COMMENTS ON THE GAMES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 145, 22 May 1939, Page 9

COMMENTS ON THE GAMES.

ST. PATRICK’S AND OLD BOYS. Old Bovs took a leaf from St. Pat--1 rick’s book ■whoa the teams changed round at half-time and kicked hard down-wind for the corner of the field, this leading to much of the play being in that quarter. In the first spell St. Patrick’s used the wind to advantage, but in the second Old Boys found that it was a dying breeze. Once they were within striking distance, St. Patrick’s infused plenty of dash into their attack and the fact that Old Boys had to force down twice early in the match showed, at that stage, that the game would be a hard one. | Old Boys made a desperate attempt to score.at the close of the first halt, but the improved St. Patrick’s forwards gave as good as they received m last, open work and the backs of both teams were brought into play to provide 0110 ! of the outstanding periods of the game. 'The players of neither side wished to hang on to the ball when on the ground and the speed of the exchanges was such as to produce a high pitch of excitement among the spectators. At the close of the second halt the match again rose to very interesting heights, but here again the St. 1 atriek’s team proved tully equal to the stress placed upon it. In the first half, particularly, St. Patrick’s made greater use of the ball among tl.cir backs; they were then getting it more often than Old Boys were. A faster set of inside backs made their attacks swift, and wellplaced kicks by Fitzpatrick, with fast following up, frequently brought Buick into tlie picture as full-back. Later the Old Boys attack improved, but they lost the services of Carson in the second 'half when lie suffered slight concussion in being brought down in a heavy, but clean, tackle. Carson hit the ground very hard and was taken from the field on a stretcher. He was replaced by Annear, Old Boys had to withstand the bad luck of the game in the latter part of the first half when Howell and McNeilo broke right through with the hall at their toes. They appeared to ho well oil the way in a scoring move but the ball slewed sideways to Gillespie, who lined with the sureness that marked his play throughout the game. LIGHT PACK PREVAILS. Without tlio guiding hand of Guild at centre three-quarter, University were not the attacking force they have been in their earlier matches. Despite a surplus of the ball, their hacks sun ply could not counteract the quickbreaking tactics of tho United forwards

and the close formation of the opposing back-line. In the first half it was a game lacking in brilliance, and United were the only side to infuse any life into their | play. The University backs did not handle well, and the ball rarely went beyond the centre. In the forwards the blue men more than held their own. Tb6ir weight told in the tight and the tactics adopted by United were ior their opponents to take the hall and then to rob them of it. United on the day were undoubtedly a virile team, but here, too, cohesion was lacking, and the type of play led to many infringements. Individual bursts of brilliance were quite lrcqucnt, but the desultory play that 1 olio wed got the teams nowhere. In the first spell University had the advantage of the wind, but they did not seem to turn it to profitable account. United’s first six points came from Ward’s boot, and they held the lead with this against one try by University. Ward later added another two for a conversion, when Holland registered their first try. For the earlier part it can be said that either side might have won, and when University came back after the interval and 'Seemed to sweep everything belore them, securing the ball at every opportunity, it appeared that they might sustain their effort and yet gain honours. However, for all the big share of the ball they made no headway, and in the end tiie match fizzled out. lvlA TOA v. FEILDING OLD BOYS. Finlay did not play as well as usual at Feilding, and Feilding Old Boys’ weakness appeared to he in the fact that they failed to support their fullback Beeves, who was crowded on frequent occasions. Although the set scrums were by no means clean and had to bo broken up several times, Kia Toa invariably got the ball away. McKenzie’s weight and strength were put to good use when he got the ball and went on to score despite the fact that several players hung on to him. Harford, who scored when the ball came into his possession from Finlay, played an excellent game throughout and was in all the progressive movements initiated hv his team. With the wind blowing Harford thought lie had scored on one occasion when, following a scrum, he got the ball from Crump and in a brilliant run went on to force down, but no score resulted as the referee’s whistle had blown for a knock-on and Harford had not heard it. Beard made the goal-line from almost. half-way in a run which was unhampered until he got to within a yard or two of tho line, and then it was too late to haul him down with the pace he had developed. Kia Toa secured an unexpected four points when Carr contributed his field goal. It was an excellent shot well directed and aided by a favourable wind. Waugh made his first appearance this season and showed promise of becoming most useful later. He was not overworked, but did everything asked of him in an able manner. Gowsey, also a newcomer in the Feilding Old Boys ranks, has speed and also a good head. Much is expected of him, and present indications arc that the public will not be disappointed.