RUGBY IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21239, 20 July 1932, Page 16

RUGBY IN SCHOOLS.

SECONDARY COMPETITION. GRAMMAR NOW IN THE LEAD. /, • . Through being defeated by Takapuna Grammar School last Saturday afternoon King's College lost its lead in the secondary schools' senior grade Rugby football championship to Auckland Gramma? School. . Grammar now bolds a twopoints Advantage over Takapuna, but both these teams have played one game more than King's. The incisive thrust of the Takapuna inside backs helped considerably to give their side victory over King'sby 9 points to 3. The losing team did most of the attacking, but it was prevented from scoring by two factors. One was deadly low tackling and the other, mainly a consequence of the effectiveness of the defence, was that the King's -backs ran across the field too much. "When the King's five-eighths, Moses and Macindoe, succeeded in breaking through they were generally so promptly smothered that their efforts were rendered valueless. The King's pack made a good showing, but its work was counteracted bv- vigorous opposing forwards. Of these, Massey, Emery and Fish did useful work, while, for King's, Gat ran, Lazarus and Cat ley were repeatedly prominent.

For Takapuna, Sale, ihe captain and first five-eighths, was outstanding. He was a continual source of danger to King's, and, besides initiating the movement that led to Takapuna's only try, ho brilliantly drop-kicked a field goal from well out. The half. Swain, and Blanchfield, second five-eighths, both played cleverly and gave Sale steady support. The strong kicking of Warren, the left wing, -the team in good stead. However, lie spoiled his play by taking undue risks and running across the field. The fullback', Blair, gave a fine display. Lundon, the King's centre, did groat work on defence, as also did the fullback, Mereflith. whose kicking was unusually powerful for a schoolbov.

. In spite of the fact that Sacred Heart Hade a hard fight, it was outplayed by Grammar by 27 points to 3. Tho Grammar forwards gained the ball from most of the scrums, and the opportunities they Jsave their backs were readily seized, the t -rearguard playing sparkling "Rugby. The five-eighths, Frascr and Thompson, were at their .best form, and made many good openings for their supports. For Gram'.mar, Booth, Ling and Dean were prominent forwards, and O'Regan, Cairns and Held played well for Sacred Heart.