SPARKLING BACK PLAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 13

SPARKLING BACK PLAY

PONSONBY'S FOUR TRIES Superior teamwork and greater speed and understanding among the backs enabled I onsonby to win over Technical at Sturges Park. Otahuhu, by 20 points to 9, ill a game that whs vigorously contested and brimful of incident. Four' players had to bo replaced, Moses, of Ponsonby, receiving an injury to his ribs, and Bradley, of Technical, being carried off with severe concussion. Two other Technical men were also injured. While Ponsonby's win was clear-cut and merited the dash displayed by the 'technical forwards fully tested the defence. Had the Technical inside backs been up to standard

and exploited many of the openings forced by tlieir pack, the points would have been closer. The Technical pack was lighter and smaller than the opposition, yet it won the majority of the set scrums and it was not until the last 20 minutes that Ponsonby hooked with success. Two of Ponsonby's four converted tries were the result of the backs snapping up chances and breaking clear. It was this ability to capitalise the faults of the opposition that paved tho way for a win.

Ponsonby opened the scoring within five minutes. From a scrum inside _ the twentyfive, Frankhiim worked tho blind side io send F. Solomon over, Hook converting. Montgomery broke through to Ponsonby's lino and Bowrey kicked a penalty goal. From a mid field return Bradley fumbled and D. Solomon collected and outstripped the field to score. Hook added the extra points. Clever reverse passing between Dow and Carter, who had replaced Moses, sent the ball infield to Sidford. who touched down, and Hook converted. Half-time arrived with tho score: Ponsonby, 15. Technical, 3.

