RUGBY NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 168, 19 June 1925, Page 12

RUGBY NOTES.

POSITIONS CHANGE LITTLE. [By “Cross Bar.”J The outcome of Saturday’s senior games served to improve Kia Ida’s position in the championship, although they were not active participants, the drawn contest between Feilding and Old Boys consolidating their position at the head of the table, and they now hold a point advantage with a match in hand. Somewhat of a surprise was forthcoming in the Woodville —Western United fixture, for on paper the visitors promised to be at least a ten points better team. The early portion of the game threatened to see that fully borne out, for play was seldom out of red territory, and the defenders submitted to force-downs in quick succession. The regularity became monotonous. and the spectators were fully prepared to see the blues run in on several occasions. The blue movements, however, lacked finish and the interval found the score sheet a blank. On resumption Woodville set out to repeat the earlier order of things, but slowly the red forces commenced to put more heart into their work, and tho forwards gaining confidence, they threatened danger on more than one occasion. Nevertheless, Woodville were the first to score, a weak defence letting a forward burst clean through. The reverse stirred tho reds to greater efforts, and one of the few rearguard movements attempted by them bore fruit. Back hurried the bluo forces, and a passing bout in turn bore fruit. Time was going fast, and the score promised to remain at 6—3, but a brilliant pot by Birstall from close to the touch line gave Western a point lead, and thereafter they played in winning strain and before the game closed an individualist effort by. Ormond at the base of the scrum brought a further score.

Woodville held a decided advantage ii weight in both divisions, but in the closinf stages the lighter but faster red packrnei were carrying the fight, and their effort enable the club to take precedence ove; the Gorge team on the championship table Woodville, however, hue a match in hand hut on their lifeless play of Saturday thej do not promise any material danger to th< other competing teams. Hughie, as lull back for Western, per formed a vast amount of work in verj L-reditable fashion, while Gifford, the vis-a vis for Woodville, also gave a very goot display, his fielding and kicking, suve it: one instance, being good. Friend did not get many opportunities o show his worth, but on one or two oc •asions he put in good dasiies along the wing, being instrumental in transferring .he scene of hostilities. Gowie did not occupy the full-back posiion, being closer up, but while he showed ip prominently in short dashes on occasions, his play was not impressive. Wigzell, behind the scrum, did all thal was asked of him, and had the backs made better use of the ball he supplied them with, the score sheet would have been well in his side's favour. Ormond on ihe whole performed we’. l , being given good support on the defence by Huntington, but the inner five-eighth was weak, he refusing to get down repeatedly. Crawford, Algar and McKay .ycre the most prominent of the frontal diAston, the ex-Bnnnythorpe player being invariably at the head of the rushes. Another Bunnythorpe addition to the ranks was Sutherland, who figured in the three-quarter line with a very fair measure of success, his fielding, kicking and running being good. He should prove a distinct asset to the reds. The lighter red packmen stood up to the heavy artillery of the blues in good style, the latter being in many respects disappointing, although in Peebles and Single they possess a promising pair. Old Boys went close to having a further defeat register-id against them at Feildirg, for it was tight on time that the equali-ing score was forthcoming. Nevertheless, they would have been indeed unlucky to have suffered a reverse, for they had an advantage in the play, their rearguard work being superior throughout. Chances were missed by both sides, but the blacks suffered the heavier in this respect. The ground was very heavy, which did tot assist towards rearguard work, but cvertheless a good deal of open play was t tempted and the spectators were kept illy interested throughout. Strangely enough, Feilding upset Old toys’ march of progress last season on j - heir home ground, thereby ruining the I blacks’ chances of championship honours, and now the dividing of the points makes Kia Toa's prospects more rosy. I The next meeting of Kia Toa and Feilding on the latter’s ground should be well worth seeing, for on the result of it depends in big measure the yellows’ chances of repeating their success of 1922.. Some keen games were forthcoming in the lower grades on Saturday, chief interest naturally centring in the meeting of Feilding and Old Boys, the two leading teams in the junior grade. The occupation of No. 3 area tor show purposes necessitated the game being staged on the ground at the rear of the stand, but the major portion of the spectators passed by the senior game in preference for the juniors. It was thus a pity that, the match could not have been better staged, but the enthusiasts were rewarded by witnessing a dashing game.

