FINAL ROUND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 205, 30 August 1943, Page 5

FINAL ROUND

technical beaten

manukau and marist lose

Hopes of three teams again being level for the Auckland senior Rugby championjhip were dashed in the curtain-raiser at Eden- Pain on Saturday, when Technical Old Bovs, after a gallant fight—the half time score was 16 —11—failed to hold Garrison Artillery in the final stages. The soldiers won 2-I—l4, and with the victory went possession of the Gallaher Shield, the competition trophy which was taken in 1042 by M.T.P. The jjrevious year 4.rmy (Papakura) was A.R.F.U.'s senior diampion.

perhaps had Garrison lost, Manukau and "Marist, then only two points behind, would have adopted different tactics, because victory for both would have made them "aH square" with Garrison. With the strain oil", however, they both failed "to make the grade," and as Navy beat Marist by nine points and GraftonPonsonby had an eight-points margin nvpr Manukau, the net result was to leave fiarrison champion XV. of 1943 by four points* as will be seen by this table:— Points Ch'p.

! p. W. L. D. P. A. Pts. nir r ison .....14 11 3 - 203 105 22 SSSfca" ... 14 8 4 2 175 122 18 gf aß :.::i 4 4 I '3 SiB:S 5 O 6 3 138 167 S T!r y • 14 4 9 1 . 128 172 3 j 14 1 13 - 60 242 2 The outstanding individual performance on Saturday was by the Grafton-Ponsonby breakaway, Harold Bieleski, who scored all of his side's three tries, and was unlucky to miss a fourth. Such a feat by ; a forward has had only one parallel in Auckland, Fred Noble (the Brabin Cup fast bowler) crossing the line three times when Grammar Schools' Old Boys beat Armv holder of the Gallaher Shield, in 1911, ill the challenge for the Jubilee Trophy that year. Another fine effort was by A. R. ("Gus") Arblaster, the Field Artillery crack loose forward. Co-opted by Garrison 011 Saturday he scored a couple of tries in the first spell against Technical Old Boys. He mav "be seen in the live-eighth line this week when Field Artillery meet the Second Division representatives in the curtain-raiser to the N.Z.E.F. game at ■Eden Park. Garrison is almost certain to Utilise his services again for the Jubilee i Trophv challenge on September 11, us opponent having yet to be decided by the R ftfr y j. U W? Watson, the Auckland Rugby i TjeaEue chairman, is entitled to great ' credit for the capital "turn-out at Cari law Park, where his "chairman's day' ■ was an outstanding success. The game I selected as the main attraction was one of the most exciting seen for many y6 Apart from the well-deserved victory of Richmond over the 1912 and 1943 chamnion XIII., there was the remarkable exhibition of centre three-quarter play given by young McGregor, who so bulfantly crossed Manukau's line twice Other features of Saturday s sport w.eie ' the stalling off of Navy's second challenee fbr the Drummond Soccer Cup, and tie Auckland women's hockey o-l vic-tory-over Yvliangarei representatives. "CHAIRMAN'S DAY" Tlipre 'was the largest attendance of the at Carlaw Park on Saturday when "Chairman's Day" was inaugurated sue- ! cessfX and a special challenge match was played "between Richmond and Manu kau (the latter the League champions of the last-two seasons). Richmond won a keenly-contested match by two vprted tries to one converted. In the match to decide the runner-up. City beat Marist, and in a Roope Roostei match Newton beat North Shoie. Results were: — Richmond 10, Manuk.au o. » City 8, Marist. 5, _ Newton 18, North Shore 10. M-r-.™, Brilliant.—The centre three-quarter 1 0 f r> McGregor of Richmond, was the great feature & thfmltch with Manutau. He <|avc Richmond the opening lead v. ith a spectacular tn- and after Manukau had drawn level he got the' winning try the result of great sharp penetration and a swerve. The -' out McGregor received a remarkable ovation from snectators who were quick to realise the merit The Richmond three-quarter line was very fast, and all the players, Kinney, McGregor and Lowther. have been chosen for the Pakeha team to play against the Maoris next Saturday. , . First Appearance.—Two Richmond players J™ have been away from the game for some time, turned out against Manukau —C. Williams (halfback) and Hilton (forward). Both gave -good displays, the former getting the ball away sharply to his backs wiUi well-directed passing, a " d the latter working hard in both scrum work and loose play. - Hilton played Rugby last season. Runner-up to Manukau—The match between City and Marist was marked by hard forward play, and there was little to choose between two well-balanced packs. Hawea Mataira was absent irom the City forwards, but. W. Jackson, who is back in the game after* a long absence, gave a sterling display, and he got good support irom Arthur Dufty, the latter showing skill at opening up play' for his backs. In the Marist forwards McLeod and Simons were outstanding. Both tackled splendidly, and were quick to get on to the opposing inside backs. The upsnot of Saturday's game is that City becomes runner-up in the championship to Manukau, and lying lour points ahead of Richmond there is no necessity to play the latter's fixture with Otahuhu. The final positions are:— . „ Points Ch. P W L D F A Pts. Manukau . v ...... 15 14 1 — 248 98 23 City Rovers .... 16 12 4 — 213 161 24 , Richmond * 15 10 5 — 237 118 20 Marist O.E 16 9 6 1 223 150 19 Mt. Albert 16 9 7 — 208 162 18 Otahuhu 15 4 9 2 119 204 10 Ponsonby 15 4 11 — 154 231 8 Newton 16 4 12 — 172 326 ,8 North Shore 16 2 13 1 138 262 1 5 Northern Union Cup.—A Press Association message from Wellington states that after leading 16—6 at half time the West Coast Rugby League team beat Wellington by .30 points to 13, retaining the Northern Union Cup, the premier New Zealand Rugby League trophy. NAVY BEATEN AGAIN In the. -main attraction at Blandford Park: on Saturday, Auckland was victorious against the Navy by 4 goals to 2, and thus- retained the Drummond Cup (having won on June 19 by 8 goals to 1). The game was fast and spectacular, with Auckland having slightly the better of the run of play, the score being a fair indication of the game. Owing to lastminute ehanges ■in personnel the Navy side took some time to settle down, and it" was seen at its best in the second half, when each side scored twice. Navy was well served by : Burrows, Bell and Rutherford in the defence, while. JUcGuire ; and Smith' were to the "fore in the ; vanguard. Had ."Navy made more use of ! its chances in. front of goal, . the result might, easily .have been reversed. Auckland has its forward line to thank for victory. Webber and Richards were the outstanding pair, and combined together well on the left flank, notching the four goals betweSi"li2iemr- Hope-Ede Was -too - -well-1 watched to be dangerous, while Robinson as usual played a good game on the right. wing and worked in harmony with Woods, j

