Surprises Sprung In Rugby Games

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 127, 31 May 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

Surprises Sprung In Rugby Games

ROUT OF THE TEACHERS Marist "Fireworks ': College Played to a Standstill: Takapuna's Recovery: Army and Suburbs Win There were fireworks and surprises in the club games at Eden Park. A bright and sparkling game between Grammar Old Boys and Takapuna saw the latter get the verdict with a lastminute try. Marist Old Boys provided fireworks against Training College in a game played at a great pace and with bursts of brilliancy, in which the Marists excelled to leave the Teachers hopelessly in the rear by 22—9 at the finish. The Army team from Papakura camp maintained its winning record by defeating University 26—13, while at Otahuhu the home team was defeated B—3 by Suburbs.

TAKAPUNA SCORES WINNING TRY ON TIME After being Ave points down at the interval, Takapuna scored the winning try against Grammar Old Bojs right on time in the curtain-raiser at Eden Park. Grammar had the better of the early stages, the backs swinging into action, but being unable I to penetrate the defence. Gilmour opened the scoring with a fine penalty goal for Grammar ■from well outside the twenty-five. Takapuna took a turn on the attack, and was almost over. However, D. Ewart made amends with, a fine kick from a penalty, which raised the flags to equalise the score. Gilmour was leading ! tiie Grammar forwards in fine style, and soon had ihem on the Takapuna line, where, from a scrum J. Gill, the Grammar half, dashed over on the blind site wide out. Gilmour landed another fine goal. Rain at this stage made the ball slippery, but both teams continued to open up the play. Ewart, first five-eighth, was doing good work on defence for Takapuna In checking the Grammar vanguard. Takapuna lost a good scoring chance through mishandling, while Gardner spoiled a Grammar opportunity when he held possession with men In support. Nice play between GUI and Bilkey. first five-eighth, saw Grammar have a great chance on the blind side. GUmour joined in. but spoiled the movement by a bad pass to his support. Grammar was holding the advantage in the scrums. Both sides indulged In too much kicking and lost opportunities as a result. Grammar led at half-time by 8 points to 3. When Procter. Grammar lull-back, had a pot at goal from his own twenty-five, he got his side in trouble. H. Rogan gathered possession, and with supports offering play went right to the Grammar line, where Ewart potted a nice goal. A minute later a good try came Takapima's way. Brinsden, half, made a fine opening from a scrum, and Mclndoe. second five-eighth, raced through in support to score wide out. Ewart failed with the kick and Takapuna led 10—8. Takapuna was having the better of the exchange, while the Grammar backs were still giving away possession through too much kicking. Mansill, Grammar wing, intercepted cleverly in a Takapuna back attack and from half-way left the opposition standing to touch down between the posts. Gllmour's kick hit the post, leaving Grammar one point ahead. Fast exchanges followed, the back lines of each side swinging into action. Ewart had two attempts to place his team in the lead with pots. The Grammar forwards were going well in the loose, while Takapuna backs were quick to take advantage of mistakes in passing by the Grammar rearguard. On time Brinsden, half, scored a clever try for Takapuna, Ewart converting and making the final score:— Takapuna 15 Grammar 11 M. W. Thompson was referee. * SUBURBS PILE ON POINTS IN FIRST SPELL TO WIN Suburbs would have been unlucky to have been defeated by Otahuhu at Sturges Park, and its win by 8 points to 3 was well merited. All of the points were scored In the first half, when the visitors had the benefit of a strong down-field wind, which died rjpht away In the second half. The game was full of bright and exciting movements, the Suburbs' backs initiating some clever passing. Cammick set the visitors In action when he intercepted and then passed to Underwood, who galloped to the line and scored. Shadbolt converted with a difficult kick. Within ten minutes Suburbs had repeated the operation. Brady intercepted, and. running well, passed to Shadbolt. who scored a neat try. the kick failing. Play was fast and furious in Suburbs' twenty-five, and in a hectic challenge under the goal the ball bounced from the posts and McNeil dived over to score the only points for Otahuhu. The half-time score was: Suburbs g Otahuhu j The second spell was full of bright play. Otahrhu having Suburbs penned in its territory for the greater portion of the 40 minutes, but was unable to pierce the defence. Both sides missed good opporunities. and the final score was: ' Suburbs A Otahuhu .....*.'.'. 3 ; Mr. D. Frederickson was referee. ===== 4

