RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 419, 30 July 1928, Page 6

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Leaders Stage Great Battle DRAWN GAME AT EDEN PARK WHEN Lou Hook flung himself over the line to put his side three points in the lead, it looked as though Ponsonby had the Rugby senior championship in the bag. A few minutes later Goodwin (University) scored an even greater try. He took his pass somewhere near the half-way mark, fended off an opponent and galloped down the line to score one of the greatest tries seen at Eden Park for many a season. Once over the line he realised' the necessity of getting round behind the posts in order to win the game. He failed, and the try was unconverted, which the most impartial could not help but think, was just how it should have been. A win for either side would have been rather hard:

Without doubt it was the hardest and most’ evenly contested game seen this season. As games go, it will be renumbered for many years. Varsity was the first to score. Bush, the Varsity fullback, had sent one of his long-distance kicks up the paddock, and Fraser was beaten for possession. Moorehouse was instrumental in getting the leather out, and that fast-following forward, Hindenach, snapped up the ball and dashed across. Jenkin made the score-board read .5 —0. Only a few minutes had elapsed, however, when Jamieson, who in Arnold Berridge’s absence had charge of the kicking operations, landed a fine goal from a penalty. Before the bell sounded for a much-heeded breather, McManus also came to light. He got the ball promptly from a scrum on the line, and before the opposition had properly realised what had happened he was there. It was done so quickly that it looked dead easy.

And so, when the teams lined out after tlie interval, Varsity was one point down. Two penalties in quick succession to Varsity saw Bush improve Varsity’s position to the extent of six points. Jamieson, who cut in to beat the field, and then staggered for about 10 yards before he recovered his balance to score a beautiful! try, reduced the deficit by three points just before the final quarter sounded. When the teams changed over - for the last time, Varsity had scored 11 to Ponsonby’s 9. The Varsity forwards put every ounce they had into the struggle to retain th,eir lead, and the quaver was more han half gone when Lou Hook, after every back had handled, secured the leather, and with a determined dash hurled himself over wide out. It was a very difficult kick, but from the wide-out on the twentyfive mark Jamieson piloted the ball across, A GREAT CLIMAX The immense crowd was now almost continually on its feet. Certainly there were few seats occupied either on the grandstand or on the packed terrace when, within a minute or two of time, Goodwin came to light with his famous try. Supporters of both sides rushed the paddock immediately the bell sounded without additional points being added, and two or three men from each team were chaired off. It had been a great game—so great that even the most ardent supporters of both teams entirely overlooked the fact that their side had failed to win the championship. Everybody seemed very pleased —most of all the spectators. Eclipsing everything else in the game were the tries sco/->d by L. Hook and Goodwin. Both were classic examples of what a winger should do when, without hope of an in-pass, only the line lies straight ahead. Both were remarkably determined efforts, and either one would have been big features of any game. Although Hook was handicapped by the fact that Berridge’s absence had weakened the combination, he played another remarkably good all-round game. His- performance serves to confirm the opinion that if there is a better three-quarter in the North Island than Lou Hook, he should be in South Africa. R. Hook, on the other wing, also had a hand in most things, and fully justified the confidence placed, in him by selector Meredith in booking a berth for him for the Southern tour. Cammick and Jamieson were both sound, particularly the latter, but Pope, the first five-eighth, ran across too much. Both the Hooks w T ere crowded a good deal. Shorty McManus got the ball away very smartly —some times, one would think, a little too smartly to be quite above-board, but that does not detract from the merit of his performance. Both halfbacks

