RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 123, 23 April 1940, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FRIENDLY GAMES PLAYED. AIR FORCE BEAT KIA TOA. Some indications' of prospects for senior Rugby were given iu friendly matches played on Saturday. Clubs have now their senior sides fairly well moulded and the teams for the beginning of the season will probably he very much on the lines of those seen in action on Saturday. In the case of most of the city senior teams gaps have had to he filled by promotion of lower grade players, although there have been one or two additions in strength from other centres. Air Force (Ohakca) has a good combination, and it remains to be seen whether it will be retained in view of transfers of players to other centres.

There was some patchiness in the games on Saturday, as is to he expected for early matches. The grounds at Rugby Park and Massey College were soft and there was. a moderate easterly wind, which was inclined to be trickv atul offset the disadvantage of playing against the sun. AIR FORCE v. KIA TOA. Air Force played an excellent game both in the forwards and backs to beat Kill Toa by 6 points to 3. They met with strong opposition and a good defence, but the more finished team won. The game was fairly open and for so early in the season was interesting and exciting. Both teams were below their probable scrum strength, only nine of the Air Force team, as originally selected, playing, while Kia Toa tried several men experimentally and will probably have quite a number of changes in their competition team. Kia Toa were given a penalty from which they scored in the first five minutes, and Air Force, although struggling hard, did not equalise until some time afterwards, when Sargisson, in !a brilliant effort, took the ball with one arm and ran 50 yards to score a try which was not converted. Towards the concluding stages Air Force kept Kin Toa in their own half. A breakaway by a Kia Toa. player who went well clear of the others was well stopped by McCready. After a fast run he tackled his man near the line and Air Force returned to the attack, gaining the winning margin with a penalty in the last few minutes. I The Air Force team has three form!or representatives of other provinces jin it. Sargisson, a second five-eighths who has represented Wellington, played a good game, and Knight, a former Auckland player, was seen in several positions. McCready showed a great deal of speