RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 154, 1 June 1936, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. TWO SURPRISES. ' CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP. Two surprises involving a change in the leadership, were features of the Manawatu Rugby Union’s senior championship when play was continued under good conditions on Saturday afternoon. Old Boys, who had been at the top of the points table, met their first defeat of the season at the hands of Eeilding Old Boys on the latter’s ground, and were relegated to second place, one point behind their rivals, who have nut yet had to strike their colours to any team. The change in leadership has created a very open position, because both Kia Toa and St. Patrick’s are improving rapidly, and will be challenging strongly as the competition progresses. Old Boys had been expected to hold their place, though it was realised that they were meeting their strongest opposition in Eeilding Old Boys. Showing an unaccountable reversal of form, Massey College, who had enriier held Eeilding Old Boys to a draw and nearly inllicted defeat upon them, went under to Eeilding A, who scored their second success in five matches with a meritorious win on the Sthowgrounds oval. Kia Toa literally overwhelmed the weak United team on the No. 3 area, while St. Patrick’s had no difficulty in accounting for Eeilding B on the No. 2 ground. Old Boys still head the junior championship table, being unbeaten, and are one point ahead of Eeilding, Old Boys and St. Patrick’s, both High School and W oodvillc having slipped back.

THE SCORE BOARD. Seniors. Eeilding Old Boys 13 v. Old Bovs 3. Eeilding A 15 v. Massey College 10. St. Patrick’s 19 y. E'eilding B 3. Kia Toa 36 v. United 0. Juniors. Old Bovs 16 v. High School 5. St. Patrick’s 8 v. Woodville 6. Massey College 17 v.. United 6. Eeilding Old Boys 25 v. Te Arakura 0. Kia Toa won by default from Bunnythorpe. Third Grade. United 11 v. Woodville 8. Kia Toa 3 v. St. Patrick’s 3. Old Bovs 11 v. Eeilding Old Boys Kl. " . E’eilding sv. Eeilding lI.S. 0. E’ourth Grade. High School beat St. Patrick’s by default. Old Boys beat Woodville by default. Kia Toa won from Eeilding High School by default. Midgets. Terrace End A 11 v. Terrace End B 0.

CHAMPIONSHIP TABLES.

A WEAK FINISH. MASSEY COLLEGE BEATEN. After leading by 6 points to 0 at tlie interval, Massey College went to pieces towards the close of their match with Feilding A, who were running through them at the finish to win by 15 points to 10. But for bad handling at times, the margin would have been greater. The teams were : Massey College.—Payne, Orgias, Ball, Sherratt, E. Fletcher, Herbert, Blyth, Lyall, Muir, Barker, Irving, Green, llees, Sutton, Hart. Feilding A. —Sutherland, H. Dewe, J. Reynolds, W. McCorkindale, J. Nicol, P. Reynolds, R. Dewe, Hare, Morrison, Newman, Montgomerie, Waldin, liight, Rosser and Kpilman. College attacked strongly, bpt Feilding carried play to the other end, where McCorkindale was unsuccessful in a long-range attempt to kick a penalty goal. Fletcher kicked through and Feilding were in serious trouble when their full-back failed to gather up the ball, but they managed to clear after a hard struggle. Finally, Blyth despatched Orgias on the blind side for the winger to cross in the corner. Sherratt’s kick failed. However, shortly afterwards a breach by Feilding in front of their own goal permitted Sherratt to land a good penalty goal. Nicol nearly went through the opposition in several thrusts, but Feilding were unlucky, and College forced twice in succession, the interval coming with College leading by 6 points to 0. Sherratt made a great run for College after the resumption, and shortpunted past the full-back to an open field, but knocked-on in endeavouring to recover possession of the ball. Feilding took play to the other end, where H. Dewe snapped up after a centring kick and went over wide out. McCorkindale failed to add the major points. Dewe got away in another nice run, but Spilman lost a firstclass chance of crossing, and College cleared. Bad handling lost Feilding further scoring opportunities when they were outplaying College in the loose. Three Feilding men overtook the College full-back in a race for the ball and then failed, through mishandling. to score. Eventually the forwards, after hammering at the College defence, burst through and H. Dewe won the race for the touch down. McCorkindale failed to convert. A few minutes later Spilman finished oft another rush by scoring in the corner. Waldin’s kick narrowly missed, l'eilding were sweeping through the College defence at this stage and Nicol pierced the opposition, but If. Dewe failed to accept the pass and another try went astray. College three points behind, attacked strongly and in the middle of a rush Ball received to effect a surprise by drop-kicking a neat field goal. Fortune changed swiftly again when the Feilding backs went away in a nice rush which H. Dewe finished by scoring m the corner. The kick failed. Shortly before time another rush culminated in Montgomerie scoring in the corner, Suth-. erlancl narrowly failed to add the extra points, and the final score was: Feilding A 15. Massey College 10. Mr A. "Weston was the reieree. |

