FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16512, 16 July 1917, Page 7

FOO TB ALL.

'"HE RUGBY GAME.

CHAMPIONSHIPS, CONTINUED.

Both the senior matches in the Auckland Rugby Union's championships on Saturday resulted in good contests played under favourable conditions. The principal game, that between University and Grafton, resulted in a win for the students by 6 points to 8. The Railway v. Grammar School Old Boys' match was also hard fought, but the former team gained the decision fairly decisively by. 14 points to 0.

UNIVERSITY V. GRAFTON. Conditions were good for the UniversityGraftcn mutch, a fairly strong wind being the only awkward factor. With the breeze in their favour, the students ware quickly on the attack, but good defence on the part of Grafton kept them out.. The Grafton forwards were very u-ggressive, and by keeping tho ball close, kept University from making too much use of their advantage. The quarter passed without a score. Macky got over once, but was brought back for a knock-on. With the change over, Grafton immediately attacked, and from a scrum Kronfeld scored, the kick failing. Another spell of attack on their part, and University worked play up field. From a line-out. the backs got away and from a passing bout Robinson equalised, the attempt to convert failing. From this to half-time the play was fast and exciting, attack and defence alternating swiftly. The students were on the point of scoring several times, but did not. Quite succeed. Half-time sounded with University on the attack. The students attacked from the kick-off. A passing movement saw a score within reach, but it was blocked. Another followed quickly, and Robinson succeeded this time, Macky's kick failing. The remainder of the Quarter passed with the students using the favourable wind to the full, and Grafton defending desperately. From the change over to the end Grafton made strenuous efforts to draw level, but tfhe students' defence proved 60und. The backs were passing freely, and made frequent sallies into the enemy territory. Neither side could get through, however, and the final whistle went with the scores:—

University t Grafton S Mr. B. Donovan controlled the game.

RAILWAY V. GRAMMAR OLD BOYS.

The opening stages of the game between Railway and Grammar School Old Boys were of an even character. The wind favoured the Old Boys team, and they attacked freely, but could not quite get through the defending line. The Rail vay backs, playing the open game, pres.ed through frequently, but, aided by the win,', the whites worked the line to advantage. The quarter ended without score. Changing oyer, Railway immediately became aggressive. After being held out they started a passing rush, which ended in Heron securing a try, which Stewart converted. The balance of the quarter produced no further points, the Old Boys defending sturdily. The third quarter was notable for free, open play by Railway, the backs nullifying the advantage their opponents held in having the wind. On changing over the .combination of the blacks began to produce its effect. A good effort by Burns who got through, kicked high and followed, produced a try. which was not converted. A passing rush immediately after ended in Stewart getting across, but the kick failed. Railway continued to press, the whites being kept hemmed in. Jußt on the call of time a high kick, followed up fast by the forwards, resulted in Heron touching down. The shot at goal was fruitless, and* the game ended : Railway . ... 14 Grammar Old Boys 0 Mr. A. Kennerley was referee. SECOND GRADE. Parnell won from Grammar School B by default. Grafton, 37 points, beat University, 3. Ponsonby defeated University by 9 to 0. THIRD GRADE. Ponsonby, 16 points, defeated Parnell, 0. Normal Old Boys beat Marist Bros. Old Boys by 6 to 0. FOURTH GRADE. Ponsonby, 26 points, beat Newton, 0. Parnell beat Normal Old Bsys by 14 to 0. New Lynn, 3, beat Grafton, 0. SECONDARY SCHOOL GAMES. Second Grade: Grammar School A, 12 points, beat King's College, 0. Technical College beat Grammar School B by 3 to 0. Third Grade X: Grammar School A, 11 points, beat Grammar School B, 8. Third Grade Y: Technical College, 9 points, beat King's College B, 0. PUBLIC SCHOOL GAMES. A Grade: Rerfluera. 6 points, beat Epsom. 0. Vermont Street A beat Te Papapa by 11 to 3. Newmarket and Normal School drew, 3 all. B Grade: Richmond defaulted to Beresford Street. ' -rnell, 9 points, beat Onenunga, 0. C Grade: Bayfield, 9 points, beat Vermont Street B, 0. Napier Street beat Maunga whau by 20 to 0. Newton East. 12, beat Nelson Street. 0. Ellerslie defeated Newton West by 32 to 0.

