FALWASSER’S DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 347, 7 May 1928, Page 6

FALWASSER’S DAY

CROWD DISMAYED

REFEREE’S BAFFLING DECISION HOW PONSONBY BEAT MANUKAU of the finest club games seen on Eden Park for years was wound up by a decision that, giving the game to Ponsonby, dismayed and baffled the crowd. Mr. C. b\ Pauli is one of Auckland’s best referees, but liis refereeing on Saturday was below his usual standard. Three tries, two by Ponsonby and one by Manukau, were marred by infringements for which the whistle should have sounded. JL. Hook, scoring the try which let Ponsonby snatch the game from the lire, failed to get liis hands on the ball and establish the.* two-way contact required by the rules of the game. The referee’s ruling supplied evidence ot the need for a drastic Lightening of ihe interpretations covering this phase of llugby, a phase into which much laxity has crept in recent years. Feverish excitement ruled in the closing stages, when Manukau overhauled a long score by Ponsonby and held command until the last minute of the match. At the finish the black-and-greys were showing form that should place them among the leaders when the final points are tallied. They were throwing the ball about with fiery enthusiasm, and their fast-break-ing forwards had found the secret of harrying the machine-like Ponsonby rearguard, which displayed all its old precision. Manukau’s inspiration was the meteoric Falwasser, backed up by VVatene, Rata and a very useful, methodical half in Lenihan, who absorbed a lot of gruel in the course of the afternoon. HOW SCORING WENT Ponsonby’s 11 points lead in the first quarter came from a try by L. Hook, a dandy by Cammick and a long-range penalty by Berridge. Manukau retaliated with a converted try, Taylor scrambling across to gain the reward of persistent pressure, and then the stand was dumbfounded when McCarthney came into a Ponsonby sortie a yard offside, after R. Hook, Cammick and Edgars had made ground with enterprising passing, McCarthney completing his effort by fending vigorously for a try in the corner. With nine points up against them, Manukau were undismayed, and began a series of attacks by which Ponsonby was severely rattled for the rest of the game. In Ponsonby’s quarter the Manukau hookers got possession, for a change, in a serum, and Lenihan sent liis backs away. Rata flung a high pass to Watene, who leaped—and knocked on. The whistle was confidently expected, but when it came it was to record a try by Falwasser, who had bustled through and squirmed over. Watene converted, and the deficit was reduced to four.

After brisk exchanges, in the course of which Watene did some attractive line-kicking, Harris some nice overhead fielding on the run, and Fraser a smart piece of work when he marked to stem a Manukau rush, the Ponies went ahead? again by virtue of a lovely penalty hoisted from the side-line by Berridge. MANUKAU AHEAD

Then came Munukau's crowning offensive. Down 10—17, they continued to hammer, and Watene sped along the Ponsonby back-line, tossing a long pass lo Albon, who fired in to Taylor for a try. Then Lenihan, Rata, Falwasser and Taylor figured in a movement which saw Falwasser execute the reverse pass nicely. Turning the direction of the thrust, he passed to Taylor, and a bunch of forwards carried on, Ferguson scoring. With everything hanging on the kick, Watene missed by inches, but a moment later Rata goaled from a penalty in the country, and Manukau led, with the crowd frantic. Ponsonby’s last rally was more or less ineffective, and the odds were on Manukau when Taylor made another good r<#. However, the Ponsonby forwarus got back Again, beating Harris and L. Hook, who might have been a shade off-side, crowned a fighting effort by diving for the ball. Though he failed to ground it, merely pushing it forward, the referee awarded, the try, and Berridge’s conversion made the final score— Ponsonby 22 Manukau 19 The result caused one to wender whether there is not, after all, something in the legends about Ponsonby luck. Though they had all the best of the first 30 minutes, after that Ponsonby was a very worried side, to which, in the second spell, rearrangements among the backs (Jameson going to centre) failed to effect any improvement. Cammick was quite the best of the backs, while Palmer led the forwards untiringly, *and McCarthney supported him well. Among the Manukau backs Watene and Falwasser < hanged places during the game, the latter going from second to centre. Though Falwasser held on too long at times, he was the dominating figure among the backs, which excelled in solo work rather than in combined movements. UNIVERSITY PROVES TOO GOOD FOR CITY STRONG “BLUE” BACKS According to the standard of play in the first quarter of their match with University, City forwards should have dominated the whole game, but the pace proved too hot. Although the Reds commenced the game in dashing style and kept Varsity penned in its own 25, lack of training was evident, and, in the second half, play became listless, relieved only by the determined onslaughts of the Blue van. Linton, Brooker and Anderson were particularly conspicuous, Anderson’s try being a splendid effort. City missed the experienced guidance of Jacob, the full-back, who was injured in the first game of the season. Jacob kicks with judgment, saving his . forwards as much as possible, and the i Reds have been consequently spoiled ■ m that direction. I Crook, at his usual station in the B ll l r t®. < l u arter line, fulfilled the promise I 8 sterlin S Play against Training ■ college. Intercepting brilliantly, he ■ !f OP F l City’s first try by flashing over I .fi ; ln ® the Blue defence could ■ rafiy* It was surprising, however, that

MANUKAU IMPRESSES THE CROWD PONSONBY WINS ON THE POST ALBERT FALWASSER, the brilliant flyer who made history with Hawke’s Bay and the last Maori team, built a reputation at Eden Park on Saturday, when Manukau impressed the crowd by running Ponsonby to a feverishly exciting finish. It was a day of high lights. C. E. W. Mclntosh, turning out in the vivid scarlet stockings of a Scottish international, won golden opinions by his dashy play on the Varsity wing.

