ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16562, 11 June 1917, Page 7

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

UNIVERSITY DEFEATS RAILWAY.

The meeting between the University and Railway teams on Saturday in the Auckland Rugby Union championship, resulted in a keenly contested struggle, tho game going to the former by 11 points to 3. Grammar School Old Boys and Grafton, playing at the Show Grounds, drew with the score 3 all. The junior and college championships were continued. The match between the Grammar School A and Sacred Heart, at Eden Park, excited considerable interest. After a fast and free exhibition of the game Grammar School gained the decision by 8 points to 3.

UNIVERSITY V. RAILWAY. University and Railway, each with an unbeaten record, took the field at Eden Park. The two teams appeared evenly matched in weight, and a dry ball and ground gave promise of a fast game. In point of fact, a tendency by both sides to keep the ball close slowed the pace down, and while the struggle was strenuous throughout, close packed forward work and continual line-kicking robbed it of a good deal of its spectacular interest. The first quarter showed no special advantage to either side. University forced once and were in treublo on several other occasions, but managed to keep the blacks out. The second Quarter opened with more disposition on Both sides to throw the ball about. The University pack tried working in the loose, and broko through several times. _ Eventually Robinson set the backs in motion and, making an opening, sent the ball to O'Connor, who by a determined run got over, Boucher converting the try. The second spell opened with Railway very vigorously upon the attack. University forced • twice, and a free kick against them saw Murphy within an ace of opening Railway's account. Another attack saw Inkster let his team down but over-oagerness on Church's part robbed Railwaj of an almost certain try. The third quarter hod scarcely opened when Gasparicb broke away with the ball at his foot and tho blue pack at his heols. The ball was rußncd down into Railway's quarter where it came into O'Connor's hands, and his turn of pace enabled him to get over again. The kick failed. The final quarter saw the University forwards beating their opponents in the loos*. The backs again got going, Boucher beginning an attack which resulted in Millikcn, Robinson and O'Connor handling the ball. The latter outpaced the defence and scored the students' third try, which was not converted. Railway were showing to best advantage on the line. Finally towards the end of the gwne the black pack bustled the ball over .from a throw-in and Hing scored ft try which was not converted. . University immediately began a vigorous onslaught and 'were attacking when the bell went with the score: — University 11 Railway 3 Mr. A. Nicholson refereed. GRAMMAR OLD BOYS V. GRAFTON. Grafton and Grammar School Old Boys played at the Show Grounds. The game opened with a spell of hard close play. Then Grafton got in motion, and Kronfeld almost got over. The same player set off again soon after, and being tackled sent to Clarke, who crossed the line. The attempt to convert proved fruitless. ' The remainder of the quarter saw the Old Boys trying hard to overtake their handicap, but success did not come their way. On changing ends Grafton were, kept well on the defensive. Grafton were compelled to force several times, hard punting nullifying many of the Old Boys' attacks. The third quarter 'again saw the situation unaltered. The Old Bojs were doing their utmost to overtake their opponents, and Grafton striving just as hard to maintain and increase their lead. The Old Boys' pack kept hard at it. but the Grafton defence proved sound, and they made repeated sallies into the enemy territory. The chance to even matters came to the Old Boys as the result of an infringement on the line, and the kick taken by McLean produced a fine goal. The dosing stages of the game were closely fought, but neither could score again, and time went with the points:— Grafton .. ~ •• ' Grammar Old Boys 3 Mr. Hayson controlled the game.

