OLD BOYS BEAT RAETIHI

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 75, 26 September 1927, Page 14

OLD BOYS BEAT RAETIHI

Speed .was..the main factor in the victory of the Old Boys team over Raetihi United at Athletic Park on Saturday. The game was played as a curtain-raiser, and Old Boys beat the' visitors by 27 points to 13. The backs o£ the winning side were always dangerous, and their forwards gave them plenty of ball. In the' first half Old Boys had the advantage of the stiff wind, and when the spell came .were leaders by 18 points to 3. However, in the second half, honours were even as far as the number of tries were concerned, and Raetihi would have done better had the backs been on the move when taking the ball in passing rushes. The teams were:— Old Boys (white): Grant; E. Lamason, Patrick, Bedell, Dv Chateau, M'Donald; Chitty; Jones; Shannon, Bray, Menzies, Reynolds, M'Kenzie, Meadows, Hand. Kaetihi (blue): Parrant; Miiaed, Evans, Reid; Garmonsway, C. Simpson; Waters; J. Simpson; Nissen, Olliver, Gibson, Johansen, Williams; Ward, Godfrey. Old. Boys at,once rushed the play into the visitors' twenty-five, and in the passing rush the Kail went out to R. Lamasou, who scored wide out. Grant failed to convert. It was: not-long before the White rearguard was again away at full speed; and Bedell finished, off a splendid movement with a, try. Grant converted from near the side line. The Whites were soon within striking distance again, and\Bedell, picking up in the loose, went over and ran under'-the posts. , Grant converted. After an attack by the Old Boys forwards, the visitors made a big effort and dribbled iip the ; field ■ into the White's twentyfive. The ball was kicked over the goalline and C. Simpson got there first. Parrant failed to goal. Soon after the, kickout the Blues were again showing a superiority in forward play, but the forcedown saved the homo side. Old Boys were more enterprising in throwing the ball . about, and just before half-time M'Kenzie , scored from a.passinp; rush. Grant's kick was-successful. Old Boys 18, Raetihi 3. ! ■ At the beginning of the second spell the ' visitors had all the better of the game, and it took a stout defence to keep them at bay. 'Waters cut "in. and made a brilliant. opening for Garmonsway to score under I the posts. Parrant converted. Ilowever) i Old Boys replied with the best try of the day. ' M'Donald ripped through the Blues with a lightning dash and ended a 1 sixty yards. run with a brilliant try. I Grant's kick was wide. The best passing ] rush' by the visiting backs paved the way I for M'Leod to dive over, l-'arrant goaled. j After a Raetihi attack the Old Boys forwards took command and swept play into the Blue :t\yenty-five, where Grant increased' White's score with a penalty. Bedell-made a fine run up , the side Hue, .but Parrant brought him, down.. However, Old Boys forwards carried on" and Hand got over in a scramble. Grant just missed with the kick and tho final score was: Old Boys 27, Raetihi ]3. Mr. J.Wilson: was the referee.