SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL

Feilding Star, Volume 3, Issue 318, 20 July 1925, Page 5

SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL

FEILDINC BEATEN BY KIA TOA FORWARDS MONOPOLISE THE PLAY—WEIGHT TELLS. Senior.— Kin Ton 11. Feilding (>. Old Roys .TO, Western 0. Junior. Feilding IT, Linton 3, Jaeeky-town 10. Old Roys 0. Kia Ton. 10, P.N. H.S. T. cAY stern 20, Woodvillc 0. (I'hird Grade, Kin Ton 3, P.X. O.R. A 0. Western 11. P.X. Tee’nnienl 0. Foilding Old Roys won by default .from P.X.O.R. Fourth Grade—•Turkeytown IT, Foilding H.S. 8. P.X. H.S 27, Kia Ton T. KIA T’OA v. FEILDING. Foilding and Kin Ton met. the third time in this season’s competitions on Saturday, on the polo ground, anti lor the second time the Foilding colours iveio lowered, the score being Jl to 0. The three lending teams—Old Roys, Kia Ton, and Foilding—were within a lew points of each other in the championship, and a good deal depended on ths game, consequently there was a large attendance ol supporters, with a strong contingent from Palmerston North. Air Hannay, the popular and genial President of the Alanawatu Rugby Union, was in the throng, and speaking to the reporter before the game said he hoped Feilding would win. Why}' Because ol the gate, till yes, he agreed that was a’ mercenary view for the amateur game to take, hui you could do nothing without money. If Folding heat Kia T’oa in this game, it would intensify the interest for the remaining games, as the three teams would be very does together in points. Mr J. JL Proud, the capable and enthusiastic secretary of the Alanawatu 'Union, and Air Ruslan, the sole selector, were also on the ground. TTk? game was a battle between the forwards. Kia T’oa were heavier, but throughout the first spell they could not .put a dent in the yellow pack.

To have held up such a weighty pack led by a fine general like AleDonnld, * was a wonderful performance for Feilding. Every man pushed bis weight, and there was not a loafer in the team. In clashing attacks perhaps Patterson was the best, though lie was hardly ahead of Spence and .11 owes-,- -and .Lawrence's smiling Lice was as prominent as ever. Have we ever had a more consistent player than Vie:' Ryan and Roddy played sterling football. Roddy is always good, and in this game Ryan was in Tipping form. ‘'Aloikel’’ Might, the idol of the crowd, though a hit slow, has a powerful kick, and what he lacked in speed he made up in Imllocking s! l ength and grit. Alick "Bowler—one of the best—played like a hero. Of flie hacks, .Mason, who

lias" ns much courage ns nn Anzae, was a bit light and inexperienced lor 1 lie half-back position, ln.il he worked like n nigger nil through the gaine, and put up with some very hard knocks, especially in the second spell. Benge is not up to his form of earlier inn Lelies, luithis kick is good, nnd we liope to see him piny his true form again before the end of the season. George Darragh, who came (ip from Trcntham Gamp to play, was the hero of the match. Mis cutting and running, his lightning dashes, snapping up chanees- ,and his defence were a treat to watch. Bramwell is . improving with every game, and was in tip-top form in this contest, being particularly sound in defence. Bailey is nol'doing himself justice,these days, hut lie was better than usual oil Saturday, and as his courage has not deserted him, lie will come hack to fo: in. Inter. McLean was scarcely up hi senior form at the beginning of the season, hut his experience is helping him, and on Saturday’s play lie is vapidly approaching the first grade level. Me made some magnificent saves in this game. Toby Morris is a good sport to take the lull-hack position,' where his responsibilities are great, and though he was oaugnc napping once on Saturday, lie played well tlrfoughniit, and it was a treat to see him heating big powerful men and •getting in his kick.

Kia Ton won by J J points to .0. The better team won, though the margn should not have been so great. I'cildiug led in the first spell by 0 to 3, hut the Kia Ton forwards had evidently been well limed up in the -interval,. McDonald, like a good general, having found the weakness, and in the second spell the blue forwards proved too strong for Feiiding and their weight told the tale. The Feiiding hacks wore superior to Kia. r loa, hut they weie smothered out ol it. Nevertheless, it was a fine game to watch, and the beaten team were not dis-

graced. Feiiding kicked off with the sun in their eyes, mud charged to the enemy’s territory, where they kept the Ball a I most throughout the spell. Bad handling by Kia Ton saw Feiiding attacking oiloiigly, the forwards showing intioli liveliness. George Darragh got held'of the ball and seiit to

