FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17472, 17 May 1920, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

, THE - RUGBY GAME, . ; j . . .. . . : . —rS SENIOR GRADE COMPETITION. j;-. ' , - j'.i'r w^: COLLEGE RIFLES DEFEATED. c y " GRAMMAR' BEATS UNIVERSITY. '.* The senior, competition of the Auckland Rugby Union v?a 9 continued 'on Saturday afternoon at' Eden' Parle. About *2000 people attended, and they were provided with some excellent football. , Grammar . School , Old. Boy« played University on No. I. ground, and a fast open came resulted in Grammar School winning by 17 points to 12. On No. Q ground Marist Brothers' Old Boys created a surpmie by debating Grafton by U points, to 8- The earner was mostly a, hard-fought forward on#, in \ which ■ Marist Brothers showed to greater advantage. • Tho latter were considerably strengthened 'by O'Brien and Singe, of the N.Z-E.F. " All Blackteam.. Ponsonby and Newton played on No. 3 ground, the former winning by 2"1 points to 0.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL V. UNIVERSITY. Shortly after the commencement play settled in midfield, but University gradually forced their opponents on to the defensive. Good work by Fisher removed danger. Gcddes later carried play into Grammar Old Boys' twenty-five. From a scrum University were awarded a penalty kick, and Gasparich kicked a goal. University again attacked, hut. a penalty relieved. The Grammar School forwards then get to work, ft passing rush ending in Kronfeld being collared ft few feet from the line. A scrum followed, the ball going out to Hopkins, who cleared. Grammar School were awarded a free kick almost immediately and V. Badcley had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Grammar School maintained the pressure and a dangerous rush was stopped by Brinsden, who returned the ball to midfield. After loose play the ball was kicked back to Lucas. who was tackled before he could dispose of it. Kronfeld snapped it up and got over, V. Badeley converted. University then attacked and Hopkins gained possession. He passed to White, who sent the ball on to Phillips and Robinson, the' latter getting over at the corner. Gaiparich failed to convert: University, 6: Grammar School Old Boys. 5. On changing over C. Badeley took a mark and V. Badeley had an unsuccessful shot at goal, He, however, kicked two goals a few minutes later. University then attacked but good opportunities were lost through faulty handling. Grammar School gradually forced their opponents back into their own territory, Goodwin eventually carrying play right up to the line, where.he was collared. The ball was kicked back to Cox, wio had ft "speculator" but missed, and University forced. A little later C. Badeley secured the ball and sent it out to Goodwin, who crossed at the corner. V. Bsdeley failed to ' convert. When the interval arrived the I scores were: Grammar School Old Boys, If j University. 6,

On resuming good work by Lucas allowed University' to invade Old Boys' twentyfire, where Hopkins obtained a m»rk ■nd Gosparich had an unsuccessful kick at goal. Grammar School retaliated with a forward rush, Eddowes stopping ilwm with a mark. Play settled in midfield. where Grammar School were penalised and Gasparich kicked a goal from near the half-way flag. Eddowes failed to field the* ball a. little later, and a good passing rush ended in Fisher being pushed out at the corner. A aeries of scrums followed, and Kronfcld, getting possessie n, dived over. V. Badcley failed with the kick. Grammar School kept up the pressure,, but Thomas gained possession and broke iiwsy. In Grammar School's twenty-fire he pissed to Lucas, who managed to get the ball at his toes and dribble over the line. Gasparich failed to convert, and the quarter ended with the scores Grammar School Old Boys. 17 University, 13. * • The game was very fast and open during the last quarter, but neither side added to i their acorwi Mr. Cliffe was referee. MARISTS V. COLLEGE RIFLES. College Rifles attacked at the commencement, but a free-kick relieved. Even play followed, till Fletcher headed a rush into Mariet Brothers' territory, which was stopped by O'Brien. C. Fletcher later gained possession, and had a drop-kick at goal, but the ball went wide. Bifles continued to attack, but faulty passing lost good opportunities, and neither side had scored at the end of the first quarter. ' On changing over Marist Brothers attacked and Peters was nearly over. College Rifles then shifted operationa to mid-field, where Fletcher started a passing rush, which was only stopped by Singe intercepting the ball. A little later Barker gained possession, and after a good run scored between the posts. Laxon converted. Marist Brothers then pressed, and from a scrum in front of the goal-posts College Rifles were penalised, and O'Brien kicked a goal. Maris* Brothers continued to attack, and good work between Eailly. Singe and Somervillo resulted in the last-named scoring. O'Brien converted, making the scores at half-time:—Marist Brothers, 8; College Bides, 5. When the game was resumed Barker picked up the ball from the loose, Mid got over at the corner. Laxon failed irith the kick, and the scores were 8 all when tho last quarter was commenced. Marbt Bro-, thers attacked, and eventually College Rifles were compelled to force. Thomas headed another rush into College Rifles' twenty-five, but good work by Wilson saved. Loose play followed on College Rifles' line, ■ from which Earlly got the ball and forced his way over., O'Brien failed with the kick. Just before tune was called Earlly got the ball and kicked to Bines. The latter was collared before be could get rid of it, and Peters, gathering up. scored. O'Brien failed to convert, and the game ended:— Marist Brothers, 14; College Rifles, 8. Mr. W. Meredith wan referee.

