THE PONSONBY RECIPE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 81, 27 June 1927, Page 10

THE PONSONBY RECIPE

SOUND TACKLING CRIPPLES BACKS Senior Rugby teams in search of methods whereby Ponsonby may be defeated, are recommended to try this: The Rec ipe: Enterprising forwards, plus a dash of faultless tackling, with a close watch on F. W. Lucas as seasoning. To be served by a fit team. Employing the above ingredients, College Rifles gave Ponsonby—and the onlookers—a run for their money on Saturday. Not until the closing stages did Ponsonby overtake an early lead, established by the Collegiate sharpshooters—of such, at least, were the originators of the club —and for threeparts of the game they had so much of the exchanges that Ponsonby supporters were scared stiff. The plot to cripple Ponsonby had apparently been given careful thought. All day long Wilson, at centre, camped over Lucas, applying, in thorough style, the shackles to the Ponsonby flier. Not until the dying stages did he relax his vigilance, and then Lucas was away with a zestful zip, to leave Gillespie standing, and touch down under the bar. FOGARTY GETS ACROSS Until that moment College Rifles’ hopes had not been completely subdued. Even with B—68 —6 up against them, they came back at Ponsonby, hammered on the line, and still bad luck caused Stewart to stumble when a try was in sight. In the opening stages Rifles had definitely shown superiority!. Fogarty scored from a dribbling rush, following which Sheen and Wilson, in turn, were almost across. It may be that in that first hectic quarter Rifles lost their opportunity. Certainly chances that would have widened the margin to safe dimensions, were bungled after the defence had been penetrated. A second try, by Sheen, was a masterpiece of quickness and cleverness, du Chateau whipping the ball out smartly, to send Sheen over on the blind side. Ponsonby had equalised with a goal by Short, exploiting a lapse by Stewart, who was penalised for off-side. The other tries came in a crowded last quarter, Hook be,ating Sheen, to shortpunt and follow for a try. Again he broke through, but was grassed by Gillespie with a desperate flying tadkle. Lucas, who had been carefully watched by Wilson, still had an effort up his sleeve, and produced it in the last five minutes, when his speed and a dazzling side-step took him through the Rifles’ ranks. Grievously shorthanded, Ponsonby lacked Pelham, Berridge, McWilliams, and McCarthney* Syme was introduced at fullbacflta. and after an unconvincing opening settled down to play a safe game. Tonkin replaced Berridge at first five-eighth, but under Filling’s attentions he was obviously unhappy, and his removal to wing, with Hook coming in,, was undoubtedly the key to Ponsonby’s ultimate success. At centre Lucas was so closely guarded as tb be innocuous most of the day, and Wilson is to be commended for the way he anchored the flier. Cammick, too, was colourless, and by over-running Tonkin invited two forward passes, which cost his side certain tries. Even the consistent McManus semed affected by the slump, and on the day du Chateau —an obvious rep. candidate —was infinitely his superior. USEFUL FORWARDS Beating Ponsonby in line-outs, and in many scrums, the Rifles’ forwards were a useful crowd. Against them Righton, Palmer, and showed out consistently, while for Rifles Gallagher, supported by Pilling, Stewart, Camplin, Fogarty, and Lawn, was the pick of the bunch. Pilling, who suffered a nasty knock, was a factor in the early breakdowns among the Ponsonby backs, and Gallagher, Avhose reach enabled Rifles to carry most of the line-outs. Avas conspicuous in the open, and Avould have scored on one occasion, when he got under a miskick by McManus, if his acceleration had been better. Sheen, du Chateau, and Gillespie stood out among the Rifles’ backs, the last giving a .fine exhibition of safe fullback play. Sheen overworked the blind side, possibly because Teape was not a success on attack, but the efforts were wasted, as Spencely lacked dash. Feeding his backs with artistic neatness. du Chateau impressed the croAvd. A nepheAV of “Teddy” Roberts, he has football in his blood. On attack, the Rifles threequarter line was not impressive. Blyth was starved, and Wilson spoilt many good dashes by his laborious motions when about to pass. Still, he is an improved player, Avhom polish may make into a top-notcher, and is a prodigious punt, while he lacks nothing on defence. Mr. F. E. Sutherland controlled a fast game in admirable style, strictness being tempered with discretion. WHIRLWIND FINISH MARIST’S NARROW WIN The Marist-North Shore match did not have many inspired moments until the final stages, Avhen the game developed into an epic struggle between

