Spectacular Finale

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 171, 10 October 1927, Page 10

Spectacular Finale

PONSONBY TO THE END Fast Rugby in Final Game THE usual end-of-season languor we.s entirely absent from Saturday’s match between Ponsonby and the Rest of Auckland, the last official Rugby fixture of 1927. Champions tc> the end, Ponsonby employed all its noted speed and finesse to crown its creditable performances with another win, that stamps it as undoubtedly one of the finest club sides New Zealand has ever seen.

Loyal Rugby followers:, making the long trek to the Showgrounds for the final -flutter, were rewarded with a scintillating exhibition, in which the scores fluctuated throughout the second half. It was wholesome fare, in which speed was the predominating ingredient. No more were “muddied oafs” toiling in slush, as in 50 per cent, of the other games played during the* season. Instead the turf was firm and the ball fiery, and though the sun overhead shed the mellowed rays of early summer, it was seen from the jump, when Berridge shot into action with a zestful dash, that the players were far from jaded. SOLOMAN'S COL.OURS It may have been of some significance that Solornan, the North Shore rover, appeared in the Ponsonby pack, and his vigorous display suggested that it would be regrettable if so fine a forward had to return to B grade with the Shore team next season. The Rugby Union’s programme was shockingly inaccurate, and could have conveyed to strangers absolutely no idea of the composition of the teams. To take the public’s sixpences for such a publication was plain piracy. Another outside reinforcement introduced by Ponsonby was R. Hook, brother of the rep-

resentative winger The latter was at fullback, a position from which he frequently strayed, and his brother, who has worn Grammar colours during the season, showed many traces of that elusiveness which is evidently a family quality, and thus fitted in well with

the Ponsonby style of back play. The halfbacks were Hassan (Ponsonby) and Jeffries, the newcomer from Taranaki, who behind the Rest’s pack was very useful, especially on the blind side. Hassan is a junior, and he got the ball out to the Ponsonby backs with pleasing promptitude. At the outset it appeared distinctly improbable that the Ponsonby backs would see much leather-. Their forwards were opposed to a bulky pack of representative quality, with S. Hadley wearing his newly L.cquired international honours blushingly, and Wanoa, Cathcart. Anderson contributing speed and weight. Occasionally this formidable set of huntsmen swept down field in irresistible drives. Prom one of these Noakes plunged through the scattered Ponsonby backs to score a try’ that was the reward of characteristic industry, and Butler, who was kicking: well all day, hoisted a nice goal, though the ball swerved perilously post-ward as it soared over the props. Four of the Rest’s five tries were converted by Butler with superb goals, and the odd one was nissed only by inches —a gallant failure. Added to his goalkicking was But er’s sure fielding and desperate tack ing. He has improved so much this season that the honours lately denied him cannot be kept away from him if he maintains the advancement. One bad mistake he committed on Saturday was when Woods swerved all rouni him, to score a capital try’ for Ponsonby. The left wing-threequarter was on his game, and was difficult to stop. That was Ponsonby’s fourth try. The first came when Hogg got across after a sally by the forwards, the second saw L. Hook anticipate well, to run up from fullback to outside wirig-threequarter and capitalise a shrewd cross-kick by Cammick, and the third was the out-

come of a brilliant burst started, by Lucas near his own 25, and finished by Cammick after L. Hook, Woods he himself and Lucas again hacl exchanged passes when carrying the ball toward the line at racing speed. It was an exhilarating spasm, completed by Berridge with a nice goal. PAEWAI AS OF OLD

In reply Paewai came to light,, with a touch of his old Hawke’s Bay elusive-

ness, which took him through the Ponsonby ranks, with Anderson in support, for a good try- The Rest took the lead wh e n Noakes got across from a line - out. While play was swinging across, the opposite line umpire was waving his flag frantically, but the referee did not notice

it, and the move culminated in a try. Ponsonby regained the lead at 15-15, and an exciting period of flickering fortunes followed. The Rest lei at 18-16 and 23-21, and Ponsonby at 21-18. Some of the scoring movements, particularly those of the Rest, were highly spectacular. Jeffries used his pace well at times in getting away on the blind side, and Cathcart, Wanoa, Anderson and Batty were conspicuous in the open. After Cathcari; and Batty had scored tries, the last after Bradar.ovich had made a smart thrust, the Rest looked safe, but the Hook family completed its afternoon’s work —two tries to each of the brothcjrs, by pulling the match out of the fire for Ponsonby. In the battling Ponsonby pack, which was kept going till the end, McWilliams did an honest day’s work, and in the open revealed the handling ability that impressed the All Black selectors. Short and Palmer were two more earnest toilers. On the side of the scrum Whitburn was overshadowed by Keene, who played one of his best games, and harried the Ponsonby backs, often getting both first and second five-eighth. Wanoa was another grand forward, handling like a back, showing amazing: speed fer so big a man, and occasionally feinting ancl selling the dummy. LUCAS RACES LOFT The Ponsonby backs scored some very fine tries, and some very lucky ones. They were more dangerous in loose play than from orthodox formations, which were generally spoilt by Cammick, who worked the short punt to d<;ath, and showed an inexplicable distrust of his wings, though he was otherwise very accurate and speedy. Lucas did not over-exert himself, but was dazzling in spasms. At fullback lit. Hook was too often out of place to be reliable, and his play generally indicated staleness, and shawed palpably that he has not retained the brilliance of a month back. Paewai and Bradanovich were a useful pair in the Rest’s rearguard the latter showing promising form. Loft, at centre, was not well placed, though he made one amazing burst when he intercepted, at his own 25, a pass from Hassan to Berridge. With an open field ahead, he was pursued by Lucas, and the All Black caught him. Minns was solid, and McLeod, the Varsity winger, really impressive. Very difficult to stop, he may have a future in big Rugby. As an enc T-of-season performance the game was altogether satisfying, and produced Rugby of the typical Auckland style, fast and. refreshing football, which gave a memorable season an appropriate finale.