SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20863, 4 May 1931, Page 11

SATURDAY'S FOOTBALL.

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP.

SEASON OPENS PROMISINGLY.

GOOD GAMES AT EDEN PARK. PONSONBY HAS NARROW ESCAPE. The main features about the opening of the. 1931 Rugby season were that the weather was on ils best behaviour; the grounds were in splendid order; the players showed that they had been practising hard, as the majority of them were in good condition; the games were played under international rules; there weie two potted goals in the main match at Eden Park, and one at the Show Grounds, where Ponsonby, which won tho championship last season, was nearly beaten by Grafton in a keen contest. I*ailure to convert a try from right in front of the posts cost Grafton the match. There was plenty of grass on the oval at Eden Park, and the ground was in capital order for football. Technical Old Boys and Training College provided the spectators with a last exhibition in which the play was good, bad and indifferent. There was too much erratic passing and had handling to make the play high class all through, but there was so little between the teams, and the score was always so close, t hat the interest of the onlookers was sustained right up to the call of time. All eyes were on the new time clock when there was only one point difference between the teams, and two or three fine last-minute efforts on the part of Training College put new life into the spectators. It looked anybody's game, but Technical held on to its slight advantage until the call of time.

With anything like good support from ils backs Technical would have a much greater margin in its favour. The team's strength was thought to bo in the back division, but the contrary was the case on Saturday. The forwards proved a lively sot and took a lot of stopping' in the "loose. A great deal of their fine work, however, was undone by the backs, who passed very wildly and mishandled inexcusably. Somo of the inside backs of both teams did not know when to pass, and wero frequently caught in possession. Haslam, who was considered to be the star back on tho field, was right off his game, and this had a lot to do with the poor showing of the Technical backs. Minor Injuries.

Several minor injuries were suffered by Grammar Old Boys' players in the match against Manukau. Skelton hurt his leg in the first spell, but played until the interval, when he was replaced by Pollock. The play was willing among the forwards and there were many stoppages. R. Potter hurt his shoulder late in the second spell and ho was followed off the field shortly afterwards by McPhcrson, (he Manukau wing-forward. After receiving a nasty injury Lo the head, H. Webb was carried off.

As a whole, the Grammar team showed signs of an impiovement over last year. The forwards took some time to settle down, but in the second spell they played with great dash. Tho mainstays,. W. Baity and A. Knight, were in the thick of it, and they received good support from the younger members of the pack. In spito of thn absence of L. Knight, the Grammar forward division will be a weighty factor in tho competition games. Among the backs, Garlick, who' scored three tries, was prominent. Pie has developed a fine turn of speed and this enabled him to make the most of his chances. Two newcomers from North Shore, Webb and Mclndoe, strenthened the Grammar backs. Playing just outside Corner, they saw that none of the movements opened by the resourceful Corner went astray. At centre, Bell gave the wingers plenty of room to work. Tho Manukau team played well, and for over half the game it held Grammar in check. Turei and Lipscombe were responsible for some good defence and the pack excelled in bustling tactics. However, at no time did the team show tho combination which means success. Improved Team. An improved team was seen in College Rifles, which began tho season well by registering a good win over City. There was little lo choose between the two packs, both of which were hard-working without being brilliant. College Rifles owed its success to the five-eighths, Dear and Albrecht, whose straight-running was a feature of the game. On several occasions they got through the defence and tho score might, easily have been higher. On the City side the backs were mainly individualists. Berridge's kicking was not up to standard and he missed some easv shots.

Although University always looked the winning team in its match against Marist, ilio side did not display the brilliancy expected of it. The worst feature of the team's play was tho bad passing, and in this respect Marist was little better. Milliken, right wing-threequarter, played well, and showed he had speed. Caughev, at centre, was also prominent, although his passing could be improved. Couper, on the left wing, played a sound game. Leys, at halfback, made somo line runs. The Marist side contains good material, and should improve as the season progresses. Tho forwards worked hard, and Loom be, Ryan and Conway were the most outstanding backs. Ponsonby and Grafton.

The match between Ponsonby and Grafton at the Show Grounds was keenly contested. In tho first spell Ponsonby gave a very poor exhibition, fumbling tho ball, passing wildly and committing far too many infringements. Tho second half, however, saw the side show a marked improvement. Solomon, Ponsoijbv's captain, maintained his usual dashing form and was always in tho fray. It was largely due to his efforts that Ponsonby did not sustain a defeat. The pack worked well both in the scrum and the loose, Palmer and Satherly being well to the fore. Of the backs janiieson and Cammick played consistently, feeding the threequarer line. Carter, on the right wing, showed speed and sound judgment. Pope was thoroughly at home in the fullback position. The outstanding Grafton player was Fraser, the wing forward, who shorn* out both in attack and defence. The backs all possessed speed and have the makings of a clever line. Finnell, one of the five-eight lis, made some nice movements, but, was inclined to cut in too often. Paton was very sound as fullback, displaying accuracy in line kicking. His place kicking, however, was disappointing and lost Grafton the match. Larsen was reliable as halfback. Finlavson, the captain, was (lie mainstay of the forwards.