Bramwell and on to Bailey, and the flier got into his run and passed in to Ryan. and the ball went close to the Kia T'oa line, where a penaltv relieved the blues. The next I'orwaru rush was stopped by Evre, the crack half of the Kia Ton*, who took a mark. Fumbling .by Benge allowed play to lecede to neutral, but Brainwell sent to blue ground again. A long punt called on Alorris, who gathered up clean and cleared. Ale Lean handled well and sent out, hut pla\ returned! to Feilding’* end and at the 2.1 line Feilding were penalised and Afullins kicked a fine goal. This gavci Kia T'oa a lead of three points after lO minutos’ play. From Hie kick out Kia T’oa were penalised, hut Benge failed with a difficult kick. Alnson sot the hacks going, and Binmwell, Bailey and Lawrence handled in turn, but the wing forward was grassed, and from a scrum Kia T'oa worked plav up the held. Another passing run by Bailey, Bfamwoll rod -McLean, followed by a dash by Darragh; kept Kia Toa defending, ami AleLean, the visiting full-hack, showed ] v > is up to reputation. He is a fine player. Alason and Might in turn went down to rushes, both sets of forwards making play very strenuous. Lyre secured from a scrum, hut Patterson hustled him and the hull was .rent out at the Kia T’oa 27). Bailey got the hall from n lino out and oil he went clown the wing, but he was crowded out. Alason. • 'Darragh, Bra m well, Ale Lean. Bramwell again showed true Rugby play, and Darragh reached out from nowhere, and got his

lingers on the ball. He streaked straight and true foi the line i,!l <l nearlv got- over, but his pass was not accepted and a serum took place on the line. Excitement was intense as the forwards struggled for the hall, but the blues pushed, it out. Leedcr was penalised lor an illegal tackle, and Benge had another shot, which was tiuitloss. Spence led the next charge and dribbled the hall over, but Kia Toa forced down. Lively pressure by the yellow lorwards kept blues defending, and Buddy kicked over the line, hut the hall went Lot far. The excitement was almost too much lor ovoil seasoned pla\eis, and once Mullins lorgot himsoll and was reprimanded by Tim Ryan lor using his fist. Sterling play by the I'eliding skipper, followed hv H ight-AlaSon-Railey attack, then a fine intercepting dash by Darragh, got Feilding into a handy position, and Kia T’oa being penalised, Benge kicked a fine, goal, bringing the scores level T all. A dribbling rush by the Foilding forwards had Kins in trouble again, and ironi a penally .Benge found the posts again with, a lovely kick. foilding had now a lead of three point* and Hie excitement was overpowering. The referee had to stop the game several times to keep the crowd oft the field of play. A run by Darragh and a dashing attack by Howes and Ryan sent the hall to Kia T’oa 27, •and the yellow forwards took if mi the toe and steered lor the posts. They got right up, hut could not pick up the ball to complete the attack. One yellow player sat on it in hie elfort to pick it up, and a penalty to Kia T’oa broke the attack. IMay was at neutral "when the wTiisilc. announced halftime.

With a. lead of three points. Fcildjng opened the second spell hatllv. The return kick was delayed and Kia Ton attacked lierccTy. Lyre set his hacks going, and Mullins handed on to Feeder, who ran well and looked dangerous when lie was magidicontiy collared by McLean. flight and Bowler were conspicuous in a lorward movement, anil play went to neutral. Play hovered about the centre ol the field for a while, during whilh a long kick by Feeder was well returned by Morris, but the weight ol the blue forwards began to tell, and Feiiding were placed on the defensive. I he position continued so fill the end ol the spell. There were occasional {busies by the home forwards hut they could not get past the neutral line. Feiiding suffered a penalty in their own 25 and Mullins landed a goal, putting the scores on the level mark once more —(5 all. Almost immediately Mullins was given another free kick, hut failed this time. Feiiding stood up to the blue onslaught for some time, and once when the hall was sent across Morris forced it down. Darragh and Patterson were responsible for sending play to blue 20, but Kia Ton attacked again. Morris was called to one side of the field to take the ball and returned the kick. Before lie could get hack the hall had been sent down again. Leader

Streaked for it, alid Alorris had to run across. He reached it lirst but bad no time to do anything before Feeder was on him. Feeder dribbled on, picked up and scored under the posts. A full ins converted, thus patting Kia Toa five poihts ahead. It was a luckVtrv. though a good one. Further' pressure bv Kia T’oa forwards saw scrums under the Feilding posts. The ball went to Eyre who tried to pot a goai. The ball hit the cross bar and bounced infield. Km 'I oa forwards were all offside, hut played the ball; and the referee ordered a scrum. Eyre secured again and nearly <>ot over, but the spell ended with no further addition to the score. Air Parsons had control. It was a difficult game to handle. The leelin„- was strong, Mm supportei* being kcveif up and the players showing unusual keenness. There is no quosLon of Mr Parsons impartiality. tn,t we consider he made two' mistakes, one of ' which cost Eeildmg three points. Thus latter was , when he penalised Feilding for hanging on to the ball when the whole packs ol both teams were on it like sharks ’’ lol,l this penalty Mullins goaled Jho other occasion was Wlmn he ordered a serum under Hie Eeildmg post* because the Kai Toa forwards were ofside and Evre essayed a dropped goal. However, referees are like reporters t'fiov are not iniall-ihle.

Feilding .juniors beat LINTON. These teams met at Palmerston North, and the result put U oßdmg. ahead in the championship points Early in the game Trepo scored and Holman converted, and within a. coul„ ni ' minutes Laurie galloped home and scored a magnificent try " 'jeh .Matthews converted. Eeildmg added three points in the second .spell, and Linton registered their only s<<)!( try by Western. EEILRING HIGH SCHOOL BEATEN. .JaekeyLown were Loo Heavy lor the Feilding High. School Wain, and repeated their first round performance with a second win-18 to 8. Ball and Tolley wrn-e try-getters lor School, Wahiin 'converting mm.