Critical Encounter

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 85, 1 July 1927, Page 11

Critical Encounter

Can ’Varsity Down Ponsonby?

Berridge and Pelham Absentees

To-morrow’s meeting of Ponsonby and University will be followed with close interest, as the students are expected to extend the leaders, whose first-round win over the Varsity team was only a last-minute win. 3 University, it may be noted, enjoyed the distinction of being the only side to defeat the victorious Ponsonby team last year.

IJERRIDGE and Pelham will both be D absent from the Ponsonby ranks to-morrow, and the team will be corres pondingly weakened. In the closing stages last Saturday Hook made excellent substitute for Berridge, M t Tonkin, who failed to find his fee t, was not so reliable. Syme, relieTing Pelham, who is joining the Maori team, was safe enough last Saturday. Berridge is still away in North Auckland. His exceptionally safe Cgads would have been useful tomorrow, in conditions that threaten m be moist. Under such circumstances the battle may be fought by the forwards, in which case University’s prospects look rosy, as the Varsity forwards are formidable. To-morrow the Varsity pack will be the stronger by Linton, who missed a train last Saturday.

GRAFTON AND GRAMMAR While Ponsonby and Varsity are fighting out a struggle that may have an important bearing on the championship, Grafton and Grammar, on No. 2 ground, will each endeavour to strengthen its position near the top of the pointy table. Damp conditions, whereof there has been an abundance this season, should favour the Grammar huntsmen; but Grafton has not yet shown a distaste for wet weather Rugby, and the hard-working Magpie pack may turn the trick. On the Showgrounds the College Rifles pack needs only to maintain last Saturday’s standard, and a win over Marists is fairly safe. But there can be no lapses, for the Tykes are always a dangerous team. At North Shore the tail-enders, Training College and Shore, will each seek one of the victories that have so often eluded them this season, and if home and hearth mean anything, Shore should scrape through on top.