GRAFTON DISAPPOINTS THE CROWD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 359, 21 May 1928, Page 6

GRAFTON DISAPPOINTS THE CROWD

PONSONBY IN SPECTACULAR MOOD GRAMMAR PACK OUTPOINTS UNIVERSITY PONSONBY’y position at the head of the senior Rugby competition is unaffected by the result of Saturday’s games. The champions really benefit, for they won handsomely from Grafton, while Grammar and Varsity drew, which places Ponsonby a point further ahead of its chief rivals. Brilliant and spectacular tries by Macintosh, Ruru and Cammick were outstanding incidents at Eden Park.

'■’uni paralysis mat seizes an apparently first-rate Rugby team is difficult to understand. It was some such malady that crippled Grafton for three-fourths of its match against Ponsonby on Saturday, when the Magpies faded out after a whirlwind opening, which they reproduced in surprising fashion in the closing stages of the game. Within three minutes of the opening s. Ponsonby force-down and a try stood to Grafton’s credit. Paewai displayed electric elusiveness in repeated attacks by the Grafton backs. For the first 10 or 15 minutes the Magpies held clear-cut command of the proceedings, and then the mantle of superiority fell from them like a worn-out garment, and until 10 minutes from closing time they were a colourless and unimpressive side. To account for the Grafton slump is not difficult. Outside Paewai and Liddle the team lacks a back upon whom any reliance at all can be placed. All are capable of brilliance, but spasmodic brilliance does not win matches. Ruru w who showed pace and enterprise on the wing, spoilt a good exhibition by allowing R. Hook to catch him yards out of place when Cammick short-punted, well on in the proceedings. A try was the result It looked a very simple means of scoring. Farmer and Fergusson, linking Pqowai with the wings, were wretchedly unreliable. Even Paewai, obviously feeling the effects of his recent bout of flu, dropped out of the picture after liis meteoric opening. GRAFTON FORWARDS FADE The real surprise was tl.o poor showing of the Grafton pack for the greater part of the game. Where they should have been pushing the Ponsonby forwards all over the paddock, as they are capable of doing, they were pottering about, often getting in each other’s road and tossing out wild passes that frequently led to trouble. In this both Hammond and Compton wore offenders. Wanoa led his uninspired followers In brilliant style. He displeved the speed of a back and the physical strength of a giant. With him all tho way were Noakes, Finlayson and Donaldson, an earnest and enterprising trio. Donaldson, the recruit from North Auckland, was repeatedly conspicuous in the open, ard would make agool rover. Grafton needs something of the kind, for Hargreaves failed to make his presence felt. Taking the field with a drast-rally rearranged team, Ponsonby appeared to be undertaking a risky experiment, but it was an experiment that came off successfully. L. Hook at wingforward used his speed to damaging effect, and Conway at halfback was exceptionally smart. Knight, on R Hook’s usual wing, was another newcomer and he tackled excellently. Though beaten for the ball in the majority of scrums, the Ponsonby pack usually had things its own way. Palmer leading it in his usual capable style. Behind such forwards the Ponsonby back had a field day. Early in the piece Paewai was running rings round R. Hook and Berridge, stranding them time and again, but later on they got his measure and then began to stage fireworks themselves. Berridge was wisely content to be a link in the chain and outside him, handling with astonishing accuracy, Cammick and Jameson were full of tricks. Further astern Fraser again proved that he is a very reliable fullback. The run of the scoring swung in Ponsonby’s favour after Grafton had taken the lead with a try by Farmer, who led Grafton across in a fast, swarming movement. R. Hook is showing his value as a real try-getting machine, and much of his work is marked by real brilliance. Jameson, too. was in the picture on Saturday, and scored a lovely try by swerving brilliantly through the Grafton centre. With a big tally up against them. Grafton reserved a vigorous offensive for the closing stages. Infusing a new fire and an inspiration into their play, they set the crowd wondering why this had not been produced earlier. For the last 10 minutes Grafton was clearly on top, and Ruru, skipping round the Ponsonby flank, crowned their efforts with a clever try. The final score of 34-14'hardly did justice to Grafton. There was not 20 points between the teams, but Ponsonby v 'as, nevertheless, very clearly superior. Scorers for the winners were: Charles (2). Palmer. Jameson, R. Hook. Cammick, and Bunting. Berridge kicked a penalty and four conversions. For Grafton the try-getters were Riddle, Ruru, Keary and Hammond. Turei converting one try. Mr. G. Grigg refereed ably. POSITION_REVERSED COLLEGE RIFLES WIN Although they had a deficit of six points early in the game against North Shore on Saturday. College Rifles made a remarkable recovery, and, notching a one-point lead, they held on until condition told on their opponents, and finally left the field winners by 10 points to 6. The opening exchanges were full ot adversity for College Rifles, L. Johnson kicking a penalty for North Shore a few minutes after the start. Penalties were frequent and a feature of the game was the number of infringements . . "When Simpson forced his way over and added another three points for North Shore, the game looked like developing into a one-sided one. It seesawed for some time, North Shore attacking repeatedly, but although they seriously threatened College Rifles line, they were unable to cross. McOregor opened College Rifles’ account witli an excellent field goal. Fisher of the same team, immediately afterwards narrowly failed with a fine listance shot. This placed Col--1,.,... Rifles one point in the lead, and they stuck to it doggedly. In the closing stages Rifles pressed steadily, and finally Webber scored, it was remarkable how Blyth was given opportunities by North Shore to send this winger away on the blind shin, where he made some dangerous Ij Authreau, the North Shore forward, wlille playing a good game, had a penchant for getting off-side, and earned his side some penalties. Among ,1 ~ North Shore forwards A. Smith was prominent. Lynch made a beau-

