THE RUGBY CODE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 158, 5 June 1929, Page 10

THE RUGBY CODE

SATURDAY’S DISPLAYS.

POSITIONS SLIGHTLY CHANGED

(By “Cross Bar.”)

As tho result of Kia Toa failing to halt the winning career of Eeilding Old Boys on Saturday, tho youthful greens now enjoy a two points advantage over Old Boys, who are in turn two points clear of tho other four competing teams —a thoroughly, interesting competition. At the corresponding stage m the 192 G season Kia Toa had held a one point advantage over Old Boys, tho double-blues having placed eight points to their crehit. Eeilding had had five, Western United tour, while AVoodville had failed to open their account. . In that year Eeilding Old Boys had been playing their way through to junior championship honours and tho 1927 season marked their attainment of senior status. Their early efforts, following upon their promotion, were not attended by a great measure of success, the completion of the first game in the second round finding them well down tho list. In the 1927 season Old Boys, who had annexed the season’s honours the previous year, entered upon their activities for 1927 in auspicious manner by placing 10 points to their credit in their first six matches. Kia Toa had had but seven points at that stage, but two of the points had been forthcoming from a victory over the blacks. Eeilding had commenced the IJ/57 season badly by losing their initial game, but save a reverse at the hands of Old Boys, the yellows thereafter won every match in the round. Ihey also turned tho tables on A\ estet nUnited, who had inflicted that early defeat, and, following upon their sharing the points with ivia loa, had added the scalps of Old Boys to their belts and emerged with the season s honours—a splendid recovery. , Both Kia Toa and Old Boys opened tho 1928 season in promising manner by recording victories ill tlieir first three games. Tho double blues then upset the equilibrium of the blacks, but, whereas Old Boys re-entered upon their winning career thereafter, Jxia Toa had to share tho points with i< eliding and then lost the first game in the second round to Eeilding Old Boys, which left them on terms with Tedding and one point in arrears of Old Boys, Eeilding Old Boys having had tour points and Woodville and the newly termed Athletic Club two each. ■ As the 1928 season advanced, better fortune had attended the efforts of Kia Toa who thereafter carried everything before them until they again opposed Eeilding when, as was instanced in tho lirsfc round, the rival teams broke even, a penalty goal apiece being all the scoring recorded, Okl Boys lost two successive matches—against Athletic and Kia Toa and the termination of activities for the season found Kia Toa on top of the table with 16 points, Old Boys having 14 and Eeilding 13. , Feilding Old Boys had extended their championship total of the 192' season by one solitary point in IJ2B, but the present season finds the greens already two championship points beyond their 1928 effort and this comparatively youthful ' fifteen might be found difficult to halt as the . round progresses. Perhaps it is tlieir turn to hold the trophy, for Old Boys won it in 1926, Feilding in 1927, and lua Toa last vear. Prior to'their success of 1927 Eeilding had not won the Hankins Shield since 1922, Woodville and Kia Toa (1923 and 1924)5 having held it in the three following.years. WOODVILLE v. ATHLETIC.

The standard of play in the game between AVoodvillo and Athletic on Saturday was not high, but the visitors appeared to have slightly the better of the game, although the result was a draw. The AVoodville forwards were superior to tlieir opponents in the loose, but they did not -receive sufficient support from their backs to send tlieir penetrating thrusts completely home. For Athletic, Beard notched two penalties' from easy angles, while vVoodville’s points consisted of an unconverted try by Hutchinson and a penalty, by Goodwin. Hutchinson shone in the forward melees, being the outstanding player kui the field, and he led. some dangerous rushes into Athletic territory. Gillespie and Goodwin were the select of the AVoodville backs, but few combined, movements were seen by either side. Brooks played soundly as the last line of defence for Athletic, and got his side out of some awkward situations when the AVoodville forwards threatened to break through. Tho other backs were not conspicuous. Farquharson was compelled to retire early from the forwards with an injured leg, and was replaced by Flowers, who played quite a good game. Beard was the best forward in the Athletic pack, but lie received good support from Burgess and Annear. The. scrums were about even, but tlie hooking was indifferent. On tlie whole the game was fairly even, and confined almost completely to a forward struggle. OLD BOYS v. EEILDING.

