RUGBY HONOURS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1935, Page 14

RUGBY HONOURS.

GRAMMAR'S WIN. PONSONBY GO UNDER. GRAFTON BEAT MANUKAU. Played under a blazing sun and on hard grounds, the Auckland Rugby Union s senior championship matches were continued on Saturday afternoon. The big match of the day was that between Grammar and Ponsonby, victory going to the former by the comfortable margin of 23 points to 11. The match was played at Western Springe Stadium. At the Show Grounds Otahuliu beat College Rifles in a scrappy game, and at Onehunga Grafton triumphed over Manukau., Results of the matches: — Grafton 14, v. Manukau 6. Grammar Old Boys 23, v. Ponsonby 11* Otahuliu 16, v. College Rifles 9. Competition ladder:— Ch v P. W. I/. D. F. A. Pits Grafton I~> ■> "> 1 I®"* JTechnical 0.8. 14 8 4 2 100 I ( *> 1< Ornininnr 0.8. 13 < 4,2 100 147 10 Ota li nil ii 14 8 6 — 17j> 14(. 16 Ponsonby .... 14 (> 5 3 193 l'-> • M-irlsf 14 7 6 1 111 101 l-> University ...12 •"> 5 ~ 1$ 9 Manukau 14 3 8 3 124 102 9 College Hlfles .13 3 10 — 110 -20 0 GRAMMAR'S CONVINCING WIN. With the victories of Grammar, Grafton anil Otalnihu 011 Saturday, the Auckland Kugbv Union's senior championship is still 111 a dillicult position, and it may be that teams will have to he bracketed as l«3o ' ' it 'is not known whether the management committee of the union proposes to play (110 championship to its conclusion, but it is highly probable that the championship will not be concluded before next Saturday week. On present form Grammar are the obvious champions, and if thej retain the form they have displayed In the last couple of matches it is unlikclj that they will be beaten. With their convincing victory over Ponsonby at Western Springs Stadium on Saturday, Grammar further solidified their position. There was never any doubt as to who would win, for every time I'onsonby became at all dangerous the Grammar forwards were in the happy position of being ableito take complete command of scrums, rucks and line-outs at any given stage. The excellent work throughout of the Grammar forwards, supported always by a smooth-working set of backs, led to certain victory. Ixnl on many a fast raid by A. Brown and Morgan, the Grammar pack continually harassed a defence that fast became bewildered. Always the Grammar backs covered much ground when 011 the move, both the wings, Spittal and Kelly, being seen in thrilling runs down the sideline—and two excellent tries were scored by Kelly. With Grammar always on top, the I'onsonby backs appeared in very subdued light, and even when they did get on the move they made little progress. It was left for the greater part of the match for the I'onsonby forwards, gallant fighters that they were, to "carry the baby." They held the' heavier Grammar pack for about the first quarter.- Then they started to wilt before Grammar's crushing weight. In the end they were overwhelmed. LEADERS STILL LEAD. One of those hard breezes which would tempt the average yachtsman to put at least two reefs in the mainsail swept the Waikaraka ground 011 Saturday from eud to end, and most of the play in the GraftonManukau match was In one half of the ground. Grafton, with u point lead in the championship, ami keen on retaining it, took the lield at practically full strength, but the Manukau side was only completed by'drawing hard on the club's lower grades. The ground was of the brickbat variety, bare of grass in places, and hard enough to encourage anyone to play most unselfishly to avoid being caught in possession. Despite blazing sunshine and a summer feeling, quite a bright game resulted, and victory went to the leaders for the reason that on the day their constrictive play was 011 a higher plane than that of their opponents. For nearly all of the first half Iplay was at the .Manukau end, for Grafton had the hard driving wind at tlieir backs. It I was easy to pick up 40 or 50 yards with a line-kick; but against the wind it was hard to make ten yards. I'aton landed one penalty goal out of three shots at handy range, and then at the end of a bright bit if interplay scored a try and converted it. With but a minute fo go to half time it tlid not appear that the Grafton lead was a very safe one, but at tills stape the referee had occasion to order Wickluml, one of the Manukau forwards, off, and from that point the suburban team had to play a man short, a handicap which they were to feel severely, and an unfortunate development which took a lot of interest out of the game. Through the first half the Grafton forwards lacked in virility, but they made a better effort in the second half, ami served their side well. Brimble was the brightest and most impressive of the Manukau backs, with Berridge heady and serviceable, and Hatfield defending gamely all (lie way. Muir, Smith and Whiting showed up well in the Manukau forwards, and Wickluml was playinp an outstanding game up to the time of his departure. The bright, concerted work of the Graftoii backs in attack was the most spectacular feature of the game. Inglis opened the play up in great style, and then Baton, Killeen and Mackie proved a very sure lin kto the right wing, where Dick was in galloping mood, and got a try from the best solo effort in the game. Owen Rogers played well at full-back, but had tlie misfortune to be hurt before the game was over. The Grafton forwards were a very even lot on the day, but Boddick, Hardy and Wills were possibly a shade more prominent than the others. The scores were:— Grafton 14 Manukau .6 MAINLY A SCRAMBLE. The fact that nothing depended on the game removed any serious aspects from the meeting of Otahuliu and College Rifles at tlie Showgrounds on Saturday, and from the spectators' point of view it had little of interest. Otahuliu won by 16 points to 9, but had College Rifles had a good goal kicker in their team the score might easily have boon the other way. In the early stages of the match several fine opportunities were offered from penalties within striking distance of the Otahuliu goal, and they were all missed. Otahuliu were for the most part on the defensive, but the College thrusts lacked sting. When Othuliu were on the attack they provided the bright moments of the match with snappy short passing among the backs. Their weakness lay in their forward line.

Hedge, at centre three-quarter for Otahuliu, gave the outstanding exhibition of the day. -He was the centre point of ever.v attnck, handling, running and passing well, and finding the gap on every occasion. Tries would have conic on at least two further occasions if the Otaliuhu forwards had taken advantage of openings made by Hedge. r_.ee and Ilayden, on the wings, also played good games. has a fine burst of spe,ed and his determination makes him a good attacking winger, who lias vet to reach top form. As usual, too, Bever's boot proved an asset, though he lias still to strengthen his positional play. The College team -were on the attack most of the way, but their movements lacked direction. Both in the tight and the loose their forwards had rather the better of it. but the passing among the backs was not good and their attacks broke down before solid tackling. Wales gave a good display at centre, but his kicking was poor. Kirk, at full-back, did his part well and provided one of the bright moments of the day with an excellent pot from beyond the twenty-five. Batty led the forwards in good style. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE MATCH. Auckland 2G, beat Thames Valley 13. HOUSE MATCHES. © A. Yates and Company 10, beat J. J. Craig, Ltd.. 7. Retail Chemists 29, beat Wholesale Chemists 9. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE. CLEVIiDOX. Clevedon (challengers) beat Drur.v (holders), at Drur.v, on Saturday lor the Stevens Cup, by to 14.