KIA TOA’S VICTORY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 153, 31 May 1937, Page 5

KIA TOA’S VICTORY.

OLD BOYS OUTCLASSED IN SECOND SPELL. In the presence of a large crowd and under ideal conditions, Ivia Toa and Old Boys met in the final of the first round. It was a hard game, hut only at times did the standard of play rise to the- spectacular. , This can be- accounted for in a large measure by the sound defence of the both teams, the tackling on the whole being deadly. In the first spell honours were fairly even, but Kia Toa definitely had the upper hand in the second session and Old Boys were outclassed, the final score being 18 points to 8. The teams were:

Kin Toa.—O’Keefe, Barnao, Simpson, G. AVaslev, R. AA'aslev, Thomas, AVinjata, Greatorex, Crawford, Thorne, McKenzie (capt.), AVilliams, Beard, White, Carr. Old Boys.—Lang, Bradley, H. Ormond, Btiick, Plank, Todd, Irvine (capt.), Lewes, Louisson, R. Cutler, Fleming, O'Dea, Powell, S. Cutler, Thomas. , Kia Ton kicked olf and were soon on the offensive. They were awarded a free from a very difficult angle, but McKenzie had a shot at goal. The ball went wide and play returned to midfield, where a series of uninteresting forward scrambles y ensued. Carr broke away and was within five yards of the line when his pass went astray. Kia Toa were pressing and McKenzie sent back a fong pass to R. AVasley, who stab-punted. liang could not gather in ihe leather, tumbling badly, and Barnao, who was handy, snapped it up and scored. McKenzie tailed with the kick from the side-line. Old Boys attacked, but O ivecte sent them back with a beautiful line-kick, putting his side on the attack again. Lang got the blacks out of danger and lor tne first time the Old Bojs backs swung into action, but lnnes, who had replaced Orjnond (who was injured) broke the movement down. Kia Toa were given a free kick and McKenzie never left the result ill doubt, finding the uprights with a good k:ck. GAVasley, on the wing, set the back machine in motion and it was going well until Simpson knocked on. f rom a scrum near the posts all the blue backs handled, blit ground was lost rather than gained. Play was in midfield when lnnes broke away and Old Boys were hammering on line. From a forward scramble It. Cutler dived across and Fleming raised the flags with a splendid kick. Old Boys had taken fresh heart and were the aggressors until Simpson shot away, transferring to Thomas, to It- AAasley, who was pulled down near the line. Bitick line-kicked to save trouble. Both sides were trying to open up the play and the tackling left little to be desired. Irvine passed to Bradley, who made a bold bid, but Barnao grassed him in no uncertain way. Play had gone back to hallway at the interval. Kia Toa went great guns on the resumption and Thomas took his chance ironi a handy position and drop-kicked u goal. Old Hoys clapped oil ulie pace and from a free kick coon after Fleming landed a goal. Old Boys were back at it agaai, and Biuck had a great chance lor a drop-kick but ilie ball tailed to rise. Kia Toa were placed in an attacking position when u ang tailed badly to take the ball. \j. wasley essayed a drop-kick, winch was unsuccessful, and Old Boys secureu relict for a time. Bimpson_ made a good run and so also did McKenzie, but the defence was sound. All the Kia Toa backs handled, but G. AVasley was pulled down. he came again, but met the same fate and then Simpson was just unlucky in colliding wnh a team-mate and losing possession when over under the< posts. Old Boys were compelled to lorce down three times in quick succession. At this stage Kia Toa definitely had the upper hand. They were securing possession from the 6crums and AViniata was repeatedly sending his backs away, Tliomas making- some particularly tricky runs. Ihe defence could not be pierced, however, until from a scramble on the line McKenzie went over. He added the major points Kia Toa seemed to be satisfied to hold their own, and were lining out at every chance. Then lnnes broke away and passed to Cutler, who passed infield instead of out to Bradley and a chance went astray. The blues were hack at it but Old Boys made a and Buick was almost across. The corner flag fell in the scramble and a force down followed. Kia Toa ivere attacking in the dying stages of the game and time was up when, from a scrum near the corner AViniata worked the blind side and crossed. McKenzie s kick failed and the game ended: Kia Toa 18. Old Boys 8. Mr A. AVard refereed.