students were sorely tried. Just before half-time IS Stewart made.a great run, being pushed out at the corner flag. -Rlflea started out briskly in the second half, and were throwing the ball about freely near the centre, . when Townsend intercepted, and with almost a clear field streaked for the line, which he reached successfully, with Kirk in futile" chase. The scorer tried the conversion himself, but the angle beat him. Rifles now set up a determined movement", which (enabled theni to equalise the scores. Brown led the first onset, which took play from half-way to the twenty-five. A series of dashes by the Rifles backs was met by stubborn defence, but' ultimately a fine cr'oss kick hyj Wells gave Stone a chance to score righfunder. the posts. A'ear's, kick fronr clo'sa up l "went over the bar. but the goal wii.i disallowed, as a student touched the ball in its course. Rifles were having all the best of the exchanges when Townsend started .-another isolated dash that placed th|c dark blues on defence, and the fiveclghtli. placed a goal from a penalty. made despcrnte efforts to turn the tide, i hut the students were finishing strongly, and Lewis, the full-back, assisted materially with some good line kicks. Finally Wales got possession, and. Witn a rea'lly brilliant effort, heat the opposing flve-eighths and streaked for the line. At the full-back he handed to Brown, who was pushed out right nt the corner flag. Still persisting, the R«fles rushed the ball over the line, and in a scramble Stone got the referee's verdict for a try. Vear missed with the kick.

GRAMMAR'S BIG SCORE. The Old -Boys -went out to Otahuhu, where they had no difficulty" In ■winning 32-i-8. The suburhan team was -without the - 'services of its second five-eighth, White.' and early in the first spell its representative three-nuarter, Clarke, -went off with a' serious knee injury, which will probably 'keep him on the side line for some". t'iiiTP; Shortly "before the Interval Grammar lost Corner., who received a nasty out on the side "f the head. Lendriini then went to Jialf, Savory: moved in to centre. aiid the newcomer, Currcy,r played on the right wing. , >. . The' general efficiency and speed of the Grammar rearguard nonplussed the opposition The backs opened out in some beauthe -ball'going'but fr6m thte«acr»in -'right:through' tO«"tb.e- wing -on jrirttrallj. every- occasion. Jlhes- always

■ gained ground and all of the eight tries were scored by the three-quarters. The Otahuhu forwards, although up against a heavier and more experienced pack, stood up to their task well. They kept together all day, and, under the circumstances, put up a very good performance.. For the winners, Lendrum and Savory played great games, the former proving a very good substitute for Corner. Anderson, at full-back, did not have a .Jot to do, but what he had he did well. Buckley showed plenty of speed and determination, ' and Currey took a lot of hauling down. Once Macindoe got settled he and Slyfield combined very effectively. Wilson, Batty. Morgan and Potter were the pick of the forwards. Wilson played a great game in the tight, while Potter's line-out work was good. The tries were scored by Savory (3), Buckley (3), Lendrum (lj, Currey (1), Slyfield converting four.

For the losers Inglis was perhaps the first choice in the rearguard. The Grammar forwards were breaking very quickly; in fact, there were times when they appeared to come round too fast, and he found them very troublesome all afternoon. The custodian, Mason, found the line witli some well-judged kicks, and Cladding, who was playing out of position at first five-eighths, tackled well. It is very hard to.individmi-| lise in tlie forwards. They threw everything into their work in the set. scrums, and it was surprising to see the jvay in which they met the onslaughts of the Old Boys. Tries were scored by Smith, who filled Clarke's place at centre, and Petersou, Mason converting the former.

The Grammar Schools' Old Boys Rugby Club had many tine performances to its credit last season, the Colts team in particular having a great record. On Saturday, however, the Grammarians excelled all previous efforts by leaving the field victorious in the whole eight games in which they competed.

GRAFTON LEAVE IT LATE,

Although Grafton had definitely the better of their game with Manukau Rovers at Onehunga, it was not Until the last ten minutes that they showed their superiority in the form of scores. A vigorous finish, in which they rattled on fifteen' points, allowed them to win by -3 points to 11.

11l the first half Berridge kicked a penalty goal lor Mauukau and Wilkes and Boiirke scored tries for Grafton. Paton converting one. In the second spell a try by Pepper, converted by Berridge, ninde the score 8 nil and \, lien Sergeant crossed for an unconverted try it looked as if the home side would take the points. Then came Grafton's runaway finish, and in quick succession Bradley, Mills and Moore scored ■tries, all of which were converted by Paton. Mauukau did the more work at the outset, but once Grafton got Into their stride thev played the better football. Led by Finlayson, the forwards worked with a will throughout. Fraser. given a roving commission, was up with the ball all the time and never slackened. In his eagerness he was caught offside on several occasions. Paton, the full-back, played a sterling game, his handling being perfect, his tackling strong and his kicking well directed. The quality, of his place, kicking is shown by the fact,that four of Grafton s five tries were converted. Halls played a determined game on the wing. Mnnukau's chief weakness was their- tackling. Time and again . they , went/for their men round the neck and missed. Brimble was lively, as also was BisS. Berridge made a few good openings but his experience was of more value when Manukau were defending. Among the forwards' Pepper, Pearce,. Constable and Allan were the hardest toilers.

