RUGBY LEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 14

RUGBY LEAD.

"PONIES" ON TOP.

MANUKAU-GRAFTON DRAW.

HUB FORWARD STRUGGLE.

By one point, Ponsonby took the lead in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship competition, when the sixth series was played on Saturday. The main game at Eden Park, Manukau-Grafton, produced a great forward battle, and ended in a six-point draw. The surprise of the day was the defeat of Marist at the hands of Grammar in the curtain-raiser to the big game. Grammar played their best football to date, and effectively smothered the fast Marist inside backs. With a narrow win over Training College at the Showgrounds, Ponsonby went to the top of the championship ladder. Fine back work gave University victory over College Rifles at Devonport. and Otahuhn scraped home In a great struggle against the voung and dashing North Shor# side at Sturges Park. Results were: — Manukau 6, v. Grafton 6. Grammar 14, v. Marist 10. Ponsonby 14, v. Training College 10. University 22, v. ■ College Rifles 11. Otahuhu 6, v. North Shore 3. How the teams stand:— Points Ch. P. W. U D. F. A. Pts. Ponsonby .... 6 6 - - 113 54 12 Manukau 6 5 - 1 63 39 11 Grafton 5 4 - 1 128 39 9 Otahuhu S 3 2 - 46 44 6 Grammar ...-.'. 5 3 2 - 50 53 6 University ... 5 2 2 1 49 60 5 Marist 6 2 4' - 84 102 4 North Shore .. 6 2 4 - 70 79 4 Technical 5 1 3 1 32 61 3 Training Col. . ft - 5 - 50 94 College Rifles . 6 - 6 - 60 120 - TWO FINE PACKS. Two of the leaders in the championship. Grafton and Manukau, played a thrilling six-point draw in the main attraction of the day at Eden Park. The match produced a magnificent forward struggle between two unbeaten packs, with Manukau holding a slight territorial advantage throughout. Grafton, emerged from the first spell with a lead of three points, but fortunes quickly changed In the second, and, with, a try by McGulre following a sweeping forward attack and a penalty goal by Wlklund Manukau took the lead. Then came a thrilling finish as the Grafton backs made efforts to score ' the try that might have brought them victory.

Weakened considerably by the locs of their two star forwards, McLean and Anderson, the Grafton pack struggled desperately to hold- Manukau. whose forwards. Infusing much vim into'their play, swept along in 'solid formation. It Bays much for the defence of the Grafton backs that they saved their line when pressure was at its height in the second spell. Grafton were outnlayed forward towards .the end, but their back's, among whom Paton. Killeen. Prentice and Arkle played resolutely In the face of threatened defeat, won much applause. Manukau's forwards, led throughout by the dashing play of Pearce. Pepper, Smith and McGuire, were unlucky not to have carried their side to victory. Their backs were fine on defence, but there was little sting in their attack.

FULL-BACK'S PROMISE. Mulviliill. substituting as full-back for Bush in the University-College Kifli's game at Devonport, stood out. Often his quickness saved University from the dribbling rushes of the College Rifles forwards : he did not kick, but run the backline into position and sent them away. Twice these tactics brought tries. Other men in the student side to show good form were Martin, who played a dashing game at centre, and Carnachan. Martin sprinted through holes in the Kifies' defence with a speed that troubled the opposition. Comes struck form and broke through cleverly once or twice. Reid, at half, made several bright penetrations into College Rifles' ground. In the Rifles' back line Vear shone as an elusive five-eighths. Svenson, on the wing, might have scored if he had seen more of the ball towards the end of the game. Griffiths, on the other side, ran hard and true. Until he went off injured Medhurst was the best forward on the field. His substitute. Evans, also played well. Armitage did a lot of work in the tight. Barker, of College Rifles, was Inclined to make the piny a little too willing, but gave a good exhibition, as did Pike and Hull, tries for University came from Carnachan (3), Martin, Coonev and Kirklanil. Mulvihill converted two tries. Grifliths. Barker and Roddick scored for Rifles, Roddick converting his own try. MOYLE'S GOOD GAME. The meeting of Otahuhu and North Shore at Sturges Park provided a particularly bright and open game, and although the local side ran out victors with a bare : three-point lead it would have been very unlucky to lose. The red-and-blacks' victory was due to the great work of the backs and the tireless play of the forwards in loose rushes. The Shore team had more than their share of the ball in the scrums. but most of this advantage was wasted .by the depth the backs were playing from the half. Cato, the Shore half, caused a great deal of whistle through his irregular placing of the ball in the scrum. Otahuhu's. scores came from a fine try by Grant, and one from a brilliant dash from Pinlay. Shore's three points were earned by Marshall kicking a good penalty goal. For Otahuhu Halliwell. at full-back, gave his usual sound display, his clever line-kick-ing earning much applause. The threequarter line, Pearson at centre, with Grant and Finlay. was great, and always dangerous. Lawson started many good moves, and Moyle behind the scrum gave, possibly, his best display this season. In the forwards Morgan, a promoted junior, played well until Injured, with Wepa, Jones. Rountree and Ross always prominent. Cocks, at fullback for Shore, was safe and Browne and Marshall showed speed and clever handling when the ball reached them. Pipson. in particular, and Goodwin, played grand football, but received little support. The forwards were a grand lot. dominating the scrums, Masser, McNeil. Speight and Castaism being outstanding Dr. Briggs was referee. FOUR TRIES TO TWO. In a vigorous and well contested game at the Showgrounds. Ponsonby held a narrow margin over Training College ana won by 14 points to 10. There, was little between the two teams, but there was more thrust in the Ponsonby backs, and this enabled them to score four tries against two to the opposition. The ball was too greasy for accurate handling, and both sides adopted a policy of short punts by the backs, with the forwards following through to finalise. The students had the better of the early stages, and led 10 to 5, but superior work by the Ponsonby backs, with D. Solomon as the shining light, gave them a lead at half-time of 14 to 10. That there was little between the two teams was Indicated by the fact that there was no I further score.

