HARD, FAST AND EVEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 673, 27 May 1929, Page 6

HARD, FAST AND EVEN

GRAMMAR BEATS TECH. OLD BOYS Grammar met Technical at the Domain in an exhibition of Rugby at its best. The game was fast and full of thrills, especially toward the end, with both teams fighting hard. Grammar lasted rather better than Technical, and managed to make the game theirs at a stage when it was anyone’s. Tireless following-up in the forwards was combined with snappy passing and hard tackling in the rear division.

Skelton’s kicking and dash made him the outstanding player on either side. He was successful in four out of five attempts with the ball —two free kicks and two conversions, all of them difficult shots. Besides this, he scored an excellent try. Of the other Grammar backs, Wilson was often prominent, while Corner played well behind the scrum. Gardner was safe, and Lewis made use of his opportunities. The forwards were good both in tight and loose, with L. Knight, Schnauer, and the Batty brothers conspicuous. Ron. Couper played another great game on Technical’s left wing, notching a fine score with the burst of speed that is all his own, and the Green’s ring-winger—another of the Couper ilk —was also responsible for an excellent try. Keane seemed to be having an off-day with the boot, especially in juxtaposition to Skelton, while Morgan showed the crowd some sparkling back play. Harris, at half, floats into the picture every so often, does his bit, and then floats out again. He had the bad luck to recefve a rather severe knock on the ankle just as the final whistle went. The Technical pack was a hardworking lot, among which Rosevear, Nelson, and Hahn were perhaps the best.