THE RUGBY GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19626, 3 May 1927, Page 14

THE RUGBY GAME.

OPENING OF NEW SEASON.

CLUB SHOWINGS REVIEWED.

KEEN REVIVAL OF INTEREST.

What is destined to be the most important Eugbv football season since that in which the 1924 All Black team was chosen was opened in Auckland on Saturday, when the first matches in the senior competitions were played. As far as Auckland is concerned, the stage appears to be set for a highly successful season. v Unfortunately there is in Auckland a tendency for' the early enthusiasm to wane, and for players to become erratic in their form. All the signs this year, however, point to a real Kugby revival. Not for many years have players shown the same keenness to make themselves fit early in the season. Most clubs held practices regularly for a month before the competitions started, with the result that Saturday's opening games were mainly played at a fast rate and did not reveal so many of the usual " first-of-the-teason " weaknesses in the teams. Although at one stage it appeared that College Rifles would hold last year's champions in the opening match on Saturday. Ponsonby clearly demonstrated itf> superiority toward the. close of the game. Displaying a better knowledge of the finer points of the game, together with good team-work, Ponsonby was always dangerous. As a matter of fact, the Ponsonby piayers were working together as a team, to which was due in a large measure the difference in the marjrin of points. Territorially, there was not the vast' difference between the teams indicated by the score of 28 to 5. Lucas In Good Form. For the first game of the season Lucas, the Ponsonby captain, displayed fine form. He was the brains of the back division, his jinky running and uncanny placing of short punts continually turning defence into attack. Besides this, he showed fine anticipation of the play and was always handy when Ponsonby's line was in danger. Berridge, at five-eighths, also caught the eve. At times, by his straight running and brilliant cut-through*, hfc left the opposition standing, and made*' some great openings for his outside men. Tonkin, on the wing, displayed plenty of speed and was always . about > when opportunities were offering. All- the backs handled well, their short, s'/iappy passing bouts being in marked contrast to those of their opponents. McManus, at half, played a solid game without any brilliancy, while Pelham, at full-back, Wf»s not in the best .of form, costing his side the only try scored against it, and almost giving away anothef through having his kietfs charged down. The f?rwards all worked well together,, .McCarthy and Palmer continuallv showing up in fast loose rushes, whi'bj none shirked duty in the tight work. . College Rifles' Wasted Chances. The form of the College Rifles team was ( 'disappointing. Its forwards did not hunt as a pack, and often only one forward was seen following up. The vanguard, through poor tackling, threw too much work on its backs, and in that respect

the side was much at fault. Time and time again the forwards failed to nip / concerted efforts in the hud owing to half-heartedtackling, whereas, if the hard, ,low tackle had been introduced, its value Would have been brought, to notice in the lowering of such a high score by Ponsonby. But the forwards were not the or.lv on as at fault On numerous occasions the lacks ran across the field in passing rashes with the always obvious result—

. I. the three-quarters were crowded and- no ground was pained. The passing lacked !> the sting of the Ponsonby rearguard. A good ideal of the trouble to he ■... 'doe. to the slow transfers of Kirk from the scram. This naturally hindered Johnson and Sheen, the five-eighths, who were generally nouno p d ur-on as soon as they received the hall. Kirk, too, used the blind side too freouently, often when there was only a yard or so to work in. Enough was seen of Johnson to show that he would, be a very dangerous player, providing he could obtain quick transfers from the scrum- Sheen also made «ome fine dashes, but the threequarter line did not- lend the necessary support. Wilson was obviously out of form and failed to take his passes cleanly. Gillespie was safe at full-back, but when . shifted to centre lacked the necessary speed t<? make a success in that position. College, Rifles had some glorious scoring t opportunities, but wild and lack of support of the player in possession ' threw away- their chances on at least talf-a-dozen occasions. , . j ' /,. Cleverness of Matheson. j

The curtain-raiser between Grammar Old Boys and Training College was a colourless affair; For the most part players indulged in indiscriminate kicking, forgetting the value of possession ot the ball. Matlieson played a heady game at centre';for Training College. He' was insthimental in starting several good movements which were worthy of better results. His strong punting was an asset, . and as his handling was sure and accurate, he appeals to be an ideal max for tho full-back position. * \ Meyer showed promise as first five'eighths; He is a solid type of player, food in both attack and defence, and e made plenty of openings on Saturday. His one fault was'a tendency to go too far. Anderson and Foote were tho pick of the forwards,,, who, although overshadowed in the loose, quite held their own in the scrums and line-outs. Hook was the beat of the Grammar Old Boys' /backs, but unfortunately had to retire at half-time with an injured knee. Several of the others were too often caught in possession, while mishandling and wild passing were much in evidence. Of the forwards Clarke and Batty followed up well, but did not receive support from the remainder. Cathcart and Wlielau were overburdenod with work in the tight play. Other Senior Games. Willingness, rather than sheer brilliance, ' marked the play in the match between University and Grafton at the Showground. University is faced at the beginning of each season with the task of reorganising its ranks, owing to the fact that students come and go so frequently. It is to University's credit, therefore, that victory wan secured, although the margin was only 11 points to 8. As in previous years:, University gives the impression that it will produce bright football.. That is almost a University tradition. The meicurial nature of University football is also well known. . The backs on Saturday opened up the game well. Jenkin, the first, five-eighths, and McLeod, a wing-three-quarter, were most prominent. The Grafton pack worked solidly and should give a good account of itself in aii the competition matches. Ability to seize scoring chances will increase the. effectiveness of the forwards. The backs did not roved much combination, but in Lawrence. Rum and Farmer there is the basis lor constructive team-work. The team can confidently he expected to improve as the season progresses; the run of luck was certainly against it on Saturday. North Shore, winner of the senior B grade last year, put up a good showing against' Marist at Devon port. .Although North was superior in the line-out, Marist, had better individual performers. Taoft, in particular, shone in the open field and at no stntre in the game did he experience anv difficulty in beating the < •pposing forward*. Tiis work throughout i Vus cleari and decisive. i