AGAIN ON THE BALL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 341, 30 April 1928, Page 6

AGAIN ON THE BALL

Rugby Men Take ihe Field KEEN CONTESTS PROVIDED BRAND-NEW balls and clean jerseys, some of the latter perhaps too comfortably filled for 100 per cent, efficiency, adorned the Rugby stage at Eden Park, which was set for the opening of the 1928 season on Saturday. Despite weaknesses in combination, which were only to he expected, the play provided was by no means disappointing. There were many bright flashes and taken all round the games proved sufficiently vigorous and interesting. In some instances forwards were surprisingly fit for the first day of serious football and the general display augurs well for the success of the new season.

A LTHOUGH the stands were by no means overcrowded, there was quite a satisfactory attendance. Enthusiasts not being able at this stage to show much discrimination in the choice of matches to follow, the bulk of the patrons wisely decided that for the opening day their attention could be more profitably divided among the three games. As a result the various arenas attracted almost an equal following. The grounds were in excellent order, the soft, well-turfed surface being in pleasing contrast to the dry, hard grounds that prevailed at the commencement of last season. Although conditions were so favourable, particularly to those short of a few gallops—and there were obviously a few of these —injuries were numerous. Players in the Ponsonby-Gram-mar Old Boys contest suffered most of all, and before the final whistle sounded, practically all the reserves on both sides had been brought into action. This state of affairs was byno means due to any roughness in the game, which was contested in good spirit. They were typical of the opening of the season, when accidental knocks and collisions occur with greater frequency than when sterner games are being fought.