A strong run by Brown to Ponsonby's line yielded a score, Bowrey kicking a penalty goal. Another raid caused tho Ponsonby forwards to infringe and Bowrey turned the penalty kick to profit. Only six noints behind. Technical attacked with great vigour, but the loss of two players and a snap score by Ponsonby turned the tide of play. Knight secured in tho loose with tho defence at sea and scored, Hay converting. The game ended: Ponsonby, 'JO; Technical, !>. Ponsonby did not carry a passenger in its side. Tho backs revealed crisp and clean handling, with Hook defending excellently. D. Solomon was in great form, his weaving runs and penetration only heinpr marred by a tendency to hold overlong to the ball. Frankham played a sterling game, both on attack and defence. Knight, Fraser, Bond and Sidford were outstanding in the pack. F. Solomon shone purely as a rover, Bradlev, at fullback for Technical, was overworked by the weakness of his inside backs. Brown was the best of these. Bowrey, at half, played gamely in face of a heavy pack, and with more support would have obtained better results. A tireless and tenacious pack was well led by August, Montgomery. Ansley and Keane. Tries for Ponsonby were scored by F. Solomon, D. Solomon, Sidford and \ Kniuht, Hook converting three and Hay one. Technical's points came from three penalty goals kicked by Bowrey. Mr. J. G. C. Wales was referee. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Second Grade. —Takapuna, 0, Suburbs, 6; Otahuhu, 21), North Shore, S. Junior Grade.—Otahuhu, 8, Colloge Rifles, 3; Grammar, 22, Waitemata, 0; Otahuhu Colts, 25, Eden, 3; Suburbs, 10, University. 10. Third Grade. —Manukau, 21, Grafton 0; Ponsonby, i>, Newton, 9; Training College, 22, University, 0; Technical, 32, Tamaki, 0; Grammar, 42, College Rifles, 9; Grammar Colts, 51, Training College, 0. Intermediate Grade.—St. George's, 5, Suburbs, 3; Takapuna, 15, Training College, 3: Manukau, G, Ponsonby, 3; Northcote, S, INorth Shore, 0; Grafton, 10, Collego Rifles, 0. Fourth Grade.—Suburbs. 19, Otahuhu, 0; Manukau Colts, 13, Parnell, (i; Manukau A, 8, Ponsonby, 3; College Rifles, 3, Technical, 3. Fifth Grade. —Suburbs, 12. Technical, 0; Takapuna, G, Marist, G; Suburbs, 12, technical, 0; Otahuhu, 14, Tamaki, 3; North Shore, 30, St. George's, G; Eden, 38, Manukau. 3. Sixth Grade. —Suburbs, 9, Takapuna, 0; Parnell, 28, Eden, 3. Junior Boys.—Senior grade: Marist, 32, Suburbs, G; North Shore, 3, Manukau, 0; Otahuhu, 14. Eden, <>. Intermediate Grade. —Eden, G, Suburbs, 3; Marist, 20, Parnell, 0; St. George's, -5, Suburbs. 3; Newton, 31, Grafton, 0; Takapuna, 38, Ponsonby, 3. Junior Grade.—Suburbs, 21, Northcote, 0; Marist, 12. Otahuhu, 0. COUNTRY CONTESTS MATCHES IN PROVINCE Jiugby football competitions were continued in country centres of the Auckland Province last Saturday afternoon. The following results were forwarded by correspondents. of the Herald: — Whangarei.—There was a largo attendance at Rugby Park, where Old Boys defeated Kia Toa by 14 points to nil. Kia Ton proved disappointing after its form of the previous week. For the winners tries were scored by G. Smith, B. Carr (2) and Scarborough, G. Smith converting one try. ! At Manngakaramea the home team drew with City, eight points each. There was, however, considerable dissatisfaction over the fact that a conversion was disallowed after both line umpires had signalled that the ball had gone over the bar. Hikuranpi had a bye. Senior B: Manaia, 12, Pipiwai, S. Whatitiri, 9, Mangakahia, 0. Juniors: City, 15, High School, 11; Horahora, IG, Waikiekie, 5. Third grade: Horahora, 15, High School, 11. Pukekohe-Waiuku.—Seniors: White Star had a comfortable victory over Patumahoe at Bledisloe Park, Pukckohe, winning by 11. points to 0. White Star was early in scoring vein, Passau registering a try. A little later Longhrin succeeded with a penalty kick, and then Costello crossed and Loughrin converted. In the second half Patumahoe held the vigorous opposition, and there was no further score. At Rugby Park, Waiuku, United beat Otaua by 0 points to 0. R. Garland kicked a penalty goal in the first half and S. Brighouse kicked one in the second spell. Juniors: Old Boys, 10, Otaua, 0; White Star, 31, Patumahoe, 8. Franklin. —Seniors: Bombay, 3, drew with Onewhero, 3, at Onewhero; Tuakau, 18, beat Pnkekawa, 8, at Tuakau. Juniors: Bombay, 12, Tuakau, 0; To Kohanga, 9, Onewhero, 3. Third grade: Pokeno, 19, Bombay, 3; White Star, 3, Onewhero, 0. Mangatawhirl.—Seniors: Valley, 11, beat Mangatangi, 5, at Mangatawliiri; Pokeno, 17, beat Mercer, 9, at Pokeno.

Waikare.—Seniors: Waerenga, 15, beat, Rangiriri, G, at Waerenga; Glenmurray, 12, beat Ohinewai, 3, at Rangiriri. Juniors-: Woodleigh, '25, liang-iriri, 3; Waerenga, 22, Ohinewai, 0. Cambridge.—Marist was defeated at Victoria Square by Cambridge Blues by 10 to 0. N. Hague, W. Wilson, W. Fell and B. Hammond scored for Cambridge and M. Hewitt converted two tries. The game was characterised by the splendid work of the Cambridge forwards. .Tuniors: Leamington, 9, Hantapu, 0; Northern, 17, United, 3. Third grade: Hantapu, 29, Leamington, 0; United, 8, Northern, 3. Te Kuiti.—Te Kuiti seniors beat Nehe, the Maori team, in a match at Rugby Park by 10 points to 9. Nehe had the better of the game in the forwards, but found the Te Kuiti five-eighths, Jack and R. Barlow, too elusive. The game was full of incident and was watched by a large crowd. Te Kuiti and Hangatiki juniors drew 5-all, and in the third grade High School beat Waitete by 9 points to 3.