MARIST'S VERSATILITY ROUTS THE TEACHERS The teams: — Mai Ist.—Backs:. R. Soreimou. K. Petersen, J''. Bell-Booth, J. Molloy, L. Hue, B. Lane, D. Barcliaril. h'orwards: J. Langford, B. Carroll, .1. Hogan, IX Mills, M. Bond, J. Kcidy, K. t'itzpatrick. Training College.—Backs: C. Kingstone, E. Boggs, B. Fane, J. .McLean. J. Butler, L. Whatman, A. .Jennings. Forwards: J. Kumev, W. Jennings, \V. Mathieson, J. DovWiug, J. Marshall, A. Howes, K. Taylor, F. Tucker. Witi the wind favouring them Marist Old Boys set a merry pace at the outset, momentarily rattling College, but the hitter's backs quickly recovered and first bid for the points came when Kingstone took a .penalty shot 30 yards out and put the ball cleanly over. Back came the Marists in fast handling, and from a penalty Sorensen just failed to equalise. Both sides kept the pace a cracker, with the Maris* backs handling with a confidence that tested the College defence and called on Kingstone to produce his best goalsaving display. Smart work by Bare-hard and a centring kick by Molloy enabled the Marist forwards to get away with the ball at foot, and reach College line, where Hogau snapped the ball up to score at the corner. - Sorensen goaled. The fireworks went up as College strove to regain the lead, and their three-quarter line crashed into action, driving up to Marist's quarters. Nice work by Butler paved the way for a break to near the line, where Kingstone again placed a penalty goal. Short-lived was the success, for when College were threatening to come away again Carroll intercepted and snapped a fast pass to Rae, to Lane, to Petersen, who scored, and again Marist led B—6. Marist forwards, with Mills prominent, got on top when rain made conditions more favourable for footwork, and they drove to the College line, where Sorensen landed a nice penalty goal. Again the College backs responded, and were again driven back by Marist footwork, for Sorensen to add yet another penalty goal from 30 yards out. The policy of hustling up the pace to get full value from the wind had paid Marists, and they ended the spell with the useful lead of 14 points to 6. A dashing rally of footwork by the Marist forwards sent College back to their lino immediately play resumed, and running from wing to the open side of the serum Molloy got to the goal line and passed ito Mills who scored a try that Sorensen converted, 19—6. Then College forwards woke up to the seriousnes»_ of the case, and took a part in driving Marists back to their line, where Kingstone failed to place a penalty goal from an easy position. J. Hogan was hurt and replaced by r J\ Hogan, while Molloy was replaced by Corbett. Marists used their feet to again get on top, and Sorensen's fine linekicking proved a strong asset when College made momentary breaks. McLean made a breakaway to be well stopped at the Marist line by Sorensen. Playing with the extra confidence of a winning lead, Marists kept on top of the College backs and eventually they broke away in a smart handling move that ended in Petersen scoring a corner try that was not converted. Fighting back gamely to the bitter end, Training College were unable to make much impression on their more versatile opponents, though penning them for ten minutes to a desperate defence. At last after three successive dashes the College three-quarter line got through, just on time, for Boggs to score a corner try. Kingstone's kick failed and the ga.me ended: -~"" Marist Old Boys 22 Training College 5) Mx. K. D. Croft was referee. ★ ARMY ADDS THIRTEEN IN THE SECOND SPELL ' With the teams level at half-time. Army ran away from University in the second half to add another 13 points to its total. Army scored an early try from a crosskick when Baker, wing, touched down after Smith, forward. Just failed In his effort to score. Foote failed with the kick. Army maintained the pressure, a forward pass holding E. Jackson up when in full sail for a try. Clever play by Kelly, the Army full-back, and then a fine crosskick by the same player saw the Army forwards carry on. Smith scoring in a handy position. Foote added the goal points and Army was 8 points in front. University quickly retaliated when Ockleford, forward, scored from loose play. Warner converted with a good kick. Up and down play followed. Warner. full-back, having a chance to equalise the score from a penalty, but his kick went low. The University pack was holding on well to the heavier opposition, some of the Army packmen being inclined to hold off. Warner had another chance from a penalty and this time he landed a fine goal. With the score even. University went strongly to the attack, while the Army backs were not settling down to an effective combination. At last when a good chance was lost. Lamley. half, touched down from loose play on the line. Foote's kick hit the upright and bounced the right way. Mcßae, first five-eighth, made a fine opening and passed to Brindell, wing, who in-passed again to Mcßae, the latter racing over for a good try. Warner converted with a fine kick to make the half-time score 13-all. Army was soon on the attack on the resumption, the forwards keeping University pinned on defence. Perriam, who had shone in the Army rearguard for good all round work, moved from centre to second five-eighth in an effort to sharpen up the attack. Lamley. the half, however, kicked too much. Army took the lead when Smith made a good opening from a line-out. McCowan, forward, sßorlng in a likely position. Foote converted. Army was having the better of the exchange, although University made persistent efforts to open up the attack. Devlne. forward, made a good opening from a defensive position before transferring to Stancich, second five-eighth, who kicked on and gained the race for the touch-down wide out. Foote found the angle too difficult. Good loose work by the University forwards had Army In trouble, but the Army pack quickly retaliated to force the opposition on two occasions. Nice play by Perriam when a University back attack broke down ended in Stuart, first five-eighth, scoring between the posts. Foote easily converted. The final score was:— Army 26 University 13 ilr. L. H. Briggs was referee. * SECOND DIVISION Ponsonby 19. beat Parnell-Tamaki 6. after leading B—6 at half-time. For the winners A. Wiles. H. Farmiioe. J. Nuttall. P. Tetilntr and W. K. Nankervls scored tries, of which Wiles converted two. For Parnell-Tamaki K. Rogers kicked a penalty goal and H. Bieleski scored a try. Mr. L. Bay was referee. Whenuapai Air Base 12. defeated Eden 10. R. Byerley kicked two penalty goals for the winners. and N. Maxwell and O. O'Neill scored tries. \V. H. Inglis and T. Harvey scored tries for Eden. which Humphreys converted. Mr. H. D. C:aig was referee. Grafton «. drew with Manukau 6. at the Showgrounds. Mr. M. G. Parrls was referee North Shore 12, beat Hobsonvllle Air Base 5. Scott scored two tries and Graham one try for North Shore, while Edwards kicked a penaltv goal. De Lacey scored a try for Hobsonvllle, which was converted by J._Boddy. Mr. A. .V. Styles was