Old Boys gave their best display of the season at Feildiug on Saturday when they accounted for the senior club team of that town by the unexpectedly large total of 19 points to 6. The game was not one-sided by any means, Feilding were on many occasions in a favourable position to thrust home an attack, but they lacked that last little bit of finish which so often means a score. In this respect Old Boys were much the superior side. Tlicir back movements were invariably crisp and clean, the ball travelling from the inner men to the wings in spectacular fashion, while the forwards never once slackened, playing tirelessly from bell to bell. Williamson at full-back lor Old Boys gave a bright display. His fieldin.',' and kicking were of a high order and it was unfortunate that he should have received two very hard knocks in the one moment as it took a lot out of him. At times lie delighted the onlookers by beating two or three men to open up a passing rush amongst the backs. Pacey was most energetic and seems to be gaining a lot of confidence in his work behind Old Boys’ pack. Akuira again revealed the form which made his play so pleasing to watch a season or two ago and he scored lus first try of the season. It was a pretty piece of work which left the opposition standing. Gathering in the ball about fifteen yards from the line and mnlwav between the sideline and the goal posts, he dodged completely through the inner Feildiug backs to run round behind the posts. It was ah unexpected a try as it was spectacular and caught the opposition completely napping. . . Riddell showed vastly improved form, his handling being much more accurate than usual, while his speed was always judiciously used. Fletcher is a great asset to Old Boys’ back line and if he stands up to senior play he should make a name for himself in Manawlienua football. He set a good example to the other backs in falling

back when Old Boys’ line was threatened. Of the wingers Walker was tho most prominent, Pago not playing up to his best form. Tho forwards all toiled hard and it would not bo fair to individualise. Neild, however, impressed ono by his dogged play. Ho was always in tho forefront of Old Boys’ attacks and took a largo share of the play. A clever try, surely ono of tho neatest yet seen oil Johnston Park went to Snell. A keen tussle was being waged on Eeilding’s line for tho ball and Snell, with keen anticipation, kept at tho side of the struggling mass until the ball camo out from the upraised arms. In a flash ho had it in his hands and had touched down. Only a quick referee such as Mr A. W. Thompson, could have seen such a smart try for immediately Snell, still retaining the ball, had been hauled back into the field by the sturdy opposing forwards. He had not had time to let it go 1 Tho Feilding pack toiled hard, but it was mot their lucky day, whilo the back lino was disorganised by the absence of It. Darragli, who was certainly missed, the substitute not being such a good connecting link. It was a bright display of Rugby all through and was keenly enjoyed by the spectators. KIA TOA-EEILDING. Strange and Mullins were the leading lights in the Eeilding Old Boys-Kia Toa clash, the latter being responsible for tho six points scored by the double blues by finding the uprights from two penalty shots. Strange played Ins usual sound game and his speed was a decided asset. Conrad and Boldt were a happy combination in either attack or defence and both used tlieir weight effectively. Doherty was seen to advantage at spasmodic intervals. Offside play was Kia Toa’s main fault, but tho Feilding 0.8. front ranks were equally frequent offenders. Kia Toa are able to put sting in tlieir attacks, but better general combination is desirable for concerted effort. Eeilding Old Boys forwards combined very well, but wero better on the defensive than attack, even though thev have a fair average turn of speed. The rearguard, with perhaps the exception of Bramwell, did not make as good a display as they have done on previous occasions, general combination being lacking. Pawson and Waldin played good games, the former’s pace being very useful. McKay and McLeod were a pair of hustlers who made the most of tho opportunities. A general forward failing was off-side play.

SEVEN-ASIDE TOURNEY

THE HONOURS LIST.

Away back in 1908 Kia Toa annexed senior honours 1 in the seven-aside tourney which has been an annual feature of the activities of the local Rugby authorities since 1907. With the resumption of the series after the Great War, Petone came up to take the Thompson-Payne trophy in 1919, but Kia Toa again stepped in in 1920 and, following upon Shannon capturing it in 1921, the double blues again took possession in 1922 and retained it the following year. Old Boys then won it in the two succeeding years, but the double blues once more stepped in in 1926. Monday’s success wasi accordingly the club's sixth since 190/ presumably the year in which the competition was launched, or at least when a trophy was contested for It was not till 1912 that the Rogers Cup was offered for competition between junior fifteens, two features of the early stages of tho competition having l been the manner in which .ellington club teams had figured m the honours list, St. James, Athletic, Oriental and Athletic having won it m turn. The years 1916, 191/ and 1913 saw all play at a temporary halt, 1.1, on the series being resumed in l-’iJ, Berhampore burst into picture and added vet another ellm:;ton club name. In 1920 High School came into its own and the local .schooiooys held the trophy for four years in succession and. although Old Boys halted them in 1924, High School recaptured the cup in 1925. Hutt, Miranui and St. Patrick’s won the trophy m t:ie succeeding years and Monday saw Ma Toa. returned as winners tor Hie i.-t occasion in history. , In the six vears the Or. Hunter Will Cup for third grade has 1.e.-n competed for, not one team had, prior to Monday, figured as winners on nunc than one occasion. Oriental (Hellington) won it in 1924, Eeilding Old Boys in 1925. Western United m fo-e. Feilding High School in 192/, Old Boys in 1928 and now Oriental. One provision is also made by the local authorities for the primary schoolboys, a remarkable feature being that not n single Palmerston North team bad been capable of winning the Boon Cap prior to Monday when Terrace End proved their right to possession in no uncertain manner.