Ponies Just Miss

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1077, 15 September 1930, Page 6

Ponies Just Miss

GRAMMAR NOW ON EVEN TERMS Premiership Still at Stake WITH. Ponsonby beaten by Grammar Old Boys on Saturday the Auckland Rugby Union’s senior competition lias been left in a very interesting position. Both teams are now equal on the championship table and another game between them will be necessary next Saturday to decide the premiership. It was a hard game and keenly contested. The powerful Grammar forwards dominated the scrums and to a large extent dictated the trend of the game, Iliis preventing the Ponsonby hacks from working with the same sparkle and freedom as usual. As the scores, 14—11, indicate, it was anybody’s game. When the final whistle sounded Ponsonby was pressing hard and it needed only another three points to make it a drawn game and give the Ponies the championship for 1930.

Although Grammar thoroughly deserves its win, Ponsonby was just a. bit unlucky in not evening the scores in the last few hectic minutes, and thus winning the championship for 1930. The game had been fought at a hard clip. The Grammar forwards had started off at a merry pace, and this the big men well maintained throughout a hard-fought game. In the closing stages Ponsonby made desperate efforts to score. Ponsonby was frequently pressing the Grammar lino and it was on one of these occasions that L. Hook was nearly over, an almost certain try being lost when the winger lost possession. With only three points separating both sides it was a very close finish, and the tiling Grammar men were no doubt very relieved when the final whistle went with their line still intact. HARD FORWARD PLAY From the outset Grammar settled down into a hard forward game. The White forwards were hooking well, and cleanly, and behind the scrum Corner was getting the ball away crisply, but once past Weir the passing quickly crumpled up, and from these break-downs the forwards would again have to -take the play over. The Ponsonby backs were not getting as much of the ball as they desired, and most of their opportunities had to be made from field play and their opponents’ mistakes. At half-time the scores were B—6 in Ponsonby’s favour.. Ponsonby had drawn first blood soon after the start with a good try by Lou Hook. Corner equalised with a. penalty goal, and then Ponsonby drew ahead with a typical Ponsonby try. McManue Handed the ball out to Pope, and it went out to Cammick, who passed in again to Pope, the latter handing it on to Freddy Lucas, who jazzed his way over for a very pretty try, which he also converted. Just before the half-time whistle sounded Savory snapped up a dropped pass and flashed across for an unconverted try. Ponsonby was not long in the lead. Shortly after resuming, the Grammar forwards got going with a vengeance, and from rucking play on Ponsonby’s line Eric Batty dived across for a try which Corner converted. Then A. Knight scored and Grammar was six points up, but in the last quarter Soloman reduced the margin with a diving try near the corner. The last few minutes of the game were very hectic. The Ponsonby backs were straining every nerve, but the Grammar pack, although tired, hung on grimly, and managed to stave off a series of hot rushes to win out by the narrow margin of three points. FINE GRAMMAR PACK

Although mostly confined to the forwards, the play was keen and exciting. With a set of backs behind them that can by no means be regarded as a strong combination, the Grammar pack is deserving of great credit for its well sustained play. In comparison the Ponsonby forwards did not appear to any disadvantage in the loose rushes, but it had to be remembered that Ponsonby is a much better balanced side, and with a set of fast and enterprising backs behind them, their work is made considerably easier. Ably led by the brothers Knight, both uf whom played fine games, tlio Grammar pack was always dangerous, particularly when the battering ram tactics of A. Knight were brought into play in the scrummages near the line. L. Knight was a line leader, setting a splendid example to his forwards with strenuous play in the tight. Greville was another who went well, and the two Battys were also willing workers. P. Potter (rover) played one of his best games and was very effective in the loose.

In addition to getting the ball away smartly. Corner was invaluable in stopping numerous breakaway rushes, making good use of the line when in trouble. Weir showed a tendency to do a bit too much on his own, but in view of the' number of times the rushes broke down once they passed him, his tactics were probably justified. Under the circumstances, probably his better plan would have been to have saved his forwards by good use of the line. Hutchison, the fullback, played a safe game, and the wings, Wilson and Savory, made the most of whatever opportunities came their way. LUCAS SHOWS UP Lucas was again the outstanding figure in the Ponsonby back division, despite the fact that he was well watched both by the Grammar forwards and backs, attention which at times he obviously did not appreciate. Ho came to light with several very clever runs, particularly on one occasion toward the end of the game, when he ran almost through the opposition with a dazzling run. Hook and McLeod were both useful, but the former would have considerably improved his display if he had only accepted a transfer in the closing stages, and thus finalised the 1930 championship. Fraser, at fullback, played his usual solid game, and McManus worked conscientiously behind the scrum. McWilliams, Hardie and Gallaher were three outstanding Ponsonby forwards. Hardie went particularly well and in the loose was very effective. Palmer was often in the picture, and Solomon made very effective use of his roving commission. There was a large attendance of the public, and next week’s game between these two teams will no doubt be followed with even greater interest. TRAINING COLLEGE HAS A BIG-MARGIN WIN BUT NOT OVERWHELMING Though Training College beat City by 23 points to 3 at Showgrounds No. 2, the Students’ win was by no means a walk-over. At the start and time after time during the course of the game, City rallied and penned College in its own territory. City scored only one try, but it should have scored at least four. Its forwards were a lazy lot. They could not stand up to the bustling tactics of the opposing pack. City made a strenuous opening effort

