RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20887, 1 June 1931, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

•THE senior championship. fifth series of matches. UNIVERSITY DEFEATS GRAMMAR. For the first tiino this season Rugby players had to face wintry conditions on 6ature!ay afternoon. Fortunately the rain was only misty and it did not make the ball wet enough to affect tho play. / The fifth series of matches in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship was decided, 'and there was sonio bright and interesting play in tho chief game at Eden Park between the two leading teams, University and Grammar. Contrary to expectations, University scored a ' comfortable victory, although its side was considerably weakened by Ihe absence of players in Australia. Marist won handsomely against Training College in the curtain-raiser. College Rifles effected a surprise by defeating Technical Old Boys on No. 2 ground. City held Ponsonby fairly well at the Show Grounds, the superiority of tho latter's -backs being the deciding factor. Another surprise was created by Grafton, which beat Manukau on its own ground at Onehunga. Following are the results of the games:— University, 15; Grammar Old Boys, 6. Marist, 21; Training College, 8. College Rifles, 9; Technical Old Boys, 6 Ponsonby, 11; City, 3. Grafton, 3; Manukau, 0. The following table shows the positions of the teams to date:—

UNIVERSITY'S SUCCESS. SUPERIOR BACK PLAY. Play in the early stages of the match between Grammar Old Boys and University •was chiefly confined to the forwards. Hutchison had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty beyond the twenty-five. Then »t the other end Butler failed with a penalty kick from near half-way. The Grammar forwards sent play into their opponents' territory, where from a penalty Corner opened the scoring. Great footwork by W. Batty took play once more into University's twenty-five, and then Lendruni failed to increase Grammar's score with a penalty shot. In a University passing rush the ball went out to Cftughey, who made the opposition Jnok cheap, racing over near the postn.-N. Jenkin converted. There followed a great University passing rush initiated by Anderson. D'Authreau, Boswell and Couper handled in turn, the last-named scoring in a handy position. N. Jenkin converted. Corner made'a nice opening from a scrum before passing to Mclndoe. who dummied an opponent and then sent the ball out to Bell, the last-named scoring. Corner failed nt goal. Both sides missed gobd opportunities before half-time, when the score was:—'University, 10; Grammar Old Boys. <>. The Grammar forwards got busy on reimruing and for the first 20 minutes the side did all the attacking. Play then swung to the other end and, following a scrum, Stace'y received the ball from Spence and scored near the posts. He met with feeble opposition. N. Jenkin converted. Hutchison, and Bell had futile shots at goal from a penalty and a mark respectively. Grammar made great efforts to catch up its leeway, but foolish mistakes by the backs cost the side much ground. A promising rush looked like reuniting in a try, but Bell lost possession of the ball. Time was called with the score:— University, 15; Grammar Old Boys, 6. ' Mr. F. E. Sutherland was referee.

IMPROVEMENT BY MARIST. [WIN OYER TRAINING COLLEGE. * The Marist team continued in its improved form and accounted for Training College fairly easily in the curtain-rniser game at Eden FaikT Training College opened the 6cdiing. Gower obtained- possession and paved the way for a try by Campbell. Daviefl converted. A good ni9h by the Marist forwards took play into their opponents' twenty-five and then a little passing enabled M. Smith to score. Harris failed at goal. Marist ran into the lead shortly afterwards. S. Hadley scoring. Harris again missed the goal. The Marist fullback, however, made amends by dropping n. nice field' goal, which made the score at half-time:—Marist. 10; Training College. 5. Marist was not long in increasing its score after the interval. M. Smith crossed the line after making a fine run through the opposing backs. Harris converted. V\ r eaK opposition enabled Conway to score from a scrum near the twenty-five, but the try was not converted. Training College then had a brief turn on attack and made the most of the opportunity. Campbell scoring nt the end of a good passing bout. Dnvies failed at goal. Passing nmong the backs ended in C'omthwaiio adding to Marist s total. His try was not improved upon. Training College rallied again in the closing / stages of the game, but it was unable to penetrate the defence. The final score was:—Marist, 21: Training College, 8. Mr. J. G. C. Wales was referee. TRIES SCORED EARLY. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS BEATEN. Unenterprising football marked the ' n the game between College Rines and ' ec ' l " rical Old Boys on No. 2 ground nt Eden Park. Almost, immediately after the kickoff College Rifles carried play ir.to the Technical twenty-five and fast following up bv Pickering ended in a try. His kick at goal failed. A few minutes after the resumption Technical was ag ! ' in defending and Warren finished off h College nines passing bout by scoring near the corner. Pickering failed to convert. From a line-out after the kick-off the ball went out to Jiuhott, who cut in and passed to Ross. who scored. Ross' kick missed.. Saunders next showed up for Technical, being tackled nea the corner. There wns a spell of racked plav. then Donald capped a strong College Rifles attack with a try. Pickering nga.n failed to convert. The score nt half-time was:—College Rifles. 9; Technical Old Boys.

