NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 7, 8 July 1935, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

THE PLAYERS REVIEWED Even the most sanguine hopes" of Oriental supporters must have been exceeded on Saturday when the "Magpies" lowered the colours of Poneke who were, up to that time, joint-lead-ers in the first division championship. Although Oriental went through the first round in the second division without suffering a single defeat they have not fared so well since their promotion to the first division and their defeat of Poneke is certainly ■ one of the surprises of the competition. And, moreover, it was no lucky win, as they were definitely a match for the leaders right through the game, and a more substantial margin of victory would have been better indicative of the run of play. "«.■'. It is not to their backs that Oriental owe their success but to the all-round display given by their forwards. There is no doubt that the 2-3-2 scrum form ation with the wing-forward helped in no small degree to gain- for them the decision, as the advantage of possessing a player with a roving commission considerably hampered the movements of the opposing half-back.

Easily-the best back oh the ground in the Oriental-Poneke game was Oriental's first five-eighth, Wilkinson. He was outstanding both in attack and defence. On two occasions Wilkinson cut right through the opposition and deserved much better support than was given him. Although his play at times was of the opportunist type, he invariably turned his chances to good purpose and with the use of discretion he was seldom to bo found out of position. a i(

In the absence of Barrett last Saturday Griffiths was assigned to. the fullback position for Poneke: With plenty to do, especially in the first spell, Griffiths acquitted himself admirably and his safe hands and powerful kicking saved many a dangerous situation for his team. When, in the second spell things were looking black for Poneke, Griffiths was brought up to his usual place at second five-eighth in place of Cheeseman, he considerably strengthened the attack. Poneke would have been better off had he been playing in that position at the commencement of the game. '

Humpherson (Oriental) is a versatile player and, after giving an excellent display behind the scrum in Oriental's game against Eastbourne, he played equally as well in the Oriental vanguard last Saturday against Poneke. In fact, it seems that Humpherson is better suited to the pack, and his speed enabled him to lead many an Oriental attack.

Ramsay has collected many points for Oriental lhis season per medium

of his boot, but his field-goal against Poneke is certainly his crowning effort. It was an" excellent piece ot work and gave Oriental the victory they well earned.

Playing in the wing-forward position for Oriental, Searle was a hindrance lo the Poneke inside backs. Time and again he nipped a promising movement in the bud and he also gave Wilkinson much more room in which to operate.

The highlight of the Wellington-Ath-letic match was the play of Tinchll, at half, for Athletic. He fed his backs with clean, accurate passes, kicked with great power and accuracy, and varied his play with judgment. The New Zealand selectors nlay possibly have discovered a high-class live-eighth, but they are sacrificing a very line half-back in doing so. Tindill s understanding with Karsten was admirable, the lightly-built ex-Nelson College boy playing up to his distinguished partner in great style. Karsten played his best game since his arrival in Wellington.

Pelham completed a very formidable trio of inside backs for Athletic. He was dodgy and tricky, and the Wellington backs found him hard lo stop. A more pedantic referee than Mr. Simmons might possibly quarrel with Pelham's hip throw, which looks suspiciously like a trip at times.

Mclntyre played a sound, businesslike game at full-back for Athletic, without any spectacular frills. He kicked a fine length and was always solid and reliable.

Wells played very soundly in the Athletic pack, as also did Gunn, a recent arrival from Hawke's Bay, but most of the "drive" in the' forwards was supplied by the lighter rhen, Watson Wyeth, and Wales, who showed great dash. Wales managed to get in at the finish of passing rushes in a manner which showed a sense of anticipation.

Kilby had a hard afternoon behind ithe Wellington pack. He stuck it out grimly, despite a bad knock in the second half, but the final whistle must have been a welcome sound.

Fraser-Smith played very finely in the Wellington pack, his line-out work being particularly good. Along with Thornton, Carlyon, and Donnelly, he was going well towards the end, when Wellington were trying hard to make up leeway.

Although the game between Pelone and Marist was essentially a forward struggle, two of the tries scored came from brilliant pieces of work by the backs. The best movement of the afternoon was the one which led to Petone's first try, and the speed and ease with which it was accomplished recalled the type of back play which seems to be forgotten in these days of unwieldy scrum formations. Petono hooked the ball, and Spence went' straight • for the gap between the opposing half and first five-eighth. Pollock was there to continue the thrust, and "selling the dummy" to the second five-eighth, finished off a perfect piece of work by passing inside to Spence, who ran across.

The accurate kicking by Tricklebank rescued University from several dangerous situations, and saved the team a lot of territory . during the match against St. Patrick's College Old Boys. Tricklebank found the line with uncanny accuracy, and his tackling also was sure.

Pollock, at first five-eighth, was easily the outstanding player among the backs in the Petone-Marist mat^h. He handled cleanly, and his speed and determination gave a dangerous thrust to the, Petone line on each occasion that it handled the ball. On defence he was magnificent, always being on the spot to cover up a gap, while his kicking was powerful and accurate. In the closing stages, when Marist were pressing havd, he seemed to gravitate naturally to the full-back position, and made very few mistakes.

Two backs stood out in the Marist side. One was Stiver, an emergency, who came on as full-back when O'Connor was injured, Frost taking the halfback's place. For a player who has played little this season, Stiver gave a remarkably fine exhibition. . His fielding of high kicks was without a blemish, and, athough lacking in length, his kicking was both powerful- and accurate. The other Marist back to play well was the second five-eighth, E. McGreevey. He. was prominent in several rushes, and was sound on defence. He finished up by potting a neat goal almost in front of the posts.

Amongst two packs of hard-working forwards, Sundgren and Leahy were outstanding for Petone, while Meadows and L. McGreevey were usually at the head of Marist rushes.

Atkins (Old Boys) showed up at Johnsonville, running hard and straight and handling well. He found a gap repeatedly and ran through it every time.

Baldwin, the Old Boys' centre, shows plenty of strength and pace, and he gave beautiful passes to his wings in the match with Johnsonville.

M. Wright, Lamason, and Hewitt all played dashing games for Old Boys, linking up well with their backs. M. Kenny (Johnsonville) came quite well through a difficult ordeal. He was kept busy, and it was not his fault that he often had two or three men to stop.

Chancy was Johnsonville's best back' on the day. McGlelland and Kelly both did their bit on defence and attack, but the remaining backs were lamentably weak on defence. A. Kenny played a hard, slogging game, and Bowler and Trenchard also gave good support in the vanguard. Round is a promising forward.

After a spell of five weeks, Ritchie again took his place at lull-back for Oriental. That his return was opportune was amply demonstrated. His accurate fielding and strong line-kick-ing saved the situation on many occasions.

: Ball' was very spectacular at times in the centre for Wellington. He is a bundle of dash and energy, but has not the knack of looking after his wings essential in the centre position.