AN EASY TASK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 195, 19 July 1937, Page 5

AN EASY TASK.

FOR PALMERSTON NORTH OLD BOYS. Minus a good defence, Feilding Old Boys’ rearguard was repeatedly penetrated by the aggressive Palmerston North Old Boys team on Saturday, at Johnston Park. The weakness in the rearguard', so apparent by the easy way in which the visitors tound their way through, was not the only trouble, for out or position on numerous occasions when they could ill afford to take any risks, they lost many points, as did they also by their weak tackling. Invariably tiie Feilding Old Boys’ tackling was too high, with the result that often they failed to get their man. Palmerston North Old Boys scored five tries, four of which were converted, and added three penalty goals, making their final score 32, as against Feilding Old Boys’ single unconverted try, secured by AlcLecd, in the first five minutes of play. The teams were: Palmerston North Old Boys.—Betleridge, Btiick, lnnes, Bradley, Todd, Plank, Irvine, Carter, Cutler, Lewin, Louisson, O’Dea, Powell, Fleming Lovelock.

Feilding Old Boys.—S. Brain well, Mullins, C. Wilson, N. Bramwell, Pawson, W. Wilson, Dernier, J. Dewe, McLeod, Knyvett, Fade, Freeman, Filllay, Ewart, Edwards. The visitors faced the terrace in the first spell and had hardly got their bearings when their opponents hotly challenged and a scoring thrust by McLeod on the far side of the field resulted. Jack Finlay’s kick failedThe visitors took care not to be caught napping again, and play centred principally in Feilding’s territory. Irvine secured possession and sent out to the backs, but Lovelock stopped the movement by offside play and the penalty against them cleared for Feilding. A moment later Betteridge essayed a drop-kick at goal, but the ball fell short. The home team moved up, but Mullins’s forward pass to Finlay upset further penetration, and when Lovelock secured he drew play to midfield. Patchy play ensued for a brief period, and except for a smart long run by C. Wilson, who was forced to step over the side line, nothing exciting happened. Offside play and obstruction cost the visitors penalties, but they drew level on the score -hoard, when, arising from a scrum infringement by J. Dewe in a handy position, Betteridge kicked a penalty goal. 'The visitors attacked again, and Pawson was caught out of position. Betteridge easily sent the leather over to register a further penalty goal. A good passing movement by‘Palmerston North Old Boys ended in Bradley being hauled down near the twenty-five flag, where play continued until Cutler was penalised for being out of position. Here Irvine sent a long kick across the field, but N. Bramwell intercepted and with a long kick sent the leather to midfield. Lovelock, however, prevented further progress and made an opening for Buick to cut through the opposition and score. The kick by Betteridge failed. Play continued nqar Feilding’s territory until Buick centred the leather and Fleming added another try three minutes before the end of the first spell. Betteridge converted. On the resumption the visitors suffered a penalty for offside plaj and their opponents advanced rapidly, but Finlay, who was in possession, was well marked and in losing the leather it was cleared to midfield by the visitors. Although the visitors had the sun in their faces, it did not affect the accuracy of Betteridge’s penalty kick soon after, for the ball went sailing between the uprights to register another three points. At this stage Feilding Old Boys broke down badly, and penetration was easy for Powell when he received the leather and cut straight through to score. Betteridge’s angle kick was successful. G. Wilson sponsored an attack on the visitors’ territory, but the advance was soon repelled and again the visitors went on their winning way, Bradley featuring prominently in tho advance, which was momentarily halted by Cutler’s failure to accept. However, O’Dea was there and he punted the hall behind the opposition goal line and, following up fast, scored. Betteridge’s kick touched the crossbar and fell inside the goal. Bradley’s turn came net, and his ambition was fulfilled when he secured the leather and made a fast run to score behind the posts. Betteridge converted. The final score was: Palmerston North 0.8. 32, Feilding 0.8. 3. Mr C. Pinfold controlled the game.