RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21837, 27 June 1934, Page 16

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NEW SENIOR DIViSIONS POSITION OF GRAMMAR TEAM NUMEROUS PENALTY GOALS With the completion of the first round of the senior championship the Auckland Rugby Union has announced very fully its policy in regard to the remainder of the season. This policy was clearly outlined in the Rugbycolumns of the Herald yesterday, and so there is no necessity to go into further details regarding the scheme. There has been some criticism of the decision to choose between teams level in championship points by means of analysis of points scored for and against, but such seems quite the fairest way of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion. The suggestion that teams level in championship points should have the right to play off for retention of status would only have the effect of prolonging the competition indefinitely. • ■ One point about the scheme deserves further consideration by the union, and that is the manner in which the leading tenm m the B division shall enter the A division next season. Such teatn shall be the one scoring the most championship points in the second round ol the B division. Take the case of Grammar, for instance. Supposing Corner and Knight are selected to go with the All Black team to Australia later in the season. In such event it is quite possible that Grammar would not finish at the head of the senior B division, and therefore the team would be in the B division next season. Although it is well down the list, there is not the slightest doubt that Grammar is one of the strongest club teams in Auckland and it would be a pity to see such a side monopolising tha B division next season. Tactics and Penalties It is fairly obvious the main object of the union in introducing its scheme this season was to improve the standard of play in both the A and B grades. It was commonly thought at the time that the three weakest teams would be relegated. But have things worked to schedule? With its powerful pack of forwards Grammar should have finished the first round near the top, and the side can attribute its position to faulty tactics, plus the suffering of numerous penalties. No better evidence of continued wrong tactics could be afforded than last Saturday's game against Manukau. The Grammar forwards were obviously superior on the line-out, yet their captain elected to have scrums instead of line-outs. Tie result was that nearly every, time the Grammar backs secured the ball —and that was on a big majority of occasions—valuable ground was lost on account of faulty back combination. A remarkable feature of Grammar's games this season to date is the important part penalties have played in affecting the result. In the matches against College Rifles and Ponsonby the team lost by one point on account of a penalty turned to account by its apponents. Grafton was enabled to draw with Grammar by reason of three penalties and a converted try to one penalty (Grammar's only penalty kick turned to scoring account) and three tries, one converted. Unenviable Record Grafton, Manukau and Technical Old Boys each scored nine points in freekicks against Grammar, and in Techcase these points may have had some moral effect on • the ultihiate result. If had not been so generous to its opponents in the matter of penalties it might -have been leading in the grade instead of being one of the teams to be relegated. An analysis of the points scored for and against the team follows and reveals an unenviable record —one penalty goal for the team and twelve against it:— Points For Points Against Tries • . 21 —63 pt.s. 13—39 pts. Converted .. 12—24 pt». 6 —12 pts. Penalties . . I—3 pts. 12—36 pts. Field Goals . 1 — 4 pts Totals 94 87 Secondary Schools Auckland Grammar School's easy defeat of King's College last Saturday and Sacred Heart College's victory over Mount Albert Grammar School enabled Grammar to regain the lead for the secondary schools championship, an honour it has already held for the last five years. Grammar, however, has not yet placed itself in fin invincible position, as Sacred Heart and Mount Albert, both of which it has already beaten in the first round, are strong teams and quite capable of turning the tables in the second round. The first round will be completed on Saturday, Grammar being pitted against Takapuna Grammar, and Sacred Heart against King's, Mount Albert will have the bye. Although King's failure against Grammar gave the impression that the college is represented this season by a weak team, it played creditably in its two previous matches, beating Takapuna and proving itself little inferior to Mount Albert. The roll at King's is by far the smallest of all the secondary schools taking part in the competition, and the restricted scope for forming teams is being prejudicial to the college's record on the football field. Pine Pullback ' The Sacred Heart fullback Hare, should make a name for himself in open competitions as a goal-kicker. Of the 49 points gained by his team in its three games this season, he has accounted for 31, his total comprising seven penalty goals, three conversions and one field goal. Toward the end of last season Hare played as fullback for the Marist Old Boys' senior team and created a fine impression. Followers of Rugby in Auckland should be well satisfied with the representation this city has in the All Black trial between two North Island teams at Wanganui next Wednesday. Corner, and Caughey, backs, and Knight and Hodley, forwards, should all acquit themselves with credit. The other two nominees were Bush and McLean. Both selectors know the capabilities of these two players, and no doubt the reason for their being left out of this first trial was in order that others of whom so much has not been seen may be given a preliminary test.