RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21617, 9 October 1933, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE SENIOR CHAMFIONSHIP

three teams again level

MARIS! DEFEATS PONSONBY

\s a result <>f Marist's surprisingly fivprwhelming defeat of Ponsonby and the easy viclety secured by University ..., ; iinst College Riiles, no finality in the ~nd Rugby Union's senior championship was reached on Saturday, The position ul ii furtnight ago has been restored, and Ponsonby. I Diversity and "Marist are all equal at the head of the championship 'table.

decision has yet been made as to whether the competition will be further prolonged. If the championship were to ho fought out between the three leadji,.r teams, at least two Saturdays would be required for a decisive result to be reached, and the Rugby I'nion's tenure of Eden Park for the season has now closed. Any further games would have to be. played at the Show Grounds or Western Springs Stadium. .Mr. H. Frost, chairman of the Ati l .';- ];ukl Ui'gby L ilian management jomjnittce, said on Saturday that the question of continuing the competition would he considered by the committee at its next meeting. However, in view of the fact that the season had been protracted, and that warm weather was now approaching, .lie thought ilia: ihr fairest course would lie to .bracket Ponsoidiy, University and Marist as joint winners of the competition. The two matches ;11 Eden Park, the results of which were responsible for the unusual position which has arisen, produced some bright, and interesting Kugby. Although both games were won bv substantial margins, a fairly large ciowtl ot spectators was kept tuitv entertained. ' Marist completely ovcrtliadowed Ponsonby on the day and displayed superior tactics in making ti.se of a deceptive wind, particularly in the second half. The Marist forwards ployed a great bustling game throughout. • la the curtain-iniser, the University kcks were far too clever and speedy frr College Rilles, although in this match, too. the bulk of the scoring was done in the second spell. Grafton was hard pressed to beat Ota'bulm at the Show Grounds, while Manukau held an advantage of onlv a single point over Technical Old Roys. At the. Domain Grammar Old Roys gained a comfortah'e victory over Training College. Thr results of Saturday's games were ns follows: diarist. Ponsonby. f'nii-ersitv. ;"53: College Rifles, o. Manukau. 0: Technical Old Roys. s. f: rrntinr Old "Bovs, 11; Training n. The following table shows the positions of the teams to date: Points C'n. r. w. j,. P. F. A. rts. TWortl.v .. IS 12 \ 2 231 151 2f, Uni' ersity .. IK 13 5 ?."S 142 Mrrist . . .. IS 13 5 f!r,""iniar ..IS 11 f, 1 235 190 23 O raft on .. IS 0 8 1 2t19 GPS 19 Manukau .. IS 7 9 2 120 172 lfi Training Col. .. IS 5 10 3 152 17fi 13 Techn'cal ..is 5 12 1 100 IS3 .11 {V'ejrr Tvifles .. IS .5 12 1 If>3 235 11 Cuhubti .. IS 4 13 1 131 237 9 PONSONBY OVERWHELMED MARIST'S SUPERIOR TACTICS Fine bustling play by the Marist forwards was responsible for the downfall of Ponsonby in the principal attraction at Eden Park. After its defeat at the hands of Manukau the previous week Marist was hardly expected to share in the championship honours with Ponsonby, especially as conditions seemed all in favour of the Ponsonby backs. However, there was a deceptive westerly breeze blowing straight down the field. Playing into it in the first spell. Marist kept the gamo as close as possible and allowed the Ponsonby backs few liberties. In the second spoil, with the wind and sun in its favour. Marist adopted a high kick and follow game, which completely demoralised the Ponsonby defence.

The first half provided uninspiring football. Marist dominated the serums and succeeded in keeping the game ••lose. The Ponsonby backs were always looking for openings, but their opponents were well on top of them and the forwards were breaking too fast for the inside backs to gain any ground. However, Jarnieson, at centre, made one perfect opening, running through in a flash from mid field to send Hook over for a try. Jarnieson goaled. For the rest nf tlie spell Fnnsonby was powerless against Marist's bustling tactics. 'I he backs somewhat unaccountably persisted in the passing game. Kraser at times essayed punting, but his kicks Were generally badly placed. Oil the. other hand the Marist forwards, led by the Had Icy brothers and Toye, made, frequent looses rushes, with the backs occasionally joining in. These rushes were hardly polished football, hut intensive backing up made them constantly dangerous. Friend made a brilliant dash on one occasion, and with Hut Marist forwards swarming on him JVnrninn kicked wildly behind his own line. Friend ran up and fell on the ball for an easy try. Loombe failed at goal.

■After half-time Marist exerted a definite superiority, just as University had' •lone in the curtain-raiser game, kick111K high with the wind and storming "io Ponsonby backs, whose fielding of "lo hnll suffered in face of the strong *"0. Fraser retired-with an injured back "id was replaced by TetJey. who went to centre, Janiieson coming into first ® r ,p-eighths. From loose play in the I'onfonby twenty-five, Bell-Booth put his *"le.in the lead with a smart " potted. " )a ' • Shortly afterward Muller cut uiroiijjh well aiid Hell-Booth scored J'onr the posts for Ldonilx* ti» convert, "jo -most spectacular try of the match lollowed when Midler received from a E <Tiim and kicked for a gap. Loom be poked up the rolling ball while travelj'nK at top speed and dashed diagonally '"f'ross fiold to score brilliantly. He Kioked his own goal. 'l'hen came nilOther sweeping rush with backs and jonvnrds all participating, ending in •mother try for Bell-Booth between the 3'osts. Loom be again converted, (tight '}. the close of the game Kville made a me solo dash from half-way. The forwards carried on past Kerr-Taylor and ' • Had lev scored. The kicked failed and H _Jfi game ended with the score: Marist, 1 onsonby, 5, "nlv twice in the second snell had onsonhy looked like scoring. Once was 'hen i Ilia ins, easily l'onsonby's best "rnard on tho day, made a great solo ° n '. v to be brought dow nby \Y. rln Ur' '"'ter Solomon made a typical l.ilf :| scrum, gaining 50 yards ('ni°k R . ,Vi,s stopped by 1,00111 be and ebrook, who both knocked tbcni°"t in tackling him. Throughout mi? :ir ' s t forwards broke so tint i n,u ' tackled so determinedly had no chance of repeatda v 11S f) ' " ,c P rcv ' ous Satur-

ku^« a^IS victory was tlie result of 1 ' ri T plnv ami the line > V|v f "P °f S. Hadley. who was nl"l*. ,n . *bc thick of the play. Tito s seldom attempted to function as w i .T'! lll,it - h,|t Hell-Booth. Mill--IK-' "I '' rio,u l nil played well individuTtiv ■ ° n "°" v ' a *' imlf. trave some 'fT ,P asses » but for the greater hU r "f game be wisely played to cdlr VP lai ' ( ' s : whose play was undoubtit/ i "i£T factor in the game. 4lr ' J - -Malculni was referee.