Dargaville.—Fast, bright football was provided in the senior match at Rugby Park, where last year's champion team, Northern, appeared for the first time this season against Old Boys. Each side scored a penalty goal in the first spell and in the second half Stunaway scored for Northern and converted his try, Isorthern thus winning by 8 points to 3. In the other senior game at. Ruawai the home team beat Kailiu, 9—o. Juniors: Northern, 20, Electric, 0. Third grade: Kaihu, 23, Dargaville, 0; High School, 11, Ruawai, 3.

Paeroa. —West and Convent Old Boys seniors met on No. 1 ground. Early in the game West backs were set in motion by Mandors, Masters and Swann, the movement ending in Vercoe scoring near the corner. Convent equalled when Fisher worked his way over. Lavcrick finished off a West forward movement and scored, Moore converting. A passing bout by West ended by Southerland scoring near the posts, and at half-time the score was: —West, 11, Convent, 3. A passing bout, with Swann prominent, ended in Pascoe scoring. Further tries by Vercoe and Sutherland made the final score:-—-West, 20, Convent Old Boys, 3. Juniors: Convent Old Boys, 0; West, 5 Te Aroha.—The second round of the Te Aroha Rugby Union's competition was played, the standard being generally high. City, 15,

defeated Old Boys, 4, in a game which was rn tlier more even than the score indicated, and in the other senior grade match Waihou, !>•_>, beat Tui, 0. Juniors: Manawarn, 32, City, (!; United ' (Morrinsville), 17, Waihou, 0. Third grade: Waihou, 0, High School, 0. Rotorua. —Tile good standard of play which marked the opening of the season in Rotorua was maintained in both senior and junior grades. In a hard-fought match Botoiti showed its superiority over Waikite, securing victory by IS points to 8. In the other senior match Kahukura was fully extended to defeat the new Kotoma Public Works team, scoring a win in the last few minutes of the game only. The score of 18 points to 0 is not a fair indication of the evenness of the play. Juniors: High School, IS, Old Boys, JO; Okere, G,, Ngakuru, 0; Mamaku, 11, Waikite, 8. Third grade: Old Boys, 1-1, High School A, 0.

Tauranga.—ln the Gilbey Cup competition Cadets Old Boys defeated United Services by 1.") points to 5. United Services led at halftime, but Cadets gained the upper hand in the second half, being greatly assisted to victory by J. McNeill, a former Taranaki and Wellington forward, who played an outstanding game and should earn a place in the Bay of Plenty representative team. The other seuior game between Rangatana and Matakana was keenly contested and was won by Matakana by 11 points to S. Juniors: Bangataua, 0, Cadets Old Boys, 5; Omokoroa defaulted to Oropi; Judea a bye.

Putaruru'.—-Tokoroa unexpectedly drew with Arapuni in the first round of the Putaruru Rugby Sub-Union's competitions at Glenshea Park, Putaruru. Arapuni did not produce the better-class football of the previous week, the backs lacking penetration and combination. Both forward packs played as individualists, and loose play generally predominated. Soon after the commencement Haumaha scored for Arapuni, which followed up this advantage when Woodhill, getting possession from a scrum near the sideline, struggled across. Tokoroa's first, score came soon after resuming, Terei picking up the ball to score a fine try. Tokoroa evened some minutes later when Hurst scored from a scrummage. Juniors: Putaruru, 0, lokoroa, G.

Morrinsville.—Kereone seniors kept tbeir unbeaten record by defeating United by 24 points to G at the Recreation Ground, fries for Kereone were scored by W. Birch <-). J. Leeson, T. Leeson and T. Wilton. R. Earl converted three tries and kicked a penalty goal. For United, D. Morris kicked two penalty goals. In tho other senior game Knvitalii was too good for Terriers, beating them by 10 points to 3. Tries for Kiwitahi were scored by P. Turei (2), S. Rangi and J. Weterc, G. Wetere converting two. M. Lewer kicked a penalty goal for Terriers. Juniors: Old Boys, 6, Rovers, 0; Terriers, 0, Waitoa. (i; Tahuna, 10, Kereone, 3. Third grade: Terriers, 17, United, 0; Old Boys, 17. Waitoa, IG.

