ON THE BALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 136, 9 May 1928, Page 10

ON THE BALL

THE PLAY AND PLAYERS. COMMENTS ON SATURDAY’S GAMES (By “Cross-Bar.”) Old Boys and Kia Top. remain unbeaten. Fifty-two points were scored in the senior grade on Saturday as compared with 48 on the opening day. Brophy made a sensational re-entry into football on Saturday when ho was responsible for 10 of Old Boys’ points. Mullins showed a return to his old form on Saturday. Apart from his general play, he contributed all nine points gained by Kia Toa. It was quite an excellent crowd of enthusiasts who . attended at the Showgrounds on Saturday, but the. standard of play was somewhat disappointing. There wero Hashes of tho spectacular in the Old Boys-Feilding match, but the Kia Toa-Athletic game was scrappy — scrappy in more senses than ono. Athletic fielded a. solid forward pack and in this department put forward a good showing against tho redoubtable bluo pack, but lvia Toa were superior in tho rearguard. The appearance of Conrad in tho ranks of the Feilding team was fully expected, but it did not materialise, although the yellow and blacks fully hope to secure him permanently. Feilding had a shade the better of matters in tho frontal division against Old Boys, despite their being without tho services of Conrad, Waldin and Hare —three top class forwards. Although Old Boys emerged from tho first spell of their match with Feilding holding an advantage of two points, the margin might well have been tho other way, for the yellows had held tho advantage territorially. Old Boys wero again the first to score in the second half. Then a score within easy range should have enabled Feilding to equalise, but the kicker made a poor attempt to find the uprights and tho blacks still hold tho lead.

Just prior to the interval Sutherland, tho promoted junior representative winger in Old Boys’ ranks, suffered an injury to tho foot which necessitated his removal from the playing area. That mishap was, however, instrumental in bringing Brophy out of retirement.

On resumption following “lemons,” the yellows fought back well, but a flash of the rearguard activities by tho Old Boys’ backs, such as delighted the crowd last year, brought the blacks a further three points, the backs having handled the leather with something like confidence. Rangi Akuira had been proving very active in the Old Boys’ ranks, but bo was displaying a tendency to coino into the scrum rather close in tho early stages, inability bj' tho homo hookers to get the ball probably playing a part to that end. It was a nice piece of work on his part which 6ent Brophy off cn route for tho lino.

Old Boys have elected to readjust their line this season, bringing Palmer in from tho wing to five-eighths, Evans, who has returned from tho Wairarapa, acting as donkeyman. The line did not operate with tho same success on Saturday as it had done against Woodville with. their weaker hack line, but with Brophy coming into tho outside five-eighth position, the whole eido appeared to gain confidence.

Within, a few minutes of Old Boys extending their advantage to ono of five points in the second , spell, Feilding had a great opportunity to equalise from a try within good range, only to fail, and thereafter , the tide swung against them, Brophy proving to be a destructive agent with iiis dashing try, to which ho personally added the major points. He followed it up with a penalty goal and a goal from a later try. TWO GOOD FULL-BACKS. The displays by two of the full-backs on the field on Saturday were of a high order, Williamson proving sound and safe for Old Boys, while Wasley again attained great heights for Kia Toa. On such showings Manawatu should not lack for a last lino of dcnfenc-e later on. Taylor, of Athletic, also proved fairly sound, but Feilding juggled with the position... Feilding’s back lino showed plenty of promise and some of their movements were quite excellent. However, as they were securing the major portion of tho ball, much better use might well 'have been made of it, for after ail attack is tho best defence. 11. Darragh promises to striko top form early and he should be a serious aspirant for representative honours this season.

Gibbs, the yellows’ half-back, varied iiis play nicely and worked the blind side at intervals, be being most unfortunate on more than one . occasion in that ho failed to get his winger away, Evans was bogging for the ball for long periods and as a, result he was playing the part of a roving half quite tho major portion of tho time. He was consequently not seen at his best.

Stevens, who played for Feilding last season, occupied the last lino of defence in tho first half and five-eighth in tho second spell, but he did not attain tho heights of the final game between the two fifteens . last season. .Roach... was shaping quite well at five-eighth and the reversion to full-back in tho second half was hardly good tactics on the surface of things. •As an attacking unit, Old Boys were far from impressive in the opening half and.thoy will require, to mould their forces on more solid lines' before they can bp termed a really dangerous force. Should Brophy remain with them his presence will (stiffen up the line considerably.- Meantime, the “outers” have speed, but show little aptitude for furnishing an opening and appear to depend upon Akuira to cut tho man out.

