RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24378, 14 September 1942, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SENIOR COMPETITION

DEFEAT OF LEADING TEAM M.T.P., leading team in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior competition, suffered its third loss of the season at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon, when it was defeated by Grafton-Ponsonby by 10 points to (>. Showers in the early part of the afternoon made the surface of the playing area greasy, otherwise the conditions were good. There was only a moderate attendance. Playing with the advantage of a strong wind in the first, spell, M.T.P. did most of the attacking, and scored.two unconverted tries, to lead by 0 points to 0 at half-time. The way the Grafton-Ponsonby forwards had played up to this stage made it appear that M.T.P.'s advantage was a slender one, arid would be overcome without much difficulty. Such proved to bo the case, as, within ten minutes of resuming, the combined team had taken the lead with a penalty goal and converted try. From then on it was iust a question of how many points Grafton-Ponsonby would win by. The successful team's forwards gave a splendid display, their loose rushes being spectacular, as well as giving the defence a torrid time. A. W. Bowman, Hawke's Bay and New Zealand representative, was always prominent, and his anticipation and pessistent following up \vere rewarded with a fine try. The representative forwards, Pearce and Wilson, both played fine games, and received good support from the others. Tetzlaff, Wiles, Schubert and Paton played well in the backs, who all tackled and defended solidly. M.T.P. was without the services of Scott, the fullback, and it lost Mitchell, one of its best forwards, who was injured late in the game. The backs were rearranged after halftime, but that did not improve the combination. Clark, at centre, and later at first fiveeighths, handling and passing badly. W. Tittleton and Gregory were the best backs, while Kendall (fullback) got the side out of some tight corners. Mitchell, Peterson, Glover, Ladbrook and G. Tittleton played well in the forwards Following were the results:—Grafton-Pon-sonby, 10 (tries by Edwards, Seath and Bowman, Paton converting two and kicking two penalty sroals), M.T.P.. 0 (tries by Mitchell

and Peterson); Garrison, 24 (tries by Gunning 3, Weston, Day and Smith, the latter converting two tries and Weston one), Technical Old Boys, 3 (try by Brinsden); Air Force Xo. 2, Hi (tries by Underwood 2, and Haye.s. Underwood converting two and kicking" a penalty goal). C.R.0., 13 (tries by Dorreen, Morgan and Brown. Riley converting two); A.S.C. won by default from ltanfurlys; Manukau had a bye. REPRESENTATIVE PLAYERS Another representative Rugby match will be played at Eden Park next Saturday afternoon, when Auckland will meet the 3rd Division fifteen, the latter being comprised of plavers who have returned from service overseas. Mr. F. W. Lucas hchosen the following players to practice at the Fonsonby Club's shed to-morrow at 7.30 p.m.: So™"* .son (Marist), Boggs, Faire Butler, Mills (C.R.0.), Scott, Mitchell. Gregory (M.T.P.), M. Smith, Gunning (Garrison), Pcarman, Rae (A.S.C), Tetzlaff, Wilson, Schubert Pearce (G rafton-Pnnsonby), Ryan,, Pike (1 echruca 1), Gil in our (Grammar-University), W. E. Smith i Manukau). BASKETBALL GAMES Auckland Association.—Several country teams took part in a field day on Saturday. Results wore:—Grade 2, section 1: Pum won bv default from Convent; Auckland (1), 3, Thames, 2; Lower Waikato, 3, Auckland (2), 1; Puni, 8. Athletic, 0; Auckland (1), 7, Hamilton, 2; Auckland (4), 7, Rovers 0; Lower Waikato, 6, Papakura A, 2; Auckland (1), 15, Puni, 2; Auckland (1), 7, Lower Waikato, 0. Grade 2, section 2: Crossroads won bv default from Auckland (6); Od Girls, 4, Karaka, 3; Whangarei, 0, Auckland (3), 2; Auckland (5), 6. Papakura B, 2; Whangarei, 10, Crossroads, 2; Auckland (5), 8, O d Girls, 2; Whangarei, 4, Auckland (5) 3. Grade 3: Lower Waikato won by default from Thames A; Pukekohe won by default from r hames B; Auckland (7), 4, Waikato. 1; Auckland (8), •> Pukekohe. 0; Auckland (9) 3, Manukau 1; Hobsonville, 0, Papakura C, 4; Auckland (7). 6, Auckland (S), 3; Hobsonville, 8, Auckland (9), 1; Hobsonville defeated Auckland (7). ANOTHER WORLD RECORD (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) STOCKHOLM, Sept. 12 Gundar Haegg has established a three-mile world record, his time being 13m 35 2-58. The previous best fiKures for the distance were 13m 42 1-58. established by faisto Maki, of Finland, at Helsinki on June 10, li>3o. On September 4 last Haegg lowered the world s mile record to tin I 3-ss.