FLASHES FROM SATURDAY'S SPORT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 154, 1 July 1940, Page 10

FLASHES FROM SATURDAY'S SPORT

Marist deservedly took the lead in the senior championship of the Auckland Rugby Union and left no doubt as to their superiority over Grafton, which up to the match was level in points with last season's champions. Except in the very early stages Grafton never looked a winning team, and after Marist scored their first try, and quickly added another, the issue was a foregone conclusion. The forwards of the losing side grafted hard, but met a better all round set on the day. Marist, too, held definite superiority in the backs. Their clearcut advantage over their opponents is shown by the fact that the winners scored four tries, while Grafton failed to register a try. The Mariet pack scrummed well and were good in the line-outs and tight play, while they were also associated in some fine loose work. The Grafton backs lacked combination, and although Peannan was changed from centre to first five-eighth in the second half, this giving the attack more speed, cohesion as a unit was still lacking.

Easy For Ponsonby.—lllnees had taken ite toll o£ tine lnfanCry team when it turned out to meet I'onsonby at Sturgee I'ark, and the play waa nothing like that when the team defeated Otuhutra on the eame ground a few weeks earlier. PonHonby backs Heffemaii, Barlow, Sellare, Wiles. and Coughlin treated the gallery to a fine display of clever pawing. -Evans, the captain, who played a grand game, celebrated (hi* birthday by retiring injured in the second epell. Wiles, in addition to playing a lino game, converted four triee, and also scored a try. l>unn wae the beet Infantry player, . «is sideline daeh for 30yd* wihen he fended off the defence and scored, was one of the bright spots of the game.

Injury to Har*.—Although Marist were without the eervices of Bill Hare, their match winner, through hie goal-kicking— Hare was suffering from an injured ankle —the full-back position wae filled with credit by Molloy, Auckland's centre last season. Molloy has shown that he ie a good utility back by also filling the role of centre and wing for Marist. In the early stage* of Saturday's match he was called upon for sound defence and he did his job well. Later in the game he started attacking movements cleverly and on cne occasion ho nearly scored after handling the ball twice.

NMry MlllMfc—Marist ha* a fine attacking and defensive player in R. Neary, second five-eighth, and he was a shining, light in their rearguard againet Grafton. He made thrust* through the defence on several occasion* and hie quickness in taking advantage of a mietake in a Grafton back attack enabled him to acbre a good try. Neary'* ability wa* referred to in these column* earlier in the eeason and he stood up to tome hard defence on Saturday in fine style.

"R*p" WtaHrt Form.—The tall, *«•*• running Auckland representative wing three-quarter, A Colmore-William*, continues to play at the top of hi* form for Training College, and it will have to be an exceptional man who can put him out of hi* place in the Auckland side. In 1937 at Whangarei he played against the Springboks at North Auckland, and nince then ha* shown improvement. Though he did not score on Saturday, he was alwaye dangerous. He and Thnrston, hie centre, who scored two tries, are an excellent combination.

Interest in TfcreM"«rter».— Both centre three-quarters in the Training CollegeGrammar game at the No. 2 Eden Park ground on Saturday attracted great attention. For Grammar the former Australian League representative, Fred Tottey, made his first appearance after reinstatement in the code. Tottey, who attended the Mount Albert Grammar School, had little chance of showing his worth. Grammar failed to get the ball, and the only time he seemed likely to show out saw him without support and smothered by the fast-following Training College men. Opposite him, Thurston was the player of the day. His two tries were brilliant and his form on the day showed him as a player who will go far. He is tall, has plenty of pace and knows his positional play.

Captain's Fine Game.—A splendid allround game was played by" A. Moffitt, the Marist captain and hooker. He was always on the ball, in the thick of the play in the tight tm well, and was justly rewarded with two tries for his efforts. Moffitt we* very ably supported by all the other members- of the pack among whom Mills and Barry were prominent. Hull, McKee and Roddick Worked hard, in the Graf ton pack.

term el J. Dtok.-Johnny Dick, the Graf ton and All Black wing three-quarter, showed glimpses of hk old form; He,was practically starved for opportunities, but made a lew strong dashes, a fine one iu the second spell gaining ground from half way to the Marist line, where a mistake in passing by supports robbed the side ot a try. ' . •..

OtahNbu's SMOeew.— Making their first appearance on the oval this season in the curtain-raiser, Otahuhu and North Shore staged • faet and open match in.which the former was the better team and won by a margin of eeven points. Although bo-n ■eta of back* made errors, Otahuhn was the better balanced. For Otahuhu Moyie, half, and E. Hedge, firet five-eighth, had a aood understanding and played weil. Moyle's smooth and accurate passing from the scrum was one of the features of his play.

Promlflni Players.— North Shore has eeveral promising young players. Among them are O. Sheehan, full-back, eon of Mr. P J. Sheehan, former Otago representative, who*e three eon* play for the team. Cool. » good anticipator of play, clean in handling and ability to kick with either foot, O. Sheehan, appears to have a bngnt future in the game. R. Stancich, the wellbuilt finrt five-eighth, made several nice opening*, and if he doe* not overdo tne cut-in and rune sfraighter at times he should develop into a fine player in tn« position.