Want of ball undoubtedly restricted the activities of Old Boys and what remedy will be sought by the club remains to bo seen. It is stated that Galpin will bo back in tho side next Saturday and probably his locking of tho .scrum will assist tho hookers. Fox, on tho opposite side to Tremcwan, would give tho scrum weight. Tho latter played a vigorous game on Saturday, while Niold also proved to be a warrior tho whole way. AN OLD WARRIOR.

Bowler was the outstanding figure in tho frontal division of the Feilding team, he giving little evidence by the vigour he displayed that he has attained tho veteran ago. His old front row partner of many a contest, Boddy, also turned out for tho occasion and went quite well under the circumstances. “Morkel” flight, however, partnered Bowler in tho front row for the yellows and tho pair went well together. Knight was another introduction for the occasion but the Te Kawau representative will probably not bo found out again. In view of the" fact that Waldin, C. Flight and Flare were defections from the regular brigade, there is some excuse for Feilding fading out in tho closing stages. Next week Kia Toa will faco Feilding on tho latter’s ground and the blues may find them a dif. ferent proposition. Kia Toa wero expected to emerge triumphant over Athletic by reason of their superior back line, but the fast work of tho green scrummagers threw them out of their stride and they were somewhat disjointed in consequence, their movements being seldom happily executed. Shapleski gave to his line plenty of ball from tho scrums, but the inside backs displayed a tendency to run too far across field before sending on their passes. Save in this respect, Tettley and Kelly went well, while Mullins did all that was asked of him, although Griffin failed to link up with Mullins in the passing bouts, lie more often than not running too square with his partner. ATHLETIC’S VIRILE PACK. Athletic, while possessing a virile pack, were without anything in the nature of combination in the rearguard and such promises to tell against them in. their matches. Taylor, at full-back, was fairly safe although he did not kick enough towards touch when the opportunity offered, Robb, Grinstoad, Edgeler, Fernley and R. Kells all proved useful as individual units and thero is ho roason why they should not combine more happily. I’ayno, the former Horowhenua. representative, proved a good leader of tho green pack for, apart from having pace,

he puts plenty of vigour into his work. The side might well have been better served had he remained at the sido of tho scrum in tho second half. Several of the members were now to “Cross Bar” and it is difficult to differentiate in consequence. Kia Toa tried an amended scrum on Saturday with fair results for their hookers continued to command tho greater share of the ball. In tho loose work Summers was frequently in tho limelight, particularly for his solid tackling, while Parsons, Ileatley and Biel also performed very useful work. Crawford apparently had an off day, for he was not so prominent as usual. THE LOWER GRADES. High School, last year’s winners of the junior grade competition, promise to build into quite a solid combination, for they have plenty of speed with a fair amount of weight in the frontal division. Fletcher is still the dangerous man in the rearguard, but in Tremewan they possess a good scoring winger. . Scott, High School’s new rover, is tilling the bill most satisfactory and his two tries in succession on Saturday showed that he possesses the knack of seizing opportunities. Miller is moulding into a good typo of forward and in him High School have found a good long range kicker. Flowers was tho outstanding forward in the ranks of Athletic juniors in their match with High School and if this member continues to play in that grade representative honours should again come his way later on. Hcini was tho useful member of tho rearguard, for, apart from his general play, he has a good kicking boot. Athletic juniors have scored 11 points in both their matches to date, but whereas their opening day total gave them tho victory, the score was not sufficient to do so on Saturday, High School having a 22 points margin at conclusion. £>t. Patrick’s "have likewise scored tho same number of points in their two matches six but both have resulted in losses, tjie opposition having had a three point margin in each instance. They might well have won out on Saturday against Old Boys, but playing the man cost them the game. Bunnythorpe and Ashhurst both got on the winning list on Saturday and this now leaves St. Patrick’s, West End and Feilding Old Boys the only teams which have failed to open their accounts. Feilding, High School and Old Boys remain unbeaten, but Feilding and Old Boys will oppose one another on Saturday and one fifteen will no doubt remain on its present rung. Two third grade teams ran up good totals in their matches on Saturday, Old Boys A triumphing over a short strength Kia Toa team by 28-3, while West End smothered the promoted Old Boys B team to the tune of 22 points to nil. Consequently, there was not a great deal oE merit in cither victory. Feilding High School and Bunnythorpe, who tied for the season’s honours last year, met on Saturday when, after a greut struggle, the schoolboys emerged with three points to their credit, whereas their opponent’s score sheet was a blank. Feilding High School and Woodville are the only teams in the grade to have gained the two championship points in both their matches to date. Woodville fourths, who had run up 31 points against a numerically weak side of St. Patrick’s the previous suffered a reverse at the hands of High School cn Saturday by 14-5, the schoolboys _ having now placed 37 scoring points to their credit with but five against. Technical School have enjoyed, two bloodless victories, while West End have likewise emerged with the honours in their two matches.