! PONSONBY V. NEWTON. I Shortly after the commencement Newton were compelled to force. Play than settled la midfield, where Murray gained possession and Alter a good run scored. Prentice failed with the kick. Ponsonby maintained the .pressure, but a mark relieved. The respite, however, was only temporary, for Ponsonby were noon back again; but they wore unable to add to their score before the first quarter ended. Ponsonby, 3; Newton. 0. On 'changing over Ponsonby again attacked, but wild passing ended in Newton 'forcing. Two more forces followed immediately A little later Ross gathered up the ball' and got over at the corner. The try was not converted. Just before half-time Righton added another try, which Prentice converted, and the spell ended with the score: Ponsonby, 11; Newton, 0. On resuming Ponsonby invaded their opponents' territory, and Matthews picking up the ball crossed the line. MoManus failed to convert. Newton were compelled to force twice in the nest few minutes. Ponsonby , (gain pressed, and from loose play Marshall secured the ball and got over. Thompson converted, making the score: Ponsonby, 19; Newton. 0. In the last Quarter Matthews added another try to Ponsonoy's score, Prentice failing with the kick. The game ended: Ponsonby. 52; Newton, 0. Mr. Hancock was referee.

THE JUNIOR MATCHES. Second Grade.—College Rifles, 11, drew with Grafton, 11; Ponsqpby, 20, beat Suburbs, 10; Grammar. IS, beat 61. Albans, 3; University, 3, drew with Marist Brothers, 3 v Third Grade.— Rifles, 16, beat Y.M.C.A.. 5; University, 14, beat Thames Hi«h School, 3; Parnell, 21, beat Grammar School, 3. Fourth Grade.—Marist Brothers, 13, boat Ellerslie, 3: Grammar School, 30, best Telegraph Messjugers, 3; Ponsonby, 16, best Parnell, 11. Fifth Grade.—Ponionby, 13, beat Msrißt Biothers, 13: Grafton, 17, best Telegraph Mersengers, 0. THAMES UNION COMPETITIONS. [vt TELEGRAPH.— COItnBSPONDBNT.] THAMES, Sunday. Two senior matches were set down for Saturday. One gamo, Biturned Soldiers v. Hikutaia. at Hikutaia, was won by Hiku-taia-by 3 points to 0. The other match, City v. waitakarani, at Thames, fell through owing to the viKtias turn failing to make the journey,.through sickness. In the junior division Hauraki Plains beat J^'i I */,?: by points to, 8 School of Mines I. beat City I. by 22 points to 0; and City 11, defeated School of Mines 11. by 8 points to 6. Four senior teams are competing this sea-*o«:-City. Hikutaia. Beturaed. Soldiers, and Wajtakaruru. and stx n.rsi Jnmors, City, l e & Site! amiih m School, tad uittw Plaisf,