NOTES ON THE GAME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 197, 21 July 1937, Page 14

NOTES ON THE GAME.

MATCHES IN REVIEW.

DONOVAN SHAPES WELL. (By “Front Row.”) Though they were beaten by a. bettor team on the day, Feilding were without the services of Dewc, Plight and S. Brown in their match against St. Patrick’s on Saturday, the trio having influenza. Nicol and Newman were also suffering from the same malady, but turned out for their side and gave a sound display, the former being right up to his best form. Ho made some nice openings and was solid on defence. Donovan Impresses. Though lie had not played for a fortnight owing to illness, Donovan,

tbo long-striding St. Patrick’s wing three-quarter, on Saturday played his best game this season. It was a marked improvement on his earlier efforts, and he ran with determination and dash. Donovan has pace and, if he will use it in the right manner, should make a dangerous three-quarter. Edlin’s Strong Claims. With every game Edlin, the St. Patrick’s half-back, has continued to consolidate his claim for representative honours, and it is pleasing to see that he has been selected to fill this position against Hawke’s Bay. On Saturday he was getting the ball away from the scrums with exceptional smartness, and sent some beautiful passes to Hehir. Fell Strikes Form.

Following his early injury, E. Fell, the St. Patrick’s forward, was a long time in striking form this season, but in his last few games has shown what he is really capable of. He was in the van all the time against Feildiiig on Saturday, scoring a nice try and just missing another. His display was one of all-round excellence, and he was noticed coming very last through the loose. Waldin the Mainstay. AVnklin, the Manawatu full-back, playing in the five-eighths position for Feilding on Saturday, was their mainstay in defence. He let very little get past him and proved, in similar manner to his display at AVanganui, what an asset he is in this department. Sullivan Shines Out.

The Manawatu representative forward Sullivan shone out in the Feilding pack as a tireless worker. Never once during the game did he let up. Always on the ball, he followed up in an exemplary manner. Kitchen, Morrison and Newman wore also prominent.

Three Feilding Brothers. From ono family in Feilding conic three promising backs. FirsJ. is J. B. Thurston, the former Manawatu representative and now playing good football as a five-eighth for the Athletic Club, AVellington. Secondly, there is L. AV. Thurston, wing three-quarter for Feilding Old Boys juniors, and the, third, brother is D. Thurston, showing promise as a five-eighth with the Feilding High School team. C. Francis Departing.

At the end of this month C. Francis leaves the Manawatu for his homo territory, Poverty Bay. Francis, a representative player, is a dairy factory worker and his term at Massey College, where he is at present studying, closes at the end of this month. Ho undertakes his duties for the coming season on the Monday of next week after leaving the college, and so Manawatu will not only lose a prominent club player but also one who has done fine work as a member of the union’s best side.

Junior Plays Well. In view of the fact that Blyth, the Massey College half-back, was not available, having suffered a slight injury in the match at Feilding on the previous Saturday, the College team drew on their junior side for a halfback on Saturday. The junior team was not playing that day, and as a consequence Bennett, their half, was to be had for the asking. He put up a good performance against Kia Toa; he sent the ball out smartly and his passes were well directed in the main. Though he did not show any play very far removed from the orthodox, he gave a solid display which kept the back-line up to their usual standard. Right Club Spirit.

The week before last the Kia Toa juniors had to default, but last Saturday, rather than see them default again for lack of sufficient players, six former players (several of whom have not been on the Rugby field for years) donned the double blue jersey again to rally to the support of their club. They were Murchison, J. Kingsbeer, R. Brown, B. Clark, L. Baigent, and B. Baigent. The day’s play left its mark with some, but the spirit they displayed was something which any Rugby football club would he very proud of.

Leaders Of Their Sides. AVilliams and AVhyte were the leaders of the Kia Toa pack against Massey College. Both worked hard in the tight and on several occasions were to be seen out in front in the open, hunting the ball as a pair. Thomas went well at first five-eighth, and on the wing G. AVasley’s strong running proved very effective. Of the Massey College forwards Terry and Thurston appeared to bo the pick, being closely followed by Irving and Graham. In the backs there was not a great deal on which to pick and choose, but Bennett, because he is usually a junior grade player, deserves mention.

The following table shows the positions of the teams in the Otago competition: Points Ch.

P. IV. L. P. For Agst. Pts Southern .. 13 11 1 1 212 34 23 Kaikorai ... 13 11 1 1 146 41 23Pirates 13 9 3 1 168 80 19 University A 13 8 4 1 257 110 17 Dunedin 13 6 7 0 110 130 12 Union 13 4 7 2 122 156 10 Taieri .... 13 4 8 1 134 211 9 Ziogari 13 4 9 0 89 135 8 Alhambra ... 13 3 9 1 76 202 7 University B 13 1 12 0 59 274 2