PATCHY FOOTBALL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 751, 26 August 1929, Page 6

PATCHY FOOTBALL

GRAMMAR BEATS NEW PLYMOUTH GAME DISAPPOINTING Disappointing back play was an unusual feature of the annual Rugby match between Auckland Grammar School and New Plymouth High School played at Eden Park on Saturday. There was no lack of enthusiasm, however, on the part of both spectators and players and Grammar was thirsting to avenge its 49 points defeat of last season. The pace was hot all through and both teams were done when no-side was called, leaving Grammar eight points up. The packs were well-matched and there were some great loose rushes on both sides. Grammar had the best of things in the tight but, with the exception of Newton, the insides were disappointing and the backs made little use of their share of the leather. The worst of the faults was a tendency on both sides to run across field with the result that some movements in which the whole string figured lost a yard or two and only served to bring play to the opposite side of the field. Tho stab kick was done to death and New Plymouth lost chance after chance, because the five-eighths preferred the grubber to an attempt to beat their men and hand on to a pair of good wingers. In the second half the visitors were within striking distance repeatedly and it was only poor tactics and deadly tackling that kept tho 'Whites out. Of clever individual work there was no lack but the tackling was sound and it was rarely that a man got far on his own.

In the first half no side looked much like scoring and the play was tame. New Plymouth had the best of a fairly even second spell, but the pace slowed up at the finish. Gibbons, captain and second five-eighths, was the brains of the New Plymouth rearguard, but was inclined to be selfish and starved his tlireequarters. ITe made repeated efforts to get through on his own and succeeded on occasion, but his lack of pace lost him the advantage he had gained. Parkes was fair inside him, but was handicapped by the poor passes McLean was sending out from the scrum—passes that were only an inch or two above the ground. Two good wingers in Morris and Snell saw little of the ball but showed that, given the opportunity, they could have made things awkward for Grammar. Ekdahl was also sound. Snell made several dashes for the line but his insides had not given him sufficient room in which to move. Bedford, the fullback, had a hefty boot and tackled well, but was inclined to get bustled easily. He was responsible for some glaring obstructionist play. Dallison and Short wero possibly the best of a well-bal-anced pack. Newton was the star of the Grammar side. Shooting out dive passes from the scrum, the little Maori set the ball of attack rolling repeatedly, only to see his backs fail him. He was very sound on defence also and possesses that quality of the good halfback of seeming to be wherever the play is thickest. Slyfield was the better of tho five-eighths,-both of whom were inclined to go too much alone. They did not. run straight and crowded their tlireequarters badly. Savory, at centre, though also an individualist, was one of the cleverest backs on the ground and made some sparkling runs. Five of Grammar’s points came from his boot. ITammon was the better of the two wingers, tackling and following up well. Currey was also good and his try was a splendid effort. McFarland was an efficient fullback. His kicking and handling were excellent and he got his side out of some difficult situations. Trewheela, Lockington and Mcßeatli led the pack. Mr. F. E. Sutherland refereed.

SAILORS BEATEN DEVONPORT’S EASY WIN In a coloLirless and unexciting game at the Devonport ground on Saturday afternoon, North Shore trounced a team from H.M.S. Dunedin to the tune of 23 to nil. Play was uninteresting from the outset, the greens thoroughly outclassing the naval men throughout. The sailors lacked combination, as the team was a scratch one, many of the ship's star players having been incapacitated in games played during the Australian cruise. Drizzling rain soon after the commencement soaked the ground and bali, and resolved the game into a hard forward struggle, the backs having little opportunity to handle the ball. Of a poor combination from the ship, Boston at fullback, and McNeil in the forwards, were perhaps the best. The former had little chance to show his ability, but when he got the chance his tackling and kicking were sound. McNeil was brilliant in the forwards, but unfortunately his were solo efforts, other members of the pack being unable to support him. On the Shore side Hayes, a Takapuna Grammar colt, was sound, his field goal early in the game being a great effort that earned the acclamation of the crowd. D’Autlireau seemed to be in a scoring mood, his two tries being well managed affairs. Hume, McKay and Newman were also scorers for the victors. Lynch was not up to his usual form with the boot, as several unsuccessful kicks at goal demonstrated. Altogether the game was a poor exhibition of the code. Mr. J. Corner was the referee. TO PLAY CANTERBURY Mr. V. R. Meredith has chosen the following team to represent Auckland against Canterbury, at Eden Park next Saturday:— Fullback. —Butler. Tlireequarters.—Lucas. Bush. Minns. Five-eighths.—L. Hook, Jamieson. Halfback.—Corner.

Rover. —Fletcher. Forwards.- —Hadley. Finlayson, A. Knight. McWilliams, Anderson, L. Knight, W. Batty.

INTER-COLLEGE RUGBY TOURNAMENT IN SOUTH Press Association WELLINGTON, Saturday. The annual inter-college Rugby tournament between Wellington, Christ’s, Wanganui, and Nelson Colleges began today. Wanganui drew with Nelson, nine points all, Nelson equalling in the last minute. For Wanganui, Ranbow, Pomare, and Kemp scored tries, and for Nelson Newman kicked a penalty, and Duncan and Stewart scored tries. The result leaves Nelson to play in the big match on Monday. Wellington achieved a narrow victory over Christ’s by 8 points to 6. Carlson scored for Wellington, and kicked the goal, Stephenson scoring an unconverted try. For Christ’s, Acton-Adams and Aitken scored unconverted tries. On Monday Nelson ahd Wellington will play to decide the winners of the tourney, and Wanganui and Christ’s will also meet. There was a large c.rowd today at both matches. The ground was very soft and heavy, but the standard of play was in keeping with the best traditions of college Rugby, being fast and open, with deadly tackling. RANFURLY SHIELD TEAM CANTERBURY REPRESENTATIVES Press Associatioii CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. The Canterbury team for the Ranfurly Shield match with Wairarapa is: Backs.—Harris. Hart, Carlton. Steel, Oliver, Lilburne (captain). Mullan. Forwards.—Scrimshaw, Cottrell. Burrows. Anderson, Baird. MLyrchester, Toby. Robinson. Manning. Emergencies.—Hay, Innes, Merritt, Hodgkinson, Thompson, Carson, Kirkland.