RUGBY FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

'INTERESTING CHAMPIONSHIP.

FIRST ROUND NEARING END.

QUESTION OF ALLOWING MARKS.

Two more Saturdays will soo. tho end of tho first round of matches in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship nnd it does not appear as if Ponsonby will bo deposed from its" lead. Its remaining matches in this round are against Training College next Saturday and then ngainst Technical Old Boys. Grammar, one af the teams in second position, has to meet Grafton and Marist. University, which is .level with Grammar, .will be opposed to Technical Old Boys and Grafton. The five University players who have been in Australia are now back and will bo available for the remaining matches of the season.

Early in tho seasoh University was selected as the team most likely to win championship honours and it may yet do so. The club has been most unfortunate ill one way and another so far. For instance, counting the five men who wero in Australia, up to lust Saturday University had lost no fewer than 12 players since tho original side was'selected. Seven men have been injured and Maciildoe, who played halfback last Saturday, was the third to occupy that position, acting as successor to Leys and Spence. //The University players are still smiling, however, and tlioy consider they will have on uninterrupted run in the second round, provided they are able to keep their fifteen' at full strength. With Ponsonby and Grammar both possessing, good chances of success also, the Rujjby public may look forward to a very interesting Eecond round of the championship. Credit to Forwards. Tho Ponsonby forwards may tako credit for the team's victory over University last Saturday. Tlioy played very fine foothall as a pack, the only flaw being a tendency to offside. Penalties wero fairly frequent against them, but, even so, a good many more could have been justly .inflicted. Ponsonby would have been unlucky to have lost, as several times in tho first spell tries wero missed by the \ merest fraction.

University's good fortune in getting out of tight corners, however, was mixed with a certain amount of nrisfortune. Pousouby ' obtained its first three points from a penalty awarded for what looked like purely accidental shepherding. COUper fielded tho ball and started to run toward the left sido of tho field. Ho turned suddenly, however, and made for tlio other side. This placed one of.his own mon between him and a Porisonby player who svas following up. It was a severe penalty for such a happening, inoro especially as two' glaring cases of obstruction on the part of PonEonby players went undetected. The first -was when Caughey was badly obstructed by an opposing wing-throSquartGi's and the second when Milli.kon was pushed over ,when not in possession of tho ball. Ponsonby was fortunate ,in securing a Jead of B—7 ten minutes from time, when Newdick, who was kicking at goal, handled tho ball after a 110-cliargo had been whistled. This was an error of judgment on the part of the referee. Tho player may or may not liavo beeu aware ho was committing a broach of tho rules. Claiming oi Marks. Since the new rule relating to tho claiming of a mark ha 3 como into force Auckland referees are placing a ; , very harsh interpretation upon it and judging from decisions given recently at Eden Park the controlling officials do not appear disposed toward granting a mark unless tho man claiming it bo well clear_ of any other player and makes his intention quite evident, There have been several instances lately of fair catches being made together with heel marks, bub tho claims, /have for some reason or other been disallowed. Tho mark, in the first place, of course, should bo usod an a purely defensive measure and scarcely anybody will! agree that a goal kicked from it should. ! be worth as much as a try. There appears to bo general satisfaction at the attitude of the New Zealand Rugby Union in reversing its decision to send to the English Union for a ruling regardI ing tho replacement of players. It is hard to gfct away from custom and, after all, the public is to bo considered. It keepj the game going and it docs not like to see a complete team opposing ono which has lost three or four players. , Thero was onco a senior match in Auckland whore ono sido lost five mon anil tho other sido two. Would those who argue against replacement care to sit and watch thirteen men playing ten ? Again, nil truo sportsmen agree that tho game's ,Iho ihing that counts—not the winning /of it. Very well, then, if tlio gamo's tlio thing, where is thn argument against lit boing played by full teams a-sido all tho .way through? I Touring Team's Fine Record. Tho New Zealand Universities' team returned home with an unbeaten record in New South Wales. Its tour culminated / in a great victory over tho Stato team, .which, however, appeared to bo more or les3 an experimental one. Tho sido which comes across tho Tasnuui? later in tho season is expected bo a fully l'oproeentativo ono. Otherwise, it cannot hope for a vtfry successful timo on its tour >of New Zealand. Following is the record of tho New Zealand Universities' team:— Against Sydney University.—Won,

16—3. / .Against Navy.—Won, 22 O. .Against Sydney University.—>\cn> Z5-21. rr ■ u 11 Against Sydney University.—Drew, Western Districts.— jj4 7 Against New South Wales. —Won, ' 28—10- . , • , r„ ! Toints for, 136; points against, SJ. COUNTY CRICKET. KENT AGAIN -IN THE LEAD. GLOUCESTER MOVES DOWN. • i ■ Ttic English county cricket tablo underwent a further chango during tho past .week, Kent having improved its position considerably to displace Gloucester at tho top Middlesex, which was second, Nottingham is now third. Recent matches liavo also placed Lancashire Jiigher up. Tho following tablo shows tho positions of the teams up to Saturday last: — Won Lost No I Ist Ist xe- //. P. TV. L. Ina. Ins. suit. Pts. Kent . ..9 6 11 1 39 t Gloucester .. 10 5 22 1 Nottingham .95 11 2—86 Middlesex ..8 4 1 3 Lancashire . 9 3 22 26l 6l .. f) 3 3 1 1 1 57 Yorkshire ~72 11 J-I 'v Surrey , „10 1 14 4 47 Derby . ~9 1 2 4 1 1 42 Sussex- ~9 1 2 4 1 1 42 : 4f-V Essex . ..10 2 • 5 Hampshire .. 8 1 1 1 3 2 37 Leioaster . . 8 FiX;. ' '-Northampton 8 1 3 I- ' .7 . ,1. . 8 r - .... .8 i 4 a i - Wwwkkshire 8 4 a a IS