A FAST GAME. 1 ST. PATRICK’S BEAT EEILDING B. ■ St. Patrick’s met Eeilding B on No2 ground at tiro Showgrounds' and, ( showing superiority in back piny, they decisively treat their opponents by 19 * points to 3. The teams were: St. Patrick’s. —Richards, Dawick, j Hallamore, McKewen, Brinsden,- R. j Gillespie, Edliu, Heeney, Sears, Rush, ( Powell, E'itzpatrick, Simmonds, Whyte, ( MadgwicJt. , , , E'eilding B. —Merritt, Sutherland, Gleeson, Stevens, Thompson, M. Dor- , mer, A. Dormer, Brown, K. E’itzger- - aid, W. E’itzgerald, Macfarlane, Cole, Hepburn, Kitchen, Gray. , St. Patrick’s kicked off into the _ cross-wind, and immediately attacked, j E'rom a melee in tho visitors’ twenty- 1 five the ball'shot out to Dawick lor the St. Patrick’s man to score wide, out. Powell converted with a beautiful kick. A wide pass let the yellow for- > wards through lat the kick-off, but Richards, the green full-back, sa.vcd, smartly. Here the visitors were penal-; ised, and Powell sent the ball over the bar. Shortly afterwards half-time was: , sounded. , . , , On tho resumption, K. E ltzgcrakt! led the E'eilding forwards to the green ■ line, where Richards was called upon | to retrievo a difficult situation with a , ; good kick. The green forwards then 1 staged a fine rush which terminated . in Whyte scoring wide out. Powell rais- j • ed the flags with a splendid kick, i - Eeilding attacked hotly, A. Dormer being almost over. Here some of the green forwards were off-side aiu Thompson opened the yellows’ account with a. good kick. From the kick-off the Eeilding men again attacked, ana | Richards saved nicely in the lace of | several opposing forwards. lowell then I broke away, but his pass to R. Gillespie went astray. The greens pressed hard and in a scramble near the yellow line Hallamore forced his wav over. | Powell could not convert. Shortly at- j forwards the green backs broke away and Brinsden capped off a fine movement bv scoring in a good position. Powell "failed to add the extra points and the game ended with the score. St. Patrick's 19, Eeilding B 3. Mr G'ooksley refereed. KIA TOA’S DAY. UNITED WELL BEATEN. In a. fast open game played on No. 3 ground at the Showgrounds Kia ioa beat United by 36 points to nil. As the result of an incident in the second half. R. M. McKenzie, the All Black and Manawatu representative, was ordered off the field. The teams were:—Kia Toa. —Carr, Simpson, Crawford, Barnao, Thorburn, Jarvis, Thorne, L. Beard, Speedy, Latham, McKenzie, Williams, Hines, K. Beard, Polglase. United. —Anderson, Culpan, Turner, Morgan, Holden, Mabey M iniata, Greatorex, Glastonbury, Riley, Mard, Withers, Morrissey, .Francis, Eindlay. Play commenced in spirited fashion, and Barnao snapped up in the United twentv-five, making a good dash to establish an early lead tor Ivia toa. L Beard failed to add the major points. Play centred in midfield, and then the Kia 'Toa forwards started a quick passing rally which saw Latham cross L Beard converted. M aid repulsed the Kia Toa forwards with a oood kick and play went to midfield. However. Jarvis made a fine cut in and transferred to Hines, who scored near the posts. Ward prevented the conversion. Jarvis then received a bad knock on the head, necessitating his removal from the field. Kingsbeer came on and Simpson moved in to Jarvis s position. Kia Toa attacked and Ihorhurn drop-kicked a neat field goal. Half-time was then sounded. Oil the resumption of play. Beard kicked a good penalty goal for the' blues, who again attacked stiongly, Simpson crossing for L. Beard to add the extra points. At this stage u misunderstanding arose as the result of a melee and McKenzie was ordered oft the field. Kia Toa, playing with great zest, staged a fine rush, I\. Bea.rd grounding the ball went out. Carr converted. Shortly afterwards L. Beard kicked a long penalty goal. Ihe blue forwards broke away from half-way, and Barnao leceivcd to touch down beside the posts. Beard converted and the final whistle sounded: Kia Toa 36, United 0. Mr G'. Eglinton refereed.

