Varsity in Limelight

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 353, 14 May 1928, Page 6

Varsity in Limelight

FORWARDS IN COMMAND

PACK WITH POSSIBILITIES KEENE IN GREAT FETTLE Caught without Loft, whose defection through injury cut the keystone from their combination, Marists were only a shadow of the side that flattered its supporters by excessive wins on the opening Saturdays. Moore, at second five-eighth, proved an ineffective substitue for Loft, and the three-quarter line was generally at sixes and sevens, particularly after Stoupe had retired with a split and gory scalp. The pack, upon which most faith was pinned, was overshadowed by a far superior set of forwards, who gave their backs a great v. . aay with the ballt“eir movements sometimes r pa Fkled and scintillated, the Varsity backs cannot on the whole be congratulated on their day’s work. Chance • itter chance went begging when they eglected to feed two eager and pacy hree-quarters in Minns and Macintosh. Sometimes, as when Marists opened the scoring with a laughably ••ample try, the whole line was caught •»ut oi place, and the insides, generally were prone to selfishness an 1 overrunning. KEENE CONSPICUOUS It was Keene who, reappearing to leud the pack from his old place at Wing-forward, caught the eye as the outstanding figure on the field. Lean, Ift and brown after a summer at Te Paki station, away up in the North - land, Keene played on Saturday as though a season’s football were behind him, instead of ahead. The game lacked the pulse-stirring episodes and the feverish finish of the previous week’s big match. But it will be a game of high moments when Ponsonby and Varsity come together. On Saturday the play followed wellregulated lines. After an opening sally that gave them a simple try, Marists crumpled under a withering Varsity onslaught, which quickly raised a 6 —5 lead by Varsity, tries being registered by. Minns and Hindenach. From that point Marists never looked like winning. Their forwards went to pieces under a persistent hammering, and the backs for the rest of the spell gave up all idea <*f attack, and stood up close to hamper the Varsity offensive, a movement which only resulted in their being caught offside. A raking rush by the Varsity huntsmen was crowned by Linton with a try beside the posts, Jenkin converting. The students had exceptional luck with the number of tries scored in handy positions, and Jenkin showed that he is a reliable short-range kick. Of nine efforts this season, he has so far missed none. Linton was another Varsity forward in everything, and showed pronounced pace. But the outstanding Varsity packman was Hindenach, the young exOtago medico, who scored two capital tries, and proved to be an artist with his feet. He wall make a great partner for Pcilmer in the Auckland front row. To half-time Varsity continued to hold the upper hand, the forwards improving as they ran. After the spell Marist backs enjoyed a canter—tactics had evidently been discussed in the interval —and a try was thrown away by a hesitant winger. Varsity came again when Moorehouse goaled from a mark, Jeffries having hoisted a high kick with more power than discretion. LATENT POSSIBILITIES Meanwhile Marist backs showed, in one or two rare sorties, that they had power to race together as an efficient potential scoring machine. Johnson, on the wing, was always alert for chances, and Jeffries at first five-eighth, was consistently steady. Wright was perhaps the best of the bunch. His work on attack and defence was very sound.

All the crowd’s attention was focussed on Macintosh whenever the big: Scotsman got the ball, but the Varsity insides seemed to have adopted a conspiracy to starve him. At length the ball shot out; Macintosh shook off two tacklers, raised the roars of the crowd as he bounded to the line, and then passed in the Jenkin for a creditable try. Bush, who converted from a steep angle, was one of the finds of the day. A physical replica of V. Butler, he made several brilliant saves, and promises to be an altogether useful fullback. In the closing stages tries came quickly; one to Varsity, when Hindenach neatly robbed Cornthwaite, to stroll over on his own; a second to Marists, when Johnson sprinted 50 yards, opening up for Jeffries to pass to McDonald, for a try converted by Peters; and a third to Varsity, when Minns broke clear from half-way, ball at toe, to outpace all pursuers and dive for a try under the bar. , Excellent work by Carter, Varsity s methodical half-back, was one feature not hitherto noted. If consistent, the students have the competition at their mercy, with a pack that is capable of dominating club Rugby. But will they be consistent : can they shake of the old failing l Mr. S. Kronfeld refereed.

PONSONBY AGAIN

SPEED WINS The ponsonby-North Shore game served to indipate that unless improvements are effected to its back division, Ponsonby cannot expect to repeat last season’s performance. The passing in this game, particularly in the opening stages, was wild and ragged, and far below the usual standard. Forwai'ds with sufficient enterprise would have found little difficulty in turning many mistakes to their ad Va £erridge has not yet repeated his

CITY TOO GOOD

GRAMMAR WINS

Surprises in Saturday’s Rugby City Catches Grafton Wanting SURPRISES were the order in Saturday’s Rugby, when City came to light against a weak Grafton team, and Varsity romped over Marists in the featured match at Eden Park. A magnificent display by the Varsity pack suggests that the team will be good enough for anything in the competition if it holds to its present pitch of form.

