RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21491, 15 May 1933, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

[THIRD SERIES OF MATCHES UNIVERSITY BEATS PONSONBY FINE DISPLAY BY MULVIHILL The third series of matches in the [Auckland Ruby Union's senior championship was played on Saturday afternoon in fine weather, the grounds being in good order after the rain which fell during the week. There was a -good attendance at Eden Park, where the chief attraction was tho meeting of -University and Ponsonby. Tho latter team hail the better of tho first upell and led at half-time, but University was superior in the second half nnd eventually won by a comfortable margin. The curtain-raiser was between Grafton and Training College. It was generally thought the former team would pievail, but Training College effected a surprise. College Rifles hold a lead of 6—o over Grammar at half-time in their game -at the Show Grounds. Grammar came with a late run, however, and gained a victory by a margin of four points. Marist defeated Manukau at Onehunga by two tries to nil, while a close contest at Sturges Park ended in a win for Technical College Old Boys over Otahuhu by three points.

Following were the results of the matches: —

University, 17; Ponsonby, 8. Training College, 17; Grafton, 12. Grammar, 13; College Rifles, 9. Marist, 8; Manukau, 0. Technical, 6; Otahuhu, 3.

The outstanding fekture of the match on the Eden Park oval between University and Ponsonby was the splendid all-round exhibition given by Mulvihill, University's second five-eighths. Green, the first five-eighths, ran across the field too much, and it was left to Mulvihill to straighten up the attack. He did this in brilliant fashion, making many fine openings, which should have yielded more points with better support. Apart from his brilliancy on attack, Mulvihill was also \ery sound on defence, extricating his Bide from difficult situations _on several occasions. On that showing Mulvihill must be accounted very unlucky in not gaining a place in the New Zealand team to play Australian Universities at Eden Park on Wednesday.

' Ponsonby had all the better of the first spell, and should have established a bigger lea,d. The forwards outplayed the University pack, but the backs were unable to take advantage of the amount of ball they received. The backs played well enough as individuals, but combination, so "necessary to success, was lacking. Jamieson was handicapped in the second spell by a leg injury, and this affected the back play to a certain extent. Franklinm played well behind the scrum and Carter was conspicuous on the wing for some good runs and fine tackling. Solomon, Williams, Newdick and Bond were the most prominent of the forwards. t- Wings Affected Bush was not up to his best form, bis handling being uncertain. Caughey did not play as well as in the two previous games./ Green's habit of running across the field affected tho wingthreequarters, Milliken and Kedgley, both of whom were ever on the lookout for opportunities. McKearney gave a sound exhibition of halfback play. Drake, Sherwood, Colgan and Anderson were the most conspicuous of the forwards. The success of Training College over Grafton came as a surprise after the latter's defeat of Grammar the previous week. The play was of rather a ragged order, although there were a few bright movements. There was not a great deal of difference between the teams, and it was anyone's game until Townsend put the issue beyond doubt with a try in the closing stages. The Training College backs showed a better understanding than their opponents, and this fact turned the tide in the team's favour. Townsend played a fine all-round game in the five-eighths line and his kicking played an important part in the ultimate success. The forwards all worked hard/a gainst solid opposition, and none could be specially singled out. .... Paton gave a good exhibition at rullback, although ne did not reach the standard he displayed the previous Saturday against Grammar. Dick handled badly at centre, thereby restricting the opportunities of the dashing wingers. Finlayson, Mitchell, Mills and Fraser played good games in tho forwards. Evenly-matched Teams Play that was mediocre in the first half, and almost brilliant in the latter stages, characterised the game between Grammar Old Boys and College Rifles at the Show Grounds. Although Grammar won by 13 points to 9, a draw would have been a fair indication of the run of the play. The teams woro evenly matched in all departments, and, with the packs equal, both sets of backs received a fair share of tho ball. In the first half, neither rearguard functioned properly, due to the common fault of holding on to the ball. Tho passing was especially in the Grammar being a bad offender. Savory was one of the best backs on the field. His straight running was a treat to watch, while he repeatedly turned defence into attack with judicious line-kicks. At halfback, Jessup was a little slow in getting the ball to his backs, but ho showed football brains in his individual efforts, and was responsible for Grammar's first try when ho ran through on tho blind side of the scrum and passed to Savory, who touched down.

Vear was outstanding in the College [Rifles back division, and lie exploited n tricky side-step which- worried the Grammar defence. His pfttce-kicking was Bplondid. S. Kirk was an effective halfback, initiating some fruitful passing movements.

