RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24282, 25 May 1942, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SENIOR COMPETITION

BRIGHT PLAY AT EDEN PARK The Auckland Rugby Union's senior competition was continued on Saturday afternoon under good conditions, the grounds being in nice order after rain. There was a fair attendance at Eden Park to watch the matches at headquarters. The main contest on the oval was between two military teams, M.T.P. and Garrison, the former side proving successful by one point. The score at half-time was 10—9 and there was no addition in the second spell. M.T.P. scored two converted tries in the early stages and then Garrison added a penalty goal and two unconverted tries. The closeness of the scoring maintained the interest of the spectators right to the final whistle. Up to the last quarter of an hour, when the players tired a little, the ptay was always bright and spectacular. Garrison was rather unlucky to lose, as several penalty shots from fairly easy positions were missed. The side made a great effort in the last few minutes and had its supporters wildly excited. Ably led by Gunning, the Garrison forwards were the better all-round pack and gained possession of the ball from the majority of the scrums. The inside backs, however, were too slow and their movements were easily smothered. Lack of knowledge of the finer points cost the M.T.P. forwards a number of penalties. Tliey were apparently prepared to take risks in regard to offside play, and it paid in connection with their first try. .Riley, centre, and G. Tittleton, left wing, were associated in some spectacular passing runs. Riley fielded and handled the bail brilliantly and his partner made strong bids for the line but found his opponent, Weston, a very safe tackier. Scott gave a splendid exhibition at fullback He handled cleanly and saved his forwards with "long line kicks. C.R.O. fielded a weak team ip the curtainraiser and suffered defeat by Technical Old Boys. The games between Air Force No. 2 and Grafton-Ponsonby on No. 2 ground, and between Marist and Air Force No. 1 on No. 3 ground were keenly contested, but the margin of points in the majority of the other matches was fairly substantial. Following were the results:—M.T.P., 10 (two tries by Peterson, both converted by Anderson), Garrison, 9 (tries by Collins and Weston and penalty goal by Smith); Technical Old Boys, 18 (tries by Rosenfeldt, 2, Woolford, 2, Abbott and Scott), C.R.0., 4 (field goal by Payne); Air Force No. 2, 6 (tries by Norton and Vause), Grafton-Ponsonby, 4 (field goal by Laken); Manukau, 27 (tries by Sheehan, 3. Brown. 2, Muir and Vasey, two converted by Hewitt and one by Smith), Training College, 6 (tries by Rasmussen and Dickey). Second Division.—Marist, 6, Air Force No. 1, 3; Grammar-University, 9. Suburbs, 5; Ranfurly, 23. A.S.C., 0; Takapuna, 17, Eden, 6.

AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIVES In the event of Monday, June 1, being held as a holiday for the King's Birthday, the annual Rugby match between Auckland and Waikato will be played at Hamilton. Mr. F. W. Lucas, Auckland's sole selector, has announced the names of the following players from which the Auckland team will be chosen:—Hoskings (Air Force), Sorenson (Marist), Scott (M.T.P.), Boggs (C.R.0.), Faire (C.R.0.), Sellars (Grafton-Ponsonby), Butler (Training College), Pearman (A.S.C.), Rae (A.5.0.), Gould (C.R.0.), Hull (GraftonPonsonby), Mills (C.R.0.), Wilson (GraftonPonsonby), Mitchell (M.T.P.), Smith (Manukau), Morgan (Air Force), Smith (Garrison), Pike (Technical), Hadley (M.T.P.), Gunning (Garrison), Weston (Garrison). THE LEAGUE CODE MANUKAU BEATS RICHMOND A splendid exhibition of the League code was witnessed at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when Manukau defeated Richmond in the principal game of the Auckland Rugby Leagues senior competition. There was a fair attendance. Richmond put up a groat fight against more experienced opponents and halfway through the second spell the side rose to the occasion splendidly and for 20 minutes had the better of the play. But for weak tackling on the part of several backs Richmond would have been much closer at the end. In positional play Manukau was superior and the ability of Murray and Chase to turn defence into attack was an important factor in the team's success. Manukau led at half-time by 5 points to 0. Manukau reached double figures as the result of a brilliant attack in which six players handled. Gregory came into the movement twice to send Major over. Richmond then played its bost football and there was merit in two good tries. The turning-point came when Broughton raced past several Richmond players and Gregory scored a fine try. Clever football was played by Murray, Chase and Gregory. Martin was very sound at fullback, while behind the scrum Major gave good service. Arncng the forwards Te Tai, McLean and Watene played ably. McGregor, centre, did a lot of useful work for Richmond, while the wings, Kenney and Davies, showed dash and enterprise. Webb made clever openings at halfback. Davis, McLeod and Perkins worked hard anions the forwards. The City-Otahuhu backs failed as a combination against Ponsonby, and it was only the play of individuals that won the day Mullins, five-eighths, and Hutchinson, half, were easily the best backs. Mataira spoiled his play by holding on in pa&sing bouts. T Johnson and Finlayson did good work among the forwards. Among the Ponsonby backs Morrell and H. Thomas were prominent, and Sullivan. Clark and Lohonet played ably among the forwards. Newton, which has been almost unsupported since the clubs amalgamated, was strengthened by the inclusion of four Mount Albert players. Marist had only Symonds f rom North Shore. The game was well contested and there was not a great deal between the teams. For Newton, Clements, McKay, Cranch and Moore (backs) and Everitt, Duncan and Shadbolt (forwards) were outstanding, while Hughes and McWilliams (backs) played well for Marist-North Shore Following were the results:—Manukau. 1M dries by Te Tai. Major and Gregory, Chase converting one try and kicking a penalty goal), Richmond, 6 (tries by Perkins and Kenney); City-Otahuhu. 12 (tries bv Mullins and Hutchinson, Donovan converting one trv and kicking a penalty goal, and Mullins converting one fry). Ponsonby. G (tries bv Hughes and H. Thomas); Newton-Mount Albert, 13 (tries by McKay, Clements ajid Cranch, Clements and Cranch converting one each), Marist-North Shore. 2 (Wiberg 8 penalty goal). SOCCER GAME NORTH SHORE'S GOOD WIN The opening games of the Auckland Football Association's championship prodded good displays under excellent conditions. In the main attraction at Blandford Park the young North Shore team swung the ball about with better positional play than Eastern Suburbs, a feature of the game being the sound exhibition of goal-keeping by King for the latter side, while the veteran Craxton also saved North Shore from many dangerous raids. In the early game Metro-College and C.R.0., after being level at half-time, provided a stirring second spell, in which C.R.O. was unlucky not to divide the points. At Fowlds Park Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys B staged a surprise in defeating Ponsonby in a game which was characterised by long passing by Old Boys. Comrades and Naval Base played an even first spell, with Comrades one goal up at the interval. In the second spell, however, the Naval defence u;as spread and Comrades had a flattering margin at the final whistle. At the Domain Air Force and Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys A played a friendly game, in which the latter was successful. Following were the results:—North Shore, 5 (Richards, 2, Nettleton, 2, Dacre), Eastern Suburbs, 2 (Espie, Welch); Metro-College, 3 (Hope-Ede, 2, Speed), C.R.0., 2 (Ludgate, Masters); Comrades. 7 (Fleet, 3, Walters, 2, Page, Prohl), Naval Base, 0; Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys B, 5, Ponsonby, 3. Friendly game: Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys A, 4 (Wilkinson, 2, Eckman. 2), Air Force, 1 (Patterson). WAR CUP FINAL (Reed. 8 p.m.) LONDON, May 23 In the final of the War Cup association football competition Snnderland and Wolverhamption drew, two goals each. The attendance was 30,000. BASKETBALL GAMES Following were the results of matches played on Saturday under the control of the Auckland Basketball Association:— Senior. —Surrey Hills, 10, St. Benedict's, 2; Killarua, 8, Edendale, 7; University, 20, Arahi, S. Senior Reserve: Belvedere, 10, Westmere, 9; Taupaki, 12, Grammarians, 10; IZM, 22, Grammar, 5; Edendale, 8, Arahi. 7. Senior B: West mere, 15, Metro, 11; Oratia, 7, Iluia. <1; Seddon, 24, Grammar, 3; Killarua, 22, Arahi, 5. Second A. —Middlemore, IG, Flamingo, 7; IZM. G, Grammar, 2; Technical, 10, Berlci, 0; Papatoetoe. 0, Tamaki, 6. Second B: Belvedere, 7, Edendale, 7; Argosy, 17. Technical, 5; Shamrock, 20, Arahi, 1; Y-W-C.A.. 14, National Brush. 4.

ROAD CYCLING RACES Combined Clubs' Events.—The Lynndale ami Northern amateurs combined to hold 18mile senior and ] 0-mile junior races, the results being as follows: —Juniors: J. McArthur, 5m 30s, 1; W. Morton, 3m, 2; T. Ford, 3m, 3. Fastest time: H. Jones (scr), 31m 4s. Seniors: T. Garrod, sm, 1; J. Hill, scr, 2; <R. Herk, lm, 3. Fastest time: J. Hill, 54m 3fis. Papatoetoe Amateur Club.—The result of the Papatoetoe Club's race over the Howick circuit of 22 miles was:—K. Faithful, 11m. I; S. Rowsell. 10m. 2; H. Simpson, Gin 30s, 3 Fastest time: W. Ferguson (lm), 57m 43s Manukau Amateur Club.—Three races were decided under the massed start points system, in which points were gained by the first three riders to complete each lap. Results:-—A (rrade. 15 miles: T. Tredrea, 15 points. 1; C. W. Shilton, R points, and C. A. Scopes, bracketed, 2; R. G. Whitley and S. Lloyd, 4 points, bracketed. 4. Time, 41m ss. B grade, 15 miles: A. T Bishop, 10 points, 1; A. Wilson and G. R Purdom. 0 points, bracketed, 2; V. A. Hills, 5 points, 4. Time, 41m 455. C srracle, 10 miles: C. Flinkenberg. 11 points, 1; G. Neale and L. A. J. Stonex, 6 points, bracketed, 2; B. Fulton, 3 points, 4. Tim, J