gave really good exhibitions, Carter—who filled the position for Varsity—also sending his men away like clockwork. Both also good on defence. The two fullbacks, Fraser and Bush, were well on their game, and although both made various mistakes, it would almost be impossible to expect it to be otherwise in a game of such magnitude. Of the two, Bush was the best. TWO EVEN PACKS The absence of Dickson, who h’as left the district, and Keene, who injured his -leg last week, was seriously felt by Varsity. Moorehouse was played at centre, but as a result of a marked tendency to hang on too long his passes were pften faulty. This he redeemed to some extent, however, by good fielding and tackling. The two wings. Minns and Goodwin, did great work, being constantly in the picture. Jenkin was the best of the inside backs. Time and again he beat his opposing five-eighth to send his backs away, and he was well supported by Stotter, who also created several good openings. From among two very even and honest set*s of forwards it would-be hard to individualise. In Stiehbury and Palmer, and Hindenach and Black, were two fine sets of hookers. Possession from the scrums appeared to be 50-50, but whichever side it went it generally went quickly. Anderson, Linton, Hindenach, and Brooker appeared to be about the best of the Varsity pack, with Righton, Palmer, Bunting, and McCarthney leading the Ponsonby van. Of the two wing-forwards, Mathias (Varsity) was the most conspicuous. Mr, F. Sutherland handled a difficult game with good judgment. Although fought out with great determination, the game was played in a splendid spirit. GRAMMAR FADE-OUT MANUKAU’S EASY WIN After a smart opening, Grammar more or less faded out of the picture in a match, against Manukau at Onehunga on Saturday.- The win for Manukau by 25 points to 8 was well earned. Falwasser was the star man for Manukau. Me provided a first class exhibition of spectacular play, being responsible for most of the best runs of the day. Ho was well supported by Lenihan, who was playing a useful and solid game, and also by Sturmer and Dykes, the five-eighths. Dykes was not so prominent as Stutmey, who was Manukau’s chief point-getter. The pack gave a good exhibition, the pick of them being Kahu, Golding and Satherley. KAHU BRILLIANT

Kahu especially played a brilliant game in the pack, and on numerous occasions displayed surprising speed in the open. L*. Schnaeur, the Grammar fullback, gave a good exhibition. P. Skilton was the pick of the Grammar backs, his clever and spectacular runs delighting the crowd. Wetr gave a pleasing exhibition behind the scrum, and his efforts were ably assisted by Singleton. The pick of the pack were Batty, Cathcart and the two Knight brothers. DAY-OUT AGAINST SHORE WIN FOR TRAINING COLLEGE Though the first half was evenly contested. Shore even holding the advantage at times, the Teachers took control of their game at Eden Park in the latter stages and ran up 22

points in 40 minutes. Solomun was, as always, the mainstay of his team though in common with the rest o£ the pack he seemed inclined to take things easy. Webb, an intermediate player, was the most prominent Shore back. The Blue backs, particularly the threequarters, were the deciding factor in the game. Behind the scrum. ; Mason played an excellent game. Hill, j Lawrie and Mcßea were, between them, responsible for most of the j points, though Butler’s boot lent substantial aid. Mr. R. C. Stretton was referee. CITY AND MARIST STAGE A FARCE LACKADAISICAL FOOTBALL A. four-act farce would best describe the Marist-City game at the Showgrounds on Saturday. Both sides showed an appalling disinclination to play anything approaching good Rugby. Consequently the “game” developed into a pitiable exposition of forward scrambles, shocking handling and aimless kicking. UNWILLING FOOTBALLERS Certainly, the Marist team was minus the services of Stoup, Jeffries and Stewart, but that even failed to prove an incentive to the city team to make hay while the sun shone. The Marist defence was most indifferent and the City “attacks” had about as much penetrative quality as dough on a teak bench. The first try for City came from a good run by Crook down the side-line. Taking the ball from Heard, he sailed majestically along, the while the Tykes played “tigi” with him and gave him a free passport through their territory. Hudson later decided to have a “pop.” He took the ball from a ruck and steered his way through ti»e opposing backs and scored well out. Ifwerson had left his trusty boot at home, neither tries being converted. Marist's try came from Peters. The player was one of the few honest toilers on the paddock. As the ball rolled clear of a melee on the City line, he pounced on it and dived across. He converted his own try. The remainder of the game was just a scramble. GRAFTON TOO GOOD FOR COLLEGE RIFLES

