RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20875, 18 May 1931, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THIRD SERIES OF MATCHES. jf ■ MANUKAU DEFEATS PONSONBY. CLOSE VICTORY FOR GRAMMAR. The third series of matches in the Auckland Rugby Union s senior championship was played on Saturday under ideal weather find ground conditions. There was again a lnrjo attendance nt Eden Park, where, four of the five senior panics were played. Jlnniibau scored n. popular win over l'onBonby in tfco chief match on (he oval, registering two fries and a penalty goal against a, try. Grafton's success at the expense of Training College was also well received by the spectators. Grammar Old Boys l/fld a close game with City, a penalty goal in tlio closing stages saving the side. Marist gained a eurpriso victory over Technical Old Boys. College Kitles fully extended University nt the Show Grounds llnt,il it lost a couple of players through injuries. Following are the results of tho matches:— Manukau, 9; Ponsonby, 5. Grafton, 0; Training College, G. Marist, 9; Technical Old Boys, 0. Grammar Old Boys. 11; City, 8. University, '2O; College liilies, 9. the following table si lows the positions I cf the / teams at tho end of the third round

MANUKAU'S SUCCESS. TOO GOOD FOR POXSONBY. , f rlay had not Inn;; boon in progress beforo Turei failed badly with a i»enulty kick from _ near halfway, _ Penalties against Alanukau checked promising tushes. Jamieeon seen red the ball from a loose scrum nnd cut straight through (lie defence. lie passed to (!. Satherley, who scored near the posts. , Isewdick converted, ,giving Ponsonby a lead of five points. Good workby the Stuart brothers sent play to the Ponsonby' lino, but tho hitter's forwards cleared well, only to be sent back by Turei. A fine pacing bout saw Coofe make a dash nnd then/ pass infield to li. Stuart, who crossed the/lino. Play was recalled, however, as Coote's pass was forward. Fob lowing the scrum, Ponsonby wa3 penalised ! and Tnrufi kicked a goal. McPherson, the Wanukait rover, went round a scrum too quickly, but Newdiclc did not turn the penalty to advantage. Half-time arrived j with the score:—Ponsonby, 5; Manukau, li. After a few min>i ( es of up and down play Pope, tho sPonsonby fullback, was beaten 1 by the bounce of the boll. Speight picked it up nnd, passed to McPhorson, the last- 1 named sending <n to R. Stuart, who side- I stepped an opponent and scored wide out. 1 Turei failed at goal. With Manukau a 1 point in the lead play livened up consider- 1 ably, tho forwards on either side getting '1 right into the thick of it. R. Stuart made .'i a tricky run, but was caught in possession t inside his opponents' twenty-five. McPherson sustained a head iniury nnd re- J tired temporarily to the sideline. A col- c lision between Diss and C. Stuart enabled ■Tamieson to dash through. A try from i a loose rush seemed imminent, when Mnnu>au was relived by a penalty. McPherson 7 • secured the ball at the end of a line-out d nnd passed to O. Stuart, who shook oil an opponent before passing to his brother, h the last-named scoring wide out. Speight c failed at coal. R. Stuart made a brilliant dash from 'halfway to within five yards of the Ponsonby line, where he was pulled f down. Turei had his side in difficulties ? through miskicking, but the Stuart brothers Ii saved the situation. The final score was:— J Uanukauy 0; Ponsonby, 5. 3 Mr. J.' G. Gasparich was referee.

GRAFTON'S FIRST WIN. POTTED GOAL TURNS TABLES. Grafton'/secured it.s first win of the season by defeating Training College in the cur-tain-raiser match on the oval at Eden Park. Training College had the better of the opening exchanges, but the Grafton forwards cleared their line v.*ol 1. There was too much erratic passing by the bucks for Ihe play to bo spectacular. The Training College forv/arda swept down with a loose rush, and then Crossmnn, the halfback, went over for a try wide out. Davies failed at goal. The speed displayed by Halls, one/of the Grafton wings, prevented another try for Training College. Finlay eon started a loose rush for Grafton, and Fraser followed up a kick by Farmer to secure the ball and score'wide out. Farmer converted with a fine kick. A good run by -the Training College backs took play to the other end of the field and Watt scored from a line-out. Davies missed the kick, and the score at half-time was:— Training College, G; Grafton, 5. Training/College set out to increase ils lead and bad handling by its opponents enabled it to attack strongly. A penalty brought relief to Grafton, whose forwards worked downfield. A try looked likely whec a passing rush by the backs was inteicepfed. ? Grafton continued its attack and Training College was forced from a line-out near its line. Then Moore narrowly missed a goal with a penalty kick for Grafton, which lost, further chances when in the Training College twenty-five. Howard, however, came when Farmer secured poss/essicn beyond the twenty-five end potted'a nice goal. Tho remaining -minute or so provided excitement for the ■pectatoi'3, as Training College made great efforts to ,regain the lead. The game ftjided:— 9; Training College, G. Mr. G. Peace was referee.