EEILDING OLD BOYS LEAD. BIG CROWD AT EEILDING. Drawing an almost unprecedented attendance, tho match between Eeilding Old Roys and Palmerston North Old Boys proved to he an attractive one, and the result was enthusiastically rereived by Keihkng’s supporters. the game was clean and both teams showed the result of good training. The teams '"Eeilding Old Boys.—J. Finlay, J. M. ETnlav, Elude, Knyvett, Ewart, ltdwards, Mitchell, Turnbull, Dewe, J Hurston, Waugh, Bramwell, Ball. "Wilson, Glovu. Palmerston North Old Boys.—l3etteridee, Bradley, Moffatt, Thompson, Olliver, Plank, Irvine, Lewin, # Louisson, Lovelock, O’Dea, Henry, Powell, Kingsbeer, Thomas. E'eilding Old Buys kicked ott and within a few moments the visitors were awarded a lrcc kick in a fairly hmull position. A shot at goal was taken, but the kick failed and Bramwell got the leather and promptly put bis team tint of the danger zone by lining in midfield. Play went into the visitors twenty-five, where, from an infringement, E’eilding Old Boys were awarded a penalty kick with which J. M. Finlay made no mistake. The visitors pressed and kept the home team defending till Mitchell gained possession and set play in neutral territory, from where it swiftly moved to Palmerston North Old Boys ground. The pendulum swung again to the home team’s territory, whore Gloyn secured and lined out in midfield. At half-time the visitors had been doing most of the attacking, but the home team conceded little ground and the score was unaltered. On tho resumption, with play in the visitors’ twenty-five, Thurston accepted ji pass from Dew© and punted, tie followed up, regained the ball and sprinted across to score under the posts. J. MFindlay converted. Soon afterwards the magpies were penalised and Betteriuge i sent the ball over the cross-bar to open the visitors account. 'The final score came wlicn, from a midfield sciuin, Mitchell secured and passed to Thurston, who handed on to Ball, to Waugh, who completed the movement by scoring behind tho posts. J. M. E'inlay again converted. The game ended a few minutes later with play in the home team’s territory, hut the dolence was too solid and no openings allowed the visitors to penetrate:— Eeilding Old Boys 13, Palmerston North Old Boys 3. Mr G’. Eade controlled the game.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. COLLEGE COLLAPSE. FEILDING’S LOST CHANCES. Apparently the strain of two hard matches in succession, against E’eilding Old Boys and Old Boys, is having its effect on Massey College, liecauso after establishing a six-point lead in the first spell they practically collapsed in the

finish of tlieir match against Eeilding A, who were doing as they liked in the last five minutes, when .they speedily clapped on two unconverted tries. College have been unfortunate with their full-backs. Campbell has been off tlie scene for two playing days nursing an injury. Wisliart, who deputised so well for him against Old Boys, received a kick in the hack in that match, and was also a spectator on Saturday, when Payne was dropped hark from the fiveeighths position to the last line, of defence, though he later moved up to centre-threequarter. Excitement was intense when, with Eeilding A leading 9—6, Ball drop-. kicked a field goal from the centre of ' the ruck to put College one point in front, but they could not hold the lend against E’eikling’s shock tactics at tlic finish. Lewes was absent from the forwards owing to an injury received to his eye when at practice hist Wednesday, and Muir filled his place. Sutton was going well throughout while Barker and Rees were also prominent in the vanguard. The reappearance of Eh Fletcher as first five-eighth for College, after his return to Rugby from tho League fold in Auckland, was awaited with interest. hut his play was not spectacular, and his lustre has faded compared with his performances some years ago as an Old Boys and a Manawatu representative back. Possibly his supports were not fast enough for him, as he exploited the stab punt frequently, and with some degree of success. Nevertheless, Fletcher’s return to Manawatu Rugby will bo watched with interest if it means, as it very possibly will, a strengthening of the five-eighths play in the competition. In this regard Manawatu has been decidedly weak for several seasons past. Nicol, tho brilliant young Eeilding five-eighth, kept Fletcher well subdued, j and made several dazzling runs which completely pierced the defence. Ho was unlucky once when he went | through, but chose to pass instead of going on for a solo try. He greatly enhanced bis claims to selection in the Manawatu team. Sutherland started rather shakily as full-back for Feiklmg, missing some high balls when the sun got in his eyes, but later settled down to give a sound display, line-kicking with excellent judgment. H. Dewe ran with determination and scored three tries, but for a winger his handling was not as claen as it should have been. Hight. Waldin and Spilman were the pick of the forwards. Spilman ingloriously Inst a fine scoring chance when lie mulled the ball badly on the line, ; but later made amends with a good try. ST. PATRICK’S v. EEILDING B. Richards, the St. Patrick’s full-back, played a fine game against E'eilding B. His positional play was excellent, but oil two occasions he spoilt what might have been an outstanding performance by running too far with the ball and getting caught. However, his game was a fine one. Dawick, the left wing three-quarter for St. Patrick’s, is a strong, determined runner, and was easily the fastest on the field. The green forwards played well in file loose, Powell, Whyte and Madgwick being outstanding. Merritt, the yellow full-back, was weak in that position, but when in the second half lie came up to wing three-quarter, lie played well and some of his centring kicks were correctly placed. K. Fitzpatrick played well in the Eeilding pack, working hard in the tight and loose.

