RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 15

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

JPPfNING OF THE SEASON. >, TWO SURPRISE DEFEATS. v UNIVERSITY AND PONSONBY. The 1E29 Rugby season was ushered iu | g,u under ideal playing condi- 1 tions. Contrary to expectations at least irxo surprise results occurred in the defeat- of University, last year's champions, pud Fonsonby which before the opening in-as considered in most quarters the Urongest side ; u the competition. Training College combined much too effectively for University, and the Grammar Old Boys forwards were chiefly responsible by splendid dribbling rushes for defeating jTonsonbv- Nevertheless the rearguard £lso played well, and the tackling of the Jwhole team was another feature. Technical Old Boys made an auspicious (commencement in the senior grade by easily accounting for Marist on the No. £ ground at Eden Park. At the Show Grounds Grafton d-efeated College Rifles $n a good game, while at Onehunga City suffered the worst defeat of the day at hands of Mauukau. There was a large attendance of specta|crs at Eden Park, who were treated to iome fine football for an opening day. Following are the results of Saturday's patches:— Grammar Old Boys, 19; Ponsonby, 8. Training College, 20; University, 12. Technical Old Boys, 18; Marist, 3. Grafton. 14; College Rifles, 6. / Manul.au, 30; City, 9. ) ' " GRAMMAR'S FLNE WIN. Ponsonby set its backs in motion Irotn the commencement, and Jamieson cut-in Bpiendidly to nate a fine opening, but palmer failed to hold his pass right under the goal. The Grammar forwards, led by 3j. Knight, tparried play back. Ponsonby vas letting its rearguard have the ball at every opportunity, only sound tackling holding out severt'l pretty movements. The Grammsir vanguard, followed a good kick by Gardiner, drove Ponsonby to its twentyfive, where pSside by A. Knight spoiled \ Jikely chance. Lucas made a nice run back to - half-way, a try seeming imminent, but again tackling saved. Ponecraby got. to .the Grammar line, and then iplay suddenly swung back. The Grammar Jerwards broke owsy, and, chiefly through jrreat work /by L. Batty, a splendid rush ended in a try to A. Knight beside the yosts. P. Skelton easily converted. Keeping the at their feet, the Grammar iorwards Bad the Ponsonby backi. in trouble. Another rush saw Appleton get effside in hi 3 own twenty-five, and P. Skel<iin kicked, a nice goal. Even play followed to tlie end of tue first quarter, the scores being:—Grammar Old Boys, S; PonEonby. 0.

Bunting broke clean away in a passing boat, hat Gardiner lowered him with a treat tackle. Fast exchanges followed, xeitber Bide being able to drive the advantage home. The Grammar forwards were iplayicg a great pair.e. Once Bell intercepted, and Eady just failed to get over at She comer. . A free kick resulted. P. Jsicelion's attempt going wide. Ponsonby gradually worked back with passing bouts. At last its efforts were rewarded when iLucas cut in brilliantly and Cammick, coining up. on the inside, scored a nice try. !Mc\Yilliams* kick failed to rise. Half tms wis called shortly afterwards with the 'ecores:—Grarrmar Old Boys. S; Ponsonby, 8. ~ Grsmmat forwards again placed the team tn the attack on resuming, and after pom? iiaaains by the backs Lewis badly fooled p?-veral opponents to go over on the blind aide. P. -Skelton converted. Inimedi- ! utely another rush ended in P. Skelton I adding a try. He failed with the kick. It. Hook made a great run through half tha Grammar lean, but clever play by Corner nullified the advantage. The Grammar -backs were showing ur> and makim; the play open. Corner followed tt rush rp to touch derm wide out. P. Skelton Sailed wit n the kick. Another splendid xush by Grammar iust on the bell narrowly missed, the bail going out at the corner nag after several forwards had attempted to set over. The scores were:— jG-rairmar Old Beys, 19; Ponsonby. 3. At the commencement of the last quarter «. clever kick-by Lucas ended in a_ scrum on the Grammar line, where McWilliam? came thro/l£.:h determinedly to score beside jthe posts. Lucas easily converted. Close passing by the Grsimmar forwards bsd the 'defence in trouble, until a free kick relieved. Ponsonby made desperate efforts to break through-,- but the Grammar forwards, ttith close, loose rushes. always drove it tack.. Once"passing among the Ponsonby backs saw L. Hook dash for the line, but Gardiner lowered him with a splendid tackle. There was r.o further scorinc, the Fame ending:—Grammar Old Bov3, 19; Ponsonby. 8. Mr. F. E. Sutherland was referee. BUBPP.ISE BY TRAINING COLLEGE. Training/' College, which had the honour, of playing the first game of the season against University, caused the. first surprise of the season by defea ;iHj last -year s chaniJiion? by 20 points to 11. The University backs were, prominent at the start, but the Training College forwards soon showed their superiority over a heavier pack. Tney secured from a. line-out, and Mackie Ehortpunted accurately for Connolly to dash through and score. Training College maintained its advantage and attacked oui:kiy ■when a University passing movement broke down. Lawrie caught Matbeson out of position, and again sent Connolly , away. The winger outpaced Bush and scored a fine try behind the _ Abbott goaled. Training College, 8; University, 0. In the second spell University had more chances, but the backs were sluggish, with Hatheson the. most pronounced we.ak spot, Goodwin made a couple of individual dashes ncd finally was rewarded by making an openiDg for a pass infield to McKay, who ecored. Jenkin's kick failed, and halfTime came with the scores: —Training College, S; University. 3. With accurate handling _ and_ beautifully straight running, the Training Cqlle;ge backs commenced to tear the University to shreds in the third quarter. Connolly made yet another fine dash, and Blow followed up to score. The kick failed. Maintaining the pressure, the Training College backs shot away, fed by V»oodroffe. Lawrie made Matheson's attempt at a tackle look pathetic, and sent the speedy Connolly: away for another try. Butlers kick failed. Abbott next made a dash, and appeared to cross at the corner as he was tackled by Bush, but the referee ruled touch-m-toal Training College wan now definitely on top, and a nesil opening by "Weir saw the backfc racing downfieid. Lawrie beat Matbeson with ease and passed tr» Abbott, who side-stepped Bush and fcored a great try. Training College. 17: University, 3

