RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19939, 7 May 1928, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

TTHE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. pONSONBY DEFEATS MANUKAU. EXCITING MATCH AT EDEN PARK. The Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship was continued on Saturday in fine weather and on grounds slightly 6oft after the rain which fell on the preceding days. There was a large crowd at Eden Park, and on No 1 ground the spectators witnessed one of the most exciting games seen in Auckland for some time. Pon3onby was fully extended by Manukau and can be accounted very lucky in snatching a last-minute victory. University defeated City in a keenly-contested game on No. 2 ground, while Grammar Old Boys won by a similar margin against College Rifles on the .adjoining ground. Grafton and North Shore played a drawn game at North Shore, while Marist had an «asy win over Training College at Victoria Park. The results were as follows : Ponsonby, 22, v. Manukau, 19. University, 15, v. City, 8. Grammar Old Boys, 15, v. College Bifles, 8. Marist, 33, v. Training College, 6. Grafton, 12, v. North Shore, 12. The following table shows the positions cf the teams at the conclusion of the second series of matches— Pts. Pts. Ch Team. Won. Lost. Drn. For Agst. Pts. Ponsonby .2 Marist, . 2 Grafton . . 1 1 24 18 3 Grammar 0.8. 1 1 Manukau 1 1 University .1 1 Trainine Col. 1 1 North Shore 1 1 24 28 I City .. College rifles

MANUKAU V. PONSONBY. The Manukau forwards made things lively from the start, and a few minutes after the kick-off ffnrris. Manukau'a fullback, made a fine attempt to pot a goal. The Lall fell tinder the bar "The Mfinukati team was caught napping, as, instead of forcing Gown. the Ponsonby backs set off in a passing rush which took play right to fhe other end. Here «. passing' rush ended in L. Hook grounding the ball near the corner Berridge made a. fine attempt fit goal, the ball falling beneath the bar. Ponsonby. 3: Manuka-a. 0. Some brilliant work by Falwasser raised the enthusiasm of the crowd. Berridge attempted a penalty shot from iust inside half-wsty. the ball falling a, trifle short. Cammiok got the ball in a passing rush and sent out to R. Hook He ran round outsidle the wing, and, - getting the ball again, crossed near the corner. Berridge kicked a fine goal. Ponsonby, 8: Manukau. 0 Berridge kicked a penalty goa.l iust before tlvs spell ended. Ponsonby. 11; Manukau, 0. Rata had a penalty shot for Manukau. the ball striking the cross-bar, going straight into the air and coming down iust outside. Leneham was nearly over at the corner, and from the line-out Taylor got the ball and scored. Watene converted. Ponsonby, 11; Manukau, 5. Tricky work between Cammick and R. Hook gained ground, and then McCarthy joined m went over at the corner. The crowd did not like the decision, holding McCarthy to be offside. Berridgß failed at goa.l. and at half-time Poiisonby led. 14—5.. Manukau was unluckv in missing h try Boon after resuming. Watene broke through and kicked, but was obstructed by the fullback. The rush was carried on, however, but Housham kicked a little too hard and the ball was forced. Fraser. Ponsonby a fullback, checked a strong rush with a brilliant mark right on his own line. Mamikan's efforts were rewarded when £ al waßser scored between the posts, though a palpable knock-on before the scorer got the ball went unnoticed. Watene converted. Ponsonby._ 14: Manukau, 10 The crowd was now wildly excited. The spelJ erHed without further score. The fast pace told in the final quarter, the forwards o2 both teams being very tired. Berridge kicked a penalty from beyond the twenty-five, wide out. Manukau came again with a well-sustained forward rush. and their passing out to the left wing saw fhe ball returned to Taylor, who scored at the corner. Watene missed the shot Ponsonby. 17: Manukau, 13. Excitement was at feve." heat _ when u rush ended in Ferguson scoring but Kata failed at goal. Rata, however, placed nis Hide in the lead a moment later with t. penalty goal, and hundreds of hats were thrown into the air. Manukau. 19: Ponsonby, 17. The excitement was net yet finished. L. Hook dribbled through the opposing backs and scored near\trie posts. Berridge converted and then the bell rang, leaving Ponsonby winners by 22 points to 19. Mr. C. F Paull was referee.

