RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19715, 15 August 1927, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

COLLEGE DAY MATCHES. BRIGHT PLAY AT EDEN PARK. KING'S COLLEGE BEATS GRAMMAR The popularity of secondary school football was illustrated at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon, when the annual College Day matches attracted over 8000 spectators. Although the heavy ground militated against fast back play, some bright and interesting football was witnessed. The chief attraction was the match between King's College and Auckland Grammar School, victory going to King's by a margin of throe points, after a hardfought contest. Grammar had all the bettei of the first half, but the heavier King's forwards gradually wore the oppo sit lor down in the second spell. The curtain raiser between Sacred Heart and Mount Albert resulted in a two-points victory for the former, while St. Stephen's defeated Grammar B by one point. Following are the results : King's College 6, v. Grammar School, 3. Sacred Heart, 6, v. Mount Albert, 4. St. Stephen's, 11, v Grammar School B, 10. PENALTY GOAL DECIDES ISSUE. Fast exchanges marked the opening of the game between King's and Grammar, but both sides were over-eager. The Grammar pack was getting the ball, but Cashmore, at first five-eighths, did not send it out to his backs. Then on two occasions Grammar rearguard attacks broke down, and the forwards, in carrying on. lost opportunities through off-side play. King's launched a splendid counter-attack. Caughey secured the ball in the loose and rnn Newsome into position before passing. The winger put in a good dash, but went down to a flying tackle by Reid His pass infield went astray, and soon the Grammar forwards, with Meikle in the van, swept downfield. The first quarter ended without score. There was a sensational incident on resuming. Gladding, the Grammar centre, broke through, with Garlick in support. He drew the King's defence beautifully and then sent out a perfect pass to the winger. Garlick took the ball in his stride and dashed over at the corner. Garlick failed to improve his try. King's forwards immediately attacked, but found the Grammar defence sound, and Cashmore's brilliant long kicking drove King's back several times. Then King's commenced to throw the ball about. Once a knock-on spoilt a dash by Pearson and Eddleston, and shortly afterwards a corkscrew run by Bowman was stopped by a tackle from behind. Again it was Cashmore who turned defence into attack for Grammar. A long kick had King's in difficulties, and had it not been for a bad pass by Fraser, Grammar might have scored. Grammar had easily the belter of play until half-time, when the score was:—Grammar School, 3: King's College, 0. There was n bright opening to the second half. From a high punt by a King's forward, Garlick secured the ball and made a great run, before he was crowded into touch. The King's forwards rushed play back, and there was a series of tight scrums in Grammar's twenty-five. Weak passing bv Caughey allowed the defenders to force play back to the centre. Play was mainly confined to the forwards, and from one King's rush the ball was heeled back. Hain cross-kicked beautifully, and Milliken. travelling at top speed, picked the ball up in his stride and hurled himself across the line, equalising the scores. Gillett's kick missed. , A little later King s were awarded a penalty inside Grammar's twenty-five, and in spite of the heavy ball Gillett kicked a fine goal. The third quarter ended with King's leading, 6—3. As the game drew to a close play became faster and more exciting. The two packs were fighting for every inch of ground, but Cashmore was left practicallv unsupported among the Grammar inside backs, fn the final stages the game became a tight forward struggle. King's heavy forwards had gradually worn down the opposition and in the closing stages held the upper hand. Just before time Gillett had an unsuccessful shot from a few yards in front of goal. J he final score was:—King's College, 6; Grammar School, 3. SACRED HEART WINS. Sacred Heart was superior in the backline to Mount Albert, arid better play in this department enabled it to score two tries. Forward play marked the opening stages, neither side being able to pierce the defence. Then Trigg sent Hassan away from a scrum, and the latter touched down after a determined run. The kick at goal failed. In the second quarter Bush placed Mount Albert ahead with a fine drop-kick from the twenty-five. The only other score was made by Sacred Heart after McDonald made an opening for Hira, who evaded a couple of tacklers and touched down. The kick was unsuccessful, and the game ended:—Sacred Heart, 6: Mount Albert Grammar, 4. , On the No, 2 ground at Eden Park St. Stephen's defeated Grammar B in a close game by 11 points to 10. For the winners Te Mara and Wi Ngahau scored tries, and White kicked a penalty goal, and converted one try. Fraser and Sterling scored tries for Grammar, Gregory converting both. KING COUNTRY ON TOUR. DRAWN GAME AT PAEROA. CONTEST WITH THAMES VALLEY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] PAEROA, Sunday. A Rugby match between King Country and Thames Valley, at Paeroa, yesterday, resulted in a draw, the scores being 9 points all. The ground waa wet and heavy, but a. very good open game resulted. King Country kicked 02. against the wind and Thames Valley returned to mid-field From the first scrum King Country secured and set the backs in motion, but they failed to gain much ground. Thames Valley forwards carried play to the visitors" twentyfive, and Faulkner secured, but he lost the ball on the line From an ensuing scrum King Country was penalised, and Block had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Later, King Country had to force. The Valley forwards continued to press and Mcßae, securing, threw a long pass U. Faulkner, who scored. Thames Valley, 3; King Country, 0. King Country rushed through to attack, but the Valley forwards relieved the posi-* tion, and again King Country had to force. The quarter finished without further score. From the kick-off the home team went to the attack, and looked like scoring, but Kino marked and set the game going in favour of King Country, the latter carrying the length of the field The home team was forced Thames Valley soon retaliated and, from a loose rush. Mcßae secured and passed to Tavers, to Bia who cut in and scored The kick failed. Thames Valley went straight to the attack, and as the result of a forward rush Williams secured and scored Thames Valley. 9; King Country vFrom the drop-in some good open play was witnessed, which culminated in iMidy scoring for King Country. Ihe visitors again opened play, and Iloddon scored. There were no further scores when half-time sounded Thames Valley 0; King Country, Thames Valley opened the attack in the second half, and Black had a drop .kick at goal. King Counti> forced Loose play in midfield ensued for most of the spell. Smith headed a rush for Thames Valley, and again the visitors forced. lhames Valley had a shot at goal, but failed, and the third quarter finished without any score. Thames Valley was attacking with a Passing rush when Coogan. the visitors halfback, intercepted Tovvens passed and opened a passing )ut. which resulted in Winebery scoring in the corner Ihe kick f.-.iled Thames Valley, 0; King Country 9. The home team rallied and went to the attack, ami play hung in from of the goal for several minute The attacking team was awarded a free kick, but the defenders forced Then followed some good open play, in which some go. d defensive work was done by Cooga.n for the visitors The game finished with _ the home team attacking and change in the score. SOUTHLAND TOURING TEAM. iHY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. I WANGANTT] Saturday The Southland touring Rugby team defeated Wanganui by 19 points lo 14 today in a hard, fast game. Ihe visiting forwards gave an excellent display and showed decided superiority in the scrums and line-outs, but the rearguard was not so efficient, and the Wanganui tacubng smothered many attacks. in the second half the visitors brightened up considerably, and had Wanganui on defence most of the time, the local team collapsing in the final stages. THE WELLINGTON TEAM. [BY telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Sunday. The following is the Wellington repre sentative Rugby team selected to meet Southland on Wednesday at Athletic Park: Malcolm, Elvy, M. Nicholas. Ramson, Rushbrook, Johnson, Kilby. Porter, Oliver. Claridge, Emerson, Shearer, Taylor, . Pnnglo, Edgar. Emergencies; McKenzie, Lang, Thomas, McHardy.