BRIGHT RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 232, 2 October 1933, Page 13

BRIGHT RUGBY.

CHAMPIONSHIP , GAMES.

PONSONBY TAKES THE LEAD

DEFEAT OF UNIVERSITY,

Rugby supporters were treated to some thrilling football on Saturday, l'ousouby, by a brilliant win over University in the big match of the day at Eden Park, now bead the championship table, two points ahead of University and Marist. The match was played with glorious pace, and tne ,big crowd was kept shouting with excitement throughout. Manukau, living up to their reputation as the hardest team to beat on Eden Park, scored a good win over Mariet in the curtain-raiser. Followers of the game at the Show Urounds were given plenty of excitement with the meeting o f Grammar and' College Kittes, who were battling to retain tlieir senior status. it was a hectic game, won oy liitles in the last minute with a line try. Training College, on the same ground, shaded Graftou all the way to win jyTji s clear points, and Technical College Old Boys were rive points better than Utahuhu.

Results were:— Poneonby 22, .beat University 13. Manukau «J, .beat Marist 7. rraining College 18, beat Urafton 3. College Rirleo IS, beat Grammar Ij. ■technical 11, beat (Jtahuhu U. llie championship, table ia: — .„ Points. Ch. Team P. w . L. D. F. A. Pis. 1 onsonby ... 17 1: > ;! ■_, la(J oy Lmversity . . 17 12 5 — sag ia7 24 Marist 17 12 r> — 107 113 Hi Grammar ... 17 10 u 1 iuu 21 V, 1 ' 1111 !" 1 17 « S 1 IS3 l'J3 17 Manukau ... 17 ti 0 ii m im 14 1 raining Col. 17 u l> 111) IU2 13 leehnieal ... 17 511 1 l>2 174 Jl Coll. K, nes .. 17 slt ± 138 2(J: , j, Utahuhu 17 412 1 liu 213 U

PONSONBY'S SPECTACULAR WIN.

A game crammed with sparkling incident was the match between Ponsonby iind University, tho main attraction tit Kden Park, ana by l'onsonby winning and Mnrist losing to Manukau In the curtain-raiser, Pousonby are now two clear points ahead on the championship ladder. l'onsonby deserved to win. Although their backs were not as polished as those of University their team work was far superior, and, taken all through, they were more resourceful and enterprising. Before the game was very old University were eight points up, and •at that stage University were playing so brilliantly that the crowd was prepared to see a procession of University backs to tho Ponsonby goal line. For twenty minutes University reigned supreme, delighting the crowd with their fast-moving back attacks and confusing the Ponsouby defence with their swift and determined raids. Quickly the fortunes changed and the game took on a new aspect. Ponsonby ■were seen in a different light, fighting recklessly and with wonderful determination, and when half-time came they had scored two converted tries, giving them a lead of two points. Still University played confidently, and it was generally thought that the speed and eluslveness of the University backs would eventually carry them on to victory.

It was not to be. Slowly Ponsonby assumed command, and gradually their score began to mount. Even at lti—S University were expected to stage a spectacular recovery, and so they tried, Brilliant back piny and then a glorious cut-in by Caughe'y brought University within three points of their opponents. University were now wilting under the sustained forward attack of Ponsonby, who were led hroughout in inspired fashion by Solomon. The big, loose forward played one of those rare games of wlifich he is capable, and three times his uncanny eye for an opening and his wonderful determination led to spectacular tries. With six points separating the tennis, the game appeared to be won and lost. Fast heeling from scrums, however, gave the University backs every opportunity, and there came a scries of brilliant attacks. Jagusch sent out fast and perfect passes from the base of the scrum, Bush went up among the backs to make an extra centre, and they did ;fll they knew to lind a way through a defence that was rock-like. Near the end Milliken, who had gone from ms blind wing to lirst live-eighth, attempted a field goal that foiled. It was attempted at a time when live points were urgently needed by University,. and tharewas > In that movement a rare opportunity for Miniken to pave the way for a try. lie could have pranced through a gaping hole in the Ponsonby defence and- raced through to Kerr-Taylor before unloading. it lookeu obvious, but it is easy to play the fooba.l match from the stand. PouVjnby defence in those last low minutes was admirable With wonderfully determined tackling, they withstood all the onslaughts of the University backs. It was superb defence, never under suspicion Aid just when the University attack looked as tliou"h it might bring success Poiison h> turned the tables in a way that Ponsonby has, and in a brilliant movement whlfch went three-ijuarters of the length of the held; Fraser scored, to put the issue beyond all doubt.

RIFLES JUBILANT.

