RUGBY PREMIERSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20555, 5 May 1930, Page 12

RUGBY PREMIERSHIP.

HIGH STANDARD 'OF PLAY. ANOTHER WIN TO PONSONBY. TWO EASY VICTORIES OBTAINED. Tho standard of play in the Rugby matches at Eden Park on Saturday was very good indeed for so early in the season, and tho Governor-General and Lady Bledisloe must havo been impressed by what they saw in the game between Ponsonby and Training College. There was plenty of incident in the first spell particularly. Technical College Old Boys once again showed it is a sido which will havo to be reckoned with. Easy victories woro scored by University and Grammar Old Boys over Grafton and College Rifles respectively. Marist was expected to make a bold showing against Manukau, but the latter team proved too good on its own ground. The first half of the Ponsonby-Training College match was very evenly contested, and it looked to be anybody's game at half time. Tho turning point came- in the second half when Bush rearranged the backs slightly, moving up from fullback himself. The experiment was not a success as Hook's try, which increased Ponsonby's score to 11 points, was obtained whilo Bush was playing closer to the scrum. The chances arc it may not have been scored with Bush in his usual place. The Ponsonby backs threw tlie ball about in their usual free style, but the handling in the first half was very erratic, enabling the opposing forwards to tako advantage of dropped passes. Hook lost two or three golden opportunities by his failure to accept passes from Lucas. He made amends in the second half, however. McManus was nippy behind the Ponsonby scrum and Jamieson and Cammick combined well at five-eighths. They were quick to seize openings. Lucas Plays Soundly. Lucas played very soundly at centre. Hook was off his game early, but improved considerably in tho second half. Pope, who replaced McLeod, made a very capable substitute, McLeod was very unfortunate in dislocating his shoulder so early in the season. Eraser gave a solid exhibition at fullback. The forwards worked well, Gallagher and Webb being particularly prominent. Solomon played an ideal roving game, never being far away from tho ball, whether it was being controlled by tho forwards or tho backs. Bush was the outstanding player in tiie Training College team. He did somo brilliant stopping in the first half, and earned frequent applause for his powerful line-kicking and for the'part ho took in an occasional bout of passing. The threequarter line displayed any amount of dasli and ran with great determination when in possession of tho ball. Walker played a fine game behind tho scrum, getting the ball out smartly and stopping the Ponsonby forwards in rare style. Hamilton was always prominent as rover, whilo of tho hard-working pack Dobbs and 'Johnson were outstanding. All the forwards, however, deserve credit for a good showing. The match between Technical Old Boys and City did not provide any very thrilling football, chiefly on of bad mistakes and poor handling, technical played together better, especially in the forwards, of whom C. Keane, at rover, was frequently prominent for good work. Tho backs, especially the inside men, did not combine effectively and Turbott, at five-eighths, persisted in running across the field. A player who stood out prominently was Couper, 011 tho wing. He made several determined dashes during the game and his try was a good individual effort. Couper shows every promise of developing into a fino threequarter as lie possesses the speed and necessary physique. Hogg, at fullback, nlayed a sound panic, nnt } Harris, at half, was responsible for some clever moves. City Backs Fail. Tho City team was for the most part at sixes and sevens and the majority of its efforts were of an individual nature. The backs were far from impressive, good opportunities being lost through lamentably weak handling. Lanigan, at first five-eighths, played a poor game and frequently upset his outside backs. Barnes, Flay and Holt were the most conspicuous of a hard-working pack which was caused a good deal of extra work on account of mistakes by the rearguard. Manukau played sound football and deserved its win against Marist, although the match was more even than the scores .indicate. Manukau was handicapped by its light pack, Kalui not being available. The backs played a good defensive game until the forwards obtained moro combination and belli their own against Maris t's heavier pack. Jones gave a convincing exhibition for Manukau. He showed sound judgment in cutting in and made some fine _ solo runs. E. Brimble also was conspicuous and was unfortunate in having to retire in the second half. The threequarter line—Albion, Stewart and Thomas —was an asset to the team. Thomas, in addition, showed a valuable turn oi speed. Bryer proved a useful halfback. McGuire and' 0. Satherley were prominent among the forwards. I nrei. at fullback, was responsible for some brilliant movements, which were offset by his missing and fumbling of the ball. His powerful kicking was a tower of strength to Manukau. Conway Outstanding. The outstanding Marist player was Conway, who formerly played for Ponsonby. Conway shone at halfback, setting his backs rapidly in motion. W alsh, at fullhack, was sound, and Johnson was the I best of the other backs. The forwards all played well, but their work was often spoilt, particularly in the early stages of the game, by faulty passing and slowness of following up advantages by the backs. Grafton was 110 match for University, which held tho upper hand most of tho time. Grafton's score was made in the last ton minutes, when a surprising improvement in form was shown. Backs and forwards combined well and University was kept hard pressed. Grafton failed during the rest of tho match to play as a team. University showed splendid combination throughout, and some of its passing movements were excellent. Tho University backs were much too fast for Grafton. Both teams were inclined to fumble the ball and several good chances weio lost. The University threequarter line played a fine game. Minns was responsible for several spirited attacks, and Milliken } finished off movements very effectively. Rae, at halfback, got the ball away smartly, and gave his backs numerous opportunities. Tho forward line as a whole was speedy, and kept together well. Forwards Superior. The superiority of the Grammar forwards was the chief factor in tho team's defeat of College Rides. Their rushes gained much ground throughout the match, and it, was only bad handling, a defect from which the backs also suffered, that prevented the score from being higher. The Knight brothers and Batty brothers were always prominent, both in tho loose and in close work. The backs combined well and Corner fed them steadily from tlio scrums, but a promising movement repeatedly broke down through bad and forward passes or faulty handling. Garlick, on the wing, played a sound game, and tho fullback. Matheson, was particularly safe and played with brilliance. Among the. College liifles forwards there were revcral hard workers. Soul or being outstanding, but they lacked tho teamwork of their opponents. Pickering was the best of tho backs, and was quick to turn a defensive movement into attack. McGregor also played well, but the backs on the whole could not strike a good combination.