RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24645, 26 July 1943, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MARIST TEAM'S WIN

TRY GAINED IN LAST MINUTE By defeating Garrison b.v 9 points to 8 at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon, the Marist fifteen assumed the lead in the Auckland Rugby Union's senior championship. This match was the main fixture on the union's programme, and it was played on a sodden ground and with a heavy ball. Under 6uch conditions, it was quite a bright exhibition, there was a large attendance, the curtainraiser, _ between Auckland Grammar School and king's College, providing an extra attraction.

\\ ith a lead of S-uil at half-time. Garrison "Ad a good hold on the game. The side was still leading B—68 —6 with a minute to go. and it was then attacking strongly. Hedge, first five-eighths, centre kicked to the front of MarisCs goal. The ball was taken by Near.v. who slipped to the ground with three or four opponents ready to pounce on him. Before they realised it, Near.v was up and away at ■ ull speed. He ran to half-wav with Fox. the right wing, in attendance. He gave Fox a perfect pass, and the latter outpaced the opposing backs, to score the winning trv near me corner.

It was an exciting finish to a keenly-con-tested game. Garrison would probably have won but for the fact that, throughout the second spell, the backs seemed content to rest on their lead and kick for the line. The match was thrown away from their point of view. Apart from Hedge's indiscretion in kicking when in such a strong attacking position, the players who followed up should have tackled Neary, instead of allowing him to rogain his teet and make his sensational run. The two sets of forwards had a great tussle, but many of them found difficulty in keeping on their feet in the mud. The Marist backs handled the greasy ball well, but their passing movements were checked by solid tackling. Variations in the way of scissors passing were also unsuccessful. The King's College fifteen created a surprise by defeating Auckland Grammar in the cur-tain-raiser. The King's forwards adapted themselves to the conditions better, and the whole team defended stubbornly during the last quarter of an hour, when Grammar was making desperate efforts to pull the game out of 'bp. fire. King's scored two converted tries, while Grammar's total consisted of two unconverted tries and a penalty goal. This was the first loss Grammar has suffered in '2l matches. Following were the results:—Marist 9 (tries by E. Enwright and Fox, and penalty goal b.v Sorenson), Garrison, 8 (try b.v Thomas, converted by Fledge, who also kicked a penalty goal); Grafton-Ponsonby, 9 (tries by McKay and Brown and a penalty goal b.v Cox). M.T.P., S (tries b.v Mitchell -J. one converted by Wiley)Navy, l(i, (tries by Cellars 2 and Oram. Nolan converting two and kicking a penalty goal), Army, 9 ilries by Baker and Shield, and penalty goal by Moffett); Manukau. 19 (tries by Fowler 2. Denn and Boryer, the latter converting two and kicking a penalty goal), Technical Old Boys. (try by Brown, converted bv McLean). Second Division.—Training College, 22, Eden. .'S; Grammar Old Boys, 19, Otahuhu, 3; Takapuna, 10, District School. 3; Suburbs. 14, Navy Juniors, 12. Secondary Schools.—King's College. 10. Auckland Grammar. 9; Mount Albert Grammar, 7, Sacred Heart College, 3; Takapuna Grammar, 3. Technical College, 3.

CANTERBURY BEATS OTAGO fP.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday In a representative Rugby match. Otago led 11 —0 at halftime, but Canterbury staged a great recovery in the second spell. Taking the lead with 10 minutes to go the home team added a converted try to make the score 19 —11. Then Murdoch brilliantly potted a goal for Otago as the final whistle sounded with the score: Canterbury If), Otago 15. Superiority in the scrums and line-outs gave Canterbury a decisive advantage throughout the game. The outstanding forward was Herman, the Canterbury captain, whose fielding, kicking and tackling were superb The Canterbury players generally reached a high standard. Callanan. fullback, gave a fine exhibition. For Otago, Paevvai was prominent throughout, and Murdoch and Elvidge were an impressive pair of fiveeighths. Otago's fullback. Masters, who went off injured near the end of the frame, was overshadowed only by the brilliance of Callanan. Prominent in a hard-working Otago park were McXab, Connolly, Thomson and Xewall. For Otago Murdoch kicked a penalty goal, scored a try and converted it and potted a goal, while Masters kicked a penalty goal. Jones. Garrett and Herman scored for Canterbury. Wilson converting two and kicking two penalty goals. THE LEAGUE CODE RICHMOND TEAM'S SUCCESS Two well-contested games, played on heavy grounds, were witnessed at Carlaw Park on Saturday, when the Auckland Rugby League's senior grade championship was continued. There was a fair attendance, in the principal game, Richmond continued its series of successes by defeating Mount Albert, which put up a very creditable showing, particuariy against the smart Richmond backs. In the curtain-raiser, Manukau which leads in the competition, was fully tested by Xewton, and on the run of play the score should have been closer Manukau failed to gain n single point in the second spell. On No. 2 ground, City had a close call against Otahuhu, which held a decided territorial advantage One point separated the teams. Maris! won comfortably from North Shore.

