RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 235, 4 October 1937, Page 15

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE JUNIOR FINAL. PONSONBY BEATS TECHNICAL THREE YEARS AS RUNNERS-UP. After three years as runners-up in the second grade Rugby competition, Ponsonby, by defeating Technical by 9 points to 6 at the Epsom Showgrounds on Saturday, annexed the championship. Poneonby's win was largely due to the hard running of a fine back line. Technical showed a slight superiority in most of the forward play, but the backs by no means measured up to the standard set by their opponents, amongst whom Coughlan, the centre, and Byrne and Hale, the wings, were the shining lights. Cough lan's fine play did much to keep his side on the attack. Mcintosh was the star of the Technical pack, his dribbling rushes being a feature of the game. Technical made gallant efforts to close the gap in the final stages, but lack of penetration by the inside backs, who met hard, low tackling, spelled defeat. For the final match of the season the crowd was a large one. TAKAPUHA GAMES. THREE ALL BLACKS ON FIELD. In the annual Rugby games between the north and south sectors of Takapuna, played at Tahoroto Park for the F. E. Sutherland Cup, South narrowly beat North by 18 points to 17. A crowd of 400 and the Takapuna Citizens' Band attended the match. Among the players were three former AU Blacks, M. N. Corner, C. Pepper and W. Hadley. Tries for South were scored by Hadley. Foreman and Evans. Evans also converted a try, kicked a penalty and drop-kicked a field goal. For North, Smith, Slmmonds and Pepper scored. Smith kicked a penalty goal and Drower converted a try. Juniors.—North 20. beat South S. j Boys.—North 3. drew with South 3.

THIRD GRADE FINAL. NORTHCOTE VICTORIOUS. The Northcote Club won Its first grade championship, apart from a win in the junior boys' competition, when the third intermediate team beat Technical by 17 points to 3 at the Showgrounds., The winners' points came from tries by D. Arblaster (3), and R. Rebel (2). Bowels converted one try. Technical'* points came from a penalty. , GRAMMAR DEFEATS THAMES.' Grammar Schools' Old'' Boys (Auckland) defeated Thames on Saturday In an evenly contested Rugby match by 21 points to 20. Billings, for Thames, kicked a spectacular field goal just on time."' Flett, Mcßeth, Don, Spittall and A. 11. Brown scored for Grammar. King and Brown converted three tries. The Brown brothers (Alex and Claude), Spittall and Swain all played eoundly. For .Thames, Haj-ward and Savage scored,' Edwards converting one and kicking two goals from the fleld, while Billings also potted a goal. •►

, BANKS V. LAW AT WHANGAJREI. - f... ';". . ,7 - '" ."» WPhe .' annaal -'■ Rugby •fotft&all Matchf between the"Banks and Law. and. the Stock Auctioneers was played at' Rugby Park on Saturday. The former won by 10 points to S. S. l r rice and I>ay scored for the Banks and Law, Callanan converting both. L. j Sloane and Derieonrt scored for - the Auctioneers, Mason converting one.