later in the game Minns, the Varsity winger, was able to show Crook a clean pair of heels. Certainly the Red Centre had injured his knee shortly before, which may have been the reason. Lack of combination was the chief trouble in the City rearguard. Varsity backs were somewhat disorganised in the first half, as O’Halloran, who was playing his first game as half, had some difficulty in becoming acclimatised. Hindenuch and Jenkin raked the ball continually from the scrum and when O’Halloran gets the ball away more quickly, Varsity backs should be one of the finest lines of attack in the senior competition. N. Jenkin, an in-

side back, had his kicking boots on and converted the three tries scored. Most pleasing was the threequarter line, Minns, Dickson and Mclntosh, all of whom were right on form. McIntosh, an ex-Scot-tish international, was well marked and had . few opportunities. When

, , lie did get the ball, however, lie showed great dash and deternmmtion. Running with his knees swerving and side-stepping, the tall Scotsman was nearly over several times, and it usually took several City men to stop him. The Blues dominated the last three quarters, and the final score of 15 8 was a fair indication of the play.

SHORE AND GRAFTON FINISH HONOURS EASY GAME OF MOMENTS Followers of the game would scarcely have picked North Shore tp run Grafton to a draw, and as a matter of fact there is no reason why they should have done so. Grafton has the better team on paper, and had S< *h on rt l f st season’s form Grafton had the odds all in its favour. Yet irom the kick-off on Saturday luck seemed to desert the side. It had the better of the game, and almost H , the attack - b dt somehow tilings went wrong. The bad luck K, Until the linal Whistle. About two minutes before time, when VVanoa scored a beautiful try, Raewai' a kick that a schoolboy should C °j lV , ertec1 ' but he missed, and so deprived Ins side of the victory that had been earned. tnJ 10 ! 11 , tlle spectators’ point of view the clash was a lively one. There was enterprise in the play, and stirring passages resulted. It was, in short, a game with high exciting moments’ boon after the start it developed into a struggle between the well-balanced assertive Grafton backs and the dogged bhore forwards. The Grafton attackers swept down the Held numberbv S sn I |mH S ’ bUt alw f ys they were met ““i resourceful defence on the pait of the Shore forwards. The advantage at the end of the fight stood with Grafton, but it is idle to underestimate the worth of the defence. Lynch, Solomon and Fairgray were in the thick of things the whole time, and but for them and others the trifling advantage of favouring stars would not have been sufficient to stave off defeat. It was in the later stages of the game that Grafton’s superiority became most apparent, and the side made a brilliant effort to gain the decision. A few minutes before time Shore was leading 12 —9, but Grafton was determined that the position should not remain at that. Repeated assaults were directed at the Shore line, and finally Wanoa, who had played brilliantly all through, bullocked his way through the defence and scored a superb try. He and Paewai were the stars of the side, but sound and spectacular football was played by Judge, Finlayson and Liddle. Johnson, the Shore full-back, was useful and steady in times of stress, and Franklin did some firstrate work. GRAMMAR V. COLLEGE RIFLES WHITE FORWARDS WIN With seven points to the good, including three picked up after time had been signalled, Grammar Old Boys defeated College Rifles on No. 3 ground. At one stage the scoreboard read: Grammar 9, College Rifles 8. and the game could easily have gone the other way. Grammar should win more matches than it should lose, but it depends largely on whether its forwards are feeling like it. Although not strong in the back division the team possesses a good bustling pack of forwards, and three rattling good leaders in Batty, Knight and Cathcart. Unfortunately the pack, with one or two exceptions, providing things are going all right, are inclined to rest content, which is, of course, extremely dangerous. Batty led the van throughout the day and he was ably supported by Knight and Cathcart. Potter, who holds the roving commission, and Whelan, until he was compelled to leave the field with a strained back, also took a fair share of the ball. A close examination of Cathcart throughout an afternoon reveals that he plays better football than he is given credit for. He has also picked up some useful tricks and is generous to his backs. Knight is a tower of strength, but he does not extend himself unduly. Of rather an easy going temperament, he has to be roused before producing his best. Of the backs, Badeley, W. Williams and J. Wilson were the pick. Grammar’s second try was the result of a pretty opening by Badeley, who sent his backs away in the best movement of the day. Wilson was the outstanding Rifles’ back. His powerful kicking was particularly valuable, saving his side time and again. Blyth also played with some dash, but neither of the wings got many opportunities. Of the forwards, Gallagher. Lawn and Soutar frequently caught the eye. In this game there was a considerable amount of unnecessary jostling on the part of the hookers, possession of the loose head appearing to be the

bone of contention. The Rifles’ pair appeared to be the principal offenders but they gained little by it.

Marist v. Training College

By its exhibition against Training Collegie at. Victoria Park on Saturday Marist indicated that It is going to be a very potent force in the senior A Rugby competition this season. Its back division started indifferently, but as play developed it became a formidable combination, and the points mounted rapidly. Training College never let up its resistance, however, and although outclassed, showed a good spirit, making the game as open as possible. The result was not unexpected, but Marist gave evidence of possessing a very dangerous rearguard..

POSITIONS OF THE TEAMS The following table shows the present positions of the senior teams:

p. W. L. D. Pts For ». Chmp. Ag. Pts. Richmond. 2 2 — — 33 10 4 Devonport. 2 2 — — 36 17 4 Ellerslie . 1 1 — — 15 8 2 Ponsonby. 2 1 1 — 27 21 2 Newton . . 2 — 2 — 21 30 0 Marist . . 1 1 — 0 15 0 City ... 2 2 — 12 43 0