! both sets of for Avar ds. With three points separating the teams, the Shore forwards made a gallant effort to get the decision, but the defence remained sound, and Marist won what Avas an open match right to the call of time. The first half of the game found honours easy. Marist backs opened up briskly, but their attack was ragged. Fine enough individual efforts were made, but there was not that essential cohesion and understanding betAveen thepi. Stoupe opened several attacks, but he did not have the necessary support. However, the Marist backs kept plugging on until the Shore forwards took charge for a short time. They played hard and persistently, but failed to make much impression on the defence, Avhich remained sound in spite of the heavy assaults. Letton was enterprising on the Aving, and he Avas unlucky in not getting across with some of his clever solo sorties. He rushed in several times, but his fine efforts just fell short. Failure of both sets of backs, and a great tussle betAveen the forwards was the outstanding feature of the first half of the game. The opening of the third quarter found the Marist forwards aggressive and they Avere doAvn on the Shore line constantly. On the point of scoring repeatedly, the Shore defence was just sound enough to save the situation. Then the tide turned. The Shore forAvards bullocked their wa.y up the field and took play into the Marist twentyfive. It was Marist backs Avho relieved, and Loft, playing brilliantly, became a difficult proposition for Shore. He made a superb run to the Shore line, but, having no adequate support, the advantage he gained was lost. This reverse made him keener than ever, and during the last spell he ran in again magnificently, beating half a dozen Shore men. In the final minutes when Shore were eight points down, the forwards rallied, and began an assault that could not be denied. Franklin got away, but a knock-on deprived Shore of the score. The Shore forwards continued their attack, and Solomon, who was playing a glorious fighting game got across. Joe Lynch, ex-Auckland rep., turned out for Shore, and he Avas prominent in the last struggle to wrest victory from Marist. Shore made a great attempt to get the decision, and this whirlwind, fighting finish Avas the finest part of the match. Either side might have won, but Marist just had the best of the luck. VARSITY SPOILERS GRAFTON BACKS HARASSED Under the pressure of the fastbreaking Varsity forwards, the Grafton backs had little chance on Saturday to develop attacking movements. The team lost its chance when, attacking almost all of the first spell, it failed to crown threatening efforts with any score. After the spell the students rose to the occasion, their forwards playing grandly in the loose, and it became evident that Grafton was a beaten side. The second quarter was almost entirely Grafton’s. Varsity could clear their line only spasmodically, and the

relief was temporary, the flood of Grafton forAvards, among Avhom Munro, Finlayson, Compton and Wanoa were constantly prominent, always returning quickly to the Varsity country. Paewai fielded a rolling ball in classic fashion and threaded his way through the oppo-

