WET-DAY RUGBY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 184, 6 August 1934, Page 12

WET-DAY RUGBY.

MANUKAU BEAT GRAFTON. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES FINE FORWARD PLAY. On soggy fields and in Incessant rain the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship matches were continued on Saturday. Manukau, by scoring a splendid three-point win over Graf ton in the main attraction at Eden Park, are now level in championship points with Grafton. Two Saturdays ot representative football intervene before the fuial matches of the series are played, and when the competition is resumed Manukau will play 'Varsity and Grafton will meet Ponsonby. A play-off, on present form, looks assured. It was an atrocious day for Rugby, and in all games there were frequent hold-ups while players had mud removed from their eyes by ambulance men. A bucket of water was kept handy on the sideline on No. 1 Eden Park for the purpose. In other senior matches, Otnhuhu beat University at the Showgrounds by -two points and Technical College Old Boys drew with Ponsonby, both sides scoring three points. Results were:—

A DIVISION. Manukau 0, beat Grafton 3. Technical 3, drew with Pohsonby 3. Otahuhu 8, beat University G. B DIVISION. Grammar A 0. beat Grammar B 3. Marist 9. beat Eden 3. North Shore 6, beat College Rifles 3. Championship Ponits. Cli Pts. Ist 2nd P. W. I* D. Kd. Ud. Tl. Grniton 4 3 1 — II <> IT Maiiukau .... 4 •_> 1 1 12 5 17 Otnhuhu 4 !! 1 — f> « 15 University ... 4 2 2-— 7 411 Ponsonby 4 — 3 1 10 1 11 Technical 0.8. 4 — 2 2 S 2 io SEN lOK B. Cli Pts. Ist 2nd P. W. L. D. Ktf. 14<i. Tl Eden 4 1 3 — 14 2 Ki North Short; .. 4 2 2 — 12 4 Hi Grammar A .. 4 :j — l 7 7 14 Grammar B .. 4 — 4 — 10 — 10 Marist 4 4 — — 2 SlO Collesu Hides .4121689 BY THREE POINTS.

Mainly Ijy means of the splendid loose piny of I heir forwards, Mauukau beat Grafton iu the big match of the day at Eden I'tll'k, and arc now equal iu points for the championship. There were periods when the Kiniill crowd was roused to warm enthusiasm as the forwards of either aide swept along with the ball ut their feet in glorious fashion. Open back play was impossible under the conditions, and with the rain coming down incessantly, it was essentially a forward battle from the word go. Fine loose forward movements by the Manukau packmen kept Grafton defending solidly at the outset, and Manukau, taking full advantage of an early command, made desperate efforts to score. On the few occasions that the backs attempted concerted work, the passes went hopelessly astray, and when the ball was dropped the Grafton backs were quick to leap in and clear. Often a dropped pass iu a Mauukau attack led to a oplendid counter-attack by Grafton. Hnlf-wny through the spell, a penalty came to Manukau, aiid with a great kick, with a ball which was comparatively dry, Heazlewood goaled from the side-line on the tweuty-tive-yard mark. L.eas than half-way through the second spell Manukau were attacking with great ; vigour, and there were some anxious ■moments for Grafton. A scrum went down between the Grafton line and their twentyfive, and from it Hatlield sent his backs away. Saking the ball at top, Briinble cut out his man and sent the ball to Berridge, who went over for a splendid try. lleazlewood miseed the kick. Now Graftou were hammering solidly at the Mnnukau line. A scrum went down live yards out and from it Grafton heeled cleanly. In a flash Inglis raced round the blind side, threw a dummy to the Manukau wing, and dived over for a tine try. I'aton missed the kick. Then followed another telling loose forward attack by Manukau, and for a moment it appeared that a movement which started in Manukau's twenty-flve would be crowned by a try. But l'aton held them up and the rest of the backs were swift to cover iu defence.

