HANDING OUT ROUGH STUFF

NZ Truth, Issue 1232, 11 July 1929, Page 16

HANDING OUT ROUGH STUFF

Grammar Forwards Use Weight

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) "Dirty" work m Rugby is quite uncalled for, unnecessary and unsportsmanlike, and, although the game m New Zealand is generally recognised as being "clean," the large crowd at Eden Park on Saturday was given an exhibition of unwarranted rough handling by some of the heavy Grammar Old Boys' forwards. MEW ZEAL.ANDERS know their national game from A to Z, and flock m their enthusiastic thousands to see it played every Saturday, and with their thorough knowledge of the game they soon know when a player is "putting m the dirt." Also, the fans know Rugby is no "ring-a-ring-of -roses," and «they don't expect, or want, to see too many "begrpnrdons." Better to lose the game and earn applause for sportsmanship and a fine showing m defeat, than to win to the ac- •• — > — <<•< • — ■■ » companiment of , v«gsS|ii§B&k. cries of disap- <#^^^^^^Sk The play of some IMT of the Grammar <? IS Training College. * J S|s which was starred (<fc * /^g&*% 'J%i on No. 1 ground, *' *../m*x. ** ' was all that the i J >m!&\ crowd did not -C TaF '', want to see. ' nl'Mm' * '' ; "Use your brains and not your , ttm f <P-''-* v *" *&& that floated across PP^^^VflffjP^Pl the field from an excited spectator Rae when the Grammar forwards were fighting m defence, and it was not out of place. • Training College were Unfortunate m losing the match m the final stages of the game, for their backs played to perfection. . The pack also made a good showing "against the Grammar first » line of defence and .it j^gg&v I seemed well on the cards §§§||i||\ that" Grammar would go it was Gardiner's brilliant ""■""""■ drop-kick at goal, soon after the opening of the final I quarter, that turned the tables, for until then College ran a point ahead with wellearned tries. A few minutes later he dashed over the line to score a thrilling try that Corner converted. It was a fine piece of play, and had the .crowd on its feet with excitement. Grammar deserved to win only by their fine play m the latter part of the game. Corner, the Grammar half, although not so outstanding as he had been m previous matches, was well on form again and kept his backs going at every opportunity. The first applause from the crowd was for him, when he relieved from a dangerous attack with a welljudged kick that bounced out. Throughout, Corner was safe m handling and sure with his kicks. He was the best man on the field at taking the ball. In place of his usual tactics of burrowing through the pack he worked his backs more, but against the strenuous attacking of College he had little opportunity for ) a solo performance. Butler gave a better account of himself at full-back than Goodacre did, and his line-kicking was a feature of the match. , The College backs, both inside and outside men, were outstanding, and their excellent handling of the ball m the frequent rushes almost brought victory. Connolly, at centre ' three-quarter, and Lawrie, at second five-eighths, were a tower of strength, and, at times, carried the game on their shoulders.

Rae had an unenviable position behind the college pack, for the Grammar forwards' came through time after time with a spiritoil rush.

Of the forwards, Dobbs, Stacey and Webb were outstanding. They gave the Grammar pack a difficult task when it came to bustling work m the tight, and were frequently prominent m fine dashing attacks together.

Outside of Corner, the Grammar backs most m the picture were Bell, Menzies and Gardiner. As centre three-quarter and wing respectively, Bell and Menzies played together with great understanding, and Gardiner proved himself to be a brainy player.

The Grammar forwards, when properly on the job, took all before them. There was good combination m the pack when it settled down. Most outstanding m the Ponsonby — Technical College Old Boys game was the poor exhibition given by the Ponsonby full-back, Fraser. He was seldom safe, and let- the team down on several occasions. R. Hook and Cammick played up to their previous standard, and, at times, Lucas was outstanding. McLeod was also a brilliant wing, and several of his fine dashes were thrilling. The Technical full-back, Keane, although somewhat weak on defence, was brilliant at times, and his kicking was all that could be desired.