OLD BOYS HAVE DECISIVE WIN

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32620, 31 May 1971, Page 16

OLD BOYS HAVE DECISIVE WIN

HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS 12: G. Henry„ J. Calder, A. Tweedie, and L Taylor, tries.

MERIVALE-PAPANUI 5: W McLaughlan, try; R. Griffiths, conversion.

Merivale-Papanul played some of its best Rugby of the season to lead, 5-3, at half-time, but in the second spell Old Boys made better use of the ball lhey received and won decisively. Even so. Old Boys allowed many good scoring chances to - begging, and with Calder having a bad day with his goal-kicking the side’s scoring was much less than it could have been. Once again bad passing and handling in mid-field shackled the Old Boys backs, although part of the problem was the slow service to mid-field. In the first half the MerivalePapanul forwards drove and for-

aged with more fire and purpose than has come to be expected from them, but after the changeover their attitude was less dynamic and the Old Boys eight was mostly in command. With the exception of the first five-eighths, W. Hikuroa, who was tidy enough in what he did, and the full-back, Grifffiths, whose fielding of the ball was always safe, the Merivale-Papanul back-line had little to distinguish it. In the early stages it also revealed some alarming deficiencies on defence, but later improved in this department. The Old Boys wings, Tweedie and Taylor, once again looked a most useful pair, but suffered through lack of opportunities. J. Matthews, at centre, moved sweetly enough, but his hands let him down too often and he threw some dreadful passes. Henry, the second five-eighths, ran hard on attack and brought off some excellent tackles, and, along with the unobtrusive but the efficient full-back, R. Stanbury, was the pick of the Old Boys backs. K. Honeybone and his locking partner, J. Ferandex, reigned supreme in the line-outs and both were willing workers in tight play. The prop, G. Glackin, however, was perhaps the most consistent toiler, with the No. 8, S. Purdon, being head and shoulders above the game’s other loose forwards. The lock, D. Warren, played his usual honest game for MerivalePapanui and in the front row, D. Lockington stuck to his task and chased hard in the loose. Referee: Mr B. Stanley.