UNIVERSITY V. CITY. University showed considerable inijprovetoent on the openinz day's form ill .the match with City, which it won by 15 points to 8. It was a good, keen game, with occasional flushes of brilliant Rugby by both teams. AUhoueh University opened the game with a. brilliant passing movement, City was the first to score. Jn another fine piece of back play N. C. Jenkin made a good opening for University, but Crooke intercepted u pass from Moornouse and swerved past the fullback, to score brilliantly. Dixon go tiled. There were some good individual rushes hy the University Back" at the opening of the second quarter. Finally, from a loose forward rush Linton touched down, and N.. C. Jenkin equalised the scores by converting. In a flash .University took the lead. A City passing rush broke down and Minns broke away. He eluded several vonld-be tackier* and. scored a great try, which N. C. Jenkin again conVerted. Just, before halftime Minns pot. in another good run before cross-kicking. Dickson secured the ball, and he, too, centric with a judicious kick and Anderson scored. N. C. Jenkin goaled. and University led. 15—5. ™ The second half was more oven. The City forwards were playing better football and the backs brought off one good movement. Heard sent three men away oil the blind side and "Wilkinson scored at the comer The kick failed. There was no further score, althoneh Moorhovse. 'threw away several golden chances, for University by cutting in nearly every time he secured the ball. Mj P. Stubbing was referee

GRAFfoN V. NORTH SHORE. It was generally expected on Saturday that Grafton would deieat North Shoie on the North Shore ground, but tins did not prove to be the CE3e, the mutch resulting in a draw, 12 all. The spectators were treated to some fast and clever football. Kicking off with the sun in their faceii the North Shore pack opened the attack, and for about 15 minutes they had Grafton on the defensive. North Shore q <Vi blood. Lynch scoring from a scramble. Ine kick failed. In the second .quarter (j ratton's whig-forward, Liddlo, kicked h p from a mark, evening the score Juat before the close of the first Half Joh-is kicked a goal, putting North Shore m lead by three points. . , Grafton started off well in the second half, snd had North Shore on their goal line. Superb passing on .the part of t North Shore forwards carried the ball d_o\.nfield, and Franklin broke through, registering a brilliant try at the corner. Trie kicß failed, and the score read 9—3 m favour o North Shore. Grafton t attacked, and Xiiddle outpaced and tricked the He*"' Shore backs, to score at the corner. Tne kick wss not converted. Liddle added an other three points for Grafton witii a penalty goal, this evening the scores, nnin began to fail and the ball was greasy With ft penalty kick McKay placed North .Shore in the lead Excitement ran h'ffh in the final stages of the game, in which Wnnoa scored an unconverted try The crame ended with the scores: Grafton. 12: North Shore. 12. Mr. F. E Sutherland was referee GRAMMAR OT,r> ROTS V. COLLEGE RTFLES From the kick-off Grammar Old .Boys curried play to College Rifles territory. tVhelan forcing his way over from a I°9?/; scramble o" the line. Bnd°ley failed with the kick Grammar continued to have the better of the play. Wilson saved twice for College Rifl"s, finally kicking the ball to save a try. After the change-over Col leire Rifles forwards took "lay to the Gram ttar twenty-five, where Wilson evei.ed the ■cores with a penalty coal. A I'velv bout of passing by Grammar saw W Williams score after every back had. handled .the hall. L. Williams failed with the kick Badelev landed a good penalty goal, and at, half-t'm«> the scores were: Grammar. 9-CoHen-e Rifles, 3. College Rifles pearly scored a pass ing rush, and a minute h' 4 er WHrop went over close to the nost*. Gillespie converted From a penalty Skelton kicked a good iroai for Grammar. In the last minute of the came Knight forced hie way over frorn a line-out on the College R'fles line. The Icicle failed, and the fin" 1, scores were: Grammar Old Boys, 15; College Rifles, 8. Ur. E. C. Stretton was referee.