Although there was little to choose between the opposing packs, the Grammar forwards outshone their opponents in dribbling. They repeatedly made ground with the ball at their feet, but with College Rifles dribbling rushes Seemed a lost art. In the open play, however, the College spearhead held its own, and Granvillo and Turgis wore always in the picture. . Contrary to expectations, Manukau, on jts own ground, suffered a decisive defeat by Marist and there is no doubt hut that the better team won. Making due allowance for .Webster's absence during the greater part of the game, ■Monukau was outclassed in the clean passing, accurate kicking, speed and combination of its opponents. A feature hy which many promising openings were tost to Manukau was a tendency.

especially in tho second half, by their backs to play too close up, thereby hampering tho forwards and frequently nullifying their efforts. The rearrangement of the backs after Webster's retirement partly accounted for this. With the exception of a few bright passages the game was uninteresting. Several promising ofi'onces by the Manukau forwards were exploited but came to nothing, the necessary finish being absent. One of the brightest flushes occurred early in tho second half, when Manukau looked like scoring, but Marist got rolief by the awarding of a free kick for a scrum broach.

Elliott, as fullback, was thoroughly safe and reliable and in many a critical corner failed only once. His cross-kick-ing was full of merit. Pepper, Carrington, Flett and Brimble, the last-named in Webster's place as halfback, were prominent for Manukau. For Marist, Coonoy played sterling Rugby, while Toye, as rover, Poland and S. Hadlcy provided many fine examples of speed, ingenuity and co-ordination. Of the Marist backs it can truly be said of Colebrook, Trigg, Stowell and Friend that they won the admiration of the crowd by their attractive and accurate play. There was no fluke about Technical Old Boys' win over Otahuhu, as on the day its team work was superior. Technical gained its points chiefly by reason of dashing forward play and clover defence. The first Technical try was the result of smart interception by Oldbury, who broke through the Otahuhu backs as they were fanning out for attack. Couper, Common and Oldbury stood out in the first spell for Technical, with Manning prominent in the latter stages. Of a fine forward line Nelson worked strenuously, and D. E. Keane foraged to advantage. Otahuhu never really settled to real team work. Arnold ably filled the fullhack gap, through White's absence by injuries. Clarke was tho shining light in the back lino, his running and tackling being fine. Ingles and Hill played good games in the backs. Individually tho forwards worked hard, but their play was ragged. Jones, Ross and Cox wero prominent.

