THE RUGBY LADDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 130, 4 June 1934, Page 13

THE RUGBY LADDER.

GRAFTON UP A PEG. NOW LEVEL WITH MANXTKATT. RIFLES DOWN TO OTAHUHU. Weather conditions on Saturday -were not in favour of tlic fastest football, but even, forward battling gave plenty of interest to the games in the Auckland Rugby • Union's senior competition. In the main game at Eden Park, Grafton scored a 13—3 win over Manukau Rovers, and thus placed themselves on the top rung of the competition latflbr, level with the club which they defeated. The chief surprise of the scries was the defeat of College Rifles by Otahuliu at Sturgcss Park, the red and blacks downing the blues to the tune of 19 points to H. The most evenly-contested match of the afternoon was that between Ponsonby and Grammar Old Boys, which was fought out on No. 2 ground at headquarters. The final whistle found Ponsonby victorious by a single point. In the fourth contest of the series Technical defeated University by 9 points to 5 at the Showgrounds. The positions of the teams are: — Pts. Ch. V. W. Tj. D. F. A. Pts. Manukau 0 4 2 — 30 64 S Grafton 3 4 1 — 72 38 8 College Rifles .. (! 3 3 — 60 62 0 Technical 0.8. . 6 3 3 — 44 30 G Ponsonby 3 3 2 — 48 55 6 Otahuliu 5 3 - — 58 51 G Grammar 5 2 3 — 56 4 6 4 University .... 5 1 4 — 81 75 2 Marist 5 1 4 — 35 S3 2

GRAFTON'S FINE FORWARDS.

That Grafton possesses n splendid for- | ward division, whose uienibo.rs combine brain witli brawn, was well demonstrated in the main game at Eden Park, where the black and whites defeated Mnnukau Rovers by 13 points to 3. With tlie ground ncavy a'nd the ball slippery, the game was largely a forward battle, and undoubtedly the Grafton pack shadowed their opponents. At the outset Manukau played up splendidly, and for a time had tlie opposition defending desperately, but eventually the Grafton forwards raised tlie siege. Following a warm Grafton attack, when the game was 15 minutes cid. Ileazlewood delayed bis clearing kick a fraction too long, mid the ball struck Ryall, one of the Grafton iivceighths, and bounced back past the Manukau full-back. In a flash Ilyall was after it, and with no one to stop him lie was able to kick it over the Manukau line and to fall on it for a try which Stuart converted. Shortly afterwards Heazlewood landed a good penalty goal, and at half-time tlie score was o—3.0 —3. 'iho second spell had not been long In progress before a series of attacks by rhc Grafton bucks ended in another try by Ryall. which Paton converted. In despeiate efforts to make up the leeway, Manukau several times almost scored, but luck was not witlu them, and the only other points added before tlie final came as the result of an unconverted try scored by Stuart, the Grafton five-eighth. On the day Grafton were the better team, and deserved their success. Led by McLean, Finlayson and Hardie, their forwards played finely throughout, and at times showed excellent control with their feet. In the set scrums their superiority was not so apparent, but in the open they teamed well together and generally controlled the play. Paton, the Grafton full-back, gave another sound exhibition, some of his best work being accomplished in the early stages when Manukau were fighting to score. Generally, however, it was not a match in which the backs could shine. In the matter of luck Manukau fared poorly. Notably were they unfortunate mid-way through the second spell, when Poulton missed a moral try. Securing the ball on the Grafton twenty-five line, the centre made one of the finest individual efforts seen at Eden Park this season, going completely through the Grafton defence on his own. As he raced across the line with no one near lilm the Manukau supporters started to cheer lustily, but tlie centre then made the mistake of trying to swerve in near. the posts, and before he could save himself the ball had slipped from his hands. In an effort to retrieve the position he threw himself at tlie ball, but it rolled over the dead ball line a lew feet in front of him. It was a certain try lost, and lost at a critical point in tlie game. Had Poulton touched down in the position where he crossed the line the chrinces are that Heazlewood would nave converted, and Manukau would have been within a couple of points of their opponents' total. In such a position the bliiota might have been able to bring off another of those winning finishes which have made them a popular team at headquarters. It was unfortunate for Manukau that Hatfield's retirement lialf-way through the game caused a rearrangement of the backs. Brimble, the nimble five-eighth, going behind the scrum. Berridge was below form, with the result that tlie backs outside him received only a limited number of chances. Amongst the forwards Pepper. Constable and Pearce were always in the picture.