The final fpell saw University malic a cesperate attempt to retrieve its lost fortunes. At the end of a pnsKing rush. in T.'hich Matheson held on over-Ion?. Minns rtiade £ typical swerving run, and best several' opponents, to score. Training Col,,e G 6 appeared to be tirins, but Bntier. La-srie and Weir shone in ninsrmfirent defence. . Fmally McKay intercepted a pass "nd ran through 1o Butler before raasms to Keene, who s*corcd between "he t>oats. Bush goaled. However. Training Colleca had kept something in reserve, and in the foal effort of li:e day the forwards swept downfield for 'Webb to score. The kirk Jailed, and the giimc ended with the Ecores: Traininc Colle-e, '2O; University. 11. Mr. C. F. fuull v.as referee.

TECipiCAI/5. INITIAL SIXTESS. In its firs! came in the senior grade A. Technical Old Boys scored a mei itorious victory over Maris!. Play y.as somewhat ra Sged a! the opening. Technical appearing t fl hp suffering from ;i ruild form of stage fright. '' The first points cam? when Stewart kicked a penalty goal for Marist. , In the second spell. Technical played with much mors determination, and the backs commenced to make use of the openings provided by llieir forwards. A good combined j run saw the ball travel to 11. Couper. 'and the winger cut infield cleverly to score. Hogg converted. The half-time scores were:—Technical. 5: Maris!, J!. The Marist forwards adopted spoiling tactics in the -second half, but Technical was too Jast, and clever. It v.aa not lone before Hose sent out a long pass to H. Couper, and the winger dashed, for the corner to score his second try Hogg kicked a fine coal. /■ From then on the new senior team definitely held v-... -pper hand. A brilliant! passing movement saw the reorganised Marist backs, left guessing, and R. Couper crowned the best movement- of the game.' with hip third try. Hogg failed at coal.

The filial spell was rather ragfred. the face having told cm bolb sides. However, technical maintained the offensive, and in or-en play C. Ktene beat Walshe badly and •cored between the posts. D. Keane converted, and the game ended with the ♦cores:-Technical Old Boys. 18; Marist, 3. Mr. E. C. Stxetton was referee.

