RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22820, 30 August 1937, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE JUBILEE TBOPHIY "DECISION OF SEMI-FINALS [UNIVERSITY AND GRAMMAR WIN Tho Jubilee Trophy competition of the Auckland Rugby L nion reached a concluding stage on Saturday with, the decision of the semi-finals at Eden Park. In almost perfect conditions, fast and open football 'was the order of the day, and a number of spectacular tries were fully appreciated by the large attendance. The hard ground . resulted in many abrasions, several plavcrs having to leave tlie'field. 'High' tackling was also in evidence, torn shorts and jerseys being nufnerous. !Tho results were very much as expected. University and Grammar gaining clear-cut a ltd well-deserved victories against North Shore and Marist respectively. Both the winning teams showed sparkling attacking ability in tho backs and' a solid pack of forwards. Their meeting in the final on Saturday week should result in a close and exciting encounter.

It was announced during the afternoon, over the loud-speaker broadcast system installed on the scoreboard, that tlie match between Ponsonby, winner or the Gallaher Shield and the successfiil team in the Jubilee Trophy competition, for the decision of tlie season's championship hbnours, would most likely be played as the main curtainraiser to the third test between the All Blacks and the Springboks at Eden Park on September 25. The main ganSe between Grammar and Marist was not quite at attractive as, the earlier match between University and North Shore, chiefly because of the solid tackling by both teams. Grammar owed its win to a pronounced superiority in the backs?, the forward honours going to Marist after a fine display. University played as a team against North Shore to win without being unduly extended, in. spite of the small margin in the score. North Shore showed improved attack apd more confidence, but its forwards badly lack weight, while the team's defence is mot quite up to senior standaul. Following were the results: — Grammar, 19: Marist, 12. University, 29; North Shore, 25.