Surprising Margin.— Technical Old Boys ■prang a eurpriee at the Showgrounds when they administered a sound thrashing to the erstwhile championship leaders Suburbs, who were never given a chance. With their hooker, Johnson, and Kyan, back, the green, pack were a solid combinatipn. They got most of the scrums and their clever dribbling made ground all the time. Their collaring, too, was very sound and, as a consequence, Suburbs back movements rarel« got past the fiveeightha. Technical covered up well and took full advantage of any slips made by the opposing backs.

Representative Players for Training.— Mr. F. W. Lucas has selected the following players to train with a view to selection in the Auckland representative team against Waikato nt Kden Park on July 13: Full-back, W. Hare; three-quarters, A. Colmore-Williams, J. Dick, A. S. Coughlan, A. Wile*; five-eighth*, J. Barlow, N. Pearman; half-back*, C. Brady, P. L Tetzlaff; forwards, A. Johnson, A. Moffitt, J. Gilmour, R; R. Hull, H, Priest, W. Smith, D. Mill*, J. Barry (Mariet), M. Nelson, l>.

The match between North Shore and Manukau at Carlaw Park on Saturday drew the largest attendance of the season, the spectators seeing Shore preserve their position at the head of the championship table in a fast and very hard game. Towards the end of the game the teams were level with 7 points each. Shore with good play then got the winning try, which was converted, and then successfully staved off several strong challenges by Manukau, who towards the end of the game were playing a man short, as Marsh, one of their forwards, went off.

The surprise of the day was City defeating Newton, the leaders earlier in the season. Marist outpointed Ponsonby, and, playing at Ellerslie, Mount Albert finished ahead of Papakura, despite a sterling effort made by the latter team.

Sound Last Defence.—For coneietent soundness an<l good i»lay W. Glover, the Marist full-back, has rendered great service to his eide over a number of seasons. Againet Poneonby he was ae dependable as ever, clever in positional play, cool and resourceful under pressure, and extremely courageous in defence. Hie tackling was a great feature of the game.

Kay in Form.—Showing good form at tlie moment for PoneoiLby ia A. Kay, the Xew Zealand representative, whose display at five-eighth against Marier wae a big feature. Kay ie very quick to eight a chance, moves from the mark in a flash and has the great gift of acceleration of pace. It is the latter quality which enables him to take 'the, gap and make •openings which are not there for the average player.

Chase Elusive.—One of the most colourful of the Manukau playera on Saturday was T. Choee, the former Wanganui representative Rugby player, who ie now having hie third League season in Auckland. Ohaee hoe a lightning side-etep from the left, which often battles opponents, and ie an adept at cutting a way through to make an opening for his supports.

Tawhal's Safe Hands.—Like eome of the great Maori players of the past Tawbai baa wonderful hands for football. He gather* passe* clearly whether the ball come* high or low, and fields a high ball' with- dexterity.'. Tawhai, wtho formerly played for the City team, has capably filled the gap in the Manukau team by the transference of Walter Brimble to the Newton team, where he is now associated with hie brothers Edward and Wilfred.

Steady Full-back. —One of the most consistently good City playe.re is Clarke, the full-back, who has attracted a lot of attention in recent engagements. He is one of the most sure-handed playere in the code, has fine appreciation of positional play and kicks with good judgment with both feet. On Saturday in his side's match with Newton, he had the measure of Dempsey, hie vie-a-vis, and at times had the latter running for the ball and dropping his returns. Clarke rounded off a good day by drop-kicking a neat goal late in the second spell.

Smith to the the utility back, played one of his beet games for City in their match with Newton. He was conspicuous for several bright dashes, and in the five-eighths line wae responsible for nipping in the bud Newton passing rushes before they got properly started. Other City backs who gave good accounts of themselves were Hughes, who figured as half-back, and Gould, the winger. The Newton backs were sluggish and rarely rose to those heights which thrilled League supporters earlier in the season, but men who ehone for sound individual performances were Richards and Sander in the three-quarter line.

Better Blend.—NortJh Shore will be difficult to depose from the head of the League uenior table. They have a pack eolid and eound, with exceptional opportuniete in Petersen and E. Scott for the loose "play. McArthur has proved to be a half-back up to the best senior standard. J. Smith is a utility back of New Zealand claes, Chatham, Cheater and Evans are a trio with exceptional pace, and behind them all is the dependable Verdun Scott, who plays hie football in the same unruffled discerning way that he piled up centuries in Plunket Shield cricket.

Neat Passing.—The clever manner in which R. Robinson eent along hie passes in the junior rep. match on Saturday was a feature of the game. Directing the ball to either side of him he consistently made openings for hie centre and wing man, and varied his methods by either flicking the ball on to hie partner's stick or pushing it just? out of reach of an attacker, but close enough to hie wing man to gain poeseseion. Unfortunately, Clotieton on the wing did not make the most of his opportunities.