RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25321, 1 October 1945, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MATCHES IN AUCKLAND PONSONBY BEATS GRAFTON Ponsonby, loading team in the Auckland Rnghy Union's Gallahcr Shield competition, defeated Graiton in the main mutch at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon. Whenuapai, which is only ono poin t behind Ponsonby, scored a narrow win over Marist at Avondale. Ponsonby and Whenuapai will play oft' for the trophy next. Saturday, when tho Rugby season in Auckland will be brought to a conclusion. University and Otahuhu played a drawn frame at Sturges Park, tho home team making up a leeway of several points in the second spell. Grammar defeated Manukau at the Manukau Intermediate School after a keen contest. The curtain-raiser at Eden Pars was tho final of the senior second division between Papakura Camp and Eden, tha former winning by a couple uf points, i'he weather was fine and there was a fair attendance at headquarters. Results were as follows: Ponsonby, 20; Grafton, 13. Whenuapai, 6; Marist 3. University, 20; Otahuhu, 20. Grammar, 20; Manukau, 13. Papakura, 10; Eden, 8. ,All the points in the match between Ponsonby and Grafton were scored in the second spell. I hese totalled 30 and give a good indication of tho open and fast nature of the play after the interval. Play in the first spell was chiefly a duel between the two packs of forwards, the backs on both sides making tuo many mistakes for senior players. 'Die PJ.-sing and handling were poor. | Willi a decided advantage in weight, Oration rad the better of the exchanges in the first spell. Pearce, who did the hooking, obtained possession of the tiail in the majority of tho set scrums. Apart from his hooking, however, Pearce played an outstanding game. Pie was always on the ball, whether in the tight or in the loose and, with a little luck, he would have scored more than one try. The second spell had been in progress but three 'minutes before Grafton scored a converted try. Four minutes later Tetzlaff gained a spectacular try by running round the blind side of a scrum and baffling the defence. From then onward the spectators were treated to some spectacular movements and play swung up and downfield with rapid exchanges. Ponsonby took the lead at the end of Hi minutes when Hook scored a try very similar to that, registered by Tetzlaff. From that point onward Ponsonby always looked the winning team. Its light forwards infused plenty of dash into their work and Hie backs, inspired by the cleverness of Hook at first five-eighths. played much better football than in the first spell. Ponsonby owed its success principally to the excellent play and understanding ot Tetzlaff and Hook. The diminutive halfback was, as usual, always there when wanted. Hook gave the best display of first five-eighths play seen in Auckland since T. Harris appeared on the same ground for the Springboks eight years ago. His variation of tactics kept the opposition guessing throughout the second spell, when his forwards were obtaining more of tile ball from the scrum.

Apart, from the thrust he imparted to the attack. Hook's defence was splendid and he extricated his side from some tight corners in tho first spell. He finished off a great afternoon's work by potting a goal when Tetzlaff threw the ball straight hack to htm from behind a set scrnm. Taylor, Bonrke, Gunning and Johnson were always prominent in a hard-working set of forwards. Edwards and Dwan gave Pearce good support in the Grafton forwards, both playing very fine all-round games. Rossiter and Banliftm were also conspicuous at times. The pack deserved better support from the backs. Dick showed promise at fivA-oighths. but Muir, at centre, robbed his wings of opportunities by holding on too long or indulging in u.seless kicking. The only real Grafton passing bout of the afternoon ended in a try on the right wing. With the team having so much of the ball in the first spell it is hard to understand why there should not havo been more of these movements. Had they taken place Grafton would have been much harder to beat. Tate, the fullback, indulged in some long kicking with the wind behind him. although his linefinding was not too accurate. The scorers were:—Ponsonby, 20 (tries by Tetzlaff, Hook, Finlay and Johnson, M. Menzies and Hook each converting one and TTook potting a goal), Grafton, 13 (tries by Dwan, Muir and Clapp. Edwards converting two); Whenuapai, i> (tries by Trayes and Palmer), Marist, 3 (penalty goal by Sorensqn).