POINTS IN SECOND SPELL UNIVERSITY'S SUCCESS The early stages of the game between Ponsonby and University were in favour of this former team. Solomon and Jamieson took play to within five ynrds of the line where Frankham picked up and dashed over, but he was hold up. University was penalised at the twenty-five, but Hook missed the shot at goal. Bush Rained a lot of uronnd with a line kick and play reached Ponsonby'a twenty-five for the first time, the game having been in progress for a quarter of an hour. University opened up the play Milliken and Caughey making dashes, but they met with sound tackling, t Ponsonbv attacked again, only to be pu/led up bv a penalty. Frankhaoi secured the ball from a scrum and beat Green badly before passing to Jamieson, who passed out to Carter, the last-named running round behind the posts. Hook converted. Passing between backs and forwards gained ground for University and Mulvihill had an unsuccessful drop at goal. Ponsonbv was penalised and Bush took a shot from near half-way, the ball falling short. The Ponsonby forwards did good work in the loose and effectively muzzled the attempts at passing by the opposing backs. Tetlev was caught in possession and the University forwards took the ball over the line, a force-down resulting. Bush narrowly missed with a penalty kick from near halfway, and then failed with another shot closer up. Half-time sounded with the score: —Ponsonby, 5: University, 0. A splendid passing rush, started bv Anderson in his own twenty-five, placed University in a good position, but a hard kick sent the ball over the dead-ball line. Ponsonby was'penalised in its twenty-five and Bush kicked a poal. The Ponsonby forwards got near their opponents' line, Mulvihill saving nicely. Passing between Caughey, Mulvihill and Milliken took r>lnv to Ponsonby's twenty-five, Mulvihill made a brilliant opening by changing the direction of the attack. The ball was kicked over the lino and Kedgley dashed up and scored. Bush missed the shot. Ponsonby worked back again, assisted bv a good line kick by Tetley. Hook had a shot from a penalty at the twenty-five, the ball falling under the bar and Bush clearins. Fast following un enabled tho University forwards to smother Jamieson and the ball was dribbled over the line. Thomas scoring. Bush failed at goal. Ponsonbv lost a great opportunity when Hook held on too long with_ Ramsey outside him having a clear run in. Hook iust failed with a penalty kick from the twenty-five. With play at the other end Bush kicked a fine penalty goal from near the side line. Mulvihill made a brilliant opening before throwing tho ball infield where Drake took it and ran over, being tarkled bv Carter, but grounding tho ball. Bush converted. A penalty for obstruction enabled Hook to kick a goal from right in front of the posts. Bush had an opportunity to increase University's total with a penaltv shot in front of the goal, but he missed. Time was called with the score University. 17; Ponsonby, 8. Mr. J. G. C. Wales was referee. A SURPRISE VICTORY GRAFTON TEAM DEFEATED Training College held an advantage in the opening stages of its game with Grafton, Townsend and Paton gaining ground repeatedly with judicious line kicking. A passing bout ended in Fuller scoring. Townsend converting. Grafton replied with a passing rush which ended in Halls scorinir. Paton failed at goal. However, a few moments later he kicked a penalty goal, giving Grafton the lead. This was increased when Bunting went over for a try. Paton failing at goal. Grafton had had all the better of tho exchanges for some time. Training College eventually set up an attack and the ball went, out to Dare, who •dropped a goal, making the half-time score: —Grafton, 9: Training College. 0. The Training College forwards started off the second spell with a good dribbling rush. Paton saving nicely, Fraser dribbled the 'ball away from a scrum and kicked on to •ihe fullback, from whose arms the ball vvns taken by fast following forwards. A rush swept down to the line where in a sciviroble Jackson was awarded a try. Paton failed at goal. Training College drew level again when a short bout of passing sent the ball out ito the left wing. Francis scoring wide out. Townsend kicked a goal. Training College was penalised and Townsend dropped at goal from well out. narrowly missing. The name player also missed a nenalty from a place kick from near half-way. Grafton made great efforts to draw level again, but Training College repulsed the attack and took piny to the other end where Townsend beat the opposition and scored a n'Vie trv. He failed at goal and the game ended:— Training College. 17: Grafton, 12. Mr. C. W. Hendersoi was referee. LEAD IN FIRST SPELL GRAMMAR'S LATE RECOVERY The College Rifles forwards attacked at the outset of their game with Grammar, und in a scramble on tho lino Lendrum relieved the pressure by forcing. Lendrum ttgain saved his side when he beat Granville in a race for the ball and kicked it into tho dead area. Colleyo Rifles maintained tho pressure. Savory turning the tables with a difficult line-kick. .Grammar waa penalised, but Vear failed with a difficult kiolc. In a melee on the Grammar lino. Turgis snapped up tho ball and dived over, but Vear failed to convert. The Grammar backs retaliated in a clever combined movement which was nullified bv Macindoe's bad passing. The Grammar Pack E.wopt down the field in a dribbling rush but was stopped when S. Kirk dived on the ball. Vear took advantage of a free kick to put his side further in tho lead, and half-time came with the score:—College Rifles, G; Grammar, 0 College Pities attacked on the resumption. Brown gaining ground with a swerving run. Striving to equalise, Grammar besejged its opponents' line, and excitement ran high when Savory touched down after accenting a pass from Jossup. Slyfield converted. A passing bout the Grammar rearguard was nullified when Granville intercepted cleverly. Brown spoiled another Grammar movement in similar fashion, and raced for the line. Cutting in nicely, he passed to Wales, who was almost over when Morgan brought him down with a low tackle. Slyfield put Grammar in the lead with a successful free-kick from a difficult position. Grammar's lend was increased when Lendrum scored. Slyfield converted. College Rifles worked strenuously to reduce the leeway. Stewart scoring after a brilliant solo effort. Vear's kick failed, and the game ended with the score:—Grammar Old Boys. 13; College Bifles. 9. Mr. A. E. Austin was referee.