The winners missed their former fullback. Hook. The position was occupied by McKay, whose display was only mediocre. In the forward line Rond was always prominent in scoring movements. Outstanding for Training College was Hare, the fullback. His handling was almost faultless, in strong contrast to most of the other backs on both sides, and his kicking was remarkably good. In the three-quarter line Hoskins put in a great afternoon's work, and Thornton was tireless amongst #ie forwards. Noteworthy incidents included a brilliant solo effort by Knight for Ponsonby. He dribbled through from near the half-way mark, finally kicking over the line and securing the touch-down. For Training College Hoskins' try was an attractive effort. He short punted over the full-back's head, caught bis own kick on the full and galloped over for the Ty. The other tries for I'onsonby were secured by Rond (2) and Evans, and one was converted by McKay.

GRADE GAMES

SENIOR B. Suburbs 9, beat Parnell 0. Eden 19. beat Marist 5. Takapuna 8, drew with Northcote 8. 'Varsity 15, drew with Shore 15. SECOND GRADE. Suburbs 10, beat Eden 5. Grafton 27, beat College Rifles 3. 'Varsity 15. drew with Shore 15. Technical Old Boys 41, beat Manukau 3. THIRD GRADE. Grammar A 32, beat Training College 6. 'Varsity (!, bent Taninkl 3. Grammar Colts 8, beat Manukau 3. Grafton 17. beat Ponsonby 11. Technical 0.8. 21. brut College Rides 11. Takapuna 12. beat Marist 0. Newton 3, drew with Sacred Heart 3. INTERMEDIATE. Technical Hi. beat,r»rnhtillu 3. Manukau 10, beat Suburbs 5. Shore 29. beat Training College 0. Parnell 11, beat St. George's 7. Grafton 6, beat Takapuna 0. # FOURTH GRADE. Suburbs 6. beat Panmure 0. Grammar 3. drew with Shore 3. College Rifles 24. beat Parnell 0. Takapuna 14, beat Marist Old Boys 6. Shore 3, drew with Grammar 3. FIFTH GRADE. Tamakl 19, beat Shore 0. Eden 28, beat St. George's 0. Takapuna 5, bent I'anmure 3. - Suburbs 18. beat Manukau 0. Technical Old Boys 11, beat Marist 6. SIXTH GRADE. Parnell 15, bent Suburbs 3. Newton 8, beat Eden 3. Manukau 1(5. beat Takapuna 0. JUNIOR BOYS. SENIOR GRADE. Suburbs 9. beat Shore 8. Eden ti, drew with Manukau C. Newton 8, beat Marist ti. INTERMEDIATE. Suburbs 21, beat Waitemata 0. Otahuhu 17, beat St. George's 0. Eden 9, beat Manukau 3. Takapuna won from Shore by default. . Marist 38, beat Northcote 3. Newton 21, beat Parnell 0. Panmure 24, beat Tamakl 0. JUNIOR GRADE. Newton G, beat Manukau 3. Shore 3, beat Eden 0. Takapuna 0, drew with Marist 0. Otahuhu 49. beat Northcote 0.

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE.