TECHNICAL'S NARROW WIN.

A very even contest under conditions in which combined spectacular play was hardly to be looked for was waged between Technical Old Boys and University at the Showgrounds. The tally at the finish, !)—5 in favour of Technical, fairly indicates the merits of the teams on the day. Breaking into their work from the outset with line dash, both sets of forwards kept the ball travelling up and down the field at a great pace. The Inside backs had a busy time defending the onslaughts, but came through the ordeal well. Usually they were too crowded by the quick moving forwards to inaugurate combined passing bouts, and resorted to line kicking, both as a" defensive and attacking medium. On the run of tho game in the first half the work of the Technical pack was responsible for a slight territorial advantage for the side, though neither goal line was seriously threatened for anv length of time. It was only towards the end of the spell that scoring was opened with a fine penalty goal kicked by Murdoch for Technical. The latter were attacking strongly when the breach occurred, and threatening their opponents line. For a brief period in the second spell University kept their opponents busy defending, and once or twice Caughey looked dangerous. Excellent fielding and line kicking by Lord was a feature of •the game, though there was nothing lacking in the defence of the other baaks. The tries scored by Technical came from snap opportunities in the loose, Turbott and Common both seizing chances in the open near the 'Varsity line. The inside backs played capably throughout, McAdam, who took the place of Haslam, giving an excellent display at five-eighth. He combined well with Murdoch and Aro, and did his full share in defence. The 'Varsity pack was little inferior to that o£ the victors, and the backs were always a potential danger. This was exemplified on several occasions, more particularly when 'Varsity's only try was scored. Caughey initiated the movement from his own twenty-five, breaking away with a fine dash. He was ably supported by Mulvihill and Kedgley, and Sherwood. coming with a fine burst of speed, completed the movement in workmanlike manner. Hamilton at full-back foi* 'Varsity played soundly, and the inside backs did strenuous work in defence. Bush was prominent in this respect until obliged to retire through an injury. His place was taken by Green, who performed capably.

OTAHUHU—COLLEGE RIFLES.

Plaved at Sturgess Park the Otahuhu— College Rifles engagement was a brilliant jrnme which, on occasions, reached the heights, anil hut for intermittent showers, would have revealed some really great football. Always a hard team to beat on their home grouml at Sturgess Park, Otahuhu started to collect points ritfht from Ihe opening whistle, and in a high scoring contest won 19 —11. i, _ For the winners-. White, custodian, was too inclined to wait for the ball to bounce, and caused his supporters some anxious moments. All" the three-quarters yore on their game: Hedge, first five-eighth, vios the best inside man on the paddock. Both on attack and defence he was wonderful, ami has a great future. Solomon beliin the pack, out-played the Rifles half, and put up a splendid performance. The best forwards were Evans Williams, Icarus and Cox. Gladding (2) Pearson, Williams and Harland scored tries. White converting two. For the losers, Kirk had a very hard afternoon. He did not field as well as usual. Wales and Brown were mnikcd all day. and were never allowed much in which to work. Wales was the the three-qunrter line. Both McCormiek and Albrecht played particularly Albrecht. who cut .fhrougli brilliantly on two ioccasions Stcwart hooked the ball fa rly cons.stent and shared the honours in the and Ware. 'McCormiek (-cored Colle-o n Acs' onlv try. Wales converted Mo-. Crvniick's try and kicked two penalty goals..

PONSONBY GET THE ODD POINT.

