RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21505, 31 May 1933, Page 17

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP INTEREST IN LEADING TEAMS DISAPPOINTING AUSTRALIANS The first, round of matches in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship is more than half over, and two teams are level in the lead. They nre Marist and Grammar, who have each sustained one loss. Grammar was defeated by Grafton, while in turn it accounted for Marist. Having met Grammar and University, the M&rist team's strongest future opposition would appear to come from Ponsonby. Grammar has yet to play both Ponsonby and University and so its programme is a little harder than that of tho other leading team. Whatever the position may be at the end of the first round, the games in the second round are bound to be most interesting. Ponsonby appears to be settling down into a better side than its earlier performances promised. University has had its team badly disorganised bv the visit of tho Australian .Universities' side. At full strength in the second round it looks like being the hardest team to defeat, and it should make up its leeway of points lost through its present depletion of leading players. Grafton is level in points with University and it has a fifteen liable to upset any of the teams above it on the championship table.

The disappointing team so far has been Manukau, which has won but one of its five matches. The suburban fifteen invariably plays better football at Eden Park thSh it does on its own ground at Onehunga. Otahuhu has a useful team which follows University and Grafton in championship points. Unfortunately Otahuhu has had more than its share x>f injuries to players. College Rifles, Training College and Technical Old Boys do riot appear to be strong enough to hold the teams higher up on the ladder. Grammar and Ponsonby Those old rivals, Grammar Old Boys and Ponsonby, will meet at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon next, and a keen contest, is expected. Although Grammar has the better record to date, Ponsonby invariably rises to the occasion when the teams come into conflict. In past , seasons - surprises have been effected when one team appeared to be stronger than the other. A glance at the points scored for and against by the Grammar and Marist teams makes interesting reading. Grammar's total in both is just about double that of Marist. The respective points are:—For: Marist, 50; Grammar, 94. Against; Marist, 30; Grammar, 61. Twenty-one of the points scored against Marist were' obtained by Grammar, so that h. its remaining four matches Marist has had only nine points registered against it. This shows the team to be good on defence and, as it appears. to be 1 developing its attack per medium of the backs, it looks like finishing high up on the ladder. M. Corner, the Grammar, Auckland and New Zealand representative halfhack, is having more than his share of ill-luck this season. A severe attack of gastric influenza prevented his taking the field for two weeks, and, shortly after his return last Saturday, he sustained a knock on the-side of the head which necessitated his retirement and the insertion of a couple of stitches. He will be in his usual place behind the Ecrum against Ponsonby next Saturday. Australians Disappointing The Australian Universities' team is proving a disappointment on its New Zealand tour. A promising opening was made in Auckland and, as the players were drawn Irom different centres in Australia; it was expected that it would develop into a sound combination as the tour progressed. Such has not proved the case, however, the visitors being unable to score a single point against New Zealand in the second test at Dunediu last Saturday. The Australian team will meet Otago University this afternoon, the third and final test will be played against New Zealand at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, on Saturday, and the tour will close a to-day when the Austra-" liana will meet Canterbury College at Christchurch.

Auckland is well represented in the third inter-universities' test match at Christchurch on Saturday. Bush and Milliken, who were not available for the second test, have both regained their places. Caughev and Drake are in the South, and the "fifth Aucklander to ibe included in the side is Stacey. The last-named has well earned his New Zealand cap. He played fine football all last season and, although not quite in the same form this year, he is still a genuine, hard-working forward. Mulvihill is unlucky in being passed over for the final test. He was played in the first five-eighths position on Saturday last at Dunedin and it is more than likely he did not show up so prominently as when playing in the second position as is his custom in Auckland, "here is a big difference between the two positions.

Ihe senior Rugby mat-ch between iWhite Star and Patumahoe on Saturday, in the Pukekohe Union's competitions, produced a humorous incident was thoroughly enjoyed by the players of both teams as well as the spectators. Taking the ball on the full, Star's fullback, B. Guise, claimed a mark in front of advancing Patumahoe lorwards. A burst of laughter caused •him to take note of his bearings and he found he was about 6yds. behind his own goal-line. A mark was duly awarded by the referee, Mr. J. G. Gasparich, and Guise, who has represented South Auckland in Rugby, made the best of it bv kicking well up field into touch. He was on a strange ground, the game being played at Patumahoe.