THRUSTING FORWARDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 May 1927, Page 11

THRUSTING FORWARDS

GRAMMAR PACK LUCAS SAVES PONSONBY Though it was Cammick who actually touched down for the winning try, it was really Lucas who saved Ponsonby from another draw. What measure of superiority Ponsonby possessed was in the better finish of their backs. Forward, Grammar had the Ponsonby pack mastered. Many lapses in defence could be condoned owing to the appalling conditions. Sheets of driving rain lashed the shivering players as they took the field, and many of the onlookers, as well as the birds themselves, thought that on such a day Eden Park might better have been left to the little grey gulls, which rose in a protesting cloud when the players usurped their moist domain. In such wretched weather it was a penance to be a line-umpire. Only one was there when the game started, so an obliging ambulance-man was pressed into service. C. BADELEY REAPPEARS The game was notable for the reappearance of C. E. O. Badeley, but before the game ' ended the ex-All Black retired with iL leg injury. Though he still \ carries a lot of jilaal spare poundage, llg&sS* times, Badeley at : v ~«gßgßf . first five-eighths 'f. 1 was serviceable F .to his side. He ‘ saved one certain try by beating C. Badeley Berridge in a dive for the ball, and his tactics were sound throughout. With heavy rain falling, and the Grammar forwards holding the upper hand, it was sheer folly to hand the ball on, and every time Badeley got it he went back into the ruck, a wise manoeuvre. riay was this way and that way in the opening stages. Neither side could claim definite superiority, but the Grammar forwards, hunting in the open, showed to such advantage that it was obvious Ponsonby would be extended. In size the white-clad Grammar scrummers dominated the line-outs, and they used their weight and speed well. Batty, Knight, Goodacre, Catlicart. Whelan, and Schnauer were all in the limelight, and Potter, flanking the scrum, was in the picture regularly. A tendency to wait offside after they had over-run the ball was the only thing that marred the fine display of the Grammar forwards. LUCAS TURNS THE TRICK Conceding no inch that was not worthily won, the Ponsonby pack battled gallantly against the heavier opposition, and in scrumming was actually superior. But finally it was the Ponsonby backs who turned the trick. After repeated efforts, many of which failed through mishandling, all the backs out to L. Hook handled, and Hook. after turning in-field, passed to Lucas, galloping on the outside. Spectators, mentally gambling on Turei s chance of upsetting the Ponsonby flier, did not get the anticipated thrill, for Lucas wisely short-punted,

allowing Cammick, flying in support, to plunge for the ball and score. Short’s converting kick, in the face of every difficulty, was a beauty, stamping the Ponsonby man- as a reliable goal-getter. After playing most of the time at a territorial disadvantage, Ponsonby were perhaps lucky to equalise in this fashion, but credit must be given to the backs, who worked manfully. McManus, was rock-like behind the scrum, and at fullback the dapper Pelham did not allow the weather to disconcert him Berridge handled the ball magnificently, in conditions that were an exacting test of accuracy. Among the forwards, an even lot, Fleet, Short, and McCarthy took the eye. Turei, defending for Grammar, was often brilliant, and occasionally uncertain of his position. Wilson’s diving tackle of Woods was a relishing example of a nearly-lost art. As a whole, the Grammar backs were outclassed by Ponsonby, both in attack and in defence. A Drawn Game up the game is certainly to be encouraged, but there are times when to win a game a little “bush” football will do the trick. On No. 2 Ground at Eden Park, both Marists and Grafton persisted in attempts to handle a greasy and water - sodden ball, and as a result neither line was crossed during the afternoon, the three points registered for each side coming from penalties. Under conditions such as prevailed on Saturday the ground kick is the hardest ball to field and if either side had adopted tactics in keeping with the weather the game would have been won and lost. In Auckland there appeared to be a dearth of good scoring forwards. Time and again on Saturday both packs assailed the opposition line only the inevitable scrum or line-out to result. Lack of finish prevented two good packs from turning territorial advantage to account on several occasions. Loft, the Marist winger, and Ruru — a clever Te Ante boy who fills a similar position for Grafton, were very much in the public eye. The latter has the makings of a first-class threequarter. In addition to a fair turn of speed, Ruru possesses all the elusiveness of the native*player, his style indeed closely resembling that of several very fine wingers turned out by the Hawke’s Bay native college. More should be heard of him. Loft appeared to be quite at home in the mud. Occasionally adopting a few of the principles of the Association code to meet the requirements of the game he was in the thick of everything, either at the tail end of a passing movement or at the head of a dribbling rush. He varied his play with judgment and it was unfortunate that at various times his work was not turned to better account by a little backing up. Wright and Stoupe were two other very safe members of the tyke rearguard, while in the pack, McDonald, Davies, Wood and S. Hadley, the latter the possessor of a very useful pair of hands, were always conspicuous. Seymour and Stevenson ably supported Ruru in carrying out the bi'Lint of the Grafton attack, while Lock played his usual solid game behind the pack. Finlayson, Compton, and Wanoa were the pick of the forward division, the wet going appearing to particularly suit the last-named, who played a greatly improved game. Senior B Grade VARSITY v. MARISTS Although each side notched three points apiece, Marist had the better of the argument against a depleted Varsity side in a rather ragged game fought out in the mud and slush of the No. 3 Ground. Back play was almost entirely abandoned and the game resolved itself into a struggle between opposing packs, in which department the tykes seemed the most aggressive. Despite the quantities of water available there was not enough to coo! the ardour of one or two players, one man having to be warned, while on another occasion a bout of fisticuffs was only averted by the timely intervention of the Marist skipper who quickly separated the contestants before the incident could be observed by the referee. In the Marist back division Roderick and Kealey were the outstanding figures. On the wing the former proved particularly useful, proving sound on defence as well as obtaining the three points that equalised the score for the tykes. In the van, Hirst toiled assiduously and was always in the picture. For the students, Kaa played a very solid game, and was perhaps the best of a very even lot. Behind the scrum Babbage got through a good deal of defensive work, but any attempt to open up was nullified by the lack of combination in a disorganised set of backs. City v. Tramways The- Senior B gafne between Tramways and City was keenly contested. Just before half-time Barnes, following up fast, succeeded in scoring. Harriman converted. City 5 Tramways 0 After half-time McLean scored for City. Following on this Harding crossed the line and added another try to City’s total. T. Heard converted. The final scores stood at: City 8 T ramway 0 MANUKAU V. OTAHUHU Though beaten by Manukau on Saturdn- Otahuliu played exceptionally well, and it was only in the last quarter that their stubborn defence broke down, and W. Taylor scored a brilliant trv. The teams were very even, and it was a very exciting game Arnold,. Logan, Roberts, Muir, and Brady did yeoman service for Otahuhu. while Te Paa, Rata, Vickery, Brimble, Wakefield, and Karu were constantly in the limelight for Manukau.