RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 189, 15 July 1925, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SECOND ROUND TERMINATES. OUTCOME STILL OBSCURE. (By “Cross Bar.”) Saturday witnessed the termination of the second round of the senior Rugby competitions, when Ivia Toa and Feilding successfully retained their positions against, Woodville and Western United respectively. Both teams did not find their tasks easy ones, for the “lower rungers” made a big bid for supremacy and the seven and five points margins in their respective favours were somewhat flattering. Kia Toa were without the services of Leeder and Doherty, while Weston, who has done excellent duty for the double blues, was replaced by McLean, the former Christchurch Albion full-back. Single and Friend were likewise absent from the Woodville fifteen, but the alterations did not entail any great sacrifice on the part of either side, for the substitutes all played prominently. McLean made his debut locally in the match, his showing being in every respect very satisfactory, and in him Kia Toa have found a valuable man. His fielding was perfect, while his side-stepping on occasions closely resembled that of a five-eighth. Until he found the lay of the ground his line-kicking was, however, somewhat faulty. The game was veritably a battle between two high standard full-backs, for Cowie, his vis-a-vis, was equally sate and kept the attackers at bay repeatedly. The game was naturally mainly confined to the forwards, although Woodville, despite their advantage in weight in the pnck, attempted to open up in the early stages, but finding their efforts were not meeting with success, altered their tactics. It was a slip on the rearguard’s part which led to Kia Toa gaining the one try of the match, and it was apparently sufficient to make them depend on their forwards thereafter. Play was hard, and at times playing tile man was slightly in evidence, but Referee Thompson promptly put it down, and thereafter the game was free from detracting incidents.^ Mair was an altered man on Saturday and played a surprising game, for instead of carrying on his usual running lire of verbal directions, bo proceeded to carry them out himself. Dobbyn and McHerron were prominent in the front row of the home team, for apart from being ever in the van in the loose, they accounted for most of the ball in the set scrums. The Peebles brothers made full use of their height on the line outs, but the play of Roy was not always up to his usual form. Mullins gave an improved display for Kia Toa, his fielding and kicking being good throughout, although there were occasions when he might have opened up instead of kicking. Chadwick proved quite happy at wing three-quarter, while Masley and Taylor went well together at fiveeighths. rill J■ 1 Eyre, owing to want of ball, did not'figure very prominently and on the dav was overshadowed by Wtgzell. who battled away in great style. McDonald showed up with several spectacular dribbles on occasions and did much to gain for his side the victory. However, the whole pack fought out the issue against their heavier opponents in determined fashion. Rush, who had been promoted from the junior ranks for the occasion, proved quite worthy of the company. Jackson and Pragu’ell were frequently prominent, but both, unhappily, showed a tendency to get offside. In the Feilding-Western game, the standard revealed was below par, but the two ex-Bunnythorpe players, McKay and Sutherland, played wel for the red and blacks. The latter is a player of possibilities, and it is perhaps unfortunate he is not in the team which could develop his natural abilities, for lie has pace and strength at his command.

SCORING TABLES. The following iables reveal how the points standing to the credits of the competing teams in order of their positions on the championship ladder have been compiled : KIA TOA. Points for: 20 tries, 4 penalty goals, 1 field goal, five goals from tries; total 36 points. Against: 9 tries, 1 penalty goal, 1 goal from mark, 2 goals from tries; total 37 points. OLD BOYS. Points for: 32 tries, 6 goals from penalties, 1 goal from mark, 1 field goal, 9 goals from tries; total 139. Against: 8 tries, 4 penalty goals, 4 goals from tries; total 44 points. FEILDING. Points for: 20 tries, 7 goals from penalties, 1 goal from mark, 11 goals from tries; total 106 points. Against: 15 tries, 3 goals from penalties, 1 goal from mark, I field goal, 3 goals from tries; total 67 points. WESTERN UNITED.

Points tor: 11 tries, 3 goals from penalties, 1 field goal, 4 goals from tries; total 54 points. Against: 41 tries. 7 goals from penalties, 13 goals from tries; total 170. WOODVILLE. Points for: 11 tries, 2 goals from penalties, 1 goal from try; total 41 points. Against: 21 tries, 7 goals from penalties, 2 field goals, 8 goals from tries; total 108. INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS The following players have been responsible for the scoring on their respective sides: KIA TOA. Leeder, 3 tries, 2 penalty goals, 2 goals from tries (19 points); Mullins, 5 tries (15); Waslov, 4 tries (12); Strange, 3 tries (9); Mullins, 2 penalty goals, 1 goal from try (8); Chadwick, 1 try, 2 goals from tries (7); McLean, 1 field goal (4); Doherty, PragnelL Mardon, Stuart, one try each (3 points). OLD BOYS. Brophy, 4 tries, 2 penalty goals, 4 goals from tries (26); Palmer, 7 tries 1 goal from try (23); Akuira, 4 penalty goals, 2 goals from tries, 1 field goal (20); Glondinning, 6 tries (18); Hope, 4 tries, 1 goal from try (1'4); Evans and Twist, 2 tries each (6); Seeker. 1 try, 1 goal from mark (6); Law, 1 try, 1 goal from try (5); Stewart, ; Anderson, McArthur and

McSweeny, 1 try each (3 points). One try was given for obstruction. FEILDING. Benge, 3 tries, 7 goals from penalties, 1 goal from mark, 11 goals from tries (55); Darragh, 4 tries (12); Bailey, 3 tries (9); McLean and Bramwell, 2 tries each (6); Spence, Ryan, Lawrence, Patterson, Boddy and Howes, one try each (3 points). WESTERN UNITED. Birstall, 3 tries, 1 field goal (13); Butler, 3 penalty goals, 2 goals from tries (13); McKay, 1 try, 2 goals from tries (7); Vautier, Ebbett, F. Algar, B. Algar, Ormond, Mouat, Anderson, 1 try each (3 points). WOODVILLE. Wade, 2 goals from penalties. 1 goal from try (8); Gleeson, Dobbyn, R. Peebles and Single, 2 tries each (6); Friend, D. Peebles and Gifford, 1 try each (3 points).