M.T.P. NOW ONLY UNBEATEN XV. IN GALLAHER SHIELD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 151, 29 June 1942, Page 7

M.T.P. NOW ONLY UNBEATEN XV. IN GALLAHER SHIELD

By its success in a bright and exciting '"atch against Ail- Force (No. 2), the M.T.P. fifteen remains the only unbeaten team in the Gallaher Shield competition. I nree teams, Air Force, Garrison and are all equal in second position. J ,; w h'ch led by eight points to nil at half-time, eventually took the honours points to 3. The winners scored three times, two of which were converted, to an unconverted try. In the cur-tain-raiser. C.R.O. had a comfortable uin at the expense of Manukau, while on the No. 2 ground Grafton-Ponsonby was fully extended to defeat Training College. At Sturges Park Garrison caused a surprise by piling tip a large score to win easily from A.S.C. Conditions were ideal and all in favour of fast football. An interested spectator at Eden Park, as a guest of the Auckland Rugby Union, was Mr. J. A. Redwood, president of the New Zealand Rugby League. The matches resulted:— M.T.P. 13, beat Air Force No. 2 3. C.R.O. 17, beat Manukau 3. Grafton-Ponsonby 11, beat Training College 8. Garrison 31, beat A.S.C. 8. A Close Contest.—Air Force put up a gallant fight against M.T.P. in a fine allround display, and the margin indicated by the score did not justly represent the difference between the teams. Air Force, whose forwards played splendidly in the first spell, lost some glorious chances through the lack of finish of its' rearguard. If Underwood, too, had been in kicking form he might easily have reversed the position. Great credit must be given to Air Force for its valiant defence. which lapsed only on two or three occasions in the second spell. The side was unfortunate to lose the services of Ward, the fullback, who had to retire .just prior to the end of the first spell. Ward had played fine football up to that stage.

Forwards Improve.—A derided improvement in parking tiy the M.T.P. forwards in the second spell put u different complexion on tiie prunie. This gave the barks valuable assistance, and although the rearguard did not play with its customary unison and understanding, it was always dangerous. \V. Tittieton played a fine all-round game at first liveeighth. He made some splendid openings besides doing fine work on defence, liiley and Gregory were caught too much in possession, while the latter mishandled more often than usual. Three Tries To Falre.—Tn a match in which there was a good deal of scrappy play and much over-kicking, C.K.O. (whose backs combined to better advantage than the opposition) took the honours from Manukau. B. Faire. the C.R.O. centre, was the outstanding player on the field and scored three tries, due to his pace and ability to seize an opening quickly and swerve his way through the defence.