SUPERIOR BACKS GRAMMAR 'DEFEATS MARIST A marked superiority in the backs gave ■Grammar a comparatively easy victory against Marist in the main game at Eden Park. The Marist backline included three forwards who were deputising for absentees. Consequently, combination was sadly lacking, both on" attack and on defence, and the Grammar backs had a big advantage in speed. It was only the fine display of the Marist pack, which emerged with the honours in a rugged forward struggle, and the splendid defence of Cooney and Curtayne at five-eighths, that prevented the Grammar score toeing greater. . Although Grammar faced a three points deficit at the commencement of the second ""spelt, it gave a taste of its capabilities with a brilliant burst of scoring, in which it added 13 points in nine minutes. These were mainly the results of sparkling back movements. The Grammar backs, however, were not up to the high standard shown in the match of the previous week. This was due to the Marist forwards securing from the scrums fairly, consistently, the fast-breaking tactics •of the Marist flapkmen, and the policy of the """ opposing inside backs of playing right ]JP on Wagstaff and Franich at five-eighths. When the ball did get away cleanly, however,, the backline handled with precision and certainty, enabling the wingmen to have many fine opportunities. , , . ■ Swam played brilliantly at halfback. His passes were generally crisp and well-directed, although he sometimes sacrificed direction .for speed. His defence was first-class. Franich was perhaps the more outstanding of the five-eighths on the day. although Wagstaff made a number of. clever openings and handled splendidly. Finlay?on ran hard and straight at centre until he was forced to retire with a knock'. Flett was the better of ' the wingmen'; he scored a very spectacular try' early in the match, after a thrilling 40 yards solo dash down the sideline. King gave another clever attacking display at fullback, ■constantly running his backs into position. Lockington again led the Grammar forwards in fine style and is now playing football of a very high standard. Don Mcßeath , and Evans were also prominent, Don being one* of the outstanding forwards on the field in the loose. - , . The Marist forwards secured a large share of the honours of the game; their fine efforts deserved. a better fate. McHugh revelled in the 'bard-going, and was consistently at the head of the many solid rushes. He was also a tower of strength in the line-outs McGrorv *nd Bailey gave McHugh excellent, support, while Castaing and Irvine also Played eoiindlv. Irvine was uncertain at halfback, but Curtayne and Cooney. saved the side on many occasions at five-eighths. Curtayne proved himself o'ne of the best defensive backs in the competition,-while Cooney, in addition ,to effective tackling, also shone on attack •with several fine dashes. . . For Grammar, Flett, Wagstaff, Franich and Don scored tries. King converted two and kicked a-penalty goal. Tries. wero gcored for Marist by McGrory. Rosenfeldt, McHugh #nd Cooney, Mr. J. Henderson was referee. ' EXCELLENT FORWARDS j VICTORY TO UNIVERSITY In a bright, free-scoring match. University • j secured a well-deserved and comfortable victory over North Shore in the curtain-raiser 'at Eden Park. Although the play tended at. times to be -scrappy and without zest, the consistent scoring made the gamo interesting throughout, several of tire many tries resulting from" brilliant movements. Although obviously not as solid and polished as its opponent, Hie young and enthusiastic North Shore team gave a good account of itself,. showing much greater confidence than it displayed against, Grammar the previous week. Playing with fine dasli in the first spell, it. led at the interval by 14 points to 13, but University, with tne advantage of the strong suu, soon built Up a commj.nding lead in the second half, it was only two quick tries to North Shore in the last few minutes which made the score so relatively close. " University's success was mainly due to the excellent gamo played by its forwards. They were too fast, .heavy and aggressive for the lighter North "Shore vanguard, which was again outplayed in all departments. 'lhe University forwards were responsible for two of the best tries scored on the ground this fpasnn Handling with the certainty and speed of the backs they swept the. ground with brilliant rushes, tries resulting after DracticaUv the whole team had handled. One of* the best forwards on the field was Foreman tho, former Otago representative, who with Drake, Lange and Armitage, led. Tv,. TTnivVrsity PR3k in fine style, loreman InM Armitage were outstanding in the loose. CardwelT and Morgan also played useful The University backs were not so certain Xll . e , usual while their defence was °? to suspicion at times. Evans gave also open/to . _ P j {rom the scrum, while SP'i oj first five-eighths, was the best U he hl rearguarf He initiated several of the o£ the reargu ative dashes, while his ffn°nd?ing was also generally sound. Martin handling «• » - n j consequently was not in his .best »u ()utsti J nclin(c ? a, ifhnv' was also very well marked by the £*«rfh qKore defence, iush played, an .excelS2f «r«me at fullback, both his line-kicking 111. North after outwbehind the scrum early who in the nj ntc ]|j *.jj defence at centre. Spratt Kinley showeds detcrm ination and speed revealed, plenty o rf tries AnioTlf ; on the Exler nnrf aU'SS"ft* "S.uin 111. 1.C1.t Lange and Dav'dson penalty goalM. rerted four k| c K en g bv Jessui». Trle *J°mi" qivfield Jalfron and Cato. SVy- & l co&tfi y t!S; -K • " en ? uy S °Mr. J. <*. C. Wales was referee. J } oWE R GRADE RESULTS LOW ,„ I,'den 10, Suburbs, 11; Senior B n G h j" default from Marist; ManuSuburbs won by .„ Norlh Shore, 10, ParJS to ot pi® Snbar '"- "'i™" ' nical' 19. anuk r U P ftmriiar Colts, 13, Manu--I,.™f TKhnV- 14. grammar,. 6; College Rifles 14, Panmure, 6 n ech . XtaUH««r iColJege/0. ' )

Fourth Grade. —Manukau A. 18, Marist, It; North Shore, 21, Manukau Colts, S; Technical, 18, Suburbs, 0; Takapuna, 17, Ponsonby, 10. Fifth Grade.—Suburbs, 11), Manukau, 3; Eden, 21), Takapuna, 0; Marist, M, Technical, 0; Tamaki, !>, St. George's, S. JUNIOR BOYS' MATCHES Senior Grade.—Eden, 11, Suburbs, 11; Manukau won by default from Otahuhu; Newton, 0, Marist, 3. Intermediate Grade. —Xorthcote, 12, Takapuna. 0; Eden. 5, Suburbs. 0; Manuknu, IT. Otahuhu, 0. . Junior Grade.—Newton, 10, Marist, 3; Eden, 25, Suburbs, 3.