Grafton Running Close

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 57, 30 May 1927, Page 10

Grafton Running Close

Rugby Brimful of Interest Grammar Forwards Decide Issue TIGERISH in loose sorties, the Grammar forwards were the match winning factor when Grammar downed North Shore at Eden Park on Saturday. Brimful of interest, the senior Rugby competition is now at a vital stage, and much depends on the meeting of Ponsonby and Grafton, both of whom won on Saturday. Should Ponsonby defeat Grafton in this week’s clash, the lead of the champions will take a lot of overhauling.

GRAMMAR HANDY

RIFLES UP WITH THE FIELD rpHE swing of points on Saturday leaves Ponsonby still comfortably in the lead, followed by Grafton and Grammar. As predicted, Rifles defeated Marists, thus rising in the points scale. P. W. L. T>. F. A. Pts. Ponsonby ..5 4 1 69 28 9

TUREI’S DAY OUT

GRAMMAR AND NORTH SHORE Turei, the Te Aute College flier, enjoyed a day out on Saturday. He registeerd the first nine points put up by his side, which had the best end of a bright argument with North Shore. Rugby in which are mingled virile forward play and artful manoeuvres among the backs may not appeal to the jaded or lndiscriminating palate, but it cannot fail to attract those who realise that there are fine points in forward work, just as much as in rearguard evolutions. Such was the Grammar Old Boys-Shore clash, the main match at Eden Park on Saturday, and it may safely be asserted that the match held the close interest of the big crowd in attendance. The struggle resolved itself into definite phases. Shore showed up early in the proceedings, and again at the end; otherwise it was mostly

C. Badeley played finely for Grammar, demonstrating that a “comeback” to his best is possible. Behind the battering-ram formed by the white forwards he pleased with clever defence, crisp passes, and an occasional scamper on his own. Schnauer, one of the tall trio which raises the Grammar pack to such a high physical standard, was untroubled by the number 13 on his back and carried his frame with credit through a lot of heavy work. Goodacre and Cathcart were battlers in loose play, and handled well in the open. Batty and Knight bore the burden of the tight work and are Grammar’s best forwards. Batty’s capacity for effort seems limitless, but he might profitably spend an evening in earnest study of the offside rule. Tense moments came early in the proceedings, when the Grammar threequarter line got away well on the far flank. Good tackling stopped the sally. Shore’s defence had improved since the Saturday before. In the forwards it was a case of “Greek meets Greek,” Shore making a grand break in which Clark, Solomon and Page participated. Solomon and Potter, opposing rovers, staged an interesting duel, and at the end of the day the honours were fifty-fifty. Potter is a first-rate wing forward, handicapped only by his rather slender build. Then came Turei’s goal. The grandstand almost scoffed when he stood the ball up on end for long-range shots. The first fell short, but the next sailed fairly between the props.

TUREI’S TRIES In the second canto Grammar caught Shore napping on the blind side. There were four men there, to Shore’s three, and at the end of a brisk sally Turei plunged across. Later he was to acquire further glory, when he sprinted for the corner after bright passing on the open side. This was orthodox Rugby at its best. In the meantime Jackson had battled across the Grammar line in the van of a mass of forwards, and the score was now 9 —3, ex-students on top. IX Reid was playing attractively for Shore when an arm injury caused his retirement. Mouatt replaced him, and there was a re-shuffle, Berghan going to the wing, while Mouatt became half. Monk and Stokes were playing cleverly inside, and their close-up tactics often broke up Grammar passing. Mouatt, too, proceeded to play attractively, and handed out a couple of “dummies” in the course of one solo excursion. From thirty yards out, C. Badeley shot through Shore much as Berridge did the previous Saturday. Badeley’s effort, a triumph of elusiveness, revealed the finesse of an international. In the arms of a couple of men, he went across, and Singleton goaled.