In a great contest, with both teams sharing equally the honours, Ponsonby gained the odd . point against Grammar, winning by 9 points to 8. The game opened up quietly, but as it proceeded more and more vim was put into the play, and it finished in a veritable crescendo of vigorous Rugby. It is doubtful jf anything finer has been seen at Eden Park this season than the terrific onslaught of the Grammar forwards as they sought to turn the tide in the last ten minutes of the match. In the scrum they packed perfectly, sending the ball through to the half with unerring precision, then In a twinkling fanned out in a devastating loose rush that threatened to overwhelm the opposition by sheer weight and speed. Behind the pack Corner was shooting the ball out with unerring accuracy to his five-eighths, who, with the three-quarters, were finishiog with great dash and using every ruse known to Rugby. The attack seemed irresistible. yet the' Tonics never wilted. With the odd point in the bag they naturally, played for safety, slowed down the pace with frequent marks and well placed line kicks. Nor were the blues satisfied with a purely defensive policy. Always they were ready at the slightest slip by •their opponents to turn defence into attack, and the call of "time" l'ound them in the white's twenty-live. These were the closing features, and they epitomised the general run of a great game in which scoring was light and the advantage see-sawed first with one and then the other of the two teams. In the second spell the Grammar forwards established a definite superiority. With monotonous regularity they got the ball from the serum, and their backs had every chance, but the Ponies were on to the five-eighths like tigers, and rarely did a back movement gain much ground. The Ponsonby forwards were obviously up against it, but they never wavered, and were well supported behind, though Moses at full gave rather a weak exhibition. Jamicson at five-eighth was in capital form, and on one occasion paved the way for a well deserved try. Receiving the ball when the Ponies were hard pressed in their own twenty-five, Jamieson. his path completely blocked by a group of Grammar forwards, dummied his way through the lot of them. Once clear of the pack he passed to his backs, who took up the running and finished up a sensational movement close to the posts. Prom the resultant scrum Frankham rot over. Another brilliant episode went to the credit of the Grammar pack, who broke clean through the opposing team with irresistible dash, enabling Knight to score under the posts. Besides the scores already mentioned, Warren scored a try and Richardson kicked a penalty goal for Ponsonby. For Grammar Knight's try was converted by Slylield, who also obtained a try. Mr. C. P. Pau 11 was referee.

GRADE GAMES.

SENIOR B. Eden 15, beat University 0. North Shore 20, beat Parnell 6. Manukau 0, beat Technical 0.8. 3. JUNIOR GRADE. Suburbs 14, boat Oratia-O. Manukau 15, boat Takapuna 3. Ponsonby 13, boat Grammar 9. Marist 14, beat Technical 0.8. 3. Waiteinata 11, beat University 0. THIRD GRADE. Howick 20, boat Waitemata 3. College Rifles 0, beat Eden 3. Technical 0.8. 13, beat Manukau 0. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Grafton 10, beat Suburbs 0. Otahuhu 9, beat Y.M.C.A. 0. Ponsonby 12, beat University 0. Grammar 0.8. 20, beat Northcote 3. FOURTH GRADE. " Technical 0.8. 8, beat Marist 0. Grammar 0.8. 8, beat Eden 6. Suburbs 22, beat Otahuhu 0. Northcote 12, beat Ponsonby 0. FIFTH GRADE. Eden 5, beat Technical 3. Grammar 0.8. G, beat Ponsonby 3. SIXTH GRADE. Suburbs 6, boat Technical 0.8. 0. Parnell 42, beat Otahi.hu 0.

JUNIOR BOYS'.