KIA TOA v. UNITED

Kia Toa played well in all departments of the game with United and on the day completely over-shadowed their opponents. Headed hv Beard, McKenzie, Barnao and Polglase, the blue forwards played a great game in the loose, often sweeping the field with long dribbling rushes. •The blue hacks all played well. Carr was safe a.t full-back. Ward and Glastonbury toiled in the white pack, Ward being especially prominent. L. Beard (Kia Toa) was ill fine kicking fettle, nearly all his attempts raising the flags.

A KEEN GAME,

EEILDING OLD BOYS SHINE. Eeilding Old Boys enjoyed a wellearned victory at the expense of their Palmerston North namesakes. The latter’s display for some unaccountable reason slumped badly in the second spell, and the hopes of their large | army of supporters were quickly dasTi- : ed to the ground when it was seen that the home side were definitely superior. I Playing against the sun in the first i spell Palmerston North had . territorially the better of that half and a debit ol three points was not a formidable harrier to success in the second spell. But the sun at half-time disappeared behind clouds and the home side did not have to contend with their rivals earlier disability. But as the spell progressed the whites played the better football and the beaten team’s display fell from its high standard aginst Massey College the previous Saturday. E'oi E’eilding Dewe, Thurston, and Bramwell were very sound. They cooperated better than their vis-a-vis in the Palmerston North Old Boys’ team. They were, however, much the better assisted by their forwards. Betteridge was again oustanding m the visitors’ ranks as full-back. He lias made a great improvement since last season. Olliver was not at His best and in the concluding stages he kicked rather aimlessly when passing to liis supports was the' - game. Led by Henry the visiting forwards battled strenuously, but their opposing vanguard held them well in the second spell. The whites were definitely better in the line-outs and in the majority of the scrums, but their breakaways were frequently permitted to get offside in coining round the scrum and Irvine had a torrid afternoon. There were times, too, in tlie lineouts when two or three E’eilding forwards in striving for possession got offside with impunity. Nevertheless, these breaches did not affect tho result and geneially speaking the. referee tried to keep th game fast and free from interruption. In E’eilding Old Boys’ ranks was George Mitchell, making his first appearance since his illness of two years ago. He played well, hut was naturally not tlie raking forwaid of past years, though his rucking and line-out work were good. Towards the close of the game he suffered a knock in the face and had to retire. E’ollowers of the game were pleased to see Him in action again and hope that he will keep fit.

MIDGET COMPETITION. Providing an interlude between the two games on the Showgrounds oval, the midget competition was commenced on Saturday, when Terrace End A heat Terrace End B by 11 points to nil. Tries were scored for the winners by Kitcliing and Anderson, while Cameron converted one and kicked a penalty goal.