In the last session Grammar lagged and some of the forwards showed evidence of fatigue. A nice gallop by Monk ended at Singleton, who spoiled good work by an elementary infringement, M. Reid failing with an easy shot. Berghan shot through, ball at toe, but Singleton got possession. Turei, however, had shouldered Berghan, and Referee Pauli awarded a penalty try. Scoring continued in the dying stages, when Singleton kicked a line goal for Grammar, while Mouatt went round the blind side of the Shore scrum to score a try entirely worthy of Jimmy Mill. Stokes, converting, raised Shore’s total to 11, a figure reasonably indicating the losers’ share of a lively encounter.

CITY UNTROUBLED

SECURE IN LEADERSHIP The newly-formed City Club appears to be secure in its leadership in the senior B grade, and recent performances suggest that, before many moons have waxed and waned, the team will be clamouring for admission to the exclusive A grade ranks. In V. Marks City possesses a centre whose efforts show cleverness and polish. One try was the result of | clever backing up of Ellis, and Scott i was outside, had he beer, necessary, tt ornaga, who wears a ferocious ex- ■ pression when sprinting for home and

glory, delighted the crowd with a classic potted goal, sent soaring between the sticks from well out, and at an angle. Such a goal was fully worthy to be the season’s first field goal in senior Rugby. City forwards, among whom the burly Fell brothers show up, dominated the proceedings from the outset, and the lighter Technical Old Boys pack did well to hold them so tenaciously. D. Keane, at centre for Technical,, did good work in paving the way for his side’s only score, and Ansley, who cross-kicked judiciously, also deserves some of the credit. Heard, at first five-eighth for City, had the kicking mania badly in the first spell, but there must have been a heart-to-heart chat in the interval, because his realisation that there were other backs outside him seemed to synchronise with the opening of the second half. After that the game brightened considerably, and Elliss, an agile winger, was able to put in some good work. City’s balance of 14 points—l 9 to 5 was the score—was not an overadequately representation of superiority.

Rifles v Marist

Although the surface of the No. 2 ground at Eden Park was damp and decidedly greasy, it did not deter Marist and College Rifles from attempting to open up the game at every opportunity. In this department Rifles were the most successful, particularly

in the closing stages, when their backs handed the leather around with commendable generosity. It was not until well on in the second half that the Tyke forwards got properly warmed up to the business on hand. When they did they kept things moving, but it was then too late. The day was won and lost. JOHNSON AND SHEEN With rush after rush their forwards ranged the paddock, but Sheen and Johnson had an annoying habit of getting in the road. Time and again they turned defence into attack with quick short passes to their outside backs, who either gained ground or cleared.

Johnson w r as always on the job, his passes to Sheen being a treat to watch, while on defence he was as tenacious as the proverbial leech. Sheen is rapidly striking form, and on Saturday gave a sterling exhibition. His transfers to Wilson at times w r ere a trifle slow, this being the only noticeable fault in a clever exposition of fiveeighths play. On defence he played true to international label. At centre threequarter Wilson played a much improved game. His handling was safe and he infused a good deal of dash into his w r ork. Both Spencely and Teape were sound and! always willing to give it a go. Gillespie, their custodian, was fairly sale, although inclined to be a little on the slow side in getting it away. Behind the pack Du Chateau gave prompt possession to his backs.

Owing to a kick in the back received the previous Saturday, Barclay was compelled to stand down, turning out instead in the capacity of line umpire Pilling made full use of his roving commission, and was always well in the picture. His kicking was also a big advantage. In an improved pack Gallagher, Fogarty and Sheen were always conspicuous. Malloy, the ex-Auckland representative, made a reappearance for Marist. Although carrying a lot of condition and obviously short of a few gallops, he occasionally showed glimpses of old form. With a little work he should prove a valuable addition to the Tyke ranks. At centre Stoupe played a very useful game and was well supported by Loft and oJhnstori on the wings. Letton, the Marist first five-eighth, played a very reliable game. He delivers cleanly and is v. handy type of inside back.