SENIOR GRADE. Suburbs 19, beat Manukau 3. INTERMEDIATE GRADE. Parnell 18, boat Good Shepherd 0. Suburbs 33, beat Y.M.C.A. 0. Newton 68, beat Manukau 0. St. Barnabas 11, beat Northcote 3. JUNIOR GRADE. Takapuna 15, beat Good Shepherd 0. Eastern Suburbs 19. boat Manukau G. Parnell 9, beat Suburbs 8. Eden 3, drew with Newton 3.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

SENIORS. - Auckland Grammar 8, beat Mount Alber Grammar 0. King's College 15, beat Takapuna Grammar 3. THIRD GRADE. Auckland Grammar A 3, beat Sacrei Heart 0. FOURTH GRADE. Sacred Heart A 9, beat Mount Alber Grammar A 0. Auckland Grammar C 6, beat Sacrei Heart B 0. FIFTH GRADE. Sacretl Heart 3, beat Takapuna Gram. 0 SIXTH GUADE. Sacred Heart A 9, beat Kowhal Junio High 0. Auckland Grammar B 43, beat Sacrei Heart B 0. SEVENTH GRADE. Sacred Heart A 6, beat Mount Alber Grammar A 3. Auckland Grammar B 27, beat Sacrei Heart B 0.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE.

RODNEY. Pakiri 8. beat Puhoi 3. Wellsford 3. beat Matoma 0. Kaitoa 11, beat Port Albert 3. FRANKLIN-PUKEKOHE. Pattimalioe 3, beat Old Boys 0. White Star 11. drew with Bombay 11. Te Kohanga 16, beat Onewhero 0. Grammar 0.8. (Auckland) 12, beat Tunkau 8. Juniors. —Old Boys 8, beat Ramblers 0; Patumahoe 8, beat White Star 0. Third Grade.—-Pukekohe 3, beat Patumahoe 0. HELEXSVILLE. ICaukapakapa 17, heat Parakai 11. Ilclensvillc won by default from Waimamku. Juniors.—Parakai 25, beat Huamai 0; Silverdale G. beat Helensville 3; Kurneu 37, beat Waitoki 0. HAMILTON. ' Old Boys 10, beat Tech. Old Boys 9. Frankton 9, beat Marist 3. Horotiu Freezing Works 21, beat Railway 0. TAUPIRI. Juniors. —Huntly 25, beat Taupirl 3. MORRINSVILLE. Kercone 11, beat Terriers 3. United C, beat Eastern 3. ' Juniors.—Old Boys 9. beat United 4; Tahuna 3, beat Motuiuaoho 0. Third Grade.—High School 3. drew with Terriers 3; Eastern 9, beat Old Boys 5. MATAMATA. Matamata 11, beat Hinuera 0. Patetere 10. beat Wardv.illc 0. Juniors. —Old Boys 6, beat Matamata u ; Hinuera 34, beat Waliaron 0. Thirds.—Walton 12, beat Hinuera 0 ; High School 18, beat Patetere 3. CAMBRIDGE. Hautapu 5. beat Leamington 3. Northern 10, beat United i>. All four teams are equal in the championship points. Juniors. —Hautapu 10, beat United 0; Leamington G, beat Northern 0; Maungatautari 3. beat Karapiro 0. - Third Grade.—Leamington 11, beat Northern 5; United 9, beat Hautapu 5. TE AROHA. City 25, beat Waihou 0. Juniors. —Hot Springs 9, beat Elstow G ; Manawaru G. beat Waihou 3. A Third Grade. —Waihou 19, beat City 0, Manawaru 11, beat High School 3. THAMES. College Old Boys 20, beat Physical Train--111 Juniors. —High School S. beat College Old Bovs 5 ' Turua 0, drew with Hui Mai 6. ' Third Grade. —College Old Boys 1-, beat High School 3. OTAMATEA. - Paparoa 9, beat Wutpu 0. „ Maungaturoto 9, beat Marollcino o. Mangswai 3, beat Kaiwaka 0. Juniors —Batley 13, beat Paparoa a; Taip iha 13. beat Waipu 0; Marcretu J, beat tfauDgaturoto o.