Matamata.—Patetere won tho final game of the knock-out competition for tho Stockdale Concrete Clip, defeating Matamata by 14 points to G. Matamata was first to score. Fi/.gerald kicking two penalty goals. Small scored and converted for Patetere, making the half-time score: Matamata, G; Patetere, 5. Patetere held the advantage throughout the second half, Bottoinley, Busby and Harnett adding tries. Hinucra defeated Wardville on No. 2 ground by 8 to nil. I. Germann and P. Ilawke scored tries for the winners, the latter player converting one. Juniors: Ratana, 12, Hinuera, 3; Walton 15, Patetere, 0; Wairere, 7, Matamata, 4; Wardville, 0, Old Boys, 0. Huntly.-—Juniors: Huntly, 10, Gordonton, S. Seniors: Hamilton Technical Old Boys, 27, Taupiri, 10. Helensville.—The Kaipara Rugby Union's club championships were commenced, the senior matches resulting:—Helensville. 3, Southead, 3; Parakai, 21, Silvcrdale, G. Junior grade: Parakai.. 17, Helensville, G; Kumcu, 11, Bivcrhead, 3.

Otorohanga.—Seniors: Otorohanga, 10, Kio .kio, 3. Tries for Otorohanga were s-ored by Snowden and Bentley. Phillips converted both. United, (J, defeated Otewa, 5. Tries for United were scored by J?. Finlay and C. Finlay. For Otewa T. Taliau scored and Kino converted. Juniors: Otewa, v O, United, 0; Otorohanga, 3, Kio Kio, 0. Manukau Sub-Union. —In dull but fine weather the 1037 season opened on soft grounds. The general standard of *>lay ex " ceeded expectations and augurs well for a successful season. In the senior division Cleredon met United at Clevedon, the home team suffering defeat by 23 points to 3. lhe combined team was speedier in the back division and its understanding much better, tor United, Forrest, Osborne (2), Hayes and Basham scored 'tries, while Cooke converted one and kicked two penalty goals. L. Smith scored a good try for Clevedon. H. Dawson, of Clevedon. had to leave the ground owing to a head injury. At Dniry the home team was defeated by Karaka after a very even game by (> to 3. Karaka was a little lucky to win, its scores coming from Loveridge, who kicked two penalty goals. H. Brooks scored a try for Drury.. At Ararimu the home team defeated Old Boys (Pukekohe) after a thrilling encounter by 17 to 8. -»ie winner's points came from tries scored oy Picard (2), Fletcher and Dillon, while Picard converted one and also kicked a penalty goal. Warkworth. Seniors: Wellsford, 47, Puhoi, 8; Matakana, 18, Warkworth. 9. Juniors: Kaipara Flats, }), Matakana, 0. Thames. —Seniors: College Old Boys, 13, Physical Training, 0. Juniors: Physical Training. 20, College Old Boys, 3; Ramblers, 1-1. Hni Mai. 0. Third grade: Foundry, 12, High School, 3. To Awamutu. —In a keenly contested game, Te Awamutu defeated the hitherto unbeaten Frankton team by 14 points to 10. Play commenced at a fast pace, but Te Awamutu was infringing in the scrums, and Frankton was awarded a series of free kicks. Te Awamutu hooked the ball, and a combined rush resulted in McAlpine scoring an unconverted try. The fast Frankton backs then replied with a brilliant rush, from which Jones crossed the line. Denz converted. In the second spell Frankton attacked, and the best, passing rush of the day resulted in Denz running 50 yards, before in-passing to Everest, who scored* between the posts. Denz converted. The Te Awamutu forwards replied with a fine rush and Pritchard scored. Bell converted. Te Awamutu then dominated the play and Turnev added another try and succeeded again just on time. The Te Awamutu forwards gave one of the best displays seen on the ground for some years. Juniors: "VVaikeria, 4, Rovers, 0.