MABIST V. TRAINING COLLEGE. From the beginning, Marist pressed and its account was opened with a penalty, Stuart kicking a goal from near the hallway line, liiom a. line-out the ball went to Jeffries the Marist live-eighth, who cut through, beating several men, and passed to Stuart, who scored. Stuart's kick failed. Loit paved the way for another score by brilliantly intercepting a loose pass by one of the College backs. Kunning through, he transferred to Howard, who went over between the posts. Stuart had no difficulty in adding the major points. College forwards took up the attack, and Peacock gathered in the ball and scored far out, the try being unconverted. Stuurt kicked anothei good goal before half-time, sending the ball over from a difficult angle. This followed by another score, a fine passing rush ending in Stoupe scoring h try. which Stuart converted. With a halt time lead of lti points Marist maintained and improved its position with ease. Howard added threrj more points by kicking a penalty goal. Abbott then kicked a penalty goal for Training College. Mason, the College half, clipped round on the blind side from a scrum, taking the opposition by surprise. However. Abbott was brought down just short of the line. Mariot then took cnarse, scoring at intervals until time was cnlled Dodging several men. Ivoft made a clear opening for son. who scored an unconverted try Fol lowing n swift passing rush, Jeffries scored and Stuart stoaled Stoupe scored again after the ball had been handled by most of the Marist backs. The game endedMarist 83; Training College. 6 Mr. « Peace was referee

LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Following are the results of matches played in the lower grades:— Senior B.—University. 9, Marathon, "i: Technical Old Boys, 32, Otahuhu, 3. Second Grade.—Ponsonby. 8. University Colts, 0; College Rifles, 9. Parnell. 8:_ Uni versity A, 3. Grammar Colts. 0: Marist. 6, Grafton A, 0: Eden. 9, Training Colleee, 8: North Shore. 10, Hauraki, 5: City. 9, Manukau, 6-' Grammar Old Rnvs 11. Citv Conn oil, 0. Third (rrnde.— Fde" 10. Newton. Tech nical Old Bots, 13. University. 3: Suburbs, Marathon.' 0; Parnell. 20, Marmrewa, 3: Manukau 8. College Rifles. S: Ponsonby. 14. G'ammar. 3: Otahuhu. 19 Technical Old Boys, 0: KoMmnramft, 8. Marathon, 0: Penrose A.. 6, Kinsrnland, 3: St. Hellers. 23. College Rifles. 0: Marist. fi. Grafton n Ponsonby, 98, Grafton. 0. Fourth Crude.—Otab"hu. 17, Grammar. 3: C'"ty. 6. Ellerslie. 0: Eden. 20. Manurewa. 3 Ponsonby. 23. Technical Old Boys. 6: Kintrsland. fi. Marist.. 3- Post and Tele Tranh. ]3, Grafton, 6. .... Sixth Grade.—Ponaonhy. 35. ptahuhn, 0: W»niiHu, 41. Marathon. 3; Kincslana. 13. Ellerslie. 9. _ . Seventh Grade.—Ellerslie 30. Konimarnma. 0: Manukau. 14. Recnnbites, H: Swanson, 12, TaVanini. 0: Marist B ; 0. Parnell. n- Marist A heat Suburbs by default