3. The second spell was very dull, both sides making periodical attacks, hut lacking nuratient finish to' press home their advantage Ross kicked a good penalty for Technical from a difficult ancle. Several likely chances of scoring were spoiled by lnfnntc men Is nnd bad handling. Near the finish Technical had a chance to equalise the icores with a penally from an easy pos - tion, but the cnptain elected to put the ball into plav. The came ended with the frores:—College Rifles, 9: Technical Old Beys, G.

PONSONBY BEATS CITY. TWO TRIES FOR JAMIESON. The game between Ponsonby and City at the Show Grounds was a bard-fought struggle, in which the Ponsonby backs were the deciding factor. The early stages of the came were very even, and it was some time before either team settled 'down. bach side hod art unsuccessful attempt at goal from a penalty, and then Frankham sent, the Ponsonby backs awny. The hall travelled to Pope, who was pushed out at the corner. From a scrum near half-way the ball flashed out, to Cammick, who short-punted. Following up fast. Jamicson beat tne City fullback for (he bounce and raced over unopposed. Uewdick's kick was charged down Both sets of backs began to see more of the ball, and Berridge mid Stehr went awny ■well when a Ponsonhv pnssinpr rush broke down. Stehr fooh'd Frasor badly. ; to score a runaway try. He made a poor attempt at ponl. Jnmieson showed up aprnin when he intercepted n lob pnss from Kabbipre, the City half-back, to Stehr. _ He punted over Carter's head and beat him for the touch down. Newdick kicked a fine coal, makm? the score at half-time: —Ponsonby, 8; Ci'-V. 3. Shortly after the resumption the loneonhy forwards went to the attack, and there was some strenuous work on . City s gonl-line. The Ponßonby bucks set the pace and their effor's were scon rewarded. Frankham got the bull away on the blind side, to Cammick, who passed to Pone, and the wing outpaced the opposition. The angle was tod Brent for Newdick. A Insl-niinute effort was made bv Citv. but the score ended:—Ponsonby. 11; 3. Mr. C. F. Paul was referee.

ONLY ONE SCORE. GRAFTON BEATS MANUKAU. Playing with the wind behind them, the Manukau forwards carried the play into Grafton territory, where a five-yard scrum resulted. Tho Grafton forwards launched a counter-attack and Fraser was prominent in a movement which moved play buck to midfield. Attempts by the Manukau backs to start passing rushes failed owing to the greasy condition of the ball. K. Stuart and Speight lookjd dangerous when they took the ball well into Grafton territory, where in a melee Fraser got the ball and broke away to relieve the situation. The Manukau backs returned on the attack, and for a while the game consisted of a tussle between them and the Grafton forwards. Coote, the Manukau wing, retired with an injury to the* leg, and his place was taken by Albon. The Grafton forwards were rather too anxious and were twice penalised, but Turei. the Mamikwi fullback, was unsuccessful in his shots at goal. A'iter the' change-over the play was a little brighter, and the ball moved fairly rapidly up and down the field. A determined run by the Grafton backs failed to break through Turin's deferce, and Manukau launched a counter-attacic which also failed when Stuart was stopped near the line. The Grafton forwards carried the play back again, and Fraser took a nice pass from Farmer, to score. Moord's kick was unsuccessful. From this point the Manukau backs made several determined efforts to equalise the score, the two Stuarts and Sutherley being prominent in passing rushes by the backs. The game, however, ended with the score:—Grafton, 3; Manukau, 0. Mr. A. E. Austin wa3 referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS. Senior Grade B.—Otahuhu, 23, Roskill, 0; Marathon, 111, North Shore, 0. Second Grade.—University A. 17, Grammar A, 0: College Rifles, G, City. 5: Ponsonby, 38, Parnell. 0; North Shore, 11. Northcote, {.; Newton. 8, College Rifles Colts, 5; Ote.huhu, 8, Royal Naval Reserve, 3: Manurewn, 10. University B, 0. Third Grade Open.—Suburbs, G, Panmure. 3; Howick, 29, University, 8; Penrose, 3. Waitemata. I). Third Grade- Intermediate.—Grafton B, G, University, 0; Technical Old Boys, 11. North Sliure, o; Manukau, 3, Dilworth Old Boys. 3; Marist Old Boys, 3. Grammar B, 0; Grammar A, 31. Eden. 0: City won from Ellerslie by default: Grafton, 38, Marathon, 0. Fourth Grade.—Mnnukau. 12. Otahuhu. 8: Marathon. 33, Grammar, 0: Technical Old Boys Colts, 19, Parnell, 11; Ponsonby. 23 Manurewa, 0; Ellerslie. 20, Penrose, 5. t ifth Grade.—Grafton. 31. Panmure, 3: Technical Old Boys, 5, Otahuliu, 0: Suburbs 32. Roskill, 3 Sixth Grade.—Eden, IG, Otahnhu. 3: Suburbs. G, Manukau, 3; Ponsonby, 3, Technical Old Boys, ii. Junior Boys.—Senior grade: Suburbs. 3, Ellerslie, 3 Intermediate grade: Suburbs, 0, Marist, 0; Manukau, 8, Otahuhu, 3.

