BRIGHT PLAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 101, 1 May 1944, Page 7

BRIGHT PLAY

RUGBY GAMES BEGIN PLETHORA OF SENIOR TEAMS Eighteen of the teams striving for places in the Auckland Rugby Union senior championship competition played on Saturday, and in general a good standard of play was reached. A feature was that five Otago representatives, all medical students, turned out for University. Results were:—University 23, v. Navy 6: Ponsonby 6, v. Garrison 3; Training College 37, v. Suburbs 3; Grammar 11, v Technical 11; Manukau 5, v. Grafton nil; Otahuhu 9, v. Marist 6; North Shore 11, v. A.S.C. nil; Papakura 6, v. Eden o. Flashes of Form.—The Manukau inside back, F Fowler showed flashes oi the carrUd him into the Waikato representative s de a. couple of seasons back. Although he lauea to set into top gear last season, there is little doubt about Fowler's ability " a clever inicisive five-eighth and he was certainly shaping tne right way on Saturday. Good Grammar Forwards. —J. L. Gilmour, who represented Auckland B last season, was Grammar's outstanding forward against Techni i a « nP tvne of forward, Gilmour was prominent throughout and be' collected eight of Grammar's 11 points. Back to Old Club.—After a couple of seasons in Garrison's colours, G. Littlejohn, the Auckland full-back, has been reunited with his old love. Manukau, and he was a tower of strength in his - initial appearance this season. Safety pensonifled, Littlejohn had both accuracy and L. lpnsth in his touch-finders. He is going to be a great asset to Manukau. which has the makings of a strong, well-balanced fifteen. skipper of Tech.—One of the best loose:twl* seen out last Saturday was R. D. McKenzi= this season's skipper of Technical Old Boys. Always on the ball, McKenzie was a constant source of worry to the Grammar backs. D.- Ryan and D Pike were also prominent in the Technical pack while g7 Menzies looks like developing into'a rattling good forward. Plenty of Talent.— Judging on first appearances, there appears to be a lot of talent in the Grammar Old Boys line-up this season. The average age of the-team is about. 21, and the average weight 12.4. Straight from Auckland Grammar School, the nursery of many Rugby players, comeH. C. McLaren, a fine type of forward. D. R. McDiarmid and C. H. McChesney, two cpsedy backs whose play has been studded with promtee.Two other stalwart packmen are K. L. Healey, a sturdy ex-Nelson representative, and K. R. Roscoe, a player of proven ability who has represented Auckland B.