SENIOR B DIVISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21841, 2 July 1934, Page 13

SENIOR B DIVISION

RELEGATED TEAMS DRAW WINS FOR MARIST AND EDEN The relegation of Grammar Old Boys, College Pilles and Marist Old Boys to the senior B division, in which they are pitted agriinst the three best senior 'B teams, Eden, North Shore and Grammar Old Boys B', added considerably more interest to matches in the division on Saturday afternoon. In common with all other matches, play was affected by the heavy state of the grouuds, and forwards had the most opportunities. Several hundred enthusiasts watched the main game, that between Grammar Old Boys and College Rifles, at the Show Grouuds, the result being a draw, 6-all. On No. 3 ground at Eden Park, Eden had a keen contest with Grammar B and was victorious by 5 points to 3. Marist proved too strong for North Shore on No. 2 ground and won easily by 23 points to 3. Because of these results, Eden iucrensed its lead for the championship of the division. SIX-POINT DRAW WELL-MATCHED FORWARDS

A strenuous, although often dull, game between Grammar Old Boys and College Eifles, resulted in a draw, each side scoring six points, a true indication of the trend of play. For the greater part of the first spell Grammar was the better team but as neither side exerted itself much, play was sluggish and very uninteresting. The half-time iscore of 3-all inspired keener effort in the second spell. Alihough points were obtained for College Rifles purely as the result of th« initiative of the backs, the forwards played a much-improved game, particularly in the second spell, when they were equal to resisting the onslaughts of the Grammar forwards. Tho Grammar inside backs were first to resort to the tactics most prudent on the day, kicking tho ball to enable their supports to sweep down on it and so bustle the opposing backs. These tactics wero effective, until the College Rifles backs strengthened their defence by falling on the ball in the facie of attacks, instead of trying to handle it.' Before they did this, however, Grammar had succeeded in scoring. Jessup accepting from Corner and then kicking across to a neglected wing, where all Buckley !h,ad to do was to run up and fall on the' ba'ill. Blyfield's kick missed. The adoption of this mode of attack by College Rifles led to its persistent efforts being rewnrdei!. Thompson kicked across to Buckley's wing, and he was beaten for the ball by Wales and McCormick, who together passed Matheson and kicked the ball over the line, where the try was obtained by Wales. Sltone failed to convert. Not long after ithe start of the second spell Corner and Knight led a dribbling rush that carried the ball over the Colcge Eifles line. Knight forced, and. although he seemed to have knocked on. he was awarded a. try., Slyfield again failed to convert. A scrum was formed a few yards short of the Grammar line. The College Rifles forwarda heeled to Thompson, who. darting round on the blind side, enabled Year to score at the corner. Wales missed with the kick, and there was no further score.

The most prominent of the Grammar forwards were Knight, Morgan, Gillett and Lockington. Among the College Eifles pack Watson,, Stoni3 and Stewart worked tirelessly, as also did Batty, who. until lie retired hurt late in the game, was the best. The most outstanding backs on the field were Thompson, the College Rifles halfback, and Matheiion, the Grammar fullback. Thompnon was splendid, passing well and repeatedly making openings for his supports. by taking advantage of weakness on defence shown by the Grammar first five-eighths, Jiessup. On the day, Thompson was Corner's equal. As fullback for Grammar, Matheson gave one of the fine displays characteristic of him. He fielded the ball carefully and safely, and kicked unerringly. Mr. J'. G. Wales was referee. MARGIN OF TWO POINTS _ GRAMMAR B DOWN TO EDEN Eden defeated Grammar B in a closelycontested ganns by 5 points to 3. Owing to the wet conditions underfoot play was mainly confined to the forwards, and the Eden pack, although it did not hook the ball as well as Grammar, showed better cohesion in loose rushes and superiority in line-outs. Both sets of backs found it almost impossible to make sustained passing rushes, but in the circumstances they handled the greasy ball well, Cowan, the Eden halfback, and McCowan, tho Grammar fullback, especially being conspicuous in this respect, An attack by Eden about 15 minutes after the start held Grammar on defence. Cowan cut in cleverly and handed the ball to Purdy, who forced his way over for a try, Julian converled with a good kick. Eden led s—o tt the end of the first spell. Immediately upon the resumption of play tho Grammar forwards carried the ball into the Eden twenty-five, and from a melee close to the line the ball was sent out to the winger, Eipittnl, who scored at tho corner. From then until the finish both teams played strenuously, but were unsuccessful in scoring, the game ending:—Eden, 5; Grammar B, 3. Mr. V. Iveefe was referee. POOR EXHIBITION MARIST'S EASY VICTORY

