VARSITY ROMPS HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 655, 6 May 1929, Page 6

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RIFLES’ POOR SHOWING A very different team from that which went down to Training College in the first match of the season. Varsity played all over College Rifles to gain a victory by the substantial margin of 45-6. The Rifles’ pack made valiant efforts to hold the winners, but lightning thrusts by the Varsity rear division found great gaps in the defence and the game degenerated into a rout. Varsity notched. 10 tries, six of which Bush converted. The Varsity fullback also kicked a - penalty goal. Rifles’ scoring was done with the boot. Anderson, Brooker and Linton were tho best of a vigorous pack. Of the Rifles’ forwards, Souter and Stewart, particularly, made herculean efforts to hold their heavier opponents. Donald had a good share of the leather, but was rather selfish with it. He preferred to trust to his own weight and dash rather than passing out, and the result was that, more often than not, he was grassed, ball and all. Kirk was sound on defence behind the Rifles’ scrum and Gillespie played his usual bright game. Wilson at centre made good use of a hefty boot, but the wings, Webber and McGregor, did not shine and their attempts to stop Goodwin and Minns were fruitless. Varsity backs showed improved form, though there is still a weakness near the scrum. Mathieson was the most improved of the inside backs. Minns with four tries and Goodwin with three had something of a day out. Minns particularly made the Rifles’ defence look foolish with tricky runs. Bush had a quiet time but discharged his obligations with credit. He was kicking well and scored 15 points with his boot. Mr. G. Peace carried the whistle.

GRAFTON SPEEDS UP

WIN SNATCHED FROM CITY

After spending the whole of the first quarter and the greater part of the second and third in repelling fierce attacks by the City pack, Grafton woke up in the last spell to snatch the game out of the fire. City started off at a great pace and a solid pack made things awkward for Grafton. Although being given plenty of the leather the attackers’ backs threw away numerous openings by wild passing and failure to give each other support. Herewini, City’s new fullback, started most of the movements, racing up with a good turn of speed to give chance after chance to his colleagues. In spite of undoubted territorial advantages, City had only a one point margin with 15 minutes to go. Grafton lasted better and dominated the game in the final stages and putting on eight points. The City pack was ably led by Holt, while Allen and Locke were prominent. Wanoa, Kaa and Finlayson were the best of the Grafton forwards, and Hargreaves played a vigorous game as rover. Grafton had the advantage of its opponents in the backs, as was well demonstrated in the concluding stages of the game. Berridge played bright Rugby for City, but his wingers let him down at times badly. Kerr-Taylor and Ifwerson threw away several chances and were rather overshadowed by Liddell and Ruru, the Grafton wings. McKay, Grafton half, was sound on defence. The fullbacks were both rather patchy and nearly had their sides in trouble on more than one occasion. Herewini (City) gave the impression that he would have preferred to be in the threequarter line. He was not steady enough for the position he occupied on Saturday. The referee was Mr. L. Guiney.

CYCLING

SATURDAY’S ROAD RACES MANUKAU AND AUCKLAND CLUBS The Manukau Amateur Cycling Club continued its road-racing competitions last Saturday, after an interval of two weeks. Splendid weather prevailed, and large fields favoured both races, a 5?- miles junior and an 11 miles senior event. Eleven started in the junior race and 42 in the senior. The senior race, over two laps, resulted in a great finish, and a feature of the event was the line, exhibition of pacing work given by the 55s men, the leader of whom, S. Baird, clocked 13m 51s for the first lap of 5£ miles. Baird’s time lowers the old record by 4s. This group, accompanied by no fewer than 13 others, making a bunch of 18, entered their final lap only 53s behind the actual leaders, having reduced the limit man’s handicap lead by as much as 2m 225. For the first lap none of the other groups returned last times, so one of the 55s men was assured of gaining fastest time honours. The honour went to C. G. Galbraith, whose time for the 11 miles constitutes a record. The previous best time stood to C. Francis at 28m 50s. The official placings for the two races are as follow:—* 11 Miles Senior Race.—L. Aldred, lm ss, 1; C. Harris, lm 15s, 2; E. A. Cleaver, lm ss, 3. Fastest time was returned by C. G. Galbraith, 555, in 28m 255. Aldi'ed won by a length, a wheel separating the second and third men. 5J Miles Junior Race.—E. Hall, 10s, 1; D. Milne, 20s, 2; G. M. Lethaby, 20s, 3. Hall also registered fastest time in 15m ISb ‘ THE AUCKLAND CLUB Seventeen riders took part in the 13 miles road race conducted by the Auckland Cycle Club at Mangere on Saturday. The race was characterised by the fine riding of the two limit men, C. Storey and J. Jacob, off 7m. They were never troubled and held a good lead throughout the event. On the first circuit they were 5m 50s ahead of the scratch trio, Hayes, Lindop and Prior, who had lost 6s on D. Storey, X. Healey and F. Potter, off 11m. The positions remained unaltered over the final lap, and the race resulted as follows’-

C. Storey, 7m, 1; .1. Jacob, 7m, 2; E. Lowndes. 3m, 3. Time, 3Sm 13s. D. Storev returned the fastest time in o4m 42 l-ss.

DAVIS CUP TENNIS

AMERICAN TEAM CHOSEN (Australian and "S'.Z . Press Association) (United Service) TORONTO, Saturday. Crocker, Wright. Rainville and Ham have been selected to represent Canada in the first round of the Davis Cup matches against the United States, which will be played at Montreal on May 16. A message from Philadelphia says Hunter defeated Hennessey, 6—4. 4 —R, H—4, and Vanryn defeated Allison, 6—4. 6—3, in a Davis Cup trial match to-day.