Comrades and Metro to Play Off.—As the result of its I—o1 —0 victory over Eastern Suburbs, the Comrades XI. is now level at the head of the championship table with Metro-College, a play-off being necessary to decide the honours for the season. Comrades deserved its win, which Was due to a large extent to superior' positional play and clever understanding between the halfback line and the inside forwards. Suburbs' delenders were too of ten. -caught out of position, while the forward line did not function in its usual manner. The "Greens," by bustling tactics, did Suburbs a chance to settle down to constructive football. Goalkeeper In Form. - King gave a wonderful exhibition "between the sticks" tor Suburbs, and had it not 'beeh for his efforts Comrades' victory would have been by a greater margin. Time and' time again he brought off brilliant saves, though clever anticipation, while he lost no time in making his clearances, which were placed to advantage—often turning defence into attack. Fijians in Action.—The exhibition by two Fijian Xl.'s was greatly appreciated by the spectators, who were surprised with their all-round knowledge of the game and the -fast pace they maintained throughout. It was a novelty to see barefooted players in action, the ball often travelling from goal to goal in two hefty kicks, while the players would leap three to four feet into the air to kick a ball in preference to using the head. A war dance and the rendering of native melodies was also appreciated by the crowd. v ... - - /. . * % Final Positions.—The ladder showing the. windOp of the senior competition is:— Goals Ch. P W Jj D FA Pts. Metro-College .. 16 12 " 4 — '56 34 24" Comrades 16 10 2 4 67 29 24 Eastern Suburbs . 16 10 6 — • 61 36 20 Mount Albert .. 15 8 4 3 48 29 19 Air Force 15 7 4 4 60 37 18 Garrison 15 4 8 3 44 62 11