COMMENT ON THE PLAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 177, 27 June 1938, Page 6

COMMENT ON THE PLAY.

KIA TOA AND UNITED

Kia'Toa and United provided one of the games seen this season on the Showgrounds oval, United using the same type of play as they did on the last occasion when they met Kia Toa on that ground. Where Jarvis provided the winning margin in the previous game by a lightning dash over the United line from a scrum close in, in Saturday’s encounter he was responsible for the winning try as well. . ~ In the first of the teams’ encounters Kia Toa. played mainly the same type of game from beginning to end, but on Saturday they opened the play, McKenzie going right away from the forwards on occasions to hurl himself on to the United defence and lead his team into a loose type of play, coupled with speed, that overwhelmed the defence for a period. Leading 9 —3, Kia Toa went back to their play of the first s half, but United then set about their work again and the lead was reduced to three points before the game ended. Whereas Kia Toa’s forwards have been the big hurdle facing their opposition, on Saturday the United vanguard set loose all their energies against the winners of the first round to play with a “do or die” determination wnich, if shown by other teams in the competition, would have Kia Toa well tried in their efforts to retain their supremacy. The United forwards considered neither weight nor reputation a bar to their hard handling of Kia Toa’s pack, and in their backs, too, the same spirit was shown in their desire, at all costs, to bring down the man with tlie ball.

On the other hand, Kia Toa brought to light a new style of play for them. They spread out and sent the ball from man to man in one long series of sweeping onslaughts on the United line. Such tactics were bound to bring a change and they proved their worth. • Much interest was taken in the appearance in the United team of A. J.

Darby, the well-known Wanganui- athlete, known not only for his football prowess, but for his participation in several other sports.

OLD BOYS AND ST. PATRICK’S.

WINNERS MAKE GAME OPEN

In the Old Boys and St. Patrick’s match the play was of a bright, open character, but while there were only two scores, St. Patrick’s made an even game of it. ,

Old Boys owed their superiority in the first case to their forwards, who were taking the lion’s share of the ball in the' first half from both lineouts and scrums. The Old Boys backs were given a large number of opportunities, the hall going through their rearguard lino in a series of passing bouts which held interesting possibilities. Hills and Buick both had a turn as wing three-quarters, but the St. Patrick’s defence held them out.

For 1 the great part of the match Old Boys held a territorial advantage, but their defence did not go untried. There was no score in the first half, but in the second two tries within about a minute gave Old Boys their winning margin. St. Patrick’s had a new player on the field for the second time in Gumbley, whereas the Old Boys side was that which has played practically all the season.

St. Patrick’s had the scale against them, in so far as their backs were concerned through their forwards being slightly overshadowed by the opposition, but in the second half .the.St. Patrick’s pack put more vim into their play and in that department made a much more even game of it.

WEAK DISPLAY AT FEILDING. Feilding Old Boys were off colour in their match against Massey College and gave a poor exhibition. Even Jack Finlay, who usually plays well, could do little right. Wild passes were given, while the defence generally was weak. H. and J. Dewe, however, played well and solo efforts by the former were helpful. Black, although he played a fair game, was not given the opportunity to display his ability. Massey were the aggressors pra'ctically

throughout the game, and when called Upon to defend their territory showed superiority over their opponents at close quarters. Several times Feildiug Old Hoys reached a handy position, but in each instance resistance was encountered and the ball' got into the hands of either Campbell, the resourceful guardian, or the fleet-footed winger, Mitchell. Campbell knew what to do with the bill and often gained good ground before despatching it with unerring direction to the sideline. He was caught in possession on one occasion by * J ack Finlay, however, but no damage was done. Mitchell, Stewart and Francis handled well, while in the forwards Blyth, Bamford, Thurston and Seeley were prominent.