RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22155, 8 July 1935, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST round concludes grammar defeats otahuhu The first- round of the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship competition was concluded on Saturdav afternoon Inst, and the three teams lowvst on the list will now be relegated to the B division, leaving six teams to contest the championship proper. Being at the bottom of the list, College Rifles is certain to be relegated, and then there are four teams with seven points each. The question of -which two shall go down will be decided on records of points scored for and against. A special meeting of th? Auckland Rugby Union's management committee will l>e held to-day to decide the point. The matches played on Saturday were productive of very bright football, which pleased a large crowd at Eden Park. In order to keep tho oval in the best condition, the curtain-raiser between the Auckland Grammar and Mount Albert Grammar Schools was transferred, to No. 2 ground, where an exciting match ended in a draw. The principal senior contest was that between Grammar and Otahuhu. Both teams were considerably weakened by the absence of players on the injured list. Otahuhu was the greatest sufferer, as Brown, who hurt his ankle in the Ranfurly Shield match last vroek, was missing from tho Otahuhu side, which sustained another serious loss in the absence of Hedge, who cut his hand the previous day. Corner, who was also injured in the Shield match, was absent from behind the Grammar scrum. Until the closing stages it was an interesting contest. Grammar had the better of the game territorially, and deserved its win. A high-scoring game on No. 2 ground between Manukau and Ponsonby ended in a draw of 22 points each. Meeting College Rifles without tho services of Caughey University suffered a surprising reverse. Playing solid all-round football. Technical Old Boys defeated Marist at the Show Grounds. Grafton had a bye. Following were the results of the matches-:—-Grammar, 14; Otahuhu, 8. Ponsonby, 22; Manukau, 22. College Rifles, 24; University, 13. Technical, 19; Marist, 11.