MARIST DEFEATS MANUKAU COONEY PLAYS WELL The Marist backs, by accurate passing, looked dangerous in the early singes of tho game against Manukau. but the attack was stopped by a useful kick by Brimble. A kick by Brimble was followed up bv the Mnnukau forwards. Trice relieving the situation with a lino kick. G'ooney made a nice opening which resulted in Midler scoring between the posts. Coonev converted. Some fine passing by tho Marist backs was stopped by Pepper, and both ho and Berridge kept the attackers at bay. Webster, who was playing halfback for Manukau. was injured and forced to retire for the remainder of tho game. Cooney ahd Toye took the ball clone to Manukau's line, but Elliott again saved. A passing bout bv Wicklund nnd Constable was stopped by Friend. Tho score at half-time was:—Marist. 5; Manukau, 0. A vigorous rush by Manukau look the game close to Marist'* goal, where ft long seri«s of scrums ensued. A fice-luck v\ns awarded Marist, and smart following UP saw Cooney in possession in an open field tu | ' he scored the second try. but failed to convert. In spite of be,us a Manukau set a solid pace. and. haying the best of tho play, secured a free-kick which Wtlllund failed to turn to advantage. After some even play. Manukau again looked hke scoring, when Fleet, making a strong run. was stopped by Stowell. Manukau's slow following through lost the Fide chances and the game finished With the scoro:—Marist, 8; Manukau, o. Mr. C. F. Pnull was referee. TECHNICAL TRIUMPHS OTAHUHU TEAM DEFEATED Early in the game between Technical Old Boys and Otahuhu the Technical forwards led an attack. Oldbury smartly intercepted an Otahuhu rush and broke clear. He kiukod ahead and Common seoured and stalling off two men, he crossed near the posts. McMiken missed the shot. Couper brilliantly cut out Inglis' pass and sprinted clear of the opposition. Arnold saving with a fine tackle. Couper again intercepted cleanly and ran to Arnold before short-punting, but McMiken kicked over the dead-ball line. Otahuhu attacked and from a scrum Inglis passed to Clarke on the blind side. Cutting out Goodacre's challenge he scored comfortably. Mason failed to convert. Technical took tho lead almost immediately. The backs came into action and Oldbury cut infield and handed to Evans, who ran behind the posts before touching down. McMiken failed from a good position. At half-time the score was: —Technical, 6; Otahuhu, 3. After Keane had dribbled through dangerously a penalty gave Otahuhu relief and Clarke made a fino run. Good work by Manning put Technical further ahead. Securing from a scrum he dodged round tho blind side and gained considerable ground before cleverly cross-kicking to McMiken, who ran over unopposed under the posts. McMiken missed the easiest of chances. Ctoodacre retired hurt, and Keane dropped back to fullback. Oldbury relieved with a fine kick, but a brilliant bout of handling by tho Otahuhu backs and forwards forced Technical to defend, desperately. A sudden rally by Technical caught tho Otahuhu defence napping nnd Couper cut across field, swerved through tho back line and headed for the posts. Ho was nearly over when Clarke ran fast downfield and made a spectacular save. Collaring Couper ho seized the ball nnd forced down under the bar. The whistle sounded time with the score:—Technical Old Boys, 9; Otahuhu. 3. Mr. C. F. Stratford was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Senior Grade B.—North Shore B. 8, University B, <i; Grammar, 23, North Shore A, 10; Eden, 18, Manukau, 6. Second Grade.—Grafton A, 9, Pnpntoetoe, 0; Grammar A, 8, Y.M.C.A., 3; Northcote A, 19, Technical Old Boys, 0; Otahuhu, 22, Trinity College. 0; Tamaki, 25, Grammar, 5; College Rifles, 15, University B, (>; Grafton Colts. 10. Wnitcmata, <3; Training College, 5, Northcote B. fi; Technical Colts, 34, Suburbs, (5; Ponsonby, 18, Marist, 9. Third Grade Open.—Newton, <5, North Shore, 4; Eden, 47, University, 3; Technical Old Boys, 34, Suburbs, 6. Third Grade Intermediate. —Grammar A, 32, Eden B. 0; University, 11. Northcote, 5; College Rifles. 10. Papntoetoe. 0: Technical Old Boys, 10, Parnell, 7; Manukau B v/on from Training College by default.; Eden A. 27, Naval Reserve, 0. Fourth Grade.—Technical Old Boys, fi, Grafton, 0: Northcote, fi, Otahuhu, 0; Grammar, 19. Eastern Suburbs, 0; Oratia, 9, Suburbs, 3. Fifth Grade.—Technical Old Boys, 9, Eden, 0; Marist, 12, Grammar, 9; Mnnukau. 9, Suburbs, 9; Eden, 13. Ponsonby. 8. Sixth Suburbs, 23, Marist, 0.

Junior Boys.—lnfrrmediale (jrade: Manukau A won from Eastern Suburbs by dofault: Northcote, 15, Eden, 0. Jiiliior prnde: Northeote won from Marist by default; Newton, 32, Waitfiriftta, 0: Suburbs won from Y.M.C.A. bv default; Mamikau A won from Eastern Suburbs R by default.

Point a Ch. P. w Ii. D. F. A. Pts. TJniveraity 3 3 — — 55 11 G Marist .. • • 3 3 — — 20 3 6 Grammar .. 3 2 1 — 41 40 4 Ponsonby .. 3 1 1 1 3G 40 3 Otahuhu .* 3 1 1 1 25 30 3 Grafton .. 3 1 o — 44 48 2 College Eiflea . 3 1 2 — 33 33 2 Technical O.B. 3 1 2 — 13 20 2 Training College 3 1 2 i-J*-20 44 0 Manuktiu . . 3 — 3 — 14 37 — Mulvihill in Form