SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 14

SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME.

X OPENING OF THE SEASON.

GRAMMAR'S FINE FORWARDS.

TRAINING COLLEGE'S SURPRISE

What is destined to be one o.- the best seasons in tlio history of Rugby in Auckland commenced oil Saturday when the 'spectators at Eden Park witnessed some .splendid football for tlio opening day. Two fine displays were given on the >'o. 1 ground, and in each case the result created a surprise.

Playing a magnificent game and well .vipported by tlio backs the Grammar Old Boys' forwards carried tho sido to a rlcar-cut victory over Ponsonby. Not for many a day have such splendid combined dribbling rushes been seen, and theso in conjunction with excellent ball control ;ire a direct answer to many who consider dribbling a lost art in the game. But it .was not in this department alone that tho vanguard shone. Its packing in tho scrums, screwing, line-out. work, tackling, and following up were almost equally as good and without doubt it proved itself on Saturday ono of tho best club forward divisions seen for years.

Capably led by its captain, L. Knight, flie pack covered itself with honour for an exhibition equal to many memorable displays of years ago. Everyone did his share. The Knight brothers aro deserving of special praise for the convincing manner in "which they held the ball when the scrum was screwed and set the pack off in almost irresistible rushes. E. Batty was always in the picture with his more •experienced confreres. Although it is difficult to individualise when (ho forwards all played so well, A. Knight has never been seen to such advantage. Promising Young Backs.

The Grammar rearguard, although comprising young players, showed distinct IJiomise, and at one stage at the opening of the second spell played Ponsonby and beat it at its own game. They are a nippy set which with mora experience -wilj be a dangerous attacking combination. Their defence on Saturday left little to be desired. Bell, centre. Lewis and Skelton, the five-eighths, did some great work both on attack and defence, while the wings, Olsen and Eady, performed creditably. Corner, behind the pack, •was very nippy and started his backs off with well-judged passes. Gardiner, the fullback, was a little weak in kicking, but his tackling was very sound, this saving his side at least a couple of tries.

- Always a dangerous team Ponsonby fought hard to the end, but its backs did not relish the rushes of the opposing vanguard, and often made feeble efforts to check 'them. Lucas was the brains of the division, and it is just as well Grammar kept him hemmed in. His cut-in was a brilliant, effort, and his understanding with Cammick aften led to dangerous moves. L. Hook made the best of his oportunities, gaining ground on three or four occasions with his wellknown- side-stepping' run. Fraser was rather disappointing ut fullback, but Jamieson. first five-eighths, did some clever work.

: < Against such a solid proposition the Ponsonby, forwards experienced a bnrj afternoon. Bunting was always prominent, while McWilliams .was playing fine football in the second spell. Palmer followed up well throughout, but Swain was not verv conspicuous after tho first quarter. The honours in hooking went to E. Batty and G. Skelton, which was rather surprising against such experienced players as Swain and Palmer.

A Well-balanced Team. • Playing the same type of football as that winch enabled University last year to divest Ponsonby of championship honours. Training College, a combination which seems to have a peculiar faculty f or springing surprises, outplayed Inst seasons' champions in the opening game at Eden Park and scored a decisive victory by 20 points to 11. The winning team gave a brilliant display for the opening day of the season, and if it can maintain its form, some of the other established teams will have to look to their laurels.

The light Training College pack early 5n the game established its superiority over the University pack. Although ♦he University hookers failed, it was riot_ their fault alone.. Tho forwards behind them did not gi\»e them the benefit lor their superior weight. In the loose too, Training College, led by Stacey and Vi oi idroffe, outclassed University and piivad the way for crisp back movements. While the training College backs plaved with rare precision and intelligence, handling accurately and running straight, the University backs were only shadows of their former selves. It. was Mathcson who was the outstanding weakness in the University backs. Neitiier on attack nor defence was he to be compared with the strong running, hard tackling plavor of a few seasons back. Bush, too, 'was a disappointment after his play last year. Both individually and in combination, the /Training College backs were excellent. Rae fed them well from the scrum and G. L. Weir played n. most resourceful game at first five-eighths. Outside him, Mackie varied his game well and in contrast to McKay his kicking was very accurate. Lawrio beat, Mathcson almost at will and so was able to leave two r.peedy wingers, Connolly and Abbott, unmarked and with a. decided advantage over Minns and Goodwin. Butler's Good Display,

Butler led his team admirably and in the final spell, when the University forwards first seemed to realise that, defeat flared (:hern in the face ho accomplished wonders in holding them in check. Although there were only glimpses of the spectacular in the game on No. 2 ground between Technical Old Boys and Marist, the newly-promoted team made a most auspicious entry into senior Rugby and fully deserved its victory bv 18 points to 3. 'f he Marist players appeared to bo i;adly out of training and even though . Iladley toiled hard at the head of the pack, be could not do the work of seven men. The Technical backs received tho major share of tho ball and in possession they were immeasurably superior to tho Marist rearguard. Hogg and Flnslam made openings in plenty for a sound threequarter line and R. C.'ouper, a determined runner, scored no fewer than three tries.

Playing on the. Onehunga ground, Manukau defeated City by 30 points to 9. The game was exciting throughout, but after the first quarter the, Manukau pack g; ined the ascendancy and gave a speedy Jiiyj of backs every opportunity. Fai-wassf-ri retains last year's form and is already very lit. The. pack of forwards v* as a hard-working ono with Sotherly, the bhiriing light-. City Not Impressive.

The, City pack tired badly near the end of the game but more than held its own in the first quarter. The back line was .not impressive. Kerr-Taylor, a young fullback, found plenty to do and came through a haul game with success, Grafton displayed good form against College Hi ties, its tackling being very sound. The five-eighths, however, especially hi "tho first half of the game, were inclined to cut in and did not feed the ■wings. The work of Grafton's forwards both in the scrum and in (ho ruck was of high standard.

College Hilies' exhibition was to some extent disappointing. Tho team was •strengthened by the inclusion of L. C. Williams and N. Williams, who have been transferred from Grammar Old Boys. At halfback Kirk displayed good form and his play was a feature of tho game. The powerful kicking of Wilson was' an asset to the-team although ho was inclined to kick too frequently when outside his own twenty-five. Gillespie,- at fullback, was particularly sound..