Rugby Attractions

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 43, 13 May 1927, Page 7

Rugby Attractions

Competitions at Open Stage Senior Matches For To-Morrow an open stage, the Auckland Rugby Union’s competitions will attract much attention to-morrow, and the bright Rugby that was purveyed by the seniors at Eden Park last Saturday will doubtless stimulate interest in to-morrow’s fixtures. It is a long time since, on results to date, so many teams in senior Rugby in Auckland were of even merit. Last Saturday three matches finished with only an aggregate of two points between the lot. That sort of thing is a happy augury for the rest of the season.

To-morrow’s pride of place in the day’s catalogue of attractions has been given to the newly-promoted teams, North Shore and Training College. Beaten by Grammar Old Boys in the opening match, Training College surprised the critics by their doughty performance against the illustrous Ponsonby team last Saturday, and the manner in which they extended the champions leads to great expectations of their future performances. Backs and forwards are young and eager, and they will meet a team through which the same element of youth is evenly distributed. Shore lost their opening game, but came to light in great style against College Rifles, who were overwhelmed in the forwards, and unable to use their trio of stars in the rearguard. CHANCE FOR THE FORWARDS Thus the two teams meeting to-mor-row are toward the bottom of the points table. One has had a win and a loss, and the other a loss and a draw. It should be a bright game, with many favouring Training College if their forwards go to it with the same fervour and spirit that they exhibited last Saturday. While Training College and Shore are confidently expected to serve up entertaining Rugby, it is not unlikely that from the spectacular viewpoint the clash of Grammar Old Boys and Ponsonby may eclipse their encounter. Ponsonby, jealous of the threat against

their Jong-cherished prestige, should be eager to demonstrate their superiority, while if the Grammar backs give their thrusting forwards support there is the chance that recent history will repeat itself.

Grafton and Marists will meet on No. 2 ground. Grafton’s performance last week was satisfying to the team’s supporters, but it will take a fine team to up-end the Tj'kes, who were not favoured by luck in the match with University last Saturday. UNIVERSITY WEAKENED An emaciated side, on account of the departure to-day of the five players sailing for Australia with the New Zealand Varsity side, University will meet College Rifles on the Showgrounds, and if Rifles cannot take advantage of the opposition’s enfeebled condition, then there is clearly little advantage in the possession, unsupported, of backs of international calibre. University are bringing O’Halloran up to fill one of the deficiencies, and Blakey will replace Butler at fullback. Other gaps are being filled from the lower grade teams. The position of the A section at the moment is:A SECTION. Points Ch. P W L D F Ag Pts Ponsonby .... 2 1 1 37 14 3 University .... 2 1 1 11 8 3 Marists .... 2 1 1 14 12 3 Grammar .... 2 1 1 Grafton 2 1 1 Shore 2 1 1 Tr. College .. 2 1 1 15 20 1 College Rifles .22 11 42 0