USING THE LINE

As a half, Wright shows promise, but has one or two faults that need to be rectified, as, for instance, runnings back with the ball. There are, of course, occasions when a half is given the leather under circumstances in which he would far sooner be rid of it, but new rules have not altogether eliminated the use of the line. A kickout even if it fails to gain ground not only effectually nips the attack in the bud, but allows the pack another chance. Although they did not get going properly in the opening stages, the Tyke pack excelled in the scrums. This is probably due to a very large extent to the brothers Hadley, a pair of firstclass front row men who get more than a fair share of the ball. They are also well to the fore in the loose work. S. Hadley in particular. Macdonald and Casey are also two very handy types among a very even lot. The game, although not particularly thrilling in the first half, later qe-

veloped into a good game, the concluding stages providing thrilling and interesting football. A really good exhibition of refereeing by Mr. J. Shepperd was largely responsible for play being kept moving so rapidly and cleanly.

GOOD TO LOOK AT

VARSITY EXTENDS PONSONBY On the first occasion that Ponsonby met University, the premier team was defeated for the first time in five years. It seemed possible that something similar would happen in Saturday’s match, but well after half-time Ponsonby gingered up considerably and secured a six-point lead that Varsity could not reply to. The blues really lost the match in the first half when they were going well. Had they been able to notch more points when the dash was in them and they were holding an easy superiority, Ponsonby perhaps would not have been able to overhaul them.

With five players with the Varsity touring team in Sydney, blues filled up with the best men at their disposal. Previous experience had taught Ponsonby not to under-rate them, and they were not taking any chances. For them R. McWilliams, who returned from Sydney on Tuesday, turned out, though only under protest on account of his lack of training.

A feature of the match was the early dominance of Varsity. The ball s. ?med to have a blue bias, and although Varsity had to force down early, its line was- not threatened seriously for the remainder of the spell. Varsity put all it knew into the first spell and got a break of eight points in the first 10 minutes, a penalty goal by Blakey and a nippy try round a scrum by the Varsity half, N. Cashmore, which Blakey converted. The Varsity fullback was in good kicking form, but failed with the next two kicks he tried. But his services throughout the match were invaluable.

University forwards were playing a dashing game both in the loose and in the tight. It was a fine run by Lucas, who intercepted in a Varsity back attack that resulted in Ponsonby’s sole points for the first half. The ball went from him to Cammick to Hook, who beat Cashmore to score.

Even at the opening of the last spell Varsity held the lead. But then the game, good spectacle as it had been before, became very exciting. Soon Ponsonby’s pressure was rewarded. Berridge handed over to Woods near the Varsity line for him to run over. Short’s kick failed. McLeod, Varsity winger, who had played a >od game then dislocated his shoulder, and was replaced by Thorp. Ponsonby took the lead from a magnificent diagonal dash by Hook, who handed over to Lucas, who made no error about scoring. Short failed to convert. The Ponsonby skipper finished the scoring of the match by another greyhound dash, making the final score with Short’s place-kick, Ponsonby 14, Varsity 8.

Senior B Little interest was evinced in the Senior B Grade game on N 0.3 ground at Eden Park where Suburbs defeated Otahuhu by S points to 3 in a ragged and uninteresting game. A penalty goal kicked by Hardmann put Suburbs three points in the lead at half time. Up to this stage a very uninspiring exhibition had been provided. Although the game speeded up somewhat after the interval it was still below senior B standard, play being mostly confined to the forwards on each side. A try by Purser, converted by Hardmann. increased Suburbs’ total to eight, while for Otahuhu, unconverted tries were scored by Blair and Matson. At Victoria Park, Marist beat Tramways by 13 points to 6. For the winners, Earlly, Marr and Brodrick scored tries, Moore converting one and Earlly another. For Tramways, Boag and McCoy each kicked a penalty goal. Mr. G. Rurle was the referee.

I'onsonDy Grafton .. 5 3 1 1 57 44 7 Grammar O.B. 5 3 2 53 42 6 College Rifles 5 2 3 60 74 4 North Shore. 5 2 3 48 70 4 Marists . . .. 5 1 2 27 39 4 University .. 4 1 2 1 30 38 3 Training Col. 4 — 3 1 21 50 1