SECOND GRADE. Grammar School A beat Grafton by 5 points to 0: Ponsonby defeated Parnell by 17 to 0; Grammar School B defaulted to University. > THIRD GRADE. - Grammar School Old Boys defeated Parnell by 8 points to 6; Ponsonby beat Manet Brothers by 9 to 0. „ FOURTH' GRADE. New Lynn beat Newton by 6 points to 0; Marist Brothers defeated Grafton by 12 to 0; Ponsonby beat Parnell by 3 to 0. SECONDARY SCHOOL UNION. Senior Grade: Grammar School A and Sacred Heart College met at Eden Park, the game serving as a curtain-raiser to the senior match. Early in the game an infringement on the line by Sacred Heart enabled Badeley to open for Grammar School with a fine penalty goal. The game followed a very evenly-contested course for some time, half-time seeing no alteration in the position. Early in the second spell an attempt by Badeley to add another goal came to nothing. Immediately following, the backs got in motion, and Nixon scored a try, which Badeley converted. v From a packed forward move on the line the ball came to Sacred Heart and Finnegan got over, the try being unconverted. Grammar School rallied, and were attacking hotly when the bell went, the score being: Grammar School. 8; Sacred Heart, 3. Second Grade: Grammar School A beat Sacred heart by 8 points to 6. Technical College beat Grammar School B by 11 to 8. Third Grade: Technical College and Grammar School C played a drawn game, neither scoring. Grammar School D beat Sacred Heart B by 9 to 0.

PUBLIC SCHOOL MATCHES. A Grade: Mount Albert beat Epsom by 7 points to 3. Vermont Street A beat Normal School by 8 to 5. Te Papapa, 5, beat Newmarket. 3. Remuera beat Ponsonby by 6 to 3. B Grade: Beresford Street beat Onehunga by IS points to 0. Mount Roskill, 3 points, defeated Avondale, 0. ' Parnell beat Grey Lynn by 20 to 0. Point Chevalier, 15, beat Richmond Road, .0. C Grade: Mount Eden beat Devonport by 10 points to 3. Ellerslie, 18, beat Maungawhau, 0. Newton West drew with Nelson Street, 6 all. Vermont Street B, 9, beat Newton East, 0. Bayfield and Napier Street drew, 8 all.

THE LEAGUE GAME.

NEWTON BEATS CITY.

The meeting between Newton and City at Victoria Park, on Saturday, as anticipated, resulted in a fast and oven game, the former gaining the verdict by 15 points to 13. Ponsonby had little difficulty in accounting for Grafton, piling up 37 points to 3. Otanuhu did not put in a team, the match going to North Shore by default.

NEWTON V. CITY. The first score in tho Newton-City match came to the first-named team, G. lies scoring a try, which was not converted. City made matters interesting after this, a bout of attacks resulting in Hastcdt scoring a try. which E. Asher converted. Attack and counter-attack alternated for a time, until Potier equalised by kicking a, penalty goal for Newton, the spell ending with the scores even. Newton was tho first to add points in the second half, Tobin getting across and Potior converting. Their total mounted further (trough tho agency of the same two players, Tobin taking the ball from half-way to secure the try which Potior converted. City then attacked with determination, and Clarke scored a try, E. Asher adding the two further points. Tho same player again added three points, but an attempt Dy E. Asher to kick the goal which would have equalised the scores failed. The position after this was maintained to the end. All efforts to score by either team wore nullified, and the game ended in a failing light: — Newton IS City 13 Mr. S. Weston was referee.. PONSONBY V. GRAFTON. Ponsonby secured a runaway victory from Grafton, proving their superiority all along the lipo, The first score to the winners was followed by a continuous piling up of points, the sequence being broken only by a try for Grafton, scored by Naysmith after, a strong forward rally. Tries were scored by Henderson (9), Jones (2), Rao (I!), Cross, Clark, and Martin. Cross converted two and kicked a penalty goal, while. Rae and Win. ters each converted one. The final result was:— Ponsonby 82 Grafton 3 Mr. Tyson was the referee. • SECOND GRADE. Ponsonby beat Thames Old Boys by 8 points to 0. THIRD GRADE. Pupuke, 5 points, beat Northcote, 0. FOURTH GRADE. City had a runaway win from Sunnyside by 68 points to 0. Richmond, 6. beat Ponsonby, 0. . FIFTH GRADE. North Shore beat Northcote by 27 points to 0. Richmond won from Post and Tel** graph by 15 to 0,