and was unlucky, when Connolly scored as the result of a breakaway movement. Connolly, who was playing a particularly bright game on the wing, also initiated the next try. He cut through neatly and passed to McKerney to Hodge, both of whom beat several men for Dobbs to score. It was a pretty movement. City, which should have got across in the second quarter, notched its only try early in the third. Sherman did the spadework and Kerr-Taylor capped the hooker’s efforts. Thereafter College took a more definite ascendancy, and scored throe more tries —two from Hodge and one from Kedgley—all of which Bush converted. Berridge, who was as usual the slightest of the City backs, showed up well in penetrating dashes for the major part of the game, though toward the end he was not so conspicuous. Blakey at fullback was very solid without being startling. Some of the forwards gave good individual exhibitions, especially Whitehead, who nearly scored once. Bush, McKerney and Connolly supplied most of the power in the Students’ rearguard attack, while Hodge Infused a great deal of life into an otherwise rather dull pack. Cunliffe turned on on& great dribbling rush, when he covered 40 yards before the ball was taken from his toes. Mr. W. Lomas was the referee. COLLEGE RIFLES SAFE LUCKY VICTORY OVER GRAFTON Notching a rather lucky win over Grafton, College Rifles was assured of a place in the A section of the senior competition for next season. Grafton losing the match, will fight for A grade status with the winning team in the B section next Saturday. College Rifles was outplayed by the losing team for the greater part of the last three spells, but made hay while the sun shone for it in the first stages of the game, rattling on six points. Grafton was most unfortunate in its last line of defence, as Stevenson, at fullback, let his side down badly on three occasions, trios being scored each time. Just after the kick-off he fumbled a high ball with the sun in his eyes, and a Rifles player, following up fast, accepted the gift. Another gift try came Rifles’ way when Stevenson took his time about forcing a ball, and was easily beaten to it by Denize, Later in the game, when Stevenson was shifted up to fiveeighth, ho was a different player, and was largely responsible for the vastly improved form of the Grafton backs in the later stages of the play. The two packs were well matched. Finlayson was a great leader, and he was well followed by the rest of the pack. Mills and Townsend particularly putting up a good showing. Souter, Dodd, and Donald were the most active of the Rifles forwards. Donald, who played on tho wing last season, used his weight to good effect, and made some determined runs.

Kirk, at the base of the Rifles scrum, was not playing his usual alert game, but Barron, next man out, was going well. In one great dribbling rush he beat the defence, and took play from his own twenty-five to the Grafton line, where Albrecht scored. Albrecht was sound, and Pickering, centre, was tho star of the threequarter line, making clever openings, many of which were made useless by-bad passing. Fraser, the Grafton rover, was the most nsful of the Grafton attacking division. He hampered the Rifles backs, and did a great deal of useful work on his own account. Moore and Halls were responsible for some bright work in the threequarter line. The game was hard-fought, especially in the last spell, and there were some stern forward struggles, following one of which Souter, Rifles, was ordered off. Mr. M. Kronfeld was referee. TECHNICAL’S SPEEDY BACKS MARIST GOES UNDER The speed of the Technical Old Boys backs, combined with their quickness to take advantage of opportunities, gave them a comfortable victory over Marist by 13 points to 6, in a ragged game at the Showgrounds on Saturday. Combination of both teams suffered badly through tho absence of several of their best players and the dissembling effect of several weeks’ lapse of club games. Marist was considerably weakened in the pack by the non-ap-pearance of the Hadley brothers, juniors filling the vacancies in the forwards, besides in the backs. The Tykes* forwards, however, led by Walsh, Lockie and McVeagh, surprised their opponents with vigorous bursts from scrums and line-outs in the first quarter, keeping the Technical rearguard almost constantly on defence. The quick spoiling and smothering tackling of the Marist backs also assisted in checking the Technical backs in attempts to open up passing. The second five-eighth, Haslam, who showed up brightly throughout with strong penetrating runs, paved the way for Technical's first try with a fine burst through. He then transferred to Turbott, who crossed wide out. D. Iveane landed a magnificent side-line goal. Heartened by this success Technical rushed to the attack, a good passing bout among the forwards ending in Nelson scoring for D. Keane to kick another fine goal. Half-time was called with Technical 10 points ahead. After the resumption, Marist forwards infused exceptional vigour into