NEW ZEALAND WINS GAME AGAINST SERVICES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sunday Before a crowd of 15,000 spectators a New Zealand Rugby team outplayed the Combined Services at Athletic Park yesterday afternoon, winning by 2!) points to 13. The conditions were ideal. ]t was soon apparent that the packs of both sides were badly balanced, with the result that it was the worst exhibition of scrummaging ever seen in an important match in Wellington. In the early stages some of the tall fronttow Service men were so slow in getting down that tlie.v were frequently left helplessly standing up and tho same thing occasionally happened to the front-row men on the New- Zealand side. The ball had to be put in two and three times be/oro the referee was satisfied and, when it did go in, as often as not a penalty followed. Occasionally the scrums screwed round at right angles to the touchline and not infrequently both packs fell sprawling. i Although the Services had the advantage of a helpful southerly breeze New Zealand i was early on the attack and Grace, who was playing brightly at second five-eighths, dodged through the defence for a brilliant try which Callanan failed to convert. The scores were evened a minnto later by a splendid penalty goal by Wishnowsky, the Services' fullback. The Services' rearguard went into action with ! a bright passing movement in which Colquo- ! houn, Ingram and King figured to send Puke, the winger, over for a try in the corner. Tho servicemen kept up a hot attack and King coolly potted a field goal. Services scored again when Wishnowsky kicked his second penalty goal. The New Zealand forwards were now going well. From a scrum near the Services' line .T. Haig, the New Zealand halfback sent the ball out to Dunn, who had come in from the wing, and the latter scored with a determined dash. Callanan converted. Play fluctuated in exciting fashion until L. Hnig made a neat cut-in which ended in the most brilliant, movement of the day. Barnes, Bowman and Christian all handled in turn before Barnes went over between the post«. Callanan converted to make the score 13-all. With the breeze behind it the New Zealand team dominated the play in the second spell. A strong dash by Sutherland, tho left wingthreequarter, started a movement in which L. Haig, Grace and Morrison handled before tho last-named went over for a dazzling try. A little later Morrison placed New Zealand further ahead with a penalty goal. Keeping up the pressure J. Baig broke round a scrum and sent on to Me, Hugh, who dashed over for a try which Callanan converted. A little Inter McKenzie, Willocks and Barnes handled well and the last-named scored his second try, which Callanan converted, to make tho final score: New Zealand. '29: Services. 13.

WELLINGTON AND CANTERBURY (P.A..) CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday Clapping on the pace and supporting promptly whenever an opening occurred, Wellington beat Canterbury decisively by '23 pointa to 6 in the final Rugby match of the 1015 season. The Lancaster Park ground was hard and fast and a crowd of upwards of 10,000 attended. Wellington scored fonr tries, one converted, and three penalty goals. Canterbury was first to score with a penalty goal and tho last to score with a try. In between the team seldom looked like crossing Wellington's line. , „„ ~, , , , Almost from the start, Wellington looked the superior team. This was in spito of tho fact that its side included only three of the players who met Auckland at Athletic Park the previous Saturday and won '2o—B. Tho Wellington packmen infused great fire into their work, and gavo tho Canterbury inside backs a harassing aftornoon. They broke swiftly from the scrums, and Just as swiftly through the line-outs if Canterbury adopted the mistaken policy of tapping the ball back. For Wellington, tries were scored by Beard (2), Wickham and Roberts. Halvcrison kicked two penalty goals and converted a try and Beard kicked a penalty goal. For Canterbury, Mitchell scored a try and Kelly kicked a penalty goal.

COUNTRY COMPETITIONS Whangarel Sub-union. —The Rugby season concluded on Saturday, when Old Boys, tho junior championship side, played a drawn game with Kawakawa, the Bay of Islands junior champions. Hhedlock scored for Kawakawa and Butler for Old Boys. Whangarel Air Training Corps, '2<l, beat a Northcote third grade team, 3. Morrlnsville, —In tho final Peace Cup match of the season. Morrlnsville (holder) defeated Taumartinui. by 14 points to 3. Tho score at half-time was ."Jall, Taumnrunui having scored a penalty goal by Auld and Morrinsville a try by D. Elisor. In the second spell, with the wind, Morrinsville scored tries by Ensor and Clarkm, one of which was converted by Lithgard who also kicked a penalty goal. The Taumarunui forwards held the Morrinsville pack but the inside backs wilted in the second spell. Auckland Suburbs defeated Morrinsville Colts by 0 points to 3. Hotorua.—Pirates juniors, 13, Otahuhu third grade, 3. Mitchell Shield match: Mamaku juniors, 0, Kahukura. 4. Hamilton. —Matamat.a secured a one-point victory over Hamilton in a friendly match at Rugby Park. The score of 10 points to K> was a fair indication of the play, although Malamat a was fortunate in securing a try and conversion at tho end of the game, when Hamilton's forces were depleted, as several players had to leave the field for minor injuries. For Matamala Nola and Tyrcll were the best hacks, and Waterson led his forwards very well. McMillan. Bottlcy and Forrest were prominent in tho Hamilton backs, while Rich-ards-Jolley, Wright and Reeves were prominent in Hamilton's vanguard. Tries for Matamala were scored by Crawford. Anderson CJt) and Waterson, one of which was converted bv Bracewell and another by Bell, McMillan scored two tries for Hamilton, and Forrest and Richnrds-Jolley each scored one. Slow kicked a penalty goal. In a junior representstivo match, Hamilton defeated Auckland for the third time this season by 8 points to 3.

TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA (Reed. 6,30 p.m.) CAPETOWN, Sept. 20 The South African Rugby Board has decided to renew its invitation to New Zealand for a tour of the Union. A decision as to whether the tour should be in 1947 or 10-18 was left to the New Zealand union.