INDIVIDUAL PLAY. MARIST BEATS TECHNICAL. Tho game between Mnrist and Technical Old Boys lacked inspiration troni the be(fiinnihg, and, although it was characterised by hard, honest play, tho teams worked, for tho most part, as individuals rather than combinations. , Several penalties were given against both packs for infringements in the scrum/ and then, when Common was caught, playing the ball on tho ground near Technical's twenty-five, Harris opened the Marist, account with a penalty kick. Teehniehal again pressed Marist to almost breaking point with powerful bursts. Over-keennoss in the well-trained technical pack helped Maris!, which received the benefit, of several penalty kicks. Cutting through under the posts. Ryan hud lis progress blocked none too root:. Technical was caught out of position, and. in a bustling movement, W. Hadley dived across. Harris failed 'to improve, and at half time Mivist'led by six points to nil. In ihe Ktf'pond spell it was thought that the strong Cross .wind might assist Technical in reducing its arrears. Technical, however, continued to give away ground with infringements. About halfway through the t-poii Walsh prid Smith opened up a movement from v./liich Marist's final scoie refu ted. •'lbacks attempted passing, and, whi.rt tney h':'!_ p0.;5..5,;0n. they carried on witu n dribbling nidi to the northern corner, whetv in a race over the line Walsh outpaced D. Ke.irie and scored. Harris lai.cd to /Convert. Marht did most of tho hooking, with the r,-M.it that tl-e Technical rearguard saw little of the I.HI. Mar--1?' in.niigcnifnts gave i'>)-i> several opportunities a! I'oal which le w„s unable to : turii to Recount. Maris! '-till b'nd |i „ tipper hand who,, play ended with ilia 6Coi e:--Maristr.' 9; Technical Old P.oyo 0 Mr. J. G ('. Wales was referee. WITH COLOURS FLYING. CITY / EXTI'.N 1)S CPA MM AR. r, f '' ly ,'[r vn V ''|"' c010,,r " ~vin" to .ii.unui.ii Old Boys, who emerged victorious f',.\ II pmnts to 8 !' icm beginning to end City was overplayed by ,t H heavier opponents. yet so gamely did the players taenle their work that the result was always in doubt. Mclndoe dribbled through, and', wuen ( ity ■'infringed, l.endrum, for Grammar. Kicked the initial points of the match -roni a position well out near the twentylive. f, rumuiar gave away four penalties and escaped with.mt statistical loss, but, Jroin t no lifyh. Stehr equalised the scoring W't.i a gr>al f-om near hall way. (irammar J'Ui on piessui.l, vhi :h was nullified n:nnet weaknass in both handling ,tnd liaising m the inside backs. Tho score Jiati-tima/was:—Grammar. 3; City J

