SIDELIGHTS FROM THE SIDELINE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 187, 7 May 1934, Page 11

SIDELIGHTS FROM THE SIDELINE

Play and Players' ERICSSON’S DAY Hill, who substituted for Sadler at halfback for College Old Boys, made a great success of his opportunity. His deience was almost faultless, particularly his snap kicking for the line, while several times in the first spell he used the wind to get Petone into difficulties with wellpitched punts. He fed Baldwin judiciously and, altogether, played a splendid wet weather game. Taking advantage of some veiy pour tackling in the Petone five-eighth line, Baldwin made some devastating excursions through the opposing backs and paved the way for two tries by Old Boys. The opening he made for Grenfell to score Old Boys’ last try was a dazzler. Old Boys* demonstrated just how demoralising the real foot rush can be. especially in bad ground.' Bydder, Williams, James. Wright and Grenfell made some devastating attacks by this method and often found the Petone defence badly wanting: It was the best forward play seen on Athletic Park for many a day.

Hollis (Old Boys) gives further evb deuce each week of the improvement he is making as a wing three-quarter. Some of his work iu attack was high-class, while his defence was safe and his tackling always of the solid variety. ♦ * *

Masters redeemed his poor display against Marist with a sound game against Petone under treacherous conditions. Some of his ground fielding was up to the very best class.

There was little football of an inspiring nature in the Marist-Eastbourne game. Neither side adopted tactics best suited to the weather conditions, but Eastbourne were the most persistent in trying the fine weather game. This, and the superiority of the Marists in rugged forward work, and in defence, sums up the run of play. Eastbourne’s defence in rushstopping. with the exception of Crisp, at full-back, was very weak.

Crisp and Ericsson, the opposing fullbacks, both played good games, m fact they stood out from all other backs fielding safely, tackling accurately, and stopping rushes solidly. Ericsson was .in good form, kicking four goals, giving Fuller a taste of his own medicine.

Fuller wa* off colour in this ,respect. In the general run of play he hardly got a chance, the ball failing to reach him in passing rushes.

Ottaway led the Marist pack in fine style. He is a rugged type of forward, not afraid of hard work.

Eastbourne's inside backs are weax, particularly close to the. scrum. Saturday’s conditions are a fair excuse,' but they failed to realise that it was a day when standing deep and at fine weather intervals could not possibly succeed. In addition, Robins and Co. stood right up to them.

O'Connor, behind the Marist pack, did good work, and has a very handy kick to the line with either foot very much in the style of Kilby.

Poneke received an object lesson in hooking from Mollicr, of the Athletic team. The Poneke rake, Quaid, rarely scored a clean hook from hi's opponent, and he gave the impression that the three front row does not suit him as well as the traditional New Zealand formation. Quaid represented Canterbury, and ( was a first-class hooker in the days of the two front row scrum. Apart from scrummaging, his work was good, and* he led a number of Poneke - forward rushes, but lacked support.

The strength of Athletic’s defence against Poneke was revealed in the brilliant kicking of both Evans at first fiveeighth and 'Scotland at full-back, Evans realised the futility of using his backs, and his splendid judgment in placing the ball behind the Poneke three-quarter line and out of reach of Simons turned the opposition back many times.

* * * . - Scotland revealed a perfect pair of hands and judgment in positional play, and should make his mark as a fullback.

The Poneke pack, reputed to be one of the strongest the club has fielded for sojne years, was a marked disappointment. For years Poneke have been noted for traditions in forward play, but these traditions were conspicuous by their absence. There was little concerted work 'of any value.

Though Tindill played n big part in Athletic's fine win over Poneke, he did not show any of the decided promise he revealed last season. He gave one the impression that he would make a strapping five-eighth as he has a very safe pair of hands, a dangerous boot, and more than a smattering of tactical knowledge, while his defence is very sound. 5 » » •

L. Simons, who has played some brilliant games as full-back in [he League game and who was the only worth-while back against the English team in Wellington two'.seasons ago. was rather a disappointment for Ponoge against Athletic. Although an old Rugby player of ability, he lacked knowledge of positional play, while his defence was poor.

Upchurch. Athletic’s utility back, who can play anywhere from half-back to wing three-quarter, produced some excellent wet weather football and was the best attacking back on the ground.