RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

senior championship MAR ist defeats manukau TWO TEAMS EQUAL IN LEAD The ninth series of matches in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship for the Gallalier Memorial Shield wa.s played on Saturday afternoon in line weather and on grounds in good order for football. The one exception was the main ground at Eden Fnrk, there being a very bad patch of mud right in the centre where Special soil is used for the formation of cricket pitches. It was noticeable that players did their best to avoid this particular area, which made the ball greasy and heavy. There was a large attendance at Eden Park, where three senior games were staged. The principal attraction was the meetiiig of Marist and Manukau, which game resulted in a strenuous forward encounter. Marist's success places it level with Ponsonby at the head of the table, eaeh s team having won eight matches and lost one. Neither Grammar nor University was at full strength, and their curtainraiser was a rather ragged exhibition. Grammar always held the upper hand. Training College claimed a small margin in its match with Technical on No. 2 ground, the latter team being well out of form. Grafton was extended in defeating North Shore at Devonport, while Otahuhu just headed College I?ities in the last stages of their contest at Sturges Park, Otahuhu. Ponsonby had a bye and visited Cambridge. where it defeated the country representatives. Following were the residts of the matches: — Marist, 22; Manukau, 4. Grammar, 21; University, 13. Training College, 11; Technical, 9, Grafton, 14; North Shore, 6. Otahuhu, 8; College Rifles, 6.