SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 14

SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

THE RUGBY GAME. MANUKAU'S GOOD EFFORT. VALUE OF EXPERIENCE. HOOK'S SPLENDID HANDLING. Owing io tho wretched conditions prorailing on Saturday spectacular play was impossible. Manukau, with several now ] 'layers among its ranks, played well against I'onsonby, especially in tho first half. Falwasser was on the ground and willing to play, but ho was too late in arriving to obtain the necessary permission, and his case will be dealt with by tho Rugby Union this week. Turei was moved from fullback to second five-eighths, and suited by the conditions his strong kicking proved valuable To his team. Reweti, who filled tho first five-eighths position, showed much promise. The forwards all •worked hard, with Taylor (rover) and Kahu tho most prominent. Manukau would havo done considerably better had it kept tho game to its forwards. Tho experience of soir.o of the Pen fonbv players proved a great asset to the team in tho circumstances. Especially is this applicable to Lucas and Cammick. Tho former played a very heady game ;»ud his clever defenco saved his side at least a couple of tries. Cammick placed his short punts to decided advantago Tho outstanding feature of tho game, however, was tho brilliant handling of E. Hook. Time and again ho gathered the ball cleanly off tho ground when going at top speed. Besides this his allround play wit", excellent and his determined dive for a try was well rewarded. There appeared to bo sonio doubt among tho spectators about tho try, but it seemed Hook grounded the ball beforo a tacklo hurled him into the corner flag, which was knocked out McLeod, on tho other wing, was prominent in a very spectacular run from halfway, which resulted in a try, but outside this his plav ■was not very impressive, his handling being uncertain. Righton, Bunting and Edgars shorted up prominently in the forward line, the first-named playing a gieat game. Two Simple Tries.

Two rather simple tries were all that separated Training College from Technical Old Boys in the curtain-raiser gamo played in mud and slush on No. 1 ground at Eden Park. The first half of the game saw honours even, there being no score. Both sides had opportunities, which they threw away by trying to handle tho elusive ball, and, by keeping the ball at their feet, tho forwards were always able to avert danger. The first score came to Training College immediately following tho kick-off after half-time. Instead of kicking tho ball to the right it was sent to the left wing, which was practically unguarded. Abbott followed up fast and bustled a couple of defenders. He kicked the ball on, and, when near the line, took the lisk of picking it up. 110 succeeded, and scored a very simplo try. A little later in the third spell another very easy try came the way of Iraining College. THe ball was kicked over the lino, and instead of falling on it D. Keane, Technical's fullback, tried to pick it up. 110 missed it and Peacock, who was following fast, scored. Tho Technical forwards were quite a match for their opponents, but their hacks were not so good. They made the fatal mistake when on attack of kicking high into the safe arms of Butler, the result being that they lost all the ground they had made. Butler's line Display. Butler gave a fine display at fullback for the winners. His handling of the ball in such conditions was very good indeed, while well-directed kicking saved his forwards an immense amount of running about. Abbott was always looking for work, but it was not a day for passing rushes, and he had to make his own openings. Rae played a sound game behind the scrum, checking the opposing forwards by going down to tho rushes. The forwards all played well, with Peacock perhaps a little outstanding. With the exception of Harris, the Technical backs did not go down on the ball so well as their opponents. Harris did great work in this respect, and took some splendid marks right off the toes of tho Training College forwards. D. Keane was a trifle uncertain as tho last line of defence. C. Keane, Nelson and Hahn were prominent in tho forwards, Hahn playing a particularly line game. College Rifles again proved on Saturday, in its match against Grammar Old Boys, that it is a side to be reckoned with, and that it did not have tiie best of good fortune in the first round. It was lip against a solid proposition facing tho Grammar forwards on Saturday, but its park quite held its own in tho conditions. In fact, it was playing better than its heavier opponents toward tho close of the game. Both teams missed opportunities of scoring, and both had their share of hard luck, and so a draw was no doubt the fairest result. There was some very fine footwork, and the dribbling rushes took ii good deal of stopping. Some of thelighter College Rifles forwards were very clever with their feet. Good Individual Work.

It was not a day for back plav, but there was some good individual work in this respect. Kirk, tho College Rifles half, was outstanding, and he showed wonderful grit in going down to the rushes of the Grammar forwards. In tho final quarter he received a severe knock \vhich broke his nose, but, sooner than Keo his sido play one short, ho tool: the field again and completed the game. Wilson and Gillespie were also prominent in defence, and saved their forwards much running about. The whole pack deserves praiso for its showing against such a for inidablo opposition. The Grammar forwards were not at full strength, Cathcart being a notable absentee, while there were two other emergencies. However, it could not be called a weak pack, Tho players were very tired at tho finish. Corner was not quite so conspicuous as usual behind the icrum, while tho other backs all played well individually, but without much com bination.

Tho Marist forwards dominated play in the first spell against City. Hadloy and Carroll came through time and again while Locke and Henry wero always liandy. Until early in tlie second half, Locko, the City half hack, found plenty 'o do in stemming Marist rushes. Hut Vhen tlie forwards rallied, and Farrell. Fletcher and Rorenson led rush after rush into Marist territory, A Strange Coincidence.

Cornthwnito, the Marist fuMhack." played h. fine gems, his kicking being especially ;;oo<J. Stoupc and Rtuart fig,,,-,.,! || v in the Mjiiim hack line, while Berridgo and l,ittlowoon were perhaps fithost Jioth ha fhacks played well, liy a strange coincidence it proved to l, f . i|, ( . tv . () s| . ir I'orwardp who scored tho fries, while'li,e two most prominent hacks notched the extra points making (]„, g ., nip n ( | raw Ila ditty went over from a forward rush .Stiiait converting, in the second spell whdo FMiiho. found his w;iy across in the third ~ua/ter and Bemdgc kicked n great goal from (he sideline. A feature of the University Grafton fame was t tio excellent goal-kicking of Bush, who landed some fine goals with a jcreasy ball trom difficult angles. Uni vorsity lino li'tle tronh'rp in defeating Grafton hy a large margin, nnd were fuporior in all departments. The for -wards played a particularly fme game, adapting themseives surprisingly well to tho unfavourable conditions. Krone Havo a tireless display as rover and Union.' vyas thfv outstanding plavcr iu the University pack.