In spite of the fact that three of North Shore's heaviest forwards were unable to play, the team which hnd been leading the senior grade B s put up a very poor showing against Marisl; on No. 2 ground at Eden Park. The ball whs very greasy, and the game resolved, itself into a mud ecramble between the forwards, in which the Marist pack dominated the play throughout. Toye was always prominent in the forward rushes and Hadley, McGrory and Eville were also consistently hard workers. By half-time Marist had 14 points in its favour to North Shore's 3, scored from a penalty goal by Hay. In the second half North Shore rallied for a time, but if wan not long before Marist again had the upper hand, and every forward rush was dangerous for North Shore. In spite of this sloppy conditions the Marist backs throw tile ball about ajid Hassan did particularly well. Elliot was very useful on the wing and Bell-Booth was also prominent. In a pack which put up a very poor opposition to Marist. Maxwell was the hardest worker, ar.d Sidford and Rctter showed up well at times. The backs did not distinguish themselves at all, but Finlayson handled flic hall well at fullback. Tries for Marist wore registered by loye. Locke. Littlo, Hassan (Q). . Bell-Boof.h and Eville.' Hadley made the only successful attempt at converting nnd the final score was:—Marist, '23; North Shore. 3. Mr. C. W. Henderson was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Junior Grade.—Ponsonby, 11. College Rifles, 3; Suburbs, 9, Trinity College, 0; Grafton Colts, 3, University A, 0; Eden, 18, Takapuna. 3; Manuka;!, 0, University B, 0; Grammar, 5. Northcote, 3. Third Grade.—Technical, 3, College Kifles. 0; Manukau, !), North Shore. G: Eden, 3, Howiek. 0: Ncrthcote, 12, North Shore. :f. Intermediate Grade.—Technical Old Boys, fi, Suburbs, 0; Parnell, 5. Ponsonby. 3; Grafton, 5, College ltifles. 0; University. 3. y.M.C.A., 0. , „ . Fourth Grade.-Northcote, 9, Marist, 6; Otahuhu, 6, Manukau. 3: Suburbs. 0, Technical Old Boyt'. 0: Eden. 8. Takapuna, 0. Fifth Grader—Grammar, 5, Ma-rist, 0; Eden, 39, Mar.ukau. 0; Suburbs, 9. Ponsonby. o,' Takn;puna, • 23, Grafton, 3. Sixth Grade.—Manukau, 9, Parnell. 0; , Suburbs, 11, Ponsonby. 0. J

House Match.—Bridges and Overington. 28. Northern Sleunißlnp Company, 3. Junior Boys.—Senior grade: Eden, 3, Manukau, 0. Intermediate Grade. —Pnrnell, 21, Y.M.C.A., 0; Good Shepherd, 21, Manukau, 0; Newton, 23, St. Barnabas', 0: Eden, 9, Northcote, 0. Junior Grade.—Takapuna, 21, Manukau, 0; Newton, 27, Good Shepherd, 0; Eden, 9, Suburbs, 0. Calixtus Shield.—First round: Eden Group, 3, Domain, 0: Farm Group, 5, Pencarrow Avenue, 0. Secondary Schools.—Sanior grade: King's College. f>, Sacred Heart, 0. Third Grade.—Sacred Heart, 11, King's College, 0: Auckland Grammar A, 14, Mount Albert Grammar, 0. Fourth Grade.-Sacred Heart A,' 17, King's, 0: Sucred Heart B, 11, Mount Albert Grammar B, 0. Fifth Grade.—Sacred Heart, 11, King's, 0. Sixth Grade. —Takapunn, 9, Sacred Heart A, 0. Seventh Grade.—Mount Albert B, 21, Sacred Heart B. 0. Takapuna B, 3, Sacred Heart B, 0.