LEAGUE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 97, 15 July 1927, Page 11

LEAGUE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

MARIST AND RICHMOND TO-MORROW

FORWARD PLAY ON HEAVY GROUNDS?

HARD-Slogging forward play on a heavy ground it almost goes without saying that this will furnish the basis of to-morrow’s League Rugby clash between Marist and Richmond, the chief attraction at Carlaw Park.

THe ground cannot be anything but considering the weather of the naat week, and both teams have a good iajlid pack of forwards. Marist has a big advantage in this department, having a very heavy pack and nothing tells ,il<e we *Bht when forwards arc on the job. The pack is one of t he heaviest in Auckland this season, and i® sure to be hard to beat. Richmond, although lacking weight, j 5 a very keen, live crowd. What this ride lacks in weight it will make up for in other ways, and will play the game out to the finish. The backs of both these teams handle the ball well in the wet, but the advantages, if any, should certainly be with the leaders of the competition. The ranks of the greens will be eagerly scanned to-morrow afternoon to see If Lui Paewai is among the party. CITY V. PONSONBY

The meeting of the old rivals, City and Ponsonby, on No. 2 ground always causes a lot of interest, as these two teams have played some very close and hard battles, and this game will be no exception. Although City has not been showing such good football as in previous years, nevertheless it can always be depended upon to put up a good game when it meets the -Ponies.” This should also be a good forward battle, and as the teams will be fairly evenly balanced in this de-

partment. the game will depend on the backs to make the difference at the finish. . Both teams are unfortunate to lose the services of a good hooker this season, Townsend having transferred to Dunedin, and Lowry being on the injured list with a broken jaw. -•^ ai^ iner ’ on his showing last week, wHI be most likely kept in the forwards, where his weight is always useful in the heavy going. DEVONPORT V. ATHLETIC The other senior fixture for to-mor-row will be played at the Domain between Devonport and Athletic. Although Athletic has not had the pleasure of winning a game this season, it will again be found doing its best against the team from the other side of the harbour. Last time these two teams met over at the Shore, there a ?, s , a • blpr difference in the scores, but Athletic was then playing a man short and Devonport was on its own ground. Although Shore should win, there will not be such a difference in the score as there was on that occasion. Shore’s luck seems to have turned the other way, just as it did last season, as at the present time “Snowy" Dixon is out of action with a bad knee, and is not likely to be seen out for some time. Preston had his ankle broken some time ago, and now O’Brien has to stand down on account of an accident.