their play, and as in the first quarter confined play to Technical’s twentyfive, with short, loos© rushes. Tykes gained their first points cheaply when the winger, Smith, gathered in the ball from a loose melee, and outpaced the opposition with a fine burst down touch. Then the forwards took a hand, Walsh. Clarke and Judd heading a dribbling rush, which ended in Judd scoring wide out. Loombe and Judd missed with tlie kicks at goal. Livening up, Technical backs started throwing the ball round in bright style, several times narrowly missing tries through faulty handling and erratic passing. The issue was placed beyond doubt, however, when McMikcn fielded a miskick, and sent on to Couper, who dashed over at the corner. Technical’s backs would have been a decidedly weak force without Haslam. who seems to be improving with every game. He bore the brunt of the defensive work. besides breaking through nicely to open up attacking movements. Turbot,t also showed plenty of dash on attack, and linked up well with Haslam. In the forwards, Edgar and McMiken were the most ! consistent workers. Although Marist’s pack was considerably lighter it stood up well lo the opposition, Lockie, Clarke and Walsh all showing form. The weakness lay in the backs, particularly the fiveeighths’ line, which seemed to have little defensive ability. Captain J. G. C. Wales was referee. University v. Manukau The players were: Manukau: Turei, Simmonds, Bryers, Stuart, Jones, Albon, Satherley, Pile, Kelly, Pepper, Pearce, Kahu, McGuire, Brimble, Cooney. University: Butler, Milliken, Stutter, Bracewell, McKay, N. Jenkin, Rae, Jolly, Douglas. Edwards, J. Jenkin, Anderson, Stacey, Clarke, D’Authreau. Referee: Mr. A. Sweeney. A hard, evenly-contested game re- i suited when University met Manukau j at Onehunga on Saturday afternoon. j Varsity quickly launched a series j of attacks on Manukau’s line and the j threequarters showed a good deal of 1 initiative, though Manukau’s defence i was generally well placed. Led by Anderson, Stacey and Douglas, the Varsity pack descended on Manukau’s line, and only sound tackling saved Manukau from a dangerous situation. Both packs were well matched and the lineout work was particularly well contested. Manukau retaliated with some fine loose runs, in which the burly Kahu was much in evidence. J. Jenkin scored a try for Varsity after torrid work in a lineout. and Stacey landed a penalty j goal. Manukau reduced the deficit with a penalty goal by Turei and the score at half-time was: University 6 Manukau 3 In tho second spell, Manukau strove strongly to even the scores, but the Varsity backs, mainly by good handling. proved too elusive. Stacey battled his way across for a try alter a determined Varsity rush, and Butler converted another try by Varsity. Manukau livened near the end and Turei managed a try. Jones also scored after a smart run. Neither try was converted, and a game ended:— University 14 Manukau 9 CANTERBURY’S EASY WIN SOUTH CANTERBURY BEATEN Press Association TIMARU, Saturday. Canterbury defeated South Canterbury today by 25 points to 13. Conditions were ideal, and there was a large attendance of the public. The visitors did not field anywhere near their best fifteen, several representative players being absent in Dunedin, but the team which did oppose the home side was a versatile one, and its superiority was fairly clear cut in most departments. In the first half, when they were obliged to face a strong sun, the visitors were not seen at '.heir 1 best, and their attack was somewhat 1 disorganised when Lilburne, as the i result of an injury to his shoulder, was obliged to drop back to fullback Roberts going up to centre, and Innes ! to second five-eighths.

The home forwards gave a good display in the loose, but in the tight weight was much against them, and Canterbury held a marked advantage in the scrums, with an abundance o£ the ball. The backs, who were fast, and handled well, were able to exploit numerous moves, many of which would not have ended successfully had the forwards not participated at the finish, lime and again the backs, when hemmed in, sent long transfers to the waiting forwards, only to see their good work undone by faulty handling. In the second half the visitors had matters much their own way. At one stage the score stood at 14—13, but that was the nearest the home side got. In the concluding stages Canterbury was in the ascendancy fore and aft, and should have scored more than it did. WAIRARAPA REPS. CHOSEN Press Association MASTERTOX. Sunday. The following team will represent Wairarapa against Wellington at Wellington, on Saturday next: Backs; F. Fitzgerald, R. Jury L Roach, F. Fuller, T. Corkill. J. Mill j" Hart. Forwards: J. Le Quesne K McCalmont, K. Reid, I. Harvev, K. Fail-brother, J. Churchhouse, X. - McGregor, S. Best. Emergencies: Backs 1. Nikorima, A. V. Jury; forwards S Reid, W. Clarke.