tiful run early in the second spell, being brought down right cn the line. Solomon was in his usual good form and figured in many movements. Holmes, who has returned to Rugby from the rival code, did not get many chances, but made his presence felt. R. Stokes was handy at centre. Simpson was a great worker in the pack. The College Rifles forwards were a solid pack. Blyth, the half-back, used his brains, while McGregor was very sound as first five-eighths. Webber showed plenty of dash on the wing. GRAMMAR IMPROVES DRAW WITH VARSITY Early patrons at Eden Park were treated to spectacular football in the game provided by Grammar and Varsity.. The only regret is that an extra 10 minutes could not have been added to the final quarter. FROM the start a pretty solid pace was set, and was well sustained. Toward the end torrid bursts of play, as first one side and then the other attacked, had the crowd continually on its feet. The final score, eight all, was a good indication of the merits of the respective teams on the day, but nevertheless it is fairly apparent that Varsity is slightly the better side, and the legitimate white hope to whom enthusiasts are looking to lower the Ponsonby colours. Before this is accomplished, however, radical improvements will have to be effected to the Varsity five-eighth line, which at present is deplorably weak. Jenkin at first five-eighth was not up to usual form and it is questionable how much of this was due to the weakness of his associate, Stotter. Bush, the Varsity fullback, must be regarded as a distinct find, and if he only retains the form shown on Saturday he must quickly assert his right to participate in more serious football. His tackling and kicking is of a high order and he is also well equipped in regard to size. The occasions on which Macintosh found it necessary to kick the ball could be numbered on one hand, and naturally his “give it a go’* tactics have brought the Flying Scotsman into great popularity with the crowd which dearly loves a run for its money. A powerful stride makes him a hard man to tackle and a propensity for drawing one leg through the tackle makes him difficult to hold. His try in the second half when, well in his stride, he scooped up a half bounce, to sprint horn© was an excellent piece of work. Incidentally, half the credit should go to Keene, who paved its way. Keene registered another sterling performance on Saturday. "With a happy mixture of wing-forward and roving play he was continually at the seat of operations which, as far as the Grammar offensives were concerned, was generally somewhere in the vicinity of Ces Badeley. Of the packmen Linton, Hindenach, Anderson and Brooker, the former particularly, were about the best of a pack which ably withstood the onslaughts of a heavier and more powerful set of forwards. BADELEY ON THE JOB In pegging level with the betterbalanced Varsity combination Grammar has largely to thank its pack, which is beginning to realise how good it can be, and the five-eighths, Badeley and Skelton. Obviousty getting into better condition, Ces Badeley played one of his old games. He had his finger into every pie and in the passing rushes manoeuvred for openings with a noticeable display of football sense. Skelton was right on the job, and his display will undoubtedly create considerable comment. In beating his man and still maintaining connection he showed a. nice appreciation of the use of the cut-in. As a pair they also work well together. Until he stopped a bad blow in trying to gather in Macintosh Hutchison played a steady and very useful game at centre. At fullback, L. Schnauer, although overshadowed by Bush, made few mistakes and acquitted himself with distinction. Weir, a newcomer to the Grammar backs, made a reliable half which, in these days, is something to be thankful for. The forwards showed great improvement over their displays of previous Saturdays. Batty, Knight and Cathcart were the leaders, with Peacock also commanding attention. CITY DOWNS MARISTS BATTLING NEW FORWARDS Fierce tackling, much of it unnecessary, and general hard play, were the features of City’s somewhat easy victoy over Marists at the Show Grounds. There was not a little booing and shouting from the stand as the opposing forwards came to grips and dumped one another mercilessly. Leading the Red pack, Fletcher, Fell and Sorenson used their combined weight to great advantage. Apart from some flashes in the loose, the Blue forwards were disappointing, Moore and Judd being the only men to put up any resistance to the onslaughts of the Red van. Moore particularly shone in the loose, his dribbling being excellent. Owing to Maipgay’s removal to the country, and Heard’s injury, the Red backs were completely reorganised, and, in the circumstances, put up an excellent display. Dobson, who played behind the scrum, soon adapted himself to the position and fed his backs well, though the Marists rover was after him all the time. Jacobs, whose usual plae is full-back, and who was injured in the first match of the season, played a very fair game at first five. At centre Crook was not quite up to his usual form, though, with Ellis, who played a bright game on the left wing, he made some tricky runs. Among the backs, however, the highest praise is due to Kerr-Taylor, who left his place on the wing to play full-back. Marists’ backs had only one fault. They would not run straight. Stuart, the centre, was the chief offender in this direction, and made runs of as much as 25 yards, without gaining 18 inches. The backs were speedy, their

