COMMENTS ON THE PLAY.

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

COMMENTS ON THE PLAY.

FIRST ROUND LEADERS. , KIA TOA’S GOOD WIN. Following the defeat of Kia Toa at the hands of St. Patrick’s the previous week and the victory of Old Boys over St. Patrick’s earlier, few could have expected to see Kia Toa score over Old Boys with a ten-point margin. Yet that is what happened on Saturday. The blues obviously rose to the occasion and, led by the All Black McKenzie, who easily played his best game of the season, they had the upper hand in the second spell. Only sound defence on the part of the blacks kept the score down. In the torwards, Kia Toa, if anything, were at a disadvantage in weignt, but they more than held their own, and securing the leather from <o per cent, of the scrums, were able to set their backs in motion. Thomas, at first five-eighth, was always tricky, but at times lie was inclined to do too much on his own, particularly "hen it became apparent that lie was " ell marked. „ , G. AVasley had the bulk of the wing work for Kia Toa and lie . dischaigec his duties well. He was always game as every good winger should be, anu on one occasion when lie was brough down he was up at and at it within a few seconds. Barnao, on the other hand, had an easier day, but he marked the fleet-footed and elusive Bradley well, and his first try was a smart piece of work. , , - , O’Keefe, the full-back, showed a clever pair of hands and sure feet and was continually saving bis forwards. His vis-a-vis, Dang, however, had an off day and on several occasions his handling was bad. One could almos go to tne length of saying that had the full-backs been exchanged the result might have been very much ditferent. Even allowing for the Diet that a team can only play as well as it is allowed to, Old Boys did not hate the “punch” shown in their previous games, and with Kia Toa, as stated, playing above form the secret of the margin in points can be found. Bradley, and perhaps Irvine, were the only backs who showed adequate conlidenc. from the start, although limes, who replaced Ormond, displayed enterprise on occasions. Lang too often ran the forwards off their feet, which gave the Kia Toa van an advantage. Although the tackling was good, all these factors contributed to the defeat of the blacks, who need not, however, be disappointed. They met the Kia Toa side at its best.

THE FEILDING MATCH. McKew-en, in place of Richards (who was standing down owing to an arm injury) fulfilled the role ol full-back for St. Patrick’s very well. McCormick also played a good game, but suffered a. penalty for picking the ball out of a scrum. Donovan also played outstandingly, but on one occasion was a bit too eagei and was found out of position by the referee,* and the penalty kick resulted in a goal for Feilding Old Boys. It. Gillespie handled the ball frequently and usually did what was expected of him, but once he was caught in a mistake, having tackled Thompson, who did not have the ball, and he was rightly penalised! Fell, Powell and Findlay were the pick of the St. Patrick’s forwards and they were always in the work. M. Gillespie was given the centrethreequarter position, vice Hampton, who was injured a. fortnight ago, and in that position lie put up a good performance. . ' St. Patrick’s did not allow their opponents to play their usual open game, and endeavoured throughout to bustle Feilding Old Boys into making mistakes. At times they accomplished this, for there were mistakes aplenty, but it was not only the Feilding team which made errors, and it is difficult to determine which side offended most. The tackling in the first spell was not good, but in the second half a substantial improvement was noted. By virtue of their five points lead for a considerable period, St. Patrick s were justified in expecting to win, and Feilding Old Boys’ last-minute try must have been a disappointment to them. Towards the end of the match the home team kept >St. Patrick’s on tho defence and appeared to be the sounder side. MATCH AT AVOODVILLE. COLLEGE TEAM’S PROMISE. Though Massey College won from AVoodville by 16 points to nil, the victors did not have matters all their own way, and on a number of occasions only just kept the AVoodville men out. Right from the start the home side played up to the opposing backs, and without previous experience in match -play together, the latter were at sixes and sevens for a time. Many attempts to inaugurate passing rushes were stultified with the keen AVoodville men on to the ball, and other efforts broke up through mis-passing or sonic such error. As it was, the home side adopted the right tactics and kept matters quiet for a great part of the game. Time after time the visitors attempted to make an open game of it and throw the bull around mid in the second half tliov settled down much better than in "the opening spell. .AVitli speedy backs mid forwards playing a more dashing game, Massey College showed a decided superiority in that half and added ten points. If the AVoodville players had allowed the visitors plenty of room and time in the opening part of the game the College team would have settled down far more quickly. In the second halt of the game there was no doubt whatever as to who was calling the tune. The Massey College forwarded, imparted considerably more fire into their play and the backs were seen in a more individual and brighter light than iormerly. , , .... ~ It was then that the visiting side gave indications of becoming a strong attacking side. Previously their display, in comparison with others seen in the senior competitions this year, was somewhat mediocre, but once they settled down to play hard they appeared in a totally different light. Francis and Stewart, in the live-eighth positions, kept matters moving, and Blyth lost no opportunity of sending the ball away from his position at half-back. An unusual feature of the match was the awarding of an obstruction try. It is not often that such is given, but opinion on the side-line was thoroughly in accord with the referee’s ruling. The attacking Massey College player short-punted the ball directly over the AVoodville full-back’s head and then set out in pursuit. As he approached, the full-back turned . ljound and the attacker cannoned into the defender. It might easily be said that the defending player was turning preparatory to racing after the hall himself, but there was not an atom of doubt as to who would have reached it first. One man was travelling at top speed and the other was leaving a standing start, with only a few yards to run. AVitli more practice the College rearguard should become far more efficient as a back-line and not a collection of several good players. Ou occasions on

Saturday the Collegians showed that' they are quite capable of employing the reverse pass to effect, and it requires only playing together and knowledge of each other's movements for the backs to become a strong unit. Stewart and Francis were both prominent ia opening up the play, and when another game or two lias passed they should be working well with Blyth at half-back to give their three-quarter line opportunities for scoring.