SENIOR A GRADE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 112, 14 May 1928, Page 14

SENIOR A GRADE

ORIENTAL AND OLD BOYS. ■• As a spectacle the game between Old Boys and Oriental, played in the presence of about 5000 spectators at Athletic Park, was well ahead of that of the previous Saturday on the same ground, and for keenness of combat it also showed a marked advance. Oriental, playing against wind and sun in the first spell, kept last year's champions well in check, and on the run of play up to half-time, it seemed that the latter's lead of six points was not big enough. This proved to be the case, and when Oriental evened up later in the game Old Boys' stocks diminished.- A potted goal further improved Oriental's account, and this gave rise to a very stirring finish, in which Old Boys battled strenuously to avert defeat. More than once they went within an aca of scoring, and in these exciting moments the crowd's enthusiasm was at a high pitch. Over-eagerness lost Old Boys one golden opportunity, and in the end they had to accept defeat at the hands of a team whose improved showing carried them through to a popular victory. The teams were: — Oriental.—Spaldiug; Townshend, Packnatz, Walker; Davies, M'Nicol; Chambers; Hill; H. Smith, Fox, Graham, Pinkerton, Williams, Lincoln, R. Smith. Old Boys.—Malcolm; R. Lamason, Grenfell, Wylie; Wixon, M'Donald; Dv Chateau; J. Lamason; Claridge, Reynolds, Preston,- Emerson, Jones, Meadows, M'Pherson. Old Boys won the toss, but with wind and sun behind them they did not present any great danger until well on in the spell. When the backs opened out, as they frequently did, Oriental were quick to smother them, and when the solid forwards . pressed an effective barrier was presented, in the manner in which the Oriental forwards packed round and . used their weight. In loose play Oriental showed up to better advantage than last year's champions, who frequently lost control of the ball through kicking too far. A game half-back on Oriental's side was another stumbling block. Early in the game Wylie charged down a relieving kick to place Old Boys in a scoring position. Oriental, however, forced. A free-kick gave Malcolm a chance to goal, but he missed. He was successful with another later on. 3-0. J. Lamason next had a chance, but his kick was rt trifle, short. Towards the end of the spell Oriental . made a mistake in not finding touch, and from loose, hustling play the Old Boys' backs swung into action, with ■ the result that 11.. Lamason scored an unconverted try. 6-0. Though cohesion was not a ieature ot their play, Oriental were in lively for the second spell, and their rush tactics compelled Malcolm to kick behind. This led to a series of scrummages near Old Boys' line, which, however, was kept intact. After Williams had narrowly missed a goal, Walker made a dashing effort to score, and succeeded. The tiy was not converted. 6-3. Oriental evened up when Pinkerton landed a goal from a free-kick. 6-6. With this the play became more strenuous, both sides making advances. Oriental gained a strong lead when M'Nicol.. who had .b«» »m««d twice, potted a fine goal. 100. Ihe concluding stages of the gf'VTnf, 'ta and in one determined effort Old Bojs looked like pulling the game out of the fire when I!. Lamason went,, across in a ..ood position. The whistle, .however, bad gone for off-side. The game ended: Oriental 10, Old Boys 6. Mr. -A. Brown was the referee.