RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1113, 10 August 1911, Page 10

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The Championship matches of the Auckland Rugby Union were continued on Saturday last. The condition of the ground was anything but conducive to fast open play, the games in nearly every instance being merely forward scrambles in the mud- The ball was so heavy and greasy that in few cases were the backs able to take or field the leather cleanly. GRAFTON, v. MARIST BROTHERS. The heavy rain that fell during the curtain raiser (Grammar School v. Kings College) had ceased when the seniors lined out on the No. 1 ground. The playing area was seen to be in anything like fair condition for an exhibition game, the ground having suffered from use in the opening match. ss * e First Quarter. Marist Brothers won the toss and Grafton kicked off from the eastern end, the ball ’being carried out at Marist’s 25. From the throw in Grafton at once attacked, carrying the leather over the line, a force result-

ing. Shortly after the kick out Grafton were penalised, the Brothers gaining ground by getting the line near their opponents 25. The Bro. set up a hot attack in which the forwards took command, and had Grafton penned on their line when a penalty awarded to them brought relief. Grafton retaliated by making play open, Weston and Candy carrying play across the field where B. ;O’Brien snapped the leather and putting in a good run beat Ifwerson and then short kicked across to the forwards. They carried the ball over and Barrett falling on it drew first blood. Little failed with the kick. Marist Bros. 3. Grafton 0. Marist Bros, pressed from the kick out, but a timely mark by Hines sent them back to their 25- The forwards beat their way from the line and carried play to Miller, who saved in the nick of time. Grafton now took a hand in the attack and for some minutes had the best of the deal, a forward crossing the line but had to come back for off-side. Almost immediately after the Bros, forced from a Jong kick by Candy. Grafton still kept the pressure on, but White shot in and fielding cleanly made off up the line—beating some 4 or 5 men by ducking—carrying play well into Grafton’s 25. Here Nolan was penalised, but the kick was returned, smartly, and the forwards following up fast had Grafton in trou-

ble. Harris started a dribbling rush for the Bros., but the whistle sounded for a breach and Grafton were able to clear their lines. The bell sounded change ends shortly after. W W « • Second Quarter. The Bros, started off by attacking, an opposing three-quarter missing badly saw him downed before he could get his kick in thus giving the Bros, an advantage; and keeping up the pressure broke through the defence, Harris scoring. Little again failed with the kick. Marist Bros. 6, Grafton 0. The ground now was churned into slush, making it very difficult for the players to keep their feet. Marist Bros, forwards seemed to do the best under the existing conditions. From the kick out the Bros, assumed the aggressive and had the best of the play which was of a straggling order- Weston put in a fine piece of defence and saved his side from trouble, and from a penalty, Candy had a shot, the ball dropping short under the bar —O’Brien forced. Grafton now livened up somewhat, making efforts to reduce the score, and worked play to the Bros.’ line, where a syds. scrum was ordered. The Bros, cleared, play keeping near the centre for some minutes. Swainson broke away, and Hines securing, drew the defence and sent out to Edwards, who crossed the line. Ifwerson failed to add the points. The bell sounded half time with the scores, Marist Bros 6, Grafton 3. * * - ® Third Quarter. O’Brien opened for the Bros, in the second spell, the ball eventually going out near half-way. The play was fairly even for some time, neither side gaining any material advantage. The Bros, then shook things up, and carried play to Grafton’s line, but lost the advantage, play being removed to centre. Curran here put in a fast run, and was supported by Sheahan, but Ifwerson downed O’Brien just as he got the pass, and spoilt a likely chance. The Bros, still continued to have the best of it, the forwards taking the ball across, but failed to drop on it, a force resulting. Grafton took a turn in attack, Ifwerson being answerable for opening the game up, and kicking high, set the forwards going. Pople followed up fast, and stopped O’Brien’s return, and a penalty went against him for holding the ball. Candy took the place kick;, almost dead in front, but missed. The Bros, forced. Change ends sounded with the score unchanged. Final Quarter. bheahan set the Bros, going, who immediately attacked, Grafton replying by Ifwerson intercepting a pass, and taking play on, sent out to Marshall, who failed to field cleanly, but the forwards joining in, carried the atbei L to ° Brien , who was tackled t ? e bal1 ’ and dropping it, a hard R Cl L by On l e . of the pack gave the Brothers relief in a force. Grafton continued to hold the advantage from the kick out and reaching the coveted line, Coleman, at half, darted over w^rd Wa Th al D d baCk fOr a pass for - The Bros, carried the scrum and gaming ground in the intervening P ay, had Grafton sorely pressed. Nolan snapped the ball from the scrum, and eluding the defence, scor®d a ,f°°d position. Little failed to add. Marist Brothers 9, Grafton 3 From the kick out the Brothers immediately became aggressive and a good chance to score, but failed to accept the opportunity ow? L y ? fter Wbite got out on h * s own, but was gamely tackled by Miller and a certain score was lost. The P re , now having all the best of it till Swainson got away in a forward rush, but overran the ball, and tlie Brothers relieved the tension. The bell sounded cease play with the scores:—Marist Bros. 9, Grafton 3. CITY DEFEATS PARNELL. - The City team met and defeated Parnell by 14 points to nil, after an exhibition which was hardlv up to senior form. The Parnell men had no less than seven juniors to do battle for them, and under the circumstances put up a p’ucky fight. City’s play was on the ragged side and opportunities were frequently missed. The forwards of both sides kept going solidly, and City did not win as easily as the score would indicate.

The try getters for City were Bruce, Rasmussen, and S. Magee, while R. Magee converted one of the tries and also kicked a penalty goal. PONSONBY’S RUNAWAY VICTORY. The Ponsonby-Newton match was hopelessly one-sided, the former team simply walking all over the Newton men- Altogether Ponsomby scored 34 points to Newton’s nV, tries being obtained with monotonous regularity. Sellars, McGregor (3), Campbell (2), Clarke (2), and O’Leary (2), all crossed Newton’s line, while two of the tries were converted.