A GOOD EXHIBITION. The game at, the Show Grounds between Grafton and College Rifles produced eome good football. In the early stages Grafton carried play into College Rifles' twenty-five, but Gillespie saved. A passing rush by the opposing forwards broke through Grafton'B defence, the ball being sent out to Webber, who scored near ihe corner The kick failed. Grafton, assumed the offensive and look play into the College Rifles' twentyfive, where Liddell missed an opportunity of scoring by fumbling a pass. An infringement gave Grafton a penalty, but the kick failed. Following the kick-off Finnel secured the ball from the rfick and dived over. The kick failed. At the changeover Ihe Bcorcs were:—College Rifles, 3; Grafton, 11. Soon after the change _ round. Horne started ti passing '.> out. which ended in a I"_rce. College Rifles then pressed hard, Webber, after u clever movement, being pushed out. at the. corner. A free kick against (Jraftcn saw Wilson send the ball between posts Hamiora. started a forward rush, which went the length of the field before Kirk saved cleverly. "Wanoa, however, secured and dashed over. At half-time the scores were:—College Rifles. G; Grafton. 0. The second snell saw Grafton assumine the offensive. College Rifles being forced twice in succession. .The superiority of the Grafton forwaids gave Finlayson un oppor tunity to score in a good position, Wanoa converting. The scores at the change-over were:-—Grafton. H: College Rifles. G. In the final quarter there were manv exciting exchanges. Grafton kept ihe ball in its opponents' twentv-fi,ve, and from a scrum on the five-yards line Hammond fought his way over. The kick failed There was no further scoring, the game ending:—Grafton. 14: College Rifles. G. Mr. A. V. Moore was referee. MAN UK AU S DIG SCOR E. Manukau proved much too atrons for City in the match at Onehunga, and ran out winners by 30 points to 9. "Within a minute of the commencement. K. Ifwerson kicked a penalty goal for City. Manukau attacked, and the ball was sent to Falwasser, who cut through, but his pass was dropped. Fumbling was spoiling several Manukau movements at this staire. The City forwards carried play downfield. but AVaiene saved with a spectacular mark. A period of hard forward play, with City on attack, found Watene safe, and play returned to half-way. From a mark in checking the Manukau forwards. B. Fletcher drop-kicked a great goal. Manukau came back with a rush, and piny went close to the City line. The ball went, out to Byres, who sent on to E. Briru'nle. The five-eighths .side-stepped for position, and potted a neat goal. After a fast period of play. Turei intercepted a pass and kicked high. Golding followed through, and Taylor carried ou to beat Kerr-Taylor for the touch-down. "Wateue converted, making the scores at the end of the quarter:—Manukau. 9; City, G.

In the second ouarter Laird btoke away, but. his pass infield went aptr.ry. Holding. E. Brimble and Kahn swept to the Citv line, where Byres kicked too hard. Goldins came through again, but Kerr-Taylor saved. Then, from a line-out Satherly dashed away, drew his man, and pave J. Brimble a clear run in. 'Watene converted. Half-time sounded shortly afterwards with the scores:—Manukau, 14; City. 6. On resuming. Manukau maintained the aftack. and play remained in the City twenty-five. A Manukau back movement broke down, and fhe City fopvards attacked strongly, Falwasser clearing. Burd. thfl City-half, opened the game up. aJid Ifwerson beat his man Biid sent to Allan, who just got home a? YTntene downed lnni. The kick failed. The City forwards v:ere feeling the pace, and the Manukau vanguard was able to give its backs better opportunities. Byres received from ■ o loose scrnui at half-way. and made a good opening for Falwasser. The winger ran right round, brushing off several tackles, and TVatene again converted. The scores at tho end of the third quarter were:— Man"kail. 19.: City. 9. Following the change-over, minor injuries caused freouent stoppages, and the came was becoming more ragged. Manukau s nest scoring movement wss begun by Coining. who sect E. Brimble and Linden away for the last-named to score an unconverted try! Linden added another unconverted try shortly afterwards. City was now firing badly, and .inst before time Falwasser wended liis ivav through for Turei to convert as the whistle sounded, making the Sr»l ("-oresManukau. 30: City. 9. Mr. O. Peace was referee. SENIOR GRADE B RESULTS. J I.MOR PRACTICE MATCHES. Following are the results of the competition games in the senior grade B played under the control of the Auckland Kugby Union on Saturday Marathon. 14. beat Otahuhu. 8; Parnel!. 1". beat Manuuau. o: University, 17. beat Tramways. 3; JSortti Shore. 12. beat Suburbs. 3. Friendly games between lower grade teams resuiied as follows: —Second grade. Takaprura, 6. drew with H M.S. 1 hiiomel. (j. Third grade: Takapuna. 20, beat *sortucote. 0.