TE AROHA. Waihou 16, beat Tui 3. City 12, beat Old Boys 3. KAIPARA. Senior. —Kaukapakapa 1!), beat Silverdale 0: Parakai 14. beat Sothhead 8. Junior.—Parakai 6, beat Helensville 0: Kumeu 25, beat Riverhead 0. TE AWAMUTU. Seniors.—Rovers 11, beat Marist 3. . Juniors.—Rovers 6, beat Tokanui 5. Third Grade.—Old Boys 11, beat Pirongia 0; Te Awamutu 15, beat High School 3. ROTORUA. Rotoma 10, beat Waikite 6. Whakarewarewa 8, beat Kahukura 6. CAMBRIDGE. Stars 6, beat Blues 5. Juniors. —Leamington 13, beat United 3. ton 0; Northern 9, beat Hautapa 6. Third Grade.—United 19. beat LearningFourth Grade. —Leamington 44, beat United 0: Hautapu 11. beat Northern 0. PAEROA. Hikutaia 23. beat West 3. Junior Grade.—Hikutaia 3. beat Convent Old Boys 0. Third Grade. —High School 15. beat West 0. PUKEKOHB. North 13, beat South «. Juniors. —Pukekohe 19, beat Waiuku 0. Third Grade.—White Star 11, beat Onewhero 0. THAMES. Seniors.—Technical Old Boys 11, beat Thames 8. Junior.—Thames 8, beat Bombay 6.

TB KTJITI. Te Kuiti 32, beat Hangatiki 0. Juniors. —Pioplo 14, beat Waitete 0: Mangapehi 20. beat Hangatiki O; Aria 11 beat Te Kuiti 3. Third Grade.—Waitete 24. beat High School 13. TAURANGA. Cadets 18, beat Rangataua 12. Matakana 17. beat United Services 15. Junior.—Rangataua 14, beat Oropi 6; Cadets 17, beat Judea 6. MORRINSVILLE. Kereone 11, drew with Old Rovs 11. United 14. beat Kiwitahi 10." Juniors.—Terriers !) beat Rovers 8" Taliuna 3. drew with Old Rovs 3; United 30. beat Wnitoa 3. Third Grade.—Old Roys- S. beat Kereone ._> ; Waitoa 74. heat United o. MANUKA U SUR-UXION. United 1!>. beat Dnirv S. Karaka 17. beat Ararimu 6. , Clevedon 14, beat Kingseat 8. HAMILTON. Old Roys 3, drew with Te Awamutu 3. HUNTLY. Frankton 26, beat Taupiri 6. Junior.—Huntly O. drew with Ngaruawahia 0. WHANGAREI. Manaia 3, beat Pipiwai 0.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH.

WAIRARAPA. Red Star 11. beat Mnrtinbnrongh S. Old Boys 20. beat Carterton S Masterton 25. beat Gladstone 21. WELLINGTON. First Division. Athletic IS. belt Poneke 1?.. Wellington College O.K. 20. beat Petone Wellington 19, bout Htitt 10. Eastbourne 12. beat Marist 0.8. S. Second Division. Johnsonville 8, beat I'n!versify 6. Athletic 8. beat Oriental 6. Wellington 17. beat Miramar 11. St. Patrick's 0.8. 3:i, beat Pirates 6. CANTERBURY. Merivale 8, beat Albion 3. Suunyside 4. beat Sydenham 3. 'Varsity 6. beat Athletic X. Old Boys 17. beat Christchurch 6. Liuwood (i, beat Technical 3. TARAXAKI. Northern Division. Tukapa 15, beat United 8. Clifton 1), beat Old Boys 6. Inglewood 13, beat Stratford 14. Southern Division. Hawera 12, beat Kltham 5. Waimate 11, beat Okaiawa 6. HAWKE'S BAY. M.A.C. 17. beat M.8.0.8. 11. Napier U. 5.0.8. 2S, beat llavelock 12. NORTH OTA GO. Excelsior 11, beat Athletic 9. Maheno 6, beat Old Boys 5. TAIHAPE. Pirates 17, beat lluia 11. Iluutapu ti, drew with Utiku 6. Junior.—Hautapu 7, beat Utiku 6; I'irates 9, beat lluia ti. OTAGO. Southern 8, beat Pirates 3. Kaikorai 12, beat Union 3. Dunedin 7, beat Zingari 4. Alhambra lit, beat Taieri 8. SOUTHLAND. Old Boys 23, beat Bluff 19. Marist 17, beat Pirates 4. Blues, 35, beat Star 3. SOUTH CANTERBURY. Old Boys 8, beat Geraldine 4. Star ti, drew with Celtic 6. Teinuka 23, beat Zingari ti. MANAWATU. Kia Toa 18, beat Old Boys 8. Massey College 10, beat Woodville 0.

CROSSMAN IN FORM

TAUMARUNUI. this day. In a Rugby representative' sub-union game Ohura 7, beat Taumarumii 5. Crossman, the King Country live-eighth, played a brilliant game tor Ohura and scored all the points—a try and field goal. Junior results :—Hikuraugi 27. beat Athletic 0; Otunui 3, drew with Tauinarunui Sheeley, playing for Otunui. had a collarbone broken. Third Grade.—High School 8. beat Manunui 6.