RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23112, 10 August 1938, Page 21

RUGBY FOOTBALL

GALLAHER SHIELD COMPETITION IN AUCKLAND PONSONBY STILL LEADING THREE SERIES .TO BE DECIDED Br narrowly defeating North Shore in tho last series of matches, Ponsonby, with 18 points, again leads in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior competition for the Gallaher Shield. W 7 ith three more iseries yet to be decided to conclude the championship, Ponsonby's * position is not unassailable, but the odrls are in its favour. .The leader, however; has still to meet one of the strongest teams in the competition in Grafton. Ponsonby has been matched with Training College next Saturday, and should .win unless the latter springs another surprise performance. Second in line for the honours at present is Technical, which is within striking distance of the leadership. With eight wins and a draw to its credit, Technical should have 17 points, but, on account of its having a point more than the highest teams in tha first division when promoted, one point was deducted, making its tally 16. Technical has been drawn to meet Grammar next Saturday, and a hard, even game should result. Technical has vet to meet Grafton.

G. F. Hart

W. Hadley

Three fifteens—Grammar, Grafton and Training. College—are equal in third place". Grafton led early in the season and held a high place 011 the championship ladder until recently. Although it is very unlikely at this stage that it will- take the supremacy, its final position should not disgrace the side. Grafton will face strong opposition when it takes tho field against North Shore 011 Saturday. Training College has justified its promotion on two occasions. The fifteen trains conscientiously and is probably the fittest of the senior teams, but its inexperience is a handicap ■ when it .meets combinations that possess a number of old hands at the game. The cohesion displayed by the side is good when it is "taken into consideration that about half the players arcsreplaced each season on account of the fact that a Training College student cannot play for the fifteen longer than two seasons. Grammar should finish in a position worthy of its strength, but has little prospect of- getting to the top of the ladder unless it wins all its lemaining fixtures arifl Poiisoiibv loses the three matches still to be played. . -Marist -.at present has 1-3 points and nest Saturday is set down to play Manukau, which, by virtue of its success over Technical after a series of defeats, now has seven championship Doints. North Shore continues to thrill its supporters, and on a number of occasions has : justified tho confidence expressed in its ability early 111 the season.. It* was unlucky to have been defeated on one or two occasions. i * BARBARIANS' FIFTEEN GOODWILL TROPHY CONTEST VICTORY OVER MATAMATA The match for the goodwill trophy, presented for competition ' between Thames and the Barbarians' fifteen, Auckland, composed for the most part of former Auckland and New Zealand Ruebv representatives, will take place on- October 8 at Thames. The trophy, which was contested for the first time last year, is held by the Barbarians and, if the performance of the team against the Matamata representatives last Saturday can be taken as any criterion, Thames will have to rise to great heights to win. F. W. Lucas played a good game at centre at Matamaa last Saturday until he received an injured knee. His place wa's taken'by G. F. Hart, formerly .of Canterbury, who moved in, from the wing. Hart made a good run which led to a try. Bush's line-kicking , was an outstanding feature of the side's defence. D. Solomon's showing was not unexpectedly marked by brilliance. A shoulder injury necessitated his retire-' ment. M. Corner played soundly behind the scrum, getting the ball away with- the-alacrity which stamped him as one of the best halfbacks Auckland hag ever produced. The Barbarians' forwards were too good for Matamata, especially the front row, comprising Evans, S. Hadley and W. Hadley. The last-named hooked consistently to give the bneks more than their share of tho ball. McWilliams sand McLean were prominent in the line-outs. _ , It is the hope of the Barbarians to arrange a match with the Auckland Colts fifteen. The Auckland Rugby Union' so far has been unable to approve the fixture, owing to # lack or a suitable date, unless it is fotinci unnecessaary to complete the second round of the competition for the Gallaher Shield. All Auckland Rugby enthusiasts would be glad to see tho match airanged and the appearance of the Barbarians would be a welcome attraction. AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON SPECIAL TRAIN TO BE RUN The Railway Department will run a special week-end excursion to Wellington on September 9 to enable enthusiasts'" to see the annual Auck-land-Wellington Rugby representative match .to be played at Athletic Park .September 10. The train will arrive back in Auckland early on the, following Monday morning. Members of tho Auckland Referees' Association will be travelling by this train to play a match against the Wellington referees.