CONTESTS TN COUNTRY CLUB MATCHES CONTINUED Rugby competitions among clubs in the various country centres were continued ->n Saturday. Results are:— Manukau.—Seniors: Prury. 10. v. Hunua, 8; Olevedon. 9. v. Papakura 0. Juniors: Drury. 9. v. Hunua. 0: Papakura. 0. v. Cievedon, 0. Pukekohe.—Seniors • White Star, 16. v. ltamhlers. 0; Power Board. 20, v. Pahirnahoe. 0. .Tuniors: Ramblers. 12. v. Wesley College <?: High School. «. v. White Star 3. Franklin —Seniors: Pokeno. v. 1 c Kohanga. 3: Pukekawa. 6. v. Bombay. 6: Onewhero, 17, v. Tuakau. 3. Juniors: Bombay. 3. v. Pukekawa, 0: Te Kohanga, 8, v. Pokeno, Onewhero. 6. v. Tuakau 3, Waiuku.—The Waiuku Union's senior competition opened on Saturday. Waiuku, fi, bea+ Otana, 3 and Aka Aka, R . drew with Waipipi, 6. . Hamilton.—The Hamilton R'igbv Umo-i competitions commenced on Saturday at Rugby Park :in fine weather In the senior grade games. Old Boys defeated Marist by fi points to 3. and Frankton defeated City hv 32 poin's to 0 MorrinsvilJe.—Seniors: Terriers, 35, beat United. 9: Kereone. 13. bent Tatuanni. 6. Juniors: United. bpat Kiwitahi. 3: bereo"e. 0. beat Springdale, 3- Tahuna, 5, beat Wnitoa, 0. Matamata.—Seniors: M atamata. 12. v. Walton, 9- Wairei. 0. v. Patetere 12: Runngaiti. 3, 7. Hinuera. 13. Juniors: 6. v. W"Hon. 3: Waharoa end Hinuera. a dvaw Third grade: Matamata. 3. v. Wardville, 0; Patetere, 13. v. High School. 3. Tauranga.—Fine but dull weather pre vnilpd for the continuation of the Rugby Union's championships The Raneinui seniors met the Bangiuru (Te Puke) team. The latter held the upper hand throughout and won by 25 noints to 3, _ A 'eature of the' matf-h was the r-oal-k'ckinp hv W. Napier, who was responsible for Iff points for tho winners. In the other senior game Cadets Old Boys _ defeated Rangataua by 17 fo 0. The iunior game_s resulted:—Cadets Old Bovs. fi. drew with High Schcol A, 6; All Athletics. 39. beat Ranginui. 3. The third grade game between Athletics and School was won by Athletic? by 8 to 6. Onotiki.—'The Opotiki Rugby Union com netition commenced in fine weaTher. The grounds were in good order and there was n good mT>=teT' of spectators. Senior games resulted: Countrv, 20, v. Triple Links, 3; City, G. v. Te Huia. 3. .Juniors: Country, v. Triple Links 5: Te Huia. R. v. Citv 3 Te Puke.—Jn the senior grade. United, fi beat Porfakawo. 3. In the junior match U":t»d. fi. hejit Pongakawa, 0. Rotoma.—Rugby matches at Arawa Park resulted:—Seniors: Citv. 3 v. Mamaku, 0: TCahakura, 8. v. Wa'Vite. 8 The' latter g»me was very keenly contested and the "'ay was of ci high order. For Kahaknra W. Scott. Thomnson, CcrlHt. and Pollard nl ayed good football, as did D Sheaf. J Morgan and Corhett for Wsi'nte. JuniorsTiVh School. 24. v. Citv. 3- Waikite. 12. ' Fahakura, 3. The Hir-h School has fj-in fifVl ihip rPftSO^.

Whangs rei.—results ;>re:— "ik'tronfi. fl'-pT* 5 w'th Old Povs. P»: C'J" ii. Mimnirj'-irimn. ft .T>iniors: Hif l «"'fli fi: I'oi'f 21. Old Boys. 19: Oneralii C'tv. Tili r * r ade • Hik'irfingi. 8. "beat Old Boys, 3 H ; "b School 12. bo" 1 Nether" Star. 8 Taibape.—Tho club competitions com menced in ideal conditions and before ;

Sr?« unirliiir r f spectators Pesulfs are:— Seniors: Hai't'-nri, 11. v. Pirates, 11; Old way, 6, v, MargaweVa, 0. Utikii and Pi rates won by default.

