RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1928, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

POLLARD CUP COMPETITION. WON BY COLLEGE RIFLES. SATURDAY’S GAMES. By. drawing with Marist Old Boys at the Show Grounds, on Saturday, College Rifles, who had a lead of one point, won the Pollard Cup competition, open to all A and B -ection teams. The Rifles' success comes rather as a surprise, as the team finished up the club championship season well down the list. The game on Saturday, which resulted in a three-poiut draw, was about as good as could be expected on the day. Passing movements were not very frequent, the ball seldom going further than the five-eighths, and both teams, using sound judgment, were content to keep the ball at toe. College Rifles, if anything, had slightly the better of the game, although there was not much between the teams. Perhaps (he most outstanding player on the field was >l. Gillespie, the Rifles' skipper, who, playing at first five-eighth, was always in the limelight. His sure handling, coupled with his well-timed cuts-in, often had the Marist defence in trouble. Not much behind Gillespie in order of merit was Kirk, playing at half-back for the same team, and he also was conspicuous for his good handling of the greasy ball. He also went down to several of the Marist forward rushes in good style. Wilson, who brought up Rifles’ only points with a penalty goal, Blythe, and Stewart also played well. For Marist. Cornthwaite. at the last line of defence, was very reliable, while Stuart, who repeated Wilson's performance, and Johnston were also outstanding. Peters and Harris were the best of the Tykes' forwards.

Technical Old Boys beat Marathon by IS points to 6. while a well-contested game between Ponsonby and Manukau went to Ponsonby by 17 points to 11.

WELLINGTON’S GOOD SEASON. EIGHT SUCCESSIVE WINS.