TAURANGA. Matabana IG, beat Athletic S. Te Puna 18, beat Cailcts 13. Rangataua, a bye. Juniors. —Matakana 20, beat Athletic 0; Cadets IS, beat Country C; Rangataua, a bye. MERCURY BAT. Whitianga 20, beat United 3. WHAXGAREI. Seniors.—Old Boys 3, beat Hikurangi 0; Ivaramea beat City; Mangakaliia IS, beat Horabora 13. Juniors: Whakapara 0. beat_Hikurangl S; Waiotira 12, beat Horaliora 5. Tllird Grade. —High School 9, beat Hikurangi 8. HUXTLY. Taupirl 11, beat Huntly 3. Juniors. —Ngaruawaliia 3, beat Wailii 3; Huntly 33, beat Taupiri 3. Third Grade. —Huntly High School 13, beat Huntly 3. DARG AVILLE. Waima 14, beat Kaihu Valley 3. Ruawai 14, beat Dargaville 0. Southern beat Northern 3. Juniors.—Tangowaliine 17, beat Waima 3; Southern 3, beat Kaihu Valley 3. Third Grade. —Dargaville 20, beat High School 0; Ruawai 3, beat Tangowaliine 0. "WAIUKU. Waipipi 12, beat Otaua 0. M A N G AT AW 111 RI. rokeno 2G, beat Mangatangi 6. Mercer 23, beat Valley 'J. ROTORUA. "Waikite 27, beat Utuliinn 0. Kahukura 10, beat Waiariki 9. TE AWASIUTU. Waikeria 12, beat Suburbs (leaders) 6. Rovers 9, beat Te Awuimitu 0. WHAKATANE. I'aroa G, beat Ruatoki G. RAXGPI'AIKI. Matata 2G, beat Awakeri 3. TE PUKE. Rangiuru 12, beat Pongakawa 5.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH.

TAIIIAPI2. IT ilia 29. beat Utiku 8. Pirates 10, bent Hautapu 0. Juniors.-—Utiku 4, boat llhvera 3; Huia 11, beat Hautapu li. I'ALMERSTON NORTH. Fellding Old Boys 11, boat Old Boys 11. Kin Toa 9. boat St. Patrick's 0. Woodville 0. boat United Masscy College 9, beat Feilding 5. NEW PLYMOUTH. Tukapa IS, beat Old Boys 9. Pa tea 10, boat Star S. Clifton 3, beat Empire Old Boys 0. Stratford S, boat Kaponga •'!. Opunake 7, boat United Old Boys 6. 1011 li ain 0, beat Ha went 5. Wairuate 12, boat Inglewood 8. WANGANUI. Pirates IS, beat Marist 10. Old Boys 2(!, beat Teebnical 01(1 Boys 3. Wavcrley 11, boat Kaierau 6. GISBORNE. Finals.—Celtic IS, beat Old Boys 3. Y.M.P. O, beat Marist 5. NAPIER. H. 5.0.8. (Napier) 14, beat M.8.0.8. 3. Eskview 12, boat Hastings 11. Technical Old Boys 11, beat Celtic 9. Pirates 20, boat Tauiatea S. Hastings H. 5.0.8. 10, beat Havelock North 0. WELLINGTON. Senior A.—First Division : Wellington 11, beat Athletic 3. Petone 9, beat Eastbourne 8. Poneke 5, beat Marist 3. Senior A—Second Division : Oriental 3, boat Miramar 0. Joliusonville 0, beat Melrose 5. OAMARU. Old Boys S, beat Maheno 0. Excelsior 17, beat Athletic 14. TIMARU. SCingari 3 beat Pleasant Point 0. Old Boy 9, beat Tcmuka S. Star 14, beat Wallii 0. Celtic 14, drew with Geraldine 14. INVERCARGILL. Blues 20, beat Mataura 18. Old Boys 9, boat Star 3. DUNEDIN. University A 23, beat Duncdin 0. Zingari 3, beat Alhanibra 0. Taieri 9, .beat Pirates 0. Sou'hern 38, beat University B 0. Kuikorai 15, beat Union 0.

TWO VICTORIES FOR N.S.W.

SYDNEY. June 3. In a Utility Union match New Soutt Wales defeated Victoria on Saturday by 11 points to 14. At Brisbane another New South Wales fifteen defeated Queensland by 26 points to -3.