sition, only to stumble as he \vas sending out a critical pass. Ruru figured in a spectacular run, but he turned infield instead of keeping to open country, and only ran his supports into trouble. In passing movements the Grafton backs handled well, and Farmer and Paewai ran straight and handled combined neatly, but the Varsity defence showed that it could stand the strain. STUDENTS TAKE CHARGE In the second spell the students took charge of the proceedings and delivered a series of hammering blows at the Grafton defence. Things were mixed merrily in the scrums, and good tackling by both sets of backs was a feature. Short passing between the Varsity forwards was admirably developed and repeatedly threatened trouble, Stone being conspicuous at the head of thrusts toward the line. The application of the rule that a ball must be played first with the feet, after a tackle, puzzled many of the onlookers, and seemed to be stringently applied in case of Dunn, who at full cry fielded a ball rolling in the open. A passing rush tha£ swung across field paved the way for the opening try, Olsen, who was in a. handy position to low, field on the hop, and race through to Stevenson before passing in to Olsen, who was in handp position to plunge frantically for the line. Butler’s converting kick, from wide out, sailed fairly between the props. Both sides were penalised frequently and Stevenson, for Grafton, went close with several shots at goal. In the last stanza, when Butler was penalised for playing the ball on the ground, Paewai was given a chance, and duly hoisted the flags. Then came Bradanovich, with one swerve, after Cashmore and Jenkin had handled from a scrum, that left Paewai and company trailing in the background, and another that took him past Stevenson, for a try between the posts. Of the Grafton forwards, Munro was about the best—a toiler throughout. Wanoa, Compton, Hargreaves and Finlayson backed him up, the last showing a commendable relish for hard work. Behind the scrum Paewai was the best of a set of backs who hardly justified the confidence placed in them by the forwards, who in the early stages, at least, supplied them with plenty of ball. Farmer ran crisply, but was prone to be'caught in possession. Pae-

Avai Avas badly fooled by Bradanovich, and on another occasion let Olsen slip past him when a resolute dive would have laid the Varsity winger low. Stevenson played soundly, and handled the ball particularly well. Neither Varsity score could be laid to his fault, as in both cases he was in a hopeless position. Of the opposition pack, A\ r hich Avas minus Linton, Dunn as a substitute displayed any amount of dash, and Keegan, Brooker and Stone were always in the picture. Stone showed the dash of a three-quarter in one or tAvo gallops for the line. Jenkin was soundness itself at first five-eighth, and the three-quarters were all reliable, Dickson going well at centre, Avhile Olsen was always useful, and the fleet-footed McLeod a dangerous customer throughout the second spell. Mr. G. Peace refereed impartially. GRAMMAR TOO GOOD TRAINING COLLEGE DEFEATED A MISSING key to Room No. 8 was stated to be the reason for the belated appearance of Training College and Grammar Old Boys on No. 3 ground at Eden Park. It was half-past three before the game commenced. Ground conditions were decidedly greasy while a quaking quagmire near the halfway line, from which a very unpleasant smell emanated, did not add to the attractions of the paddock. Investing a good deal of sting into their play, the Grammar forwards threw their weight about to advantage in the early stages. Rush after rush penetrated the teachers’ twentyfive, but on several occasions they just missed scoring. First blood flew in favour of the teachers, an offside infringement by Grammar on the first occasion on which Training College, penetrated their twenty-five allowing McNaug-hton to turn a difficult chance to account From then on until the interval the game was decidedly tame. After the spell play again livened up, a good deal of strenuous give-and-take play eventuating among the forwards. Although five points in arrears Training College fought out the concluding stages with grim determination. On several occasions their packmen were knocking hard, missing scores by inches only. Until he was compelled to retire early in the second half as a result of a bad knock over the eye, received before the interval, Ces. Badeley was the star Grammar back. He was Avell supported by Monteith, E. Singleton, and Hook, the two latter showing up particularly well in the concluding stages. Turei, on the wing, infused a considerable amount of dash into his work, but on a sticky surface did not appear to be too certain on his feet. In Knight, Batty and Cathcart Grammar possesses three splendid forwards. The latter was on the job all the afternoon, his following-up and tackling being of a particularly high standard. Grammar were without the services of Goodacre, his place being taken by Potter, who was responsible for a good game. MEYER PLAYING WELL Matheson was an absentee from the teachers* ranks, and as a result their rear division was considerably weakened. Meyer, the College first fiveeighth, who represented Auckland last year, is playing Avell. On Saturday he was constantly in the thick of things, and got away with a good deal of heavy defensive Avork. Behind the pack Mason operated well, while Minns, at wing-threequarter, also appeared to advantage. Although at times somewhat of an opportunist, O’Brien, the Training College rover, often proved effective, and at the head of loose rushes was generally well in the picture. McNaughton, Foote, and Gladding were also conspicuous in an even and hardbattling pack.