ALL SQUARE,

Despite unfavourable conditions there was always plenty of action in the Pon-sonby-Technical Old Boys match on No. 2 ground. Ponsonby began playing two men short, but Organ put In an appearance half-way through the first spell, and I'onsonby played the remainder of the afternoon with 14 in the side. The greasy ball was against any dashy movements on the part of the backs, but this did not deter the I'onsonhy rearguard from giving it a go and there were occasions when the ball was passed along with surprising accuracy. In the opening spell Ponsonby, if anything, had a shade the better of the play, but there had been no score recorded by either side when the change over was made at the interval. In the second half Technical definitely held the balance of play and were almost continually attacking. Ho.wever,. the defence was solid and only once did Technical score, Common dribbling over Ponsonby's line and registering a rather easy try, with only a couple of minutes to go. When Ponsonby were in Technical - !) twenty-five a pennlty was awarded the blue and blacks, and Pearman goalrd from an ensy position, the teams leaving the field with honours even —3 all. On the Ponsonby side .Tamieeon played soundly at full-back, and in the threequarter line Carter was most conspicuous. Ho made several very fine runs and was a shade unlucky in not scoring on two occasions. Pearman did a tremendous amount of work at five-eighths, but he had ample chances ns Frankham, the half, gave him plenty of ball. The forwards worked hard, Potter being responsible for a fine showing. Lord was always safe at full-back for Technical, and Turbott was the best of the three-quarters. Murdoch did. solid work at five-eighths, and behind the pack Aro lincl plenty to do. The forwards held together i well and were a well-balanced pack. They showed to slight advantage over the Ponsonby forwards.

A CLOSE FINISH.

By reason of their superiority in the forwards, Otahuhii gained a nice win over "Varsity at the Showgrounds on Saturday by 8 to 0. Right from the kick-off the red and blacks were content to keep the ball at toe, owing to the greasy state of the ball making accurate handling out of the question. The pack gave a really outstanding display, their work in the loose being n feature of the game. The backs never made any attempt to throw the ball about, but on the few occasions they did collaborate they handled the greasy bull | surprisingly we'll. On the other hand, the 'Varsity vanguard could not cope with their heavier opponents, but they never let up. contesting every inch of the match. The backs never had a chance to reve.il their speed and dash, and were defending foe the'greater portion of the game. No player could be expected to shine under such conditions, but prominent for Otahuhu were Pearson, Solomon, Jury and .Tones, while for 'Varsity Lewis, Bush and Boswell were always in the limelight.

MANUKAU SUB-UNION.

On Saturday the Manukau senior reps, journeyed to Tuakau to meet the Franklin team for the second inter-union match. Manukau were short of their two best forwards in Cossey and Sinton owing to the •flu, and were beaten by 9 to 3 on a sodden field. • The local backs played well and won the game. Bush scored early in a good position, but the-ball was too heavy for goal kicking. Before half-time Bush s-ored again. Then Dow, with a brilliant run down the field, scored only points. Just before the whistle Rnta touched down, right between the posts, th& game ending: Franklin !), Mnnukau S.

At Papakura the Franklin jnniors defeated Manukau after a very patchy game, the' heavy rain preventing any combined work at all. Cntheart. for Franklin, rushed down Nα clearing kick by' the home fullback,/ and, side-stepping, scored under the posts, but the kick failed. Shortly biforo liaK-tlme fr«m a loose scrum the Franklin skipper nipped up the ball- and scored. These were the only scores. For Franklin —Cntheart was" the best back, whlla for ' Manukau -Hooper and Thompson did all'that could be expected. Orutn at half did not get the ball, but his defence was good. , Lees,. VVright and Hawkcn were the best I of the '.forwards.'-Mr. :£.. -J. 'Dotcbin waai : referee. ! '

NARROW WIN FOR A'S. The game between Grammar A nnd Grammar B in the reserve grade, like others on the day, was affected by the adverse tonditions underfoot and overhead. Notwithstanding this, the game never lacked interest. The B team, though playing a man short in the scrum, quickly adapted themselves to the conditions, and, keeping tho ball on the ground, kept their opponents busy in defence during tll9 first portion of the opening spell. They- were assisted materially by the excellent fielding and line kicking of their backs, who repeatedly gained ground by their sound tactics. Throughout the game the A players were the more inclined to open up the back play, but accurate handling was almost impossible, and little advantage was gained. Their scores were obtained from, loose rushes, and the shots acgonl witli the sodden ball were excellent. The A players were* more aggressive in the second spell, and excellent work by both full-backs repeatedly drove back lorward rushes. For the A team Matlieson gave a very sound exhibition at full-back. Hamilton at wing three-quarter showed tine pn.ee on occasions, while 11. Buckley, on the other wing, also showed good form. J ess up was handling well, and Sly Held in the lir.it spe"l did some excellent kicking. Among the forwards Buckley, Morgan and Don were always promineut In a puck that worked hard throughout. For the »i team, McCowilU at fuU-but-K played an outstanding game, lielding the ball well .aud kicking with power and accuracy. The backs generally confined their efforts to defence. Among the forwards Ilookway, Bouike and French were frequently prominent, though die first-named was Inclined to ignore the offside rule.