SENIOR CADET ASSOCIATION.

30th Company defeated 33rd Company by 3 points to 0. 68th Company won from 31st Company by default.

OUTSIDE MATCH

Smeeton s staff defeated Hutchinson Bros.' staff by 11 points to 0 in a game played at Eden Park.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL TEAM WINS. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Saturday. The Auckland Grammar School A team, which visited here to-day. won its match against Hamilton by 12 points to 3. The attendance was large, the game arousing a great deal of interest. UNDER LEAGUE RULES. PONSONBY BEATS NORTH SHORE. a Only one senior game was played in the Auckland Rugby League championships on Saturday, Ponsonby defeating North Shore by 7 points to 6 after an exceedingly clos« contest. City won from Grafton by default*. PONSONBY V. NORTH SHORE. The meeting between Ponsonby and North Shore at Victoria Park was the centre of a great deal of interest in consequence of JNorth Shore's victory over City the previous week. The outcome was a. closely-con-tested game, full of interest right up to the conclusion, with Ponsonby the victors by a B i ßle point ', the result being, as in several of the matches, the consequence of greater success in goal-kicking. North Shore crossed their opponent's line twice, but neither try was converted, while Ponsonby secured one try, which was converted, and a goal from a penalty kick. The game was very fast from the outset, with North Shore definitely upon the aggressive. The only score in the first. half, however, consisted of a try. scored by Walters, as the- result of a forward scramble. The kick by Nicholson was resultless, the spell ending with North Shore leading. The opening of the second half produced something of a surprise, a forward rush resulting in the ball going over the Ponsonby line. In the resultant race Seagar reached it first, placing Shore 6 to the good. The kick failed. Ponsonby's first score came as the result of an infringement. Walsh securing a penalty goal. Ponsonby .were now trying hard for the game. A fierce combined rally resulted in the pack taking the ball over for a try, which' Walsh converted, and Ponsonby were ahead. This proved the end of the scoring, for despite continuous attacks by Ponsonby th-?y could not get over, and the call of tinio came with the scores— Ponsonby 7 North Shore 6 Mr. W. Murray was referee. THIRD GRADE. City, 15 points, beat North Shore, 0. FOURTH GRADE. City defeated Grafton by 13 points to 5. SIXTH GRADE. North Shore, 5 points, beat Telegraph Messengers, 2. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. •GRADE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Both the senior matches in the Auckland Football Association's competitions on Saturday resulted in closi finishes. Playing at Devonport, Wild Rose defeated North Shore by 1 goal to 0, while Everton beat Richmond at Victoria Park, by 2 goals to 1. Brotherhood took the bye. EVERTON V. RICHMOND. The game between Everton and Richmond started with the former on the offensive. The attack proved without result, and gradually merged into a period of give-and-take play, with the ball hovering in mid-field. Everton drew first blood, Lynneburg netting a goal from a corner. After Richmond had attacked for some considerable time Everton strain fained the upper hand, and once again -ynneburg was responsible for a goal. The spell ended with the game in this condition.

?*?, scond . spell was made noticeable by a good deal of attacking by Richmond, but the Overton defence wag effective. Towards the T0,,,,,?,/ same, after » series of tussela sound the Everum end Mac Donald placed a. good goal for Richmond, the whistle sound•xlj with the scores: Everton .. r, Richmond ... ]" *[' " J NORTH SHORE WILD ROSE. North Shore took the field against Wild ?°™, a , ma , short. A strong wind proved a drawback to accurate play, nevertheless the game was spirited and even. About half way through the first spell Wild Rose were awarded a penalty kick in front of the North Shore goal, from which Graham scored, bhortly after the same player took a corner kick, and Lockwood put the ball between tl e £^i S J b«t the goal was disallowed. The spell ended without further addition to the total SSJSS"- Bpell - ? aMed without either team succeeded m gaming a goal, though North fiJjfJl? aackd , strenuously towards the Position- thistle Went wid » the Wild Rose . , North Shore ... '..', '.'.'. '." q FOURTH GRADE. Northcote, 4 goals, defeated Richmond, 0. FIFTH GRADE. Technical College beat Tabernacle by 2 gOGIB to 0. SIXTH GRADE. T^- Y - M i-/i ?, goa ' beat Mount Eden, 0. Technical College beat Belmont by 2 goals