RESULT?! IN THE SOUTH. [BY nSXEGBAPIT.— PRESS ASSOCIATION. | WELLINGTON, fitanday. Senior Rugby matches played at "Wellington yesterday resulted as follows:—Oriental, 14, v. Athletio, 12: Poneke, 21, v. Varsity, 9: Marist, 14, v. Wellington, 0: Old Boys, 11, v. Petone, 8: Berhampore. 11, v. Eastbourne, 0. CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday Following are the results of Rugby matches played at Christchurch yesterday:—Varsity, 14. v. Christchurch, 3; Lin wood. 9. v. Albion 0- Merivaie, 51. v Technical, 12 DUNEDI'N. Sunday Rugby matches played at Dunedin yesterday resulted:—Kaikorai, 22, v. Southern, 5: Pirates, 21, v. Dunedin, 3; Varsity -A, 37, v. Union. 0: Varsity V, 23. v Zingari, 0: Alhambra, 21, t. Taieri, 6.

BASKETBALL. AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. A KNOCK-OUT TOURNAMENT. t? oil owing arts the results of the first knock-out tournament played on the Normal and Old Grammar School grounds on Saturday, under the auspices of the Auckland Basketball Association:— Senior Grade—First round- Wnratah, JO, Seddon, 5; Edendale, 32, Wnratah, 4; College A. 11, University B, 2; Grammar, 13, College B. 2; University A, 18, Y.W.C.A., 4. Second round: College A. 9, Edendale, 6; University A. 16, Grammar, 3. Final: University, 12, College A. 8. Second Grade.—First round: Richmond, 8, University, 1; Lynndale, 12, College B, 3; Edendals, 15, Victoria, 5. Second round: Richmond, 10, Lynndale, 6: Edendale, 8, Grammar,. 6; Rata. 16, College A. 3; Tahatu. 8. Y.W.C A„ 3 Semi-final: Edendale, 8, Richmond, 6: Rata. 7, Tahatu. 5Final; Edendale. 9: Rata, 7. Third Grade.—Richmond Old Girls defeated Victoria: Browne Broa., . 6, YWC.A 2: Seddon Memorial Technical College A 3, Manchester, 2: Grammar Old Girls, 14, Lyrmdale, 0; Seddon, 3. Otahuhu. 2; Heraud. 6. Wesley. 4: College, 5, Interhouse Brown 1* Edendale. 10. Grammar, R: Manukau. 5. Belmont, 3: Seddon, 7, Herald 1: Browne Brothers, fi. Richmond, 4; Manukan. 2, College. 1. „ Semi-finals : Browne Brothers 7 , Seddon, 3: Kderidaie. fi. Manukau i Final: Browne Brolhers fi. Edendale. 2 „ Fourth Grade Turners and !. fnterho"«e Gold 1 . 1; V W.C A., 4. Inter house Mauve. 0: Surrey Fills beat, Gram mar by default: Tnterhouse Tango. 6. Browne Brothers 1: Seddon Memorial Technical College 6. Tnterhouse Hed. 3: fnterhoiiß© Cerise. 4. Beddon Memorial Technical College. 0: Interhonse Green.. 12. Hefat,t>. 0: All Saints' Gnides. beat Richmond by default: Seddon, „ Surrey Hills. 9. Seddon. 3: Y.W.C.A., 2. Tnterhouse Tango, 1: All Saints 3, I and G. 1- Tnterhonse Green. 7. IMerhouse Cerise. 3 Semi-finals: Surrey Hills, «. V.W.C.A.. 3: Interhouse Green, 6 All faints'. 1 Final: Surrey Hills. - Tnterho"«e Green. 6 , _ , . _ ~ Fifth Grade—lnterhouse Red, 4, Seddon. Seddon Afemorial Technical College, 1. Turners and Growers. 0; Edenda'e 2. Berlei. Limited. 1: Y.W.C.A 1. 1"^- house Mauve, 0: Technical College. 2 Y.W.C.A.. 0. Semi-finals: Seddon. 7. Edendale. «: Technical College. 7. Interhouse Red. 2. Final: Technical College, 5, Seddon, 2.