Wings Got More Bail

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1011, 30 June 1930, Page 6

Wings Got More Bail

VARSITY AN IMPROVED SIDE

Insides Go Better

ALTIIOL "(ill the Technical Old Boys’ backs were as frequently in action as the Varsity rearguard on Saturday afternoon, they could not finish their work. Dropped passes and indifferent handling: told the tale and to a large extent . '-counted for the difference in the scores. Varsity was an improved side. The handling of the backs showed considerable improvenfent and the insides gave both wings a greater share of tho ball than usual.

The game hail not long been in actior when Percy Minns convincingly demonstrated that given a fair share of the ball he is always a dangerous m.. n. Outstripping Couper after he hail received the ball in a passing rush. Minns bore quickly infield again and dived across as I J. Keane gathered him in. Butler converted with a fine kick which put Varsity five points lr tho lead. Harris evened for Technical shortly after, dashing across on the blind side for a smart try. D. Keane kicking the goal. Before the interval Minns scored again; this time from a nice passing ru*h in which all the Varsity backs participated, the speedy .ing racing around the corner to score fairly wide out. Varsity was three up. Milliken, per medium of a dummy neatly sold by Jolly, also scored for Varsity, Butler converting with a great kick, and shortly before time Jolly scored following a good opening created bv McKay, the game ending with the scores 1G —5. WENT BETTER Although five-eighths W. Jenkin and McKay are still inclined to delay at times, their work generally has speeded up. The Varsity’ insides are lining out deeper on attack and consequently are coming up with more dash to then passes. Due perhaps to anxiety’ to get the leather out quickly, there was a tendency at times to pass before goin2 tip to the opponent, but this was not noticeable in the movement from which Minns scored his second try. Or that occasion the Varsity backs swung

into actfon like clockwork and the result was pretty to watch. Krie fed his men well and also worked well when upon the defensive. Both the wings, Minns and Milliken, played well and Butler gave one of his good fullback displays. His kicking was particularly good. Incidentally, he was one of the few men on the day that remembered a strong sun and turned it to account. Jolly, who holds Varsity’s roving commission, played a dashing game and was rarely out of the picture. Anderson was the shining light in the pack, playing one of his host games this season. Stacey, J. Jenkin and Douglas also went well. HARRIS MISSED Technical was unfortunate in losing its halfback, K. Harris, in the third quarter. He was playing his usual good all-round game and sending his back line away well. Ha slam was played at second tive-eightli and ho proved the most effective of the Technical rearguard. A strong, straight runner and solid tackier, Haslam shows distinct promise. Couper and Commons both went well in the wing positions and were a bit unlucky in not bagging points. P. Keane played soundly as the last line of defence and C. Keane made a bustling rover. Among a solid and even pack A. Keane, Nelson and Bishop were prominent. Mr. F. E. Sutherland was the referee.

MARIST WINS RAGGED GAME WITH CITY

TYKES’ FORWARDS SUPERIOR

In a ragged exhibition that was marred by the bad handling of both back divisions, Marist gained a narrow margin victory over City at Eden Park on Saturday, by S points to G. Tykes’ forwards, who combined effectively in quick-breaking loose rushes through the* ruck and from the line-outs, were the match-winning factor. Swin Hadley set the pack a vigorous lead by his dashing breakaways in dribbling rushes, in .which he was solidly backed up by Cam Hadley and Clarke, lie also shone out in tho line-out work, time and again feeding the leather to bis backs, but to no advantage. The forwards’ consistently good work was largely nullified by the poor handling and combination of the Marist backs, the inside men being particu arly bad offenders for fumbling and wildly-directed passing. Loombe, at fullback, seemed offcolour in fielding the ball, and although his powerful kicking saved liis forwards considerably. he concentrated too much upon distance in preference to touch-finding. The City rearguard also was sadly deficient in combination, and on the few occasions their hookers gained possession in the first spell, the ball rarely reached the threequarter line. McKay, at the base of the scrum, was too intent on punting and following up to give his backs many chances, while tilt' five-eighths’ handling was very weak. Berridge was a spent force. He could not swing into his stride with liis dangerous jinkv run. and his dropping of passes was responsible for the failure of several passing rushes. His one good effort was the spectacular passing rush he opened up a few minutes before time, which ended in Crook scoring in the corner. The forwards did not possess the same degree of combination in their work as did Tykes, though individually to v worked hard. In the first spoil City forwards secured the ball from the majority of scrums, but later Tykes evened up this position, and were markedly superior in the lineouts. City rattled on the pace in the second half, in a desperate effort to overtake Marist’s lead, hut their movements lacked the finish to turn them to scoring account. Ho t, Barnes and Sorenson figured prominently in the loose work, but were not backed up properly. Tykes ran up their eight points in the first spell. Clarke and Loft scoring tries, one of which Cornthwaite converted. In the second half Crook scored L'