The truth of the old saw that a game is never lost until it is won was well illustrated at the Showground*, where College limes snatched a IOBt-mlunte victor,'from Grammar Old Boys. The Klfles took tie flniii with the knowledge Unit u tuej we i beaten they would .probably lou.their senior status next year, and /^°- n J*'?* ,1 the game they got a lead for the first time, lost it anil then regained it, all In the space of a few minutes, they wero JuWliint It was a scarred hut broadly-smiling; fifteen that filed off the field, winners by a!> points were definitely the. better team in the iirst half, even allowing loi the fact that the dark blues were unlucky not to score at least once. At the leather the Old Hoys had a clear lead of nno points, the result of three unconverted tries one of which was a peualt.i awarded for obstruction. Rlllca wnttt work with a will in the second spell, and •i splendid nffv-yards run by U Stewalt hr.ii lit a try, which Wales converted. An unconverted try by W. S. Kirk Put_ the blues within a single jioint otthiOT opp. - winners Then came the greatest excltcment of the nintcb. No sooner had run from. JuK-wny *%£%££ ecnc'itinnnl trv, which- \\.ili's converrea. Grammar backs Bwuns away In α-pretry movement, Which hrousht an J}^ o^ 0 try and a two-point lead- : })^ wards -ending in a u) "/[„. Li-Irvp rillv which Wales converted. <»" R (•niiA«-v.ii -mil then came the linni ■WJiistie. Stewart were great workers among a P which save their backs a. good share oi the ba Locldnston, W. Hatty «nd cau-ht the eye more than tlie om Grammar forwards. Corner J**"* ten applauded for line work on de n aml nippy Play on attack, nntl Mntb«son .|«« field h.id on off day with his kicking for he failed to convert a sin 3 lc one of his. side"s iive tries.

WIN Fo£ TECH. OLD BOYS.

Technical won this clash 11— 0, but a draw would have been a true of the play. The winners -were tUc first to score, when Common went over at the beginning of the game. Otahu liii Jjenod ImmedJately, when Trcvem got across. _AC the interval tlie score was unchanged. Murdoch scored rfirly in the second 40 minutes and put the Old Boys in front. .Late m the frame, Otahllbu .agalft (Hew level, when White kicked a lino ponalty goal. Just before the end a converted try, scored by Harris, gave the jrreens the victory Harris, half, and Murdoch, hrst flveeichths, were the winners' best backs. '1 he line-out work of the worwards was superior to that of theiropponenls, and Iliey secured more possession from (he scrums. allliouKh eacli pack was penalised for not playing the ball properly. Nelson, A Keane.and Hardley were gi-eiit toilers in the tight. Bowling and Ashley showed up in tha open play.

For the losers. Mason saved brilliantly on occasions. White, second five-eighths, tackled very well, and kept his opponent, Haslam, quiet all afternoon. The backs committed the error of not running up to their man and drawing him before letting the ball out to their supports. Many yards of good ground were lost frequently, and when the three-quarters received possession, they 'found their way blocked not only by the opposition three-quarter line, but also by the opposing insides, who had moved across to assist in the defence. X'eterson and Evans were very conspicuous for their quick breaking and fast following up. Cox, (irace and Thomson also played good games. TEACHERS' GOOD WIN. Training College registered one of their best wins of the season at the Showgrounds, where they scored a decisive victory at the expense of Grafton. Four tries, three of which were converted, save them eighteen points, and Grafton were good enough for only one try, which was nut convened. It was not a brilliant exhibition of the code — mostly the play was scrappy —but (he carefree manner in which both teams threw the ball about kept the game interesting and prevented it from becoming iii any way drab. It was Grafton who made the play at the start, but the teachers' defence was sound, and when College took a turn Pountney went over for an unconverted try. A try by Skipper, converted by Towusend, made it B—o8 —0 at half-time. In the second spell the play was brighter. A second try by Pountney, converted by Townsend, put Ibe teachers well in front, and although Stuart opened Graf ton's account with a try, College had the final say, Uowe scoring and Townsend converting. , Townsend, with his head heavily bandaged, was in tine form, and his many clever openings did a lot towards giving his side a big'wiu. Dare, the oilier College live-eighth, was also a lot in the picture on attack, and tackled finely when Grafton were dangerous. At full-back Lewis was safe. Webber, Gunu and l'ouutney were all great workers. Among the Grnfton hacks Stuart showed the most initiative. l'aton L?ndled well, but his place kicking was sadly astray. In the second spell the black and whites rearranged their backs, Stuart going nearer the scrum, but the three-quarters got tew opportunities. Finlayson and Fraser both played tirelessly and Shadbolt got through some good work in the tight. MARIST BACKS FAIL. Failure on the part of the Marist backs to collaborate on attack cost the team its match with Manukau, the tixture being staged as the curtain-raiser at Eden Park. After a game that was alternately brilliant and mediocre, Manukau wan by nine points to seven. Manukau fully lived up to their reputation of being one of tin* hardest teams in the competition to beat on Eden Park. They played with the abandon lor which they are renowned, and their win was one of sheer merit. Marist failed by two points because their backs failed to function. Connolly, at half-back, was hopelessly off his inline, seeding ■ out consistently erratic passes, and hampering the work of the other backs. In the face of difficulties, Muller played his part well, and wa.-s quick to grasp any opening that came h'.s way, but he had a hard road to hoe. Friond showed glimpses of real ability on attack, but his defence was always under suspicion. A feature of the match was the splendid exhibition of Hare, at full-back. Brought from the Sacred Heart College team especially for the game, he kicked splendidly and tackled resolutely. He earned much applause for a brilliant field-goat—one of the best of the season.

