COMMENTS ON THE PLAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 193, 17 July 1939, Page 9

COMMENTS ON THE PLAY.

OLD BOYS FORWARDS DOMINATE.

Three factors led to the victory of Old Boys—their forwards strained every nerve to hold the Kia Toa forwards (which they did well), Old Boys did not have as good inside backs as

Kin Toa and therefore sent the hall out to the wings as often as possible, and the Old Bovs wingers both proved superior to the men facing them. Combined with tin's, Old Boys enjoyed the safety of fine defensive work by Buick at full-back. While the Kia Toa forwards caused Old Boys some concern at the beginning of the game, it was noticeable that at that time the Old Boys scrum was working better than the other. As a result, the Kia Toa hacks did not see the hall often and ii, was only in the second half that they were able to display their real capabilities. Parris "(half-back), Jarvis (first fiveeighths) and Thomas (second fiveeighths) then provided individualistic and combined movements which had Old Buys on tenterhooks on a number of occasions.

As against this, tiie Old Boys team were most ably served by Irvine behind the serum, and what the inside hacks lacked in penetrative power they more than made up for with team work.

Hill bandied tiie hall noticeably better than lie usually does. Buick missed taking only two halls and on numerous ocasions lie saved his side from very tight corners. It was in the forwards, however, that the secret of the OkKßoys success lay. At tiie outset tiie Kia Toa pack did not appear to have tiie vim usually associated with tiieir play, and, meeting virile assaults by Old Boys, their play suffered further deterioration by comparison. Waslev, who hurt a knee a couple of Saturdays ago, was absent from ins usual post at centre three-quarter and this resulted in a slowing down of the line.

Carr could not produce his usual kicking ability and the sweeping rushes Old Boys throw at him with the ball o'i the ground did not suit his type of play.

LACK OF COAI BIN ATI ON. Lack of anv cohesion among the backs and forwards on both sides marked tiie encounter between tit. Patrick's and United. It was largely an individualistic battle, and no fairer criterion could lie given of the run of play than tiie scores. Both sets of forwards did not mince matters in tiie tight, and several times there were strenuous scrimunages. The St. Patrick’s score, which was obtained from practically tiie only combined effort by their backs, seemed to lie an indication at tiie time of brighter play to come. However, then both sides took turns in attacking in spasmodic bursts, and as none of these was initiated with much regard for tactics, tiie results were negative. ft appeared that the art of dribbling was lost here. Several times the teams had the opportunity to carry tiie leather forward with their toes. This, however, they were unable to do without an extra large kick which gave tiieir opponents possession. The defensive play of both sides was good, particularly bv the St. Patrick’s inside backs. United wore not so sure, and Hughes was often weak in this respect. UNIVERSITY v. FEILDING. Thompson, who gave a good account of himself in the first spell of (lie Feilding match, was injured in the second ami no replacement was made by Feilding. who finished the game one man short.

Tiie University forwards were powerful in tiie set serums and usually managed to get the ball away, while ill their attacks they combined well. AYaldin got into trouble several times, through not getting rid of tiie leather, hut his misjudging of the time available to him when the bail crossed his goal-line and Peterson scored was liis biggest mistake.

Sutherland played a hard game throughout. AVilson. who is usually in the hacks, went into tbo forwards io renlace Henson, who was not availaide because of an injured hand. Dernier u-'erl his hoot well in gaining ground and lonic his fair share of Hie work, ills defence was flawless, and lie missed no opportunities. A particularly good exhibition of speed, enternriso. and hard work was given hv Peterson, who played in place of AreCraeken. and lie associated himself with Blakely, Guild and Stewart in particular and scored two tries. Bennett. AU-Laron and Terry, with Blakely, Guild and Stewart were] tough propositions for the opposition am! their work made tiie game a livelv one.

By dint of good solid work. Feilding's forwards recovered a lot of ground at one stage only to lose it again in the next- breath when Green gathered in the hall and with a powerful kick sent it out on the side.