RUGBY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 141, 14 May 1930, Page 9

RUGBY NOTES

INDIFFERENT BACK PLAY. BELYING ON THE FORWARDS. (By “Cross Bar.”) Two local senior teams have won both games thoy have been engaged in to date. Kia Toa and Old Boys aro the teams concerned, but the doublo blues had a close call against Feilding Old Boys on Satur day. From tho point of view of territorial advantage, Kia Toa should have emerged from the contest with a fair margin of points, but tho light greens were tigerish in their defence and held the double blues until tho supporters of tho local fifteen were almost in despair. With victory almost in sight, S. Bramwcll, tho full-back for Feilding Old Boys, was unfortunate enough to make his one serious mistake for the day when ho failed to tako a high ball cleanly which was dropping in his goal mouth. That slip cost his side five points and tho honours for tho day. Kia Toa fielded a weighty forward pack and it was evident that the rearguard were content to rely on the frontal division. Standing up to the shock tactios of the blue scrummagers took its toll on the physical strength of tho opposition, but tho light greens died gamely. Although tho issue appeared to havo definitely passed into the keeping of Kia Toa when Rae registered tho final try to which Wasley added the major points following a number of fruitless but easy kicks on the part of Kia Toa, the fighting spirit of Feilding Old Boys was strikingly evidenced when they came back to add three points from a penalty and then go close to scoring immediately following. Whilo thero was much about the standard of football played which is to be deplored, spectators certainly had plenty to hold their attention in the closing moments of tho Kia Toa-Foilding Old Boys struggle. However, tho attempts made by the Kia Toa rearguard to open up the game were feeble to say the least, and unless a general attempt is made to improve rearguard play, Manawatu will quickly sink into tho depths in that department. Saturday's engagement at the Showgrounds marked Kia Toa’s first appearance locally, and the composition of tho team was not quite what was expected, and their indifferent attempts to operate as. a concerted force fell short of their showings of last season. Seldom did a rearguard member “give it a go,” being content to kick high and trust that tho opposition would make mistakes in their fielding.

With Was ley in the running for the fullback position for Manawatu, presumably that pla3'cr was content to again fill that role on Saturday. While ho improved on his Feilding showing of tho previous Wednesday, he was all too frequently caught in possession and would then render himself subject to penalising by refusing to lot go of the leather. However, he did not ilinch in his defence and might well oust Bramwell for his position before the season advances much further. On occasions last season Wasley took a turn in tho five-eighth position with promising results, and it might have been preferable had he and McKay change positions on Saturday. Tho latter starved his outside men with tho result that his kicking became monotonous, although it was quite frequently well directed. Indeed, it was his high kick which S. Bramwell failed to fiold at a critical juncture and which gave the blues the victory, but it was nevertheless poor tactics. Not one of the wing three-quarters in the match gave a really creditable display, although Griffin’s running was superior to Strange’s. The latter seldom gave it a go and he tost one golden opportunity of showing his pace when ho broke away in his own twenty-five only to kick when clear. The green wingers did not have many opportunities and neither Salter nor Dcwc—who was tilling a new role—was impressive. Salter’s snap pot at goal was, however, a beauty. Of the inner men on the opposing sides Mitchell and N. Bramwell, of the Feilding: combination, performed a vast amount of good work although both made mistakes in their handling on occasions. However, in facing the heavy blue forwards they had no light task. Cochrane has proved very useful to Feilding Old Boys in different departments, but his inability to use either foot and to pass in either direction with any degreo of certainty counts against him. He made use of his pace on one occasion to get to Strange, and it was odd to find him caught in possession in turn by Webber, ono of tho homo forwards who unfolded a surprising turn of pace. There appears to be a dearth of halfbacks in Manawatu this season and the best display “Cross Bar” has seen to dato was that of Shapleski in the trial at Feilding. On that occasion he was given every opportunity by the fact that his hookers were securing the ball. However, ho is a shade on the light side to stand up to a heavy opposing pack and, although he is not the ideal type, it would appear that Manawatu will have to be content. Although he has the advantage of having plenty of weight, Spratt, the Kia Toa half, is somewhat crude in his work, while Irvine, the Feilding Old Boys donkeyman, has still a good deal to learn. Both are, however, very willing and time and experience will no doubt effect the all desired improvement. Kia Toa have always been able to field a weighty pack and this season has proved no exception, for one and all went very well. Webber, a newcomer to their ranks, is a solid customer who should prove very useful to Manawatu. Meantime, the selectors have passed him by, so far a 6 tho A team is concerned, but the writer considers him well worthy of a trial, for with each match ho should attain a higher pitch of physical fitness. Conrad and McKenzie are still apt to go looking for opportunities, but it was pleasing to find that tho latter was putting his shoulder to tho wheel better on Saturday and when in po6scfiion of tho ball was a hard man to stop. By reason of their inferiority in weight, the Feilding Old Boys forwards were required to play a heavy part throughout tho full course of the game, and, although overshadowed in that department, they nevertheless did wonders. Amadio proved very useful, quite apart from the six points his boot supplied, whilo Waugh, Heard, Wells and McKay showed out to advantage. Had the greens been able to secure more ball in tho set scrums, they might well have made Kia Toe’s task an even more difficult one, for when they had the ball in the open they were always dangerous. PUBLICATION OF TEAMS. Tho attention of secretaries of clubs is drawn to tho necessity for the early receipt of teams for publication, preferably on Thursday nights, but not later than 9 o'clock on Friday morning.