CONTESTS IN COUNTRY. DRAWN GAME AT HAMILTON. Rugby competitions were continued in the various country centres on Saturday. The following nsuits were forwarded by correspondents of the Herald:— Hamilton. —The second series of games in til? Hamilton l?ugby Union's Sage Cup competition was played at Rugby Park yesterday in showery weather. The match between Maris); and Old Boys proved a fast encounter in spite of the adverse weather conditions. the latter team eventually winning by 9 points to 3. Pratt kicked two penalties and R. Johnstone scored for. the winners, Remit securing Mr.rist's only try. Technical Old Boys and Frankton drew with G points <;ach after a very close game. Kook and Potter scored for Technical, while Everest sectored a try and kicked a pcns.lty goal for Frankton. Te IClliti.—Senior grade: Te Kuiti. 8. Toka, 6: Hangafiki, G. Piopio. 0. Junior grade: Waitefe, 9. Aratoro, 5; Te Kuiti, 9, Hangatiki. 0: Marigataki, 3. Piopio, 3.

Tauranga.—The Rugby Union's cup competition;! were discontinued to-day and final matches between pakeha and Maori teams were substituted. The senior game was won by tho by 27 to 12. The pakehas were also victorious in the junior game, winning by 12 to 3.

Te Puke. —Huimai, 6. United, G; Maketu. 9. Papamoa. 9. Pukekohe.—Senior grade: Ramblers, G. Old Boys, 0; Patumahoe, 9, United, 3. Junior grade: White Star. 9, Old Boys. 0; High School, 9. Wesley College, 8; Patumahoe, 9, Ramblers, 0. Third grade: White Star, 14, Wesley College. 3. Franklin:—Senior grade: Onewhero, G. Pukekawn, 3; Kohanga, 8, Clevedon, G; Bombay, 3, Pokeno. 3. Junior grade: Kohanga, 10, Clevedon, 5: Onewhero. 17, Pukekawa, 0: Bombay. G. Pokeno, 6; St. Stephen's. 8. Tuakau, 0. Third grade: Tuakau, G. Poksno, 0; St. Stephen's B, 3, Bombay. 0. Waiuku, —Senior grade: City, 15, Otaua, 10; Waipipi, 14, Aka Aka, 0. Junior grade: City, 12, Otaua, 0; Waipipi beat Aka Aka.

, Morrinsville.—Senior grade: United. 12. Terriers, G; Kareorie, 15. Waitoa, 0. Junior grade: United, 14, Te Puninga, 3; Kereone. 7. Springdale, 5; Terriers, G, Waitoa. 0. Third grade: United, 3, Terriers, 3; High School, 29, Kereone, 0. Paeroa. —Senior gi'ade: East. 14, West. 0. Junior grade: West, 15, High School Old Boys, 3. Third .grade: High School, 14. West, 3. - , Te Aroha.—Senior grade: Terriers, 5, City. 0. Junior grade: Elstow. 9. Hot Springs, 3; Terriers, G. City, 3. Third grade: City. 9. Hot Springs, 0.