JUNIOR CURTAIN-RAISER. ' OLD BOYS PREVAIL. Continuing on their winning way, Old Boys beat High Sehool by 10 ■ points to 5 in a junior match which was the curtain-raiser to the senior j attraction on the oval. Old Boys attacked strongly from the start. High .School’s slow lob passing causing the breakdown of their back movements. Carson cut through under the posts to score Old Boys’ lirst try ,and Morgan dashed out of the ruck to secure the second. Gardner scored the third when he received the ball from Carson on the blind side to race over. Lang converted two of the tries, and Old Boys led 13 —0 at the interval. High School put more snap into their play on resuming, and began to hold their own. Gilchrist received from the ruck to go over for a try which Beard converted. However, Old Boys attacked again and McPherson snapped up the leather to go on and score an unconverted try in the corner, the game ending: Old Boys 16, High School 5. Mr C. Pinfold was the referee. FEILDJNG OLD BOYS v. TE ARAKUIIA. Football patrons who attended at Johnston Park early on Saturday saw Feilding Old Boys junior play football of high class. Within half an hour of the start they had put on 25 points in quick time and thereafter for some unknown reason they appeared to lose all interest in the game and played erratically. Tries were scored through splendid back movements, whilst the forwards also played well. Tries were scored by Crump, Sawer.s, Carter, Muliins and McLeod, three of which were converted by Carter, and a good field goal was scored by Crump. ST. PATRICK’S DEI EAT WOODVILLE. St. Patrick’s juniors defeated Woodville in a hard, forward game. '1 here were fe.v good back movements, but both packs played strenuously. At] half-time the score was 5 —3 m favour I of St. Patrick’s. In the second half both sides scored, but St. Patrick 6 managed to maintain their lead until the final whistle, the score bemg B—6. THIRD “GRADE. After a hard fought game Palmerston North Old Boys thirds defeated the Feilding team by 11 points to 10. | Feilding were rather unfortunate in i that their half-back was absent, thus breaking up their combination. All the team played well and With a. little more luck victory might have been theirs. Although this is their second defeat, the team are still not many points behind the leaders, and with more training may yet come out on top. Feilding Old Boys’ points were made up of two splendid individual tries by Silcock and Thurston, whilst Ewen converted both with good kicks. OROUA ~SUB-UNION. Seniors.—Rangiwahia 12 v. Kimbolton 0. RANGITIKEI SUB-UNION. Senior. —Hunterville 11 v. Halcombe 3; Old Boys, a bye. Junior.—Turakina 22 v. Halcombe 3; Old Boys 3 v. Bulls 0; Hunterville, a bye. RESULTS IN OTHER CENTRES. Results of Rugby matches played in other centres on Saturday are as follow : Wellington.—Senior A (first dm- j sion): Athletic 10 v. 'Wellington 8; Wellington College Old Boys 13 v. I Eastbourne 6; Poneke 11 v. Marist 3; Petone 3 v. Hutt 0. Senior A (second division): Jolmsonville 15 v. Oriental G : St. Patrick’s College Old Boys 19 v. Athletic 3; Miramar 11 v. 0i ited 7; University 13 v. Pirates 9 Auckland. —Ponsonby 2; v. Grammar 20; Marist 54 v. North Shore 3; College Rifles 9 v. Manukau 8; Otahulni 22 v. Uniwsi.y 6. Christchurch. —Old Boys 17 v. Merivale 3; Sunnyside 16 v. University 0; Linwood 39 v. Sydenham 6, Albion 24 v. Athletic 14. . Dunedin. —Pirates 12 v. Varsity A 8; Kaikorai 17 v. Alhambra 6; Southern 41 v. Varsity B 0; Union 22 v. Taieri 14; Zingari 11 v. Dunedin 8. Wairarapa. —Reel Star 12 v. Old Boys 5; Carterton 14 v. Dalefield 3; Mart in borough 16 v. Gladstone 16; Greytown 3v. Featherston 0. Ihe championship points are: lied Star 8, Martinborough 6, Old Boys 5, Gladstone 5, Greytown 4, Carterton 2, Featherston 2, Dalefield 0. Dargaville. —Northern Star 9 v. Southern 6; Ivaihu A alley 14 v. RuaNapier.—Technical Old Boys 23 v Napier H. 5.0.8. 11; M.8.0.JL 9 >'• M.A.C. 4. , , . New Plymouth.—Taranaki 18 r. AVanganui B 6. Wanganui. —Taranaki 17 v. MangaNelson. —Nelson 5 v. Olel Boys 0; AVaimea 9 v. Rivals 6, Rovers 8 v. Oaraaru.-Old Boys 19 v. Maheno 14; Athletic 11 v. Excelsior 9. Timaru. —Tennika 16 v. Celtic 6; Star 8 v. Zingari 6; Old Boys 9 v. Geraldine 3.

SENIOR GRADE. Points. Ch. P. W. L. D. For Agst. Pts 5 4 — 1 86 26 9 Old Boys 5 4 1 — 55 3b 8 5 3 2 — 100 53 6 St. Patrick’s . 5 3 2 — 74 51 6 Massev Col. .. 5 2 2 1 58 45 5 5 2 3 — 44 54 4 Fcikhng B ... United 5 5 1 0 4 — 5 - 50 16 79 150 2 0 JUNIOR GRADE. Points. Ch. P. w. L. D. For A £St. Pts Old Boys 5 4 — 1 68 27 9 5 4 1 — 117 37 8 St. Patrick’s . 5 4 1 — 55 45 8 High School . 5 3 2 — 58 42 6 Woodvilie 5 2 1 2 47 3b 6 Massey Col. .. 5 2 3 — 33 51 4 United 5 2 3 — 26 71 4 Bunnythorpe . 5 5 1 1 4 — 4 — 17 20 58 44 2 2 To Arakura .. 5 — 4 1 18 71 1