TWO POINTS AHEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 371, 4 June 1928, Page 6

TWO POINTS AHEAD

Ponsonby Leads University

MANUKAU’S STERLING RECOVERY

PONSONBY’S hold on the Senior Rugby championship is not strengthened in consequence of Saturday’s matches, in which the leaders were put back a peg in a drawn game with Training College. A last-moment recovery at the Shore allowed Varsity to continue on its winning way, while both Marists and Manukau, the former exhibiting rare form, improved their positions as serious factors in the competition. Ponsonby is now two points ahead of Varsity. The two teams meet next Saturday.

PONSONBY’S NEMESIS

TRAINING COLLEGE AGAIN Ponsonby’s Nemesis overtook the champions again on Saturday, when the crowd at Eden Park watched a vigorous curtain-raiser in which Training College, repeating the feat with which it made history last season, held the competition leaders to a draw. At one stage, with only a few minutes to go, Training College had the lead, but failed to retain it. Scoring an equalising try, Ponsonby had the chance of a win depending on the kick, but Berridge could make neither the angle nor the distance. There were those who, before the game, had cherished secret hopes that Training College might surprise Ponsonby, but they were hopes that seemed too extravagant to be publicly communicated, as Training College at present is by no means the side it was last year. Last season, when Training College forced Ponsonby to a draw at 15 all, the fact was achieved through the sheer merit of the Training College team, which had good forwards supported by very sound backs. On SaturrV"* however, it was rather a case in which a weak side was keyed up to a bie- occasion—this was Training College’s first appearance on the main ground this season—while the champion side, on the other hand, was obviously caught “on the hop.” The Ponsonby pack was soundly beaten forward, but the Training College backs were quite incapable of driving home the thrusts of their forwards. In the second spell, when Ponsonby was striving to take the lead from 3 all. as the scores stood at half time, the Ponies held a fairly consistent territorial advantage, but th** backs could never quite get home. This was the position when the Training College pack swamped Cammick, who was behind the Ponsonby pack, and drove over at the corner for Peacock to touch down.

Training College thus led, and the sensation 3f the season was in sight until R. Hook’s speed, coupled with an error of judgment by Hill, his opposing wing, who allowed himself to be drawn infield, instead of guarding? his own man, allowed Ponsonby to snatch the match half, if not entirely, out of the fire. This breach of Hill’s was, perhaps, the only reproach to which, in a defensive sense, the College backs were open. In general their tackling was irreproachable. They withstood wave after wave of the Ponsonby attacks, and Berridge, L. Hook, Jameson and Co., meeting such invulnerable tackling, must have wondered what barrier they had encountered. Even discounting the opposing defence. however, the Ponsonby backs were distinctly below par. First K. Hook, and then Cammick, was tried at half-back, and neither arrangement was particularly satisfactory, Cammick’s display in the second spell being poor. G. O. McLeod, the ex-Varsity wing, and a Rhodes scholarship nominee, made an appearance at wing for Ponsonby. Though he played soundly and was obviously ~«r. he was handicapped by the severe harrying to which the opposing team subjected the men inside him.

Scoring in the first spell was done by L. Hook, who slipped round the Ponsonby pack, from his position as temporary half-back, to score after a smart solo effort, and Abbott, who kicked a nice penalty goal for Training College. Later scoring was as noted. Abbott. Mason and Laurie were a sound bunch among the Training College backs, but the handline: generally was poor. From this must be excepted Butler, at full-track. w*»o gave a grand all-round display. Peacock Johnson and Guy were prominent in a. hard-working pack. Mr. J. Sweeney refereed.