passing was usually reliable, and, in the early part of the game they got plenty of ball, yet no advantage was taken of it. Larsen, though too big a man for the position, played a good spoiling game at first five. Next among the backs comes Johnson, who played a sound game on the wing. Stoupe, at the opposite end of the three-quarter line, was far too tricky. Frequently he dummied a.nd sidestepped his way past several Red men, but never looked like going through the defence. AT ONEHUNGA MANUKAU BEATS DUNEDIN Owing to Training College being "unable to fulfil its engagements with Manukau Rovers, the Onehunga men played a team from H.M!.S. Runedin on the home ground. The game for the most part was a poor exhibition of Rugby, Manukau being the winner by a penalty goal and a try to nil. A considerably weakened team with Falwasser among those absent, took the field facing both sun and wind. Close, even play ensued, Manukau failing to score through faulty handling. Indeed, on both sides, good clean passing was very seldom in evidence. The naval men were continually on the offensive but several penalties were given against them. No score was registered in the first quarter. The change-over saw Rata kick a goal from behind the quarter line, thus making the first score. Play moved up and down field but no scoring movements seemed likely to eventuate. Five minutes before half-time, however, the Manukau backs got the ball and quite an excellent piece of play saw Albon on the wing dive over at the corner. Rata failed to convert. Half-time:— Manukau g H.M.S. Dunedin 0 On resumption, the Dunedin men continued to press, but always without result. Excitement rose when Brimble for Manukau broke through but his speed was lacking and the movement proved fruitless. Shortly after the same player was compelled to retire with a sprained ankle. Play continued of a see-saw nature with honours even. Manukau cannot be congratulated on the win. The final score was six to nil. Referee: Captain J. G. Wales.