Hard and interesting forward play was a feature of the game between Richmond and Mount Albert. Richmond made the best use of its chances, and the tries came from spectacular play by the backs. The Mount Albert forwards more than held their own in the loose, and the backs can be credited with excellent defence. The play was very even in the first spell, each team scoring an unconverted try. and it was a good indication of the play. The first try by Richmond in the second spell was the fuming point of the game. McGregor made a fine run of 60 yards, and Harkins, in support, raced in to take the final pass. Under the wet ground conditions it was good football. The best of the Richmond backs were McGregor and Harkins. Lowther showed determination on the wing, and behind the scrum McDonald did some excellent work. Clement, the Mount Albert halfback, played a fine game. Among the Richmond forwards, Davis, Kipa and Seymour, who played fullback in the second spell, were prominent. Good work for Mount Albert was done by H. Zane, Cowley (backs) and McIvinnon and Thomassen (forwards). Results were:—Richmond, 11 (tries by Harkins, 2, and Lowther, Davis converting one). Mount Albert, 15 (try by Cowley); Manukau. 11 (tries by Ririnui, Thompson and Shilton, Butler - converting one), Newton, 5 (try by Gregory, who also kicked a penalty goal); City. 6 (tries by Silva, 2), Otahuhn, 5 (try by L. Halsey, and penalty goal by Riley); Marist, 21 (tries by McWilliams, Rangi, McLeod, Best and Simpson, McLeod and McWilliams each converting one try, and Simon? kicking a penalty goal). North Shore, (> (tries by L. Brown and Mercer).

ASSOCIATION GAMES Play in the opening matches of the second round of the Auckland Football Association's senior competition produced good football, in spite of heavy ground conditions. The early game at Blandford Park, between Comrades and Metro-College A, provided the spectators with a fast and interesting contest in which Metro A had the belter of the exchanges to take ttie full points. The main attraction, between Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys A and Air Force, started off with the latter scoring twice in the first 10 minutes. Only good goalkeeping by Sims kept the halftime score down to in favour of Air Force. Clark and C. Ekrnan were forceful in (be Mount Albert front line, but toward the end of the game they indulged in tactics which lost (lie team several good scoring opportunities. On the general run of the play Air Force was unlucky not to take the win. Following were the scores and scorers;— Air Force, (Salt .'!), Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys A, ;? (C. Ekman 2, Jones); Metro-College A, :i (Webber 2, Brass), Comrades, 2 (Boyd, Evans); Eastern Suburbs, 7 (Welch 't. Collins 2, Neilseri), Garrison, 1 (Crabb); Papakura Camp, I (Yates Sharp), Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys B, 3 (Lindsay, Irvine, Ward); North Shore, a (Cameron 2. Gilbert), Metro-College B. 2 (Young 2i

HOCKEY SEASON The first series of matches in the Auckland Hockey Association's Devonporf Shield competition was played on Saturday afternoon on heavy grounds, which were not conducive In good play. The main came at Papatoetoe between Wesley-United and Somerville, was closely contested. Somerville had a little the better of the exchanges, but the result was a draw —one goal each. The young Owai Hovers team looked like holding the championship winner, University, as only one goal was scored in Ihe first spell. Jti the second spell, however. University, although a forward short, overwhelmed the defence and added four more goais. J. Wyatt scored all three goals for Training College, against Mount Eden, and at Walker Park Grammar. Old Boys accounted for Air Force Following were the scores and scorers:— Somerville, 1 (W. Spiccr), Wesley-United, 1 (C. Torhett); University, 5 (T. Wallace 2, D. Jones, W. Siniler, L. Crawley), Owai Hovers, 0; Training College, H (i. Wyatt 8), Mount Eden, I (K. Nairn); Grammar Old Boys, (G. Lawr.v 2, 1). Grove), Air Force, 1 (E. Booth). Auckland Ladies' Team.—The following team has been chosen by Miss P. Dawson, sole selector, to represent Auckland against Waikato at Melville Park next Saturday:—Goal, M. Hogben (University); fullback, L. Askew (Mount Eden), G. Gooder (North Shore); halfbacks, C. McGarvey (Technical). M. Coldham (Training College Old Girls). O. Stewart (Mount Eden); forwards, M. Corringham /Mount Eden), J. Bale (Training College), J. Cameron (Mount Eden). J. Miller (Mount Eden), R. McKenzie (Technical). 'Reserves: Backs, H. Gordon (University). B. Stevens (Training College Old Girls); forwards. U. Wickham (Training College), E. McCutchan (Training College).