FORWARDS IMPRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 30, 3 August 1940, Page 15

FORWARDS IMPRESS

ATHLETIC SHOW THE WAY

One of the outstanding players in the Athletic-Eastbourne match was Taylor, an Athletic forward. He was always conspicuous, and several times* broke away on short solo excursions. Apart from his spirited display in the loose, he revealed tireless energy in the rucks and scrums, did much effective spoiling work, and was quick to back up on defence.

Athletic, benefited from efficient front-row work by Mollier, Ingpen, and Hammond. Easily the youngest of the trio, Hammond (from the second division) quickly settled down and; hunted with the pack in great style. He is a good goal-kick, and has put up a tidy tally this season.

Athletic. went very well as a pack, and a feature of the display was the splendid teamwork maintained throughout the game. Even so, Bishop and Gunn were outstanding when it came to line-out work and rucking. Bpth players know what to do with the ball once they gain possession, and they both showed up to advantage.

Eastbourne's forwards did not have the conditions to suit their ' style of intensive spoiling work and. dash in the loose, and they found the Athletic pack a bit of a problem. Nevertheless, they staged a great battle and often carried play practically the length of the field with remarkable speed. Eastbourne's star forward once again was W. Moses, who was here; there, and everywhere, both on attack and defence. • He repeatedly led the loose rushes and proved that he is also a clever opportunist; though, too, he entered the thick of the struggle.

Another Eastbourne forward tp play a really fine game was R. Moses. He was in his element in the solid work, but on one or two occasions he gave glimpses of his possibilities should ever he have an inclination to exploit the open game.

Dellabarca's role in the Eastbourne pack is that of loose forward, and in this' phase of the game he has been going great guns. Against Athletic he seized upon quite a few opponents' errors to make smart solo dashes, and in addition to these clever thrusts he often harassed the Athletic -inside backs. However, he was somewhat handicapped by the heavy ground.

The Athletic backs shaped very well, and the three tries that were scored were the result of clever rearguard movements. Once again O'Halloran was a tower of strength at half-back, and he cleverly varied his game on attack, while his defence; was particularly sound. Two other backs to shape well were the wing-three-quarters, Thompson and Jamieson, both of whom made the most of their opportunities. In one great dash to the Eastbourne goal-line Thompson provided a real high light, and his final dive missed by a matter of inches. Jamieson (from Temuka) was on promotion. He. ,is very fast—an asset which he krio.ws how to use to advantage on attack— and his defence is also marked with splendid tackling. ■ ..-