Cumbridgß Senior grade: United. 10. Karnpiro, ij. Junior grade: United. 3. T'imahere, 0: Leamington. 3, Matangi. 0. Third grads: High School, 8, Matangi, 3. GAMES IN OTHER CENTRES. [by teli;graph. —press association.] Clirlstchlirch.—Ohristchurch, 17, Linwood, 5: Sydenham, 14. Athletic. 13: Merivale. 25. University, 3: Old Boys, 19, Albion, 6. Dunsdln.--University A, 20. Union, 0: Kaikorai. 1.2. University B, 0: Southern, 0, Alhambra, 0: Dunedin, 8. Taieri, 0: Zingari, 14. Pirates, G. Wanganui.—Pirates. 19, Marist, 13: Technical Old Boys, lfi, Old Boys. 3; Kaierau. 12, Ratana, 3. Mastsrton.—Old Boys, 10, Kcd Star. 3: Carterton, 9, Masterton. 0; Greytown. U. Dalefield, 5. Hawera.—Patea, 14, Eltham, 3: Okaiawa, 3, Qpunake. 0: Hawera. 14, Wainiate, 6; Athletic G, Kaponga, 5 V/alroa.--The annual representative football match. Nnpier-Hastint's v. Wairoa, was played bsfore a large attendance and was won l:y the visitors by 22 points to 9. Wairoa led by 9 to 0 in the first spell, but superior condition and Cooke s good play saw the Bay fifteen overwhelm the homn side, scoring 22 points in the second half.

SACEED HEART COLLEGE. PAST AND PRESENT MATCH. The following team hns been chosen to represent Uie old boys of Sacred Heart ColIce in a Rugby football match with the present pupils, to be played at the school ground to-day, starting at 3 o clock: tticketts. McCiinn. S. Smith. Carroll, McCabe, Fleming. Stone. Little. Muller. M. Smith. Fov. Walnh, Reilly. Foley. Harris. Hawkins, Davey.

BAY OF PLENTY TEAM. MATCH WITH POVERTY BAY. [from our own correspondent.] OPOTIKI, Saturday. The Bay of Plenty Rugby team to plav Poverty Bay at Gisborne next Wednesday has been selected as follows:—Fullback, b. McKay, :aptain (Opotiki); threequarters. McKenzu fTe Puke). Keepa (Apanui). Garlick (Tamo), five-eighths Kopu (Apanm). Corbett Te Puke); halfback. Steel (Kotorun); wing forward. McGoughan (Whak*tan«>): forwards, Moore (Rangitiuki). l<. Nf>wth, :>r. Webb (Opotiki) E. Jones (Taupo). Tangira fApamu). Rogers (hotorual, D. Parkinson (Opotiki). Emergencies - fiarawera (Whakatane), Wallace (Rotorual, Walker (Apanui). TE PUKE AND RANGITIKEI. [by teisorafh.—own correspondent.] TE PUKE. Saturday." The T< Puke representative team to meet Raugitikci on Wednesday is as follows:H Kelh. W. Webber. H. Dare, Tnit. R. (Ileary V Cooney, Potene. Donovan. Horn, Wickfiffe, S. Ollivier, P. Webber, Jackson, Whiteside. W. Raymond. Reserves: W. Corbett. .11. Palmer, McNaughton, E. Lemon.

COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES. MATCHES ON WEDNESDAY NEXT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TAURANGA, Saturday. r The Tauranga Rugby Union Las selected the following teams to play Thames at Thames on Wednesday:— Seniors.—P. Ngatai, A. Tnssell, K. McLeod, R. Ainslie, K. Kurlia. R. J. Phelan. Ake, .T. Duncan, R. Mirriolees, D. Mountfort, E. Heke. I. Tungitu, W. Mansell, C. Cameron, E. Policy. Emergencies: F. 01sen, Bidois, Kinsi. Juniors.—H'. Payment, ,T. McKee, P. Sander, M. Tangitu, J. Macpherson, M. Curtis. W. Merrimnn, D. Macleod, E. Lloyd, R. Dixon, S. Smith, C. Faulkner, M. Washer. K. Tarawa. J. Plurnmer. Emergencies: Honiana, R. Hammond. M. Hnrtnell. Three football teams from the High School will also visit Thames.

Team. r. W. L. J). Pts University / .. 5 5 — — 10 Grammar C.B. .. 5 4 1 — 8 ponsonby •. 5 4 1 — 8 Jfarist . . 5 a 2 — 6 Technical O.B. . . 5 2 2 1 5 College Rifles .. 5 o 3 — 4 Grafton . . 5 2 3 — 4 Mamikau . . 5 1 3 1 3 Training College .. 5 1 4 — 2 City . . 5 — 5 — 0