RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 216, 12 September 1934, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

COMING ATTRACTIONS. BOUND THE CLUBS. PARS ABOUT PLAYERS. Auckland Rugby followers have ben jubilant over the recovery of the Ranfurly Shield, which has been absent from this .city for more than 20 years, and the victorious team will be accorded a wonderful reception when it takes the field against Taranaki at Eden Park next Saturday. Although there is a possibility that some of the members of the team which conquered Hawke's Bay will not be playing, the bulk of the team will be there,, and they will strive all they can to avoid a defeat by the Taranaki visitors. With their newly-won glory they have acquired a reputation which they must uphold, and with Taranaki equally keen to win some fine football should be seen. Auckland will not defend the Ranfurly Shield this season, and by the time challenges are met next season it is expected that this city will have a team far superior to those which have represented it iu recent years. Grafton and Manukau are both working hard in view of their battle for the senior championship next Saturday week, while the other clubs are busily preparing to win the jubilco trophy. The Manukau senior team which journeyed to Xew Plymouth last week-end suffered defeat by Tukapa. The seashore boys have no excuses to make for their defeat, but there is little doubt that the continuous rush of travelling from the time they left Auckland until shortly before they took the field left them somewhat jaded. Even then they would have won if there had been a goal-kicker in the team, nine penalties within reasonable distance of the goal all being fruitless. Brimble, the Manukau five-eighths, played an excellent game and took the fancy of the Xew Plymouth fans, while three members of the Tukapa team caught the eyes of the Aucklanders. Sullivan, the Tukapa centre, played a particularly good game, while Boswell, the half-back, and Brown, the first five-eighths, also impressed. Brown," who takes 13.4 into the five-eighth line, proved himself a very hard man to stop. A fine performance for a young player was given by D. Bailey, brother of the 1928 Rhodes Scholar, Dr. K. Bailey, hi last Saturday's tournament. Leaving Sac red Heart College last year, Bailey) joined up with the Marist Club and gained a place in the senior pack, where fiin attention to training made him increasingly valuable. Last Saturday he showed a surprising turn of speed in scoring two tries, while his handling was perfect, and. as he is only 19 years of age, he should carve out a place for himself ou the Rugby field before very long. The Eastern _ Suburbs third grade team has run Technical, which cannot lose the grade championship, very close on three occasions. In the first round the result was a draw, six points each, a like score being recorded in the second round, Technical winning the third game by uix points to three.

Mick Noakcs, who played for the College Rifle*) senior team some years ago, is now a resident of Hamilton, but he was in town last week-end, and with lusty barracking assisted his former club from the side-line. After the seven-a-side tournament had concluded he went to the Domain, and in like fashion assisted tha Rifles' third: piade team. With the season now far advanced finality is fast /Being reached in the junior grades, some of which have practically been decided. In the junior grade Ponsonby has won the A section, Otahuhu the B and Eden the C, and these three teams will play off for the grade championship. 11l the third grade Technical cannot be beaten, while in the intermediate grade Grammar and Ponsonby, which have won the A and B sections respectively, have to play off. Grammar fourths have come through the season without a loss and cannot fail to take that grade championship, while the Eden team, with an unbeaten record also, must win the fifth grade title. The sixth grade championship has been won by Manukau.

The Marist backs, Clark, Curtayne, Logan and Bell-Booth, proved too fast for their opponents in the seven-a-side tournament last Saturday, and sprang a surprise on spectators by winning through to the final, which will be played against Ponsonby next Saturday. Bell-Booth should cultivate the side-step he produced, while Logan will be an even more valuable member of the side if he can reproduce that form in the Jubilee Cup series. Locke lived up to his reputation as a lively forward, and. despite the encroachmsnt, of Father Time, he showed he is one of the fittest men in the senior ranks.

Hard training and continual playing demands a spell, and Rugby players look forward to the annual social gathering towards the close of the season. Next Saturday members of the Parnell Club will gather round the festive board to bid farewell to the popular skipper, Tom Courtney, who is leaving for Australin and also to enjoy their annual smoke-o. The University Club also intends holding its annual gathering on the same evening. Drake, the University forward, who has not been seen on the field for some weeks owing to illness, is likely to be again available for the remaining matches of tha season.

An excellent record lias been established by N. Richards, break-away forward of the Eastern Suburbs . third grade team, who has crosscd the line on 13 occasions this season, an excellent tally for a forward. R. Dunn, who has been transferred to Wellington, will be a hard forward to replace. His brother, A Dunn is one of the most improved players m tho team. After being injured lost Saturday L. Slattery was moved to full-back, and ably filled the strange position.

A lengthy list of tries has been compiled by Richardson, centrc of the College Rifles third grade team, and one of the fastest players in the division. Martin, one of the inside backs, arid Barker, the hooker, have also been showing fine form for the same team, which includes many promising players.