JUNIOR NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1051, 15 August 1930, Page 6

JUNIOR NOTES

Ponsonby. the runner-up of the second grade competition last season, and which is leading in the B section this year, ran up a big score of 32 to 3 against Technical on Saturday. The sodden grounds provided the players with plenty of opportunity for dribbling work, and the speedy Ponies pack was quick to appreciate and adapt its play to the conditions. This team, like College Rifles in the A section. has an unbeaten record so far, and indications are not wanting that these two teams will fight out the championship, which is expected to produce a great struggle.

Probably the most formidable opposition for the section final will come from the much-improved Grammar colts team, which was last season’s champions. The combination of the team has improved to a marked degree since Ponsonby won in the first game of the opening round. Frankham, at the base of the scrum, is invariably sound on defence, and is forceful and shows good penetrative ability on attack. Pollock, who is a fine pack leader, has developed into a very promising forward, while Lockington is another of the All Whites’ coming players. The team scored an easy win over College Rifles B on Saturday by 22 points to nil.

One of the keenest teams in competition is Parnell, whose players were particularly raw when the season started, and although it was beaten in each of earlier games, it showed commendable spirit. On Saturday, with only 13 men, the remainer being on the injured list, Parnell met Royal Naval Reserve. In the early part of the game R.N.R. dominated the run of play, but in the second spell Parnell forwards, with the ball at their toes, broke through time and again, crossing their opponents’ line four- times only to lose the ball through over-eagerness. The game ended with the scores 16 —5. but this did not indicate the difference between the teams.