The blacks were slow to find their feet, but once they swung into their stride they overwhelmed their opponents whose play was disconcerted throughout. The Feilding backs seemed raw players up against the dashing movements of their opponents, only one back, the second five-eighth, seeming to relish the game, and saving his side from many awkward corners. The Feilding forwards, too, invariably failed to held their opponents in the loose. The place-kicking of Old Boys was shockingly weak and' it seemed as if the team lack a reliable exponent of this art. Concentration on one player with ability in this direction would meet with better success. Practically all of Saturday’s tries , should have been converted. Two or three of Old Boys’ backs have , a habit of crowding when a high punt is I to be taken and the consequence generally I is that the ball is missed and the line at once threatened by the opposing forwards. This was noticeable on Saturday. Again several players showed an inclination fo wait for the ball to bounce—a bad fault as it loses time and gives the opposing side time to sweep down and hustle the man who eventually gets possession. Western United and Kia Toa proved a well matched set, and a drawn game was perhaps a fair criterion of the game. Kia Toa were, unfortunately, robbed of three points from a penalty as the result of an over zealous forward getting in front of the ball at the Kick. Their try, while fully deserved, for LaroShio made a most determined bid for success, hud an element of luck about it in the manner in which the ball emerged from the tackle when the runner was swept into touch in goal. Although the' writer was standing almost at the spot, he was taken by surprise when a support walked up and grounded the ball which was lying over the goal line about four feet from the tackled player. Towards the close Western made a big effort to secure the victory and were finally rewarded. With a no charge given, Pyeroft had plenty of time to add the major points which would have brought his side the victory, but this usually reliable , kicker failed to turn to account and so the i game resulted in a draw. , Western promise to prove a thorn in the side to Old Boys when they meet for they invariably finish strongly and ure never beaten.

.Jackeytown have at last recorded a win, and it will not be surprising to find them putting in greater claims in the future. Bunnythorpe, last year’s runners-up to Old Boys in the Junior grade, have fallen on lean times, and there is .a possil ility that they will withdraw from the competition. On Saturday they defaulted to High School, which would no doubt be accepted cheerfully by the schoolboys in view of their heavy programme this week. Kia Ton fourths added another win at the expense of Western United, and although they fully deserved their victory, the reds gave them some anxious moments on occasions. Some of these young players attempted big things, and it was pleasing to witness the way in which passing bouts were launched. Jackeytown hold the honours at present

in the fourth grade, but it will rot be surprising to find Feilding High School putting up a stronger bid for supremacy at their next meeting. THE REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS. The teams, to do duty for JVlanawatu against Oroua and Te Kawau have now been announced and on the whole the selector can be congratulated on his selection. The team to oppose Oroua appears to be the first selection, yet only two members have been taken from Old Boys, who undoubtedly give us the best displays of rearguard play. Cowie, of the Woodville Club, has in the past done yoeman service for Manawatu in the full-back position. He has not, unfortunately, had a great deal of practice in the position this season, but can hardly be substituted. Lceder, the Kia Toa winger, lias not been included in either team, so apparently he is not available, otherwise he woidd surely have been the first selected for the position. Bropliy hus been put out on the wing, and while he has figured prominently in this position, the writer would have preferred him closer in. McArthur occupies the other wing, and although hie best tlays are over, iiis defensive jiowers alone entitle him to consideration. Gifford, us the connecting link, has proved himself on the defence, but as a combining unit there is an element of doubt. Benge and Wa.sley have been allotted the five-eighth positions. Unfortunately both are on the light side—a fault which is very noticeable in Manawatu.

Eyre has been given preference to Akuira as half-back, but why it is difficult to say, for the Old Boys half is playing excellent football and has been standing up to the rough stuff in great style. Eyre is a most promising half, but he" has not the finesse of the other, while he hus to date been protected by a strong winger. Despite Mullins’s absence from the scene, tho writer would have placed him in the centre position, making tho back line read: Cowie, Bramwell (temporarily replacing Leeder), Mullins, McArthur, Brophy, Wasley, Akuira. “Cross-Bar’’ has no fault to find with the front line, for although the hookers are not a well balanced pair, the mating of Anderson is attended with difficulty, but it might have boon preferable to have given Boddy the place. Mcllerron is still a useful mail, and might have been given consideration for he can rise to tho occasion. Jackson, R. Peebles, Hope, Spence and Stuart, who form the balance of the packmen, should do well.

The back line of the team to journey to Sandon appears to be almost of equal strength to the other side, but the forwards are perhaps a shade weaker. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to have the teams meet later in a try-out. No doubt the subunions will provide some players worthy of consideration in the rep. fifteen, and one, in Staite, can already be numbered among the probables.