form of last year, and has developed a penchant for running across the paddock. Many of their rushes on Saturday were very slow, the live-eighth line and centre often receiving and sending on their passes while practically standing still. Cammick and Jamieson were both patchy, the latter spoiling several movements by hanging on too long. The two wings, R. and L. Hook, were in good scoring vein and turned everything to account that came their way. It was to the scoring capacity of R. Hook that Ponsonby largely owes its victory. McManus, as usual, worked hard to open up his backs, and generally got the leather away smartly. McCarthney, Edgar and Bunting were the pick of the forwards. Johnson, the fullback, and Solomon, the rover, were the outstanding figures in the North Shore ranks. Only for two mistakes, one of which he retrieved in a rather sensational manner when he raced back to just beat a Ponsonby forward to the touch down, Johnson could have been said to have given a faultless display. His tackling was very sound, and it was only a tendency to be unnecessarily spectacular in fielding the ball that marred an otherwise sound display. Solomon proved to be the pivot man of the Shore attack. He was always in the thick of things, as becomes a good rover, and time and again opened up play to his backs. Franklin, a strong runner, and a decidedly useful type of winger, also played a good game and was always danStokes, the first five-eighth, showed iip promisingly on one or two occasions, and also combined well. Mr. G. Peace controlled the game.

WELL-DESERVED WIN Although opening rather tamely, the City-Grafton game provided a fairly exciting contest, especially in the concluding stages, when the Grafton forwards made strenuous but belated efforts to even up the total. Grafton was without the services of Paewai and Farmer, and this seriously weakened the rear division. In addition Ruru, who was indisposed when he took the field, had to retire early in the game, this again weakening the black-and-white scoring combination. Nevertheless, City must not be begrudged its well-earned victory. The red-and-black forwards are a bustling lot, fit enough to sustain a merry pace from whistle to whistle, and the backs, although yet requiring a bit more polish, can always be relied to throw the leather about. Jacobs, the City fullback, although not yet recovered from an injured arm, gave another sterling game, saving points for his side on several occasions. The diminutive Crook played a heady game at centre, and despite his Lack of weight always needed watching. Dobson and Heard were always prominent, the latter gaining several points with his kicking. Of the forwards, Fell, Crisp and Fletcher were the most outstanding. Fell, in particular, played a very solid game, and was constantly on the ball. On the day’s play Ferguson was about the pick of the Grafton backs. Turei, both at fullback and later at wing threequarter. played a cool, heady game, although perhaps a little too sanguine on occasions. Finlayson, Compton, Wanoa and Noakes were the pick of a pack which left its run a little too late. Mr. E. Pemberton gave satisfaction with the whistle.

TRAINING COLLEGE IMPROVE Noting much above the ordinary standard was shown in the match between Grammar Old Boys and Training College at the Show Grounds on Saturday, the latter being defeated by 18 points to 12. The opening exchanges were very mediocre, the teams taking some time to settle down. Grammar drew first blood from a loose rush. Their forwards were the better of the two packs, and they heeled the ball consistently from the scrum. Not until play had progressed some time in the second spell did Training College properly get their feet, and had the backs infused as much vigour into the early part of the game as they did in the last quarter they might have accounted for Grammar. The College backs did not distinguish themselves until G. Lawrie, who was on the wing, went into centrethreequarter. He had given glimpses of speed outside, but when he changed his position, the standard of the College back play improved wonderfully, and they showed great dash. Mason used his head behind the scrum, though he was a trifle slow at times ’ in getting the ball away. Mackey, first five-eighths, again handled well, and a feature of his play \was his straight running. He was directly responsible for one try when he dashed right through and handed on to Lawrie in the corner. Lawrie was conspicuous throughout, and was the outstanding back. He was of immense value to Training College, being speedy, resourceful and handling cleanly. With more confidence he should develop into a firstclass centre.

Butler was a tower of strength to College, and was instrumental in initiating some promising back movements. In the forwards Baunton, Peacock and Jensen did good work. Grammar was patchy in the backs, although they brought off some good rushes and made judicious use of the reverse pass. J. Wilson was very reliable on the wing and made some strong dashes. C. Badeley played a solid game, while P. Skelton, recently promoted to the pack, well justified his inclusion. Peacock was in everything, while Batty, Knight and McCarthy were prominent. Manukau Downs Rifles

College Rifles put up an unexpectedly good fight against Manukau Rovers at Onehunga, and the result of

the game was doubtful almost to the call of time. Attack after attack was launched by the home backs against the Blue line, but, in nearly every case, a desperate defence kept them out. When they did have a clear run the Blacks either knocked on or gave forward passes right on the College line. Except for the third quarter, when the Blues made a remarkable recovery, the advantage of the game was held, territorially at least, by Manukau, who was, however, una.ble to take much advantage of it. Play in the third quarter showed a remarkable transformation, Rifles taking complete charge of the game. Manukau seemed all at sea for a time, and the Blues were unlucky not to get over on several occasions.