THE REPRESENTATIVE TEAM. To-morrow night tho selectors will make their final declarations for the Manawatu fifteen to do duty against Horowhenua at Levin on Saturday and, in view of tho fact that they have to make their final sifting from 19 players, thero does not promiso to bo any surprises. “Cross Bar” would have liked to have seen Webber included in the pack, but as the selectors havo passed him by a fifteen which might do good duty on Saturday would bo:— S. Bramwell. Strange Fletcher Page Riddell Akuira Shapleski N. Amadio Henry Crawford Miles Conrad Galpin Fitzgerald Waugh Note. —In placing Henry and Crawford in tho front row, tho writer is taking a big risk for they have still to prove themselves in that department—an all important one. However, in tho 19 players there ia not one who has filled the rolo regularly in club football. In the rearguard, neither Riddell nor Strange really proved themselves in the trial match, but it appears preforable to maintain the Old Beys combination inside, while Strango has done so well in tho past that an improvement in form can be expected. FEILDING NOTES. United left no doubts in the minds of tho spectators on Saturday us to their superiority in the forwards—the whites ran their usually formidable opponents to a standstill and less eagerness among the players when tho line was reached would have meant a higher tally for the visitors. Every ono of the pack was a toiler. They revelled in both tight and loose work and obtained the advantage in nearly every lino-out. Tho Feilding pack was badly in need of a spur throughout the game, and had tho score that ‘ came their way in the closing moments happened earlier tho match might have proved more interesting. For the next few minutes following the amber and blacks tried hard to roduco the deficit, but their effort was too late.

K. Fitzgerald bore tho brunt of tho Feilding attack and it was a sore disappointment to the local supporters to see the tall forward go unsupported so many times, particularly as he managed to catch some member of tbc white rearguard in possession more than once. Fitzgerald is the type of forward who, although not carrying a great amount of weight, uses ic to advantage and never tires. Shapleski was the only other member of tho F’eilding fifteen who came into the limelight during the game. It was he who sprang tho surpriso on the whites which gained Feildings trio of points, but it was not his fault that tho rearguard were not seen in action with a showing of promise more than once. Tho amber and black five-eighth line has been distinctly unhappy so far this season, and unless something in tho way of an improvement is not soon found, the team will find itself under a heavy handicap on the championship score board, when it does 6tart to make a move. Elliott returned to the fold on Saturday, but as was more or less to be expected, for the first game this season, ho was not on his game and handled the ball badly. Moore, his partner, as first in the line, was satisfactory, but the hand-on from Elliott was generally wanting in finish. The return to the ranks of the yellows’ old skipper, G. Darragh, should go a long way towards settling trouble on the liveeighth line, as ho would seem a suitable partner for Moore, while his generalship and initiative have been proved on many occasions. It is not yet certain when he will again don the Feilding uniform. T. Amadio was not called upon much during the game for attacking purposes,

but tho winger's speed saved the yellows’ at least two scores when the white pack broke through with the hold clear before them. Although tho attack was in the frontal division almost throughout tho ninety minutes, Amadio was called upon to repel several thrusts by the United rearguard, and his. defence . must have satisfied his critics in this direction. H. Darragh got over for Feilding’s only try, but it must be admitted that the yellow speed merchant has not produced form this year. lie does not run with tho same determination which gamed him representative honours in previous seasons. R Darragh did all that was asked of him but as full-back the experiment with Benge did not seem welcome to that player. Often he was found too close to the three-quarter lino, with the result that his retreat for the loather was frequently a hurried one, giving him. little opportunity to defend with precision. Bongo is no novice in tho roll of custodian, but his period of play in other positions seems to have affected his judgment. Foarnley (United) kept his charge intact on every occasion that ho was required to during tho game and his lino finding gained valuable ground time and again. Evans appeared to be in great form and was in every movement initiated by tho white rearguard, and he made many solo thrusts into the yellow defonces that irked tho opposition. Ormond was a good supporter while McCarthy kept tho rearguard liberally supplied ' with tho ball. Although it would havo seemed better on one or two occasions had McCarthy used his boot instead of instituting a passing bout, his play generally was pleasing. Both Kells and Ash had an easy day in defending and neither of them was 6eon to any great purpose in carrying tho attack, the inner backs taking the prominent part. . . . Marking as it did their initial victory, United can only be congratulated on defeating a team which, on paper, should havo proved capable of administering to them a defeat.