Although the half-time score was six all, Grafton went ahead in the second stanza and ran out winners by 15 points to 6 against College Rifles at Eden Park on Saturday. It was a willing go from whistle to whistle, but with a thrilling championship final in progress on No. 1 area, little interest was displayed in the match, other than by a few friends of the players. Rifles drew first blood, when a fine passing rush by Donald, Blythe and McGregor ended in the lastnamed scoring. The same trio continued to run rings round the Grafton rearguard, and shortly after another try was registered, this time by Donald. FINLAYSON IN FORM

Fine work by the Black-and-TVTiite forwards, with Finlayson and Donaldson outstanding, evened the score board by half-time. Crashing through Rifles’ defence, Finlayson went over well out, and a few minutes later’ put in a dash down field, handing to Donaldson, who added the finishing touches. The second spell saw the Grafton backs, playing behind a winning pack, come into their own. Stout defence by the blues’ inside men with Gillespie outstanding, kept them out for a time, however, but Farmer turned two penalties to account with good kicks. Kuril and Turei were now seeing more of the ball, and a fine sprint by the pair saw Ruru beat the opposition to score near the corner.

A slight diversion was caused during the afternoon’s proceedings by the discovery of a gold mine on the side-line. Two spectators picked lip £ 2 in gold between them, one sovereign and two half-sovereigns. Needless -to say, the increased band which searched the. vicinity during the rest of the matfch went away disappointed. MT. ALBERT STRONGER THAN WHANGAREI As curtain-raiser to the big game at Eden Park, Whangarei High School played a keen game—much more equal than the score would suggest—against Mount Albert Grammar. The home team won by 16 to 3. Hard tackling was a feature of the play on both v sides, and the fast-break-ing packs combined with the backs to make play open and attractive. Vivian was the Blue’s star man, and clever use of the dummy resulted in him notching two tries on Mount Albert’s account. Spence kicked a line drop goal from a penalty early in the game. Finlay son scored after a good run and Newdick converted two tries. Newman was the most prominent Whangarei player, leading the pack in all attacks. The Northerners* only try came when Birtles crossed as a result of fast following up. Mr. M. M. Kronfeld was referee. FINE SHOWING MADE IN COLLEGE CLASH HALLIWELL’S 14 POINTS

To score 14 of the 19 points to his side’s credit was the performance of Halliwell, King’s College wing-three-quarter, in the clgLsh with Auckland Grammar School at Middlemore on Saturday afternoon. Grammar’s tally was 11. Halliwell placed King’s on a good nine-point mark in the first spell, with three solid penalty kicks. In the second session he notched a first class try and landed a conversion. A try to Andrews and a conversion to J. Gillett were the remaining points for King’s. About 3,000 people watched the game —the second clash between the schools this season. King’s did not have any great ease in backing up its initial 11-5 win, but there would have been something radically amiss if it had gone down. King’s had a vast advantage in weight. but the plucky Grammar forwards gave a better account of themselves in the scrums. Grammar was weighted down fore and aft and met a solid defence. Pollard, on the wing, was prominent in several enterprising thrusts for Grammar, and Newton, five-eighth, and Frankham, were excellent backs. I* ro wn, fullback, Halliwell, Andrews, winger, and Sim, half, gave solid service in the backs for King’s. J. Gillett, Meikle, Hopkins and C. Maston were dashing forwards. In Grammar’s pack McKearney, Cleghorn and Sanft were workers. For the losers Frankham and McKearney scored tries, Cleghorn kicking I a penalty and a conversion. win-

f it If nej-s made a tough S"“® «* Grammar. King a had the game. Halliwell s _K. . om weight and good abi '*? k ahead of Grammars piuciw, and dash.