ROUND ENDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 137, 13 June 1938, Page 15

ROUND ENDED.

RUGBY HONOURS. PONSONBY-GRAFTON LEAD. TEAMS RELEGATED. Otahuhu's fate was sealed when they were defeated by Manukau at the Showgrounds on Saturdaj r . With University, the south suburban side will now be relegated to the second division, under the terms laid down by the Rugby Union at •the beginning of the season. Otahuhu made a great struggle to maintain their first division status, and although there was no score at half-time, the final tally read. 8 points to 6 in. Manukau's favour. From the second division Technical, leaders of the division at the end of the round, will be promoted. The other team to be promoted will be either Training College or Takapuna, who finished equal. Points scored for and' against will be taken into consideration, and on this basis the honour seems more likely to fall to Training College. Both Technical and Training College had first division statue last season. On the first wet. ground experienced this season, Grafton and Grammar Old Boys, two of the three teams leading the first division competition, staged a fast and open game at Eden . Park. Despite "the stickiness of the ground, which previ-

ouely had been churned up by a ladies' hockey match, passing was crisp and spectacular. Grafton won by 6 points to 3, but a draw would have been a fairer result.

Marist and Xorth Shore drew at Devon- £ port. , Positions of teams at the end of the first < round:— 1 Points. Ch. ] P. W. L. I>. F. A. Pts. ■ Ponsonby 7 C. 1 — 113 30 12 4 Grafton TGI — 108 71) 32 Grammar .... 7 5 2 — SO -JG 10 ] North Shore .7 3 22G7 7S 8 ' Marlst 7 3 3 1 100 00 7 Manutceu' 7 2 4 1 G1 OS 5 ] Otahvliu 7 1 G — OS 100 2 'Varsity 7 — 7 — 33 O'J 0 , GRAMMAR'S. LUCK FAILS. ! When two of the three first division lenders—Grafton and Grammar —met on the < main ground at Eden Park it was apparent from the start that play would be fast despite the stickiness of the field. Although sometimes ragged, play was surprisingly I open and fast. with both sets of backs throwing the ball about in spectacular fashion, and the Grammar line, in particu- , lar, handling skilfully. Grammar fought hard at the finish to even things up. but Grafton won by G points to 3. A draw would have been a fairer result. Outstanding players were Manders, Emus. Arkle, Tannaliill, Passmore, Hull and Anderson (Grafton )and Flnlayson, Swain, A. Brown and Evans (Grammar). Grafton's points came from a try by Emus and a penalty by Passmore. Finlayson scored for Grammar. EVEN PLAY AT DEVONPORT. On the run o£ play the final score of 3-alI. was a fair result for the game at Devonport. where North Shore and Marist tried conclusions. As at Eden Park, the wet conditions did not stop the back* from throwing the ball about, and there were several spectacular movements'. Later 1 the game developed into a forward struggle, in which the honours were slightly in Marist*s favour. The display of two fullbacks, Hare and Cocks, was a feature of the game, both handling and kicking as though the ball had been dry. Other outstanding players were the Shore five-eighths, Slyfiehl and .Tessup; Cooney, Marist linlf, and McGrory, Harry and McHugh. Marl.vt forwards. Barry scored for Marist and Marshall for Shore. FAST SHOWGROUNDS GAME. Fighting to avoid relegation to the second division, Otnhuhu pushed Manukati along in an even struggle at the showgrounds. There was no score at lialf-tiiue, but Manukau, despite the absence of their star forward, Tom Pearce,, finally emerged the winners- by S points to G. Both fifteens threw the ball about recklessly, but although Manulcau won most of the scrums 1 their backs did not combine with the facility of the Otahuhu line. Otahuhu's fullback, Halliwell, was the outstanding man on the ground. Ifc-wns not his fault that Otahuhu lost. E. Hedge also played well. Schubert stood out in the Manulrau backs.. The best forwards were C. Pepper and W. Smith (Manukau) and J. Bellis (Otahuhu). The winners' points came from tries by Schubert and Lund, Lund converting his own try. Hedge scored a try and kicked a penalty for Otahuhu. 'VARSITY DIES GAMELY. Although now relegated to the second division, University, "wooden-spoonevrs" in the first division, went down fighting before the competition leaders,. Ponsonby, at the Showgrounds. The 'Varsity backs and forwards refused to bo overwhelmed by the leaders, and they held their own almost to the' end. In the final stages of the match Ponsonby.' who won by 8 points to nil, never looked like losing. Outstanding players were Nelson, Frank'iam and Bond (Ponsonby), and Bush, Martin and Hay--111 an ('Varsity). Ponsonby "s points came from tries by Bond and Knight,: Boualdson converting one try. .