Larly in the second spell Grammar had a narrow escape when a kick by Stehr struck the posts helow the bar. Encouraged, City delved in vigorously, when a bad pass by Kerr-Taylor let Grammar through. Corner caught City napping with a smart pass out to Lendrum on the blind side. He cut infield and flashed the ball back to Coiner, who crossod well out and had sufficient time '.o. run round and score behind the posts. Me converted his own try. Infringements counted heavily against Grammar, and it was not long before City was_ back on attack. Berridge burst through iu front of the posts, and in the ensuing meloo Whitehead dived over at the feet of three opponents. Stehr improved the try. Toward the end the Grammar forwards set up a sustained attack in City's twenty-five, and. although the line held, the defenders were penalised for offside play, Lendrum kicking the winning points for his side, the final score being:—-Grammar, 11: City, 8. Mr. J. G. C. AYales was referee. UNIVERSITY'S VICTORY, SECOND SPELL IMPROVEMENT. After a succession of mistakes in the first spell the University team settled down toward the end of the game with College Hides and scored an easy victory. Collego Rifles opened in bustling fashion, and, within the first few minutes, Halliwell kicked a fine goal from near the sideline. The score was equalised when Butler landed an equally good goal, following an infringement. Shortly aftorwnris Ilalliwell had a second opportunity, and ho put College Rifles three points ahead with another Penalty goal. There was some brisk ploy in the forwards. Leys, the University halfback, suffered an injury to the knee and went off, Stotter cominpr on as centre and Carter, going to the half position. Gaining possession in midfield, Halliwell put in a great run and handed to Pierce, who scored in the corner. The kick failed. At the spell, College .Rifles was leading by nine points to three. There followed fast and exciting play, during which the University backs got going for the first time. Caughey made a brilliant run and scored, Milliken's kickgoing wide. Milliken and Caughey wore prominent in the next passing rush, which a train ended in a score. Caughey beat sovoral men, passed to Milliken. who inpassed when in difficulties, and Caughey dashed across to rcore an unconverted try. By this time the University backs were in fine fettle and Carter slipped round tho blind side of tho t-cruin, getting across by inches. Tho kick was again unsuccessful. A faulty kick by the College Rifles fullback allowed Coupe (o score the next try. lie followed up a high kick and charged Dicky's return, beaming him for the touchdown. Jenkin (died the extra points. After a great run along the sideline Couper got across for a final try. The angle was too great for Butler. Mr. A. E. Aust in was referee.

LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Senior Grade B.—University, 19, Eden 1G; Otahuhu, 18, Parnell. 8: Marathon! 32. Mount Roskill, 8. Second Grade.—University A, IR. City, 12: North Shore won from Trinity College by default; Ponsonby, 51, Northcote, 0; Parnell , 3, College Rifles, 3; Grainmnr Colts. 17, Newton, 3; 'Grafton, 32, Otahuhu, 3; Panmure, S, Marathon, 0. Third Grade Open.—'Waitemata, 19, Panmure, 3; Oratia, 8, Suburbs, 5; Eden. .'•C>, Roskill, 0: North Shore, G, Howick, l>: Techn.cal Old Boys, 15, Papatoetoe, 9; Penrose, 19, University, 0. Third Grade Intermediate.— Northcote IS. Technical Old Boys, 3; Grafton B, 0. North Shore, 0; Dilworth Old Boys, 7. University A. 5; Grafton A, 55, Royal Naval Reserve, 0; Grammar A. .10. Training College 13, 0; Manukau A, 1(5, Ellerslie, 0Traininar College A, 25. Marist Old Boys, 3: City, 15, Eden, 0; College Rifles. 9, Marathon, 3.

Fourth Grade.—Eden. 9. Technical Old Boys. 0; Marathon, C>, Northcote. 3; Technical Old Boys Colts. 1-1. Suburbs, 5: Otahuhu. 17. Marist Old Boys, 0; Penrose. 11. Newton, 0.

Fifth Grade.—Suburbs, It, Manukau, 3; Techr/ical Old Boys won from Roskill by default; Grafton, 9, North Shore, 0.

Sixth Grade.—Marist Old Boys, 41. Qtnliuhu, 8: Manukau. I>l, Ellerslie, 0; North cote, 3, Technical Old Boys, 0. Seventh Grade.—Manukau. 0. Marist. 3. Junior Boys.—Senior grade: Suburbs won from PonsonHv by default; Ellerslie, 14. Mount Roskill. 3. Intermediate grade: Eden. 27. City. 0: Suburbs. G, Eden. 3. Junior grado: Ellerslie. 18, Mount Roskill.. 3; Eden, 2G, City, 0.

Team. Cli. P. W. L. 1'lH. c, Grammar O.B. r . University ... ■ ;} (1 1 I'onsonby 3 2 1 Technical O.B. . .* r. . ;i 2 1 •1 Training folk'tro ,..i ...3 I 2 C'tilleu'o TCilles .. 3 l 2 5 Miimikiui / ...: . 3 1 '2 0 Mnrist i, .1 ..3 1 2 •2 Grafton . r.. 3 I 2 0 City /. t . . 3 — 3 0