RUGBY PREMIERSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20603, 30 June 1930, Page 12

RUGBY PREMIERSHIP.

PONSONBY MAINTAINS LEAD. CHIEF MATCH DISAPPOINTS. MINNS IN SPLENDID FORM. With one match decided in tho second round Ponsonby still -maintains its lead in tlio senior competition of the Auckland Rugby Union. The Grammar Old Boys' team is in second place, two points behind, and Technical Old , Boys, University and Manukau are all level for third position, five points behind tho leaders. After tho brisk manner in which the chief match between University and Technical opened on Saturday it appeared a fine exhibition would result, but throughout tho gamo was very disappointing. Tho University rearguard received opportunities in plenty, but usually tho fiveeighths ran across the field or short kicked. Tho grubber kick was very much overdone and possession of the.ball was lost in promising attacking movements.

Minns was in his best form and scored two good tries, badly beating his man and the fallback on the first occasion. It would have been a more profitable proposition if University had fed the threequarter more often. Milliken, too, on tho other wing, displayed plenty of dash. Stokes was not on his game at centre and McHay spoiled a lot of good work, by running across and overdoing the grubber kick. Butler played a fine allround game at fullback. Ho was never found wanting on defence, except on tho ono occasion when Common cleverly beat him. Butler kicked with fino judgment and at times ran up and commenced attacking movements. Rae repeatedly fed his rearguard with good passes, but Jenkin, afc first; five-eighths, was too slow in moving. Even Forward Line. The University forwards wero an even set with Baker and Anderson frequently showing up. Jolly played a splendid gamo at rover and was responsible for two of the tries scored. Tho Technical team had little combination, and its efforts wero mostly of the individual order. Tho injury to Harris, tho captain; completely upset the rear-

guard, but even before his retirement tho backs failed to combine. Harris suffered a split lip, which had to be stitched. Turbott was the outstanding player and repeatedly checked opposing rushes. Haslam did good defensive work, but was not so prominent on attack as usual, as ho did not get many reasonable chances. Common and Couper, the wing-three-quarters, showed up individual efforts, but tho latter was weak in tackling. Tho Technical forwards were beaten in tho loose and most of tho tight work. Nelson and McMiken were the most prominent, while C. Keanc, at rover, was overshadowed by Jolly. game between Grammar Old Boys and Training Collego was rather disappointing, play being scrappy and ragged for the greater part, and it was only tho closeness of the scoring all through which maintained the interest of tho crowd.

training Collego had all tho hotter of tho first quarter,_ hooking tho ball repeatedly. Tho backs displayed much nippiness. Tho second quarter was more even, but it was not exhilarating football. Corner Below Form. Truo to tradition, tho Grammar for wards asserted themselves after the inter- ' val, and tho third quarter was all in favour of Grammar, which-gained a lead of one point with a penalty goal and try Play again deteriorated in the final quarter, thero being far too much aimless kick. mg by tho backs, necessitating useless running about by the forwards. Batty, Grovillo and L. Knight were outstanding in the Grammar pack. All three are maintaining their form well. 1. rotter, the wing-forward, was also continuously in the picture. Only on rare occasions did the Grammar backs e.uubit combination, and ono of these few good handling efforts resulted in a trv I Corner played a long way below New standard. However, allowance has to be made for tho fact that he has not been well, and. also, no doubt, ho was 1 trio r?r- r,, , ,e f, . ims r !f in view ° f i»s i "p, , pnnst-chnrch this week. Jho framing Collego forwards plavcd ' until ?n UnSt i lllCll ' I , ieavifil ' opponents until worn down ,n the later stages of ° ? a " le - ™s particularly outstanding, all doing a full share. Walker played well behind the scrum and frequently stopped tho Grammar forward rushes. All the backs exhibited nip pmess and speed, particularly McFarand and Gower, but, like tho"Grammar backs, they all kicked too much. Bush was a little m arid out, mixing a few mistakes—not very costly, however—with some Z'eally good plav.

Marist's Deserved Win. Marist and Cifv gavo a very uninteresting display. There was lit Ho between the teams, although Marist deserved its [ win. Play was most, uninteresting and I neither sido showed form worthy of j senior chili football. Both sets of backs saw little of the ball either through the •lalfbacks kicking instead of passing out or through the inside men dropping their passes. The match was characterised by individual off >rt and no attempt vas made to make any combined movements. The packs were evenly matched, Marist having a slight advantage in Inc. loose. , l'or the winners tlio Hadley brothers and Clarke worn ■ most prominent, Of the City forwards Oi.inn and Hanna played well. Berridgo was erratic, but showed occasional Hashes of brilliancy. The improveed form of (ho Grafton team was shown in its match against Ponsonby. The forwards of both teams were fairly evenly matched, but Pon sonby's backs were too clever for their opponents. Lucas was the outstanding player on the field. On several occasions lie j.rnci ically ran through tho whole Grafton defence. Jamioson, at first five-eighths, was also prominent in some speedy runs. All the backs played well, cutting in at opportune moments and sending the ball out to the wings. Solomon, tho rover, plaved his usual dashing game. Tho fullback. Fraser, was in the earlier stages of the match off his game. The forwards had the advantage in the scrum, heeling the ball better than Graft on, but in tho ruck and dribbling rushes they encountered strong opposition from tho Grafton pack. Finlayson was prominent among the Grafton forwards. The backs player! well, but their efforts were nullified by the. superiority of tho Ponsonby rearguard. Scott was sound at fullback, and the rover, I'raser, played a good game. Little Combined Play. Except in the first quarter, when the Mnnukau backs threw the ball about well, thero was little combined play in the match between Manukan and College. Pities. Both sides defended well, but the attacking movements were poor. Toward tlio end play was distinctly scrappy, relianco boing placed on forward rushes or 011 individual efforts by the backs. College Hides persisted in trying to score from penalties and n.arks near the halfway line, noi;o of which succeeded. For Manukan Turci was never really troubled throughout the afternoon, his line-kicking being very safe, while he often disconcerted his opponents by following up fast. Albon put, in sorno good runs 011 tho wing, but .Tones was missed among tho inside backs. Brimble was outstanding in the forwards and Kahu used his weight to advantage. Kirk played consistently well at half for College Rifles, and Be.vell infused plenty of clash into hiii play when he went back to wing. Pickering was not as good as usual, but the backs as a combination wero weak. Of the forwards Warren, at rover. Souter and Steer ww the most prominent.