WEAK BACK DEFENCE.

i It was the weakness of the Technical Old Boys' inside backs that largely accounted for the defeat of the team .by Ponsonby on Saturday. All praise Is due to the forwards, each member of which did his share 'and more than his share. On defence every back left- his man well and truly on the ground, but on attack they did not play like a team. The really concerted rearguard movements might have been counted on the fingers of one hand. Couper was the exception. He was good on attack but not as good as the rest on defence. "Of the forwards McMicken, A. Keanc and Hurley were outstanding, though the rest were not' much behind. . Ponsonby deserved their win. They were the better side, particularly In the back division. The game was more even between the packs, but the blue and black rearguard, got their fair share of the ball, which spoke for itself. The scrums were fairly evenly divided, while Ponsonby won in the llne-outs. Frankham, Jamlcson and Campbell; at centre, .were the best of the backs. Jainieson played his usual heady game, while Frnnkham was as. solid as ever. Campbell showed he Is a cool, quick thinker. Solomon was the life and soul of the forwards, a great leader. He was in every forward movement. Williams and Newdick were also in the picture. / GRADE GAMES. SENIOR GRADE. Marist 17, beat University (i. Ponsonby 10,. beat Technical 0. Training Coll. 0. drew with Coll. Rifles 0. Grafton 23. beat Manukau 11. Grammar 32, beat Otahuhu S.

SENIOK B GRADE. Eden 20, bent Parnell 11. '■ _ Tech 0.8. 18 beat Eastern Suburbs 3, Manukau 23, 'beat North Shore A 0. - Grammar Cblts 1!), beat University o.

SECOND GRADE. Northcotc A C, beat Grafton A3. Grammar B 0, beat Northcotc B 3. Otahuhu 14, beat Manukau 0. , Technical Cblts 17, bent University B 0. Suburbs 0, drew with Training College 0. Tainaki A 8, beat Waltemata 3. Grammar A 42, beat North Shore 0. Marist 9, beat Grafton Colts 0. University 14, beat Pnpatoetoe 10. Tech. 0.8. beat Trinity College by default. , , c„ Grammar A 42, bent North Shore 0.

THIRD OPEN. Newton' 63. beat University 0. College Rifles 11, beat North Shore 0, Eden 14, beat llowick 3.

THIRD GRADE INTERMEDIATE. Manukau A 6, beat Marist 0. Parnell 9, beat Suburbs 3. Dilworth 0.8. 10, beat University 11. Waltemata 5, beat Northcote 3. Grammar A beat Training College by default. . ," -■ Tech. 0.8. 16, beat Eden 0. Papatoetoe 11, beat Y.M.C.A. 0.

FOURTH GRADE. Northcotc A 17, beat Suburbs 7 Oratin beat Northcote B by default. Ponsonby 11, beat Otahuhu 0. Grammar A 6, beat Tech. 0.8. 3. Grammar 0.8. B 17, beat Eastern Suburbs 0. FIFTH GRADE. Ponsonby 5. beat Manukau 0. Grammar 16, beat Suburbs 14. Tech. 0.8. 31, beat Parnell 0. ', SIXTH GRADE. Eden 16, beat Manukau 0. Suburbs 25, beat Ponsonby O. Northcote '9, beat Marist 6. Tech. 0.8. 15, beat Otahuhu 0. SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SENIOR PRACTICE. H.M.S. Dunedin 21, beat Mt. Albert Grammar 19. '\ ■' SECOND GRADE. Mt. Albert Grammar 29, beat Auckland Grammar 3. THIRD GRADE. > Mt. Albert Grnnimar IC, beat Auckland Grammar 15. Sacred Heart 12, beat Takapuna "Grammar 0. FOURTH GRADE. Sacred Heart !>, beat Takapuna 0. FIFTH GRADE. - • Takapuna Grammar 19, beat Auckland Grammar 3. Technical College 5, beat Sacred Heart 3. SIXTH GRADE. Mt. Albert Grammar 30, beat Takapuna Grammar 0. Technical College 9, beat Sacred Heart 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Mt. Albert Grammar 12, beat Sacred Heart 3. . JUNIOR BOYS'. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Suburbs 12. beat Eastern Suburbs 0. Northcotc 11, drew with Parnell 11. JUNIOR ;GRADE. Eden 8, beat Manukau A 0. Parnell 9, beat Y.M.C.A. O. Eastern Suburbs 28,' beat Manukau B 0. •Otahuhu 23,'. beat'. Good Shepherd' Con■veht^O.'•— .'..:.:. '•...:...«.'_•.. Kewt<ws3 f -beat: , Nortlico ) te-O t !at *