an unconverted try and Berridge kicked a penalty goal for City. The City skipper had three other attempts to goal from penalties, but each missed. Captain J. G. C. Wales was referee. RIFLES RALLY WELL IN THIRD QUARTER Manukau gained a four-point victory over a much-improved College Rifles team at the Onehunga grounds on Saturday. Although play in the first spell was decidedly in the home team’s favour, and its eight points were all scored before half-time, the Dark Blues rallied at the’recommencement of hostilities, and in the opening stages of the third quarter looked like coring on several occasions. Pile opened Manukau’s account when, coming up in support of a rearguard attack, he took possession of the ball and erosssed the line to give the home side a three-point lead. Bryers was passing out to his backs in tine style, and Albon, as the West Coasters’ right-winger, played effectively. and made the most of every opportunity. Among the forwards Brimble and the 18-year-old Pepper were outstanding in every offensive movement, the latter especially leading many an invasion into Rifles’s territory. The Dark Blue custodian, Johnson, who had been injured earlier in the game, collapsed during a spell in the play, and had to be carried from the held. Gillespie dropped back to the last line of defence, and Revell, whose position among the forwards was taken by Campbell, played centre. KAHU’S TRY Tho burly “Baby” Kahu was responsible for the successful team’s second try, when from a set-to in Rifles’s twenty-five he gathered in the leather and forged over the line, despite the attempts of several of the opposition to stop him. In the second half, College Rifles settled down to a desperate sweeping attack on the Manukau goal. The West Coast defence was sorely* taxed, and Kirk worked well behind the scrum, to send off his supports on occasional attacks that did much to brighten a period of unimpressive play. Among the back division, Denize was outstandingly’ to the fore, but Albrecht was not given many openings. and consequently did not show to advantage. Warren, also, was prominent in tho rearguard, but was rather too fond of marking the ball when an attacking movement might have been more fruitful. Blay was continually within Manukau’s twenty-five, and several offensives were checked when a score seemed imminent. Rifles’ only points were gained by Gillespie, who placed a well-calculated drop-kick over the bar when the ball came back to him from the vanguard. Tho West Coasters woke up in the last quarter, and confined play within Rifles twenty-five, but sweeping tactics failed to penetrate the solid defence. As usual, Turei gave a fine display ot line-kicking. Although he had two attempts at the goals from penalties well outside the twenty-five, in both cases it was too much to expect him to be successful.

PONSONBY iOO GOOD

GRAFTON SETS FACE lN FIRST HALF

In the first half at least of the Ponsonby v. Grafton game at the Showgrounds, Grafton gave the champions some anxious moments and, indeed, fiui ished tho first quarter with a two-point J lead. As the game progressed the Grafton forwards tired, the backs became careless and the nippy Ponsonby backs were allowed to scamper all over the paddock. With the notable exception of the two wingers, the tackling of the Grafton backs was weak, and Lucas was allowed to jink his way right through to the fullback on several occasions. It was this that lost Grafton the game, as Ponsonby put on eight points as the result of the Grafton insides making futile grabs at Lucas instead of tackling hard, man for man. Lucas was playing right at tho top of his form, and he dodged his way past half a dozen Grafton men on several occasions. Two such breakaways led to tries being scored- after the Ponsonby skipper had run half the length of the field. The winners play ed what has come to be known as typical Ponsonby football. Two of the four tries scored by the champions were the result of bewildering changes from defence to attack. Grafton was fortunate in having an honest pack of toiling A*wards, and three backs who bore the brunt of the defence. Jamieson played a great game for Ponsonby*. JAMIESONS FINE DISPLAY He was responsible for two tries by clapping on extra pace, and coming [ round outside the winger after deliver - ! ing liis pass from inside. Cammick i was inclined to be patchy. Some of ; his passes were mild, and he dropped a | few from Mc Manus. The five-eighth i was not up to his usual form, though • he made one or two excellent openings, j McManus played a solid game behind ; the scrum and went down well to the I Grafton forwards. Hook did not plav I his usual good game, and McLeod was the better of the two wingers, using his great speed to advantage. Fraser, at fullback, was handling badly, and had his side in difficulties more than once. Solomon was a valuable man. He was in the thick of everything and j opened up the play as often as posI by setting the Ponsonby backs | McWilliams and Meikle were the ; mainstays of the puck. Against | Mien a redoubtable adversary as Boloi mon. Fraser, Grafton rover, played a j line game. He followed up fast, tackled hard and embarrassed McManus and Cammick more than a little. Walker was the star of the Grafton back divi sion. His tackling was deadly and his pace enabled him to overhaul Ponsonby men who had hurst through in midfield and save critical situations Halls, on the other wing was also tack ling well. Hargreaves was the besot the inside backs, but was too selfish with the ball when it came his way. Finlayson led the pack. Mr. W. Lomas was referee.