SHIELD HELD.

KING COUNTRY'S CHALLENGE. CANTERBURY HAS BIG WIN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.* CIIRISTCHURCII, Saturday. Glorious weather again prevailed for the last match of the season lor the Ranfurly Shield. On this occasion the challenger was the King Country team from the North island. There was an attendance of t>ooo. The teams took the Held without alterations. Cottrell's kick-ofi." was followed by a tight scrummage at the King Country twentylive, in which the visiting forwards gave ample evidence of their energy, pushing tin' Canterbury men back ten yards. Manchester headed a forward rush, which saw Cottrell and Bourne go dangerously near the King Count;/ line before a forward pass pulled thecu up. Then from a scriim -Uullan sent out to Mortloek, to Oliver and Dunshea, the winger being collared ten yards from the line. Canterbury's h'rst try came from a smart piece of work. Mortlock jinked past two men before sending ou to Oliver-and Brown. The winger had a clear sprint over and scored in a fairly handy position. French's kick missed. Canterbury 3. King Country U. • Galbraith woe injured, but carried on. After a scrummage on the line Canterbury had to force down. When the home team got within striking distance Mullan whipped the ball away quickly from the scrum. Cobden ran straight and clapped on speed before passing to Oliver, who ran brilliantly and sent Dunshea over at the corner. French's kick failed. Canterbury 0, King Country 0. \fler MeLeod failed with a penalty shot for the visitors, Canterbury staged a spectacular attack. The bull was sent out to Brown on the Canterbury left wing. Brown centred neatly, and the Canterbury forwards backed up with precision, and Manchester took a pass, to go over for a great try under the posts. French goaled, making the score Canterbury 11. King Country 0, The home team was throwing the ball about in good style. Another combined rush reached the visitors' twenty-live. Galbrail h relieved the pressure, then Oliver crossed at the cnvi.er Hag. French s kick missed. After another line movement Dunshea scored under the posts and French ■'oaled. Canterbury 19, King Country 0. Cottrell, Manchester and King ran and pnssed like backs in a rush that penefrat.'i the visitors' twenty-five. Mullan snapped up Hie ball from a scrum, and Cobden added to Canterbury's total with an easy potteu goal. Canterbury 23 King Country u Canterbury attacked on resumption, and a blind side movement, in which Coodon and Dunshea figured, took play to the King Country line. Armstrong and Trust were conspicnious in rushes which .drove he home team back. Oliver was injure. but carried on after treatment. In driyins back a Canterbury attack Mtf*od kbW a knock on the head, but ho also was awo lo continue. Armstrong was again piomi iSlk !ho??V°S V;Tf .her follow up dangerously, but Oliver ielded w&smm ¥&.&&£&%£& ,„ Exactly «.o Bam^P«ltlon u TW£ time McLeod took llm kick, "'",", , , French b ury 81. a brilliant piece of Two minutes later a " gave Mannelding and "^ i " un by , n ° "Tiderncatl. tho o""ver'g;-aled m anS the game ended:

Canterbury ' o Kin;,' Country "' WELLINGTON GO DOWN. (By Tclegraph.-Fress Association.) NAPIEK, Saturday. i". a 2« fo 20? Hawke-s Bay ;\ T7_s lmt Wellington finished strongly. The Bay forwards were a big factor in the win. SOUTH AUCKLAND CHAMPIONS. *he rmal of the South Auckland clrnmnfonship was played at Papakura on, Satur,lnv Miinukni boat Waiuku by 24 tO-3. It was a fast forward same, In winch Callnan Iliilltwell. Koss, Hotlgins, Cossey scored a try each, nml Halllwell converted three and also Sicked a penalty. SPECIAL SHIELD MATCH. Ponsonby Boys' Band 10, beat Mount Eden Boys' Band S.