THE RUGBY GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19939, 7 May 1928, Page 12

THE RUGBY GAME.

PONSONBY "HAS CLOSE CALL.

MANUKAU'S UNLUCKY EFFORT. MATCH FULL OF EXCITEMENT. For thrills and excitement the match played between Ponsonby and Manukau 011 No. 1 ground at Eden Park on Saturday, would take a lot of beating. The play could not be described as brilliant, out it was brimful of interest and incident. At half-time it looked as though Ponsonby was going to have a comfortable win, as it was nine points to the good at that stage. However, the second half, was one of surprises, and the last quarter was one long succession of thrills as the play went up and down field with the scores sec-sawing in a matter which delighted the crowd. The big majority of the public wanted to see Manukau win, and there were many sig is of disappointment when Ponsonby snatched victory in the last minute of the game. Not that Ponsonby is not a popular team, but a football public dearly loves to see the leading team beaten, more especially when that team has had such a run of successes as has come the way of the Ponsonby fifteen. However, Manukau can see consolation in the fact that it gave its opponents a big fright, and it came cu* of the fray sharing equal honours so far as the general run of the play was concerned.

Poor Combination. There is the making of a fine team in tho Manukau fifteen. The forwards are sturdy and hard working, but the backs badly need coaching. Individually they did some brilliant work, but they were a very pool combination. Tho halfback was enterprising and got the ball away smartly from the scrums. The first fiveeighth. however, stood Hatfooted to receive the bull and then simply handed it straight 011. The result was that Falwasser and Watene were smothered as soon as they got possession of tho ball on nearly every occasion. Had the backs been on the move when they received the ball on Saturday, it is hard to say how many points Manukau would have put up. The brilliant Falwasser had to make all his own openings with very little room to work in. As it was, his opponents found it extremely difficult to tackle him and bring him down, so, with anything like a fair show, he would have given the Ponsonby backs an anxious timo. From the fullback to the half there is plenty of football ability, but, as it was played 011 Saturday, it is to a great extent being wasted.

Neither team was at full strength. Sturmcy, the Manukau five-eighth, stood down on account of an injury received the previous week, and A. McManus was missing from behind the Ponsonby scrurn, as he was being married that evening. Belying on the Backs.

As in the opening game, the Ponsonby team relied on its backs to do the scoring, but there was a good deal of aimless passing. More than one of the backs seemed anxious to get rid of the ball the moment it came to them. Cammick and L. Hook played good games, while ' Eraser gave ancther solid display at fullback. The crowd became thoroughly worked up a<s the game progressed, and gave vcm. to its feelings by jeering the referee. Certainly he made a few errors, but there was no doubting his impartiality. A section of the public showed plainly that its sympathies were with the Manukau team, and it did not relish any decision given against that side. Manukau has done one thing, and that is to make the public look eagerly forward to its second match with Pousonby.

Improved Form. By defeating City by fifteen points to eight, University showed some improvement on the form displayed against Grafton. Incidentally, City, too, played much better football than it showed when defeated by Training College. Before the opening of the season, both Grammar Old Boys and University were hailed as two teams likely to depose Ponsonby from what has almost become a divine right of leadership. In the very first game, Grammar's claims were set at naught, and unless University can obtain inside backs who realise the capabilities of two fine scoring wingers it must also suffer defe-t. On several occasions Macintosh made brilliant solo efforts, but was not supported. On the other wing, Minns is at the top of his form. He scored one brilliant try on Saturday and just missed another when he slipped in swerving past the fullback. The outstanding Uunversity forward on Saturday was Linton, who was always to the front. Black also played well, but the pack as a whole was inclined to play a straggling game in the loose.

City Pack Improves. Tho City pack has improved considerably, and Fell and Fletcher played some fine football. In the backs Crooke played a consistently clevor game until an injury to his knee compelled his retirement. Ho has tho makings of a great opportunist, but should learn that it is not always good football to wait for an interception. Herd played half and gave a solid exhibition, while N. Ifwerson, at. five-eighth, improved on his exhibition in tho opening game. The College Rifles team gave an improved display on Saturday. Its defence has now become Bounder. Wilson was again the mainstay of the backs, his huge punts saving tho forwards time and timo again. It is safe to say that without Wilson's kicking the score against College Rifles would have been much higher.

Lack of training was again evident in both teams, the forwards being particular offenders in this matter. The game was characterised by a great deal of talking, a continual conversation being carried 011 in the set scrums. Tho usual dash which the Grammar forwards infused into their play was lacking, several of the big forwards shirking the tight play. Batty led tho forwards well and Badeley was never missing to save the backs. Marist had little difficulty in defeating Training Collegn in a one-sided game. It was a case of experience triumphing over untried youth. The Marist backs were the main factor in winning the game. They combined splendidly and adopted versatile tactics which kept their opponents guessing. At second five-eighth, Loft was outstanding. The centre, Stuart, had good wings on either side, both of whom knew his movements intimately. Stoupe, having more pace, was the more dangerous of the two.

A Feature ol the Game. A feature of the game was Stuart's goalkicking, which materially helped in compiling the score. Jeffries and Wright both played well in their positions. Opposed to thin combination, College had a somewhat weak division. Mason, who was behind the scrum, was too much inclined to favour the blind side, whilo Mackie, next to him, found that " selling tho dummy " was a difficult matter against tried players. Surprise was expressed by evoryone at North Shore on Saturday when the home team held its own with Grafton. . That the North Shore team is a solid, hardworking one, there can be no doubt after Saturday's excellent exhibition. The forwards are heavy and run straight with the ball, while tho wingers are fast and decisive in action. Franklin, Lynch, Mackay, Jahnson and Solomon showed up to advantage and were responsible, with the assistance of the rest of the pack, for some fine work. Good football was also shown by the backs who were always sound.

Grafton again proved that it has a Strong fiftee conversant with all departments of Rugby. For the first quarter of the game it was unable to settle down, the backs not being able to take advantage of all tho openings given them by their forwards. The resourcefulness of Paewai, and his knowledge of tactics were again witnessed Shining in the front row were Wanoa and Finlayson, and their plav in the tight and in the loose was good to see. Liddle was perhaps responsible for the most spectacular turns. He saved tho day for Grafton, scoring three times.