GRAMMAR SCRAMBLED IN , BY A BARE POINT ONLY

TRAINING COLLEGE UNLUCKY j By six points to five, Grammar Old Boys just scraped home from Training College in the curtain-raiser at Eden Park on Saturday. The game was a scrappy exhibition of the code and with the ground and ball in perfect condition for handling, there was remarkably little really good back I play. ! On the play Training College should j have won the game, and it was only ’ sheer luck that allowed Grammar to ! add the winning points in the third j quarter. The teachers were getting i the bail in the scrums and Walker, at ! half, got the ball out to his fivei eighths time and again. The weakj ness seemed to be in the threequarter I line, however, particularly after Connolly, at centre, retired hurt. THE WRONG TACTICS With one point behind, it seemed to j the spectators that Training College adopted the wrong tactics in the final stages of the game. Instead of going j all out for a win. the blues seemed ! content to play a strictly defensive j game and prevent the opposition from i adding any extra points. The last ; quarter was evenly contested, with | play confined mostly to midfield, ali though the Grammar backs were open--1 ing up the play and beginning to j throw the ball about in their usual I style. On the Grammar side. Hutchinson, at fullback, was reliable while Wilson, on the wing, played a dashing game making several attempts to open up the play. Garlick played a good game while he was on the field, and his substitute, Gardner, practically won the game for the whites. Corner. AllBlack elect, behind the scrum, was quick to feed his supports, though, quite understandably, he was taking care of himself for next Saturday. The Knight brothers, in the forwards, were hard workers, as also were the two Ba ttys. For Training College, McKearnev. at second five-eighth, was outstanding, while his partner, Davies, supported him well. Connolly, at centre, was easily the best of the back division, and there is no doubt that his retirement cost College the game. Bush, at fullback, was off form and showed poor judgment in his kicking. The two hookers, Guy and Herbert, were the hardest workers on the field, and it was entirely due to their work that College had the best of the scrums. Mr. C. F. Faull was the referee.

KING’S AND GRAMMAR IN KEEN STRUGGLE

FAST, OPEN GAME

Grammar owed its draw in* the match with King’s on Saturday mainly to a weak link in the King s back line and to its own hookers' superiority. With better handling from its backs—especially the fiveeighths—and a larger share of the ball from the scrums. King’s would have won. The game was disappointing as any scoreless match must be; but there was that secondary school cleanness and keenness about it. that kept the interest at the highest point throughout. CJEVERAL thousand spectators realised that the principle of playing important secondary school games on the school grounds was faulty in practice, however, excellent it might be in theory'. Only the limited inner fringe of the crowd could get a satisfactory view, and even then it was very uncomfortable. There was no accommodation at all for the Press From the early stages it was apparent that there was to be no mean struggle for victory. King’s had the better of things at the start, and kept Grammar pinned in its own territory until a sweeping back movement saw tho Blues carry play to the opposing line. As the first half ended Grammar pressed hard, being unlucky in not getting across. King’s started a promising attack early in the second half and shortly afterward Grammar’s Hammon had to retire after receiving his second bad knock of the day. His place was taken by Currey, and the new man, Ling, took the left-wing. Currey, who had had few chances, began to play much better football in his new position. A red-hot chance arrived

for King’s a little later. Caughey tore away, evading his men in great style: but at the crucial moment, when he should have passed to Bryan, he decided to go through on his own, and was brought down. Grammar was holding a slight advantage toward the end of the game.

t'uu oi me game. The Blue rearguard, on its many

sweeping movements, was a thing to watch. Time and again, with perfect passing, the ball travelled the length of the line from Newton, to Jessup, to Slyfield, to Currey. to Hill. Hill, who got enough opportunities to satisfy any wing, made the best of them with great penetrating dashes. He was perhaps the best back on the fieW; as Richardson, the King's rover, was the best forward. Richardson seemed to be in the thick of it ail the time, tackling as cleverly as he spoiled. He was supported in the loose by Mailing, Stokes and McCarthy. Grammar forwards shining in the open work were Fraser, Douglas and Steer. while Mcßeatli and Farrelly were the hookers responsible for the Blues’ large share of the ball from the scrums. King’s five-eighths were the weak links in the Maroon back lino. The wings, Jackson and Bryan, were safe, Macindoe made the best of his few chances and Caughey was in fine fettle; but Lewis and Howden were not sending it on too well, though Lewis brightened considerable in the game's later stages. Coles, the King's fullback, was a solid match for the clever McFarland, but he was most decidedly not wearing his best kicking boots.

• TAKAPUNA’S WIN 1 ~ SACRED HEART UNLUCKY Sacred Heart would have beaten Takapuna Grammar at the Devonport Domain—though the final tali’ against them was fairly decisive—if its backs had combined betteand been more sure in their pass ing. j Sacred Heart attacked hard from the i start, Elliott, the fullback, making a determined dash which sent the backs away in a run that would have ended in a score but for a dropped pass Early in the second half Waters notched a fine try for Takapuna and Eade converted With the third spell coming to an end, Elliott cleared but the kick was charged down -by the opposing forwards, who, led by Kidd, carried on in a fine rush that resulted

jin Sidford scoring. Then came Sacred ; Heart’s only try. From a scrum I Hackett sent to King. The forwards ; took control and S. Smith got over. Elliott’s kick failing. Eade scored bei hi nd the posts after Sidford had made ! a great opening. He failed to convert. ; Final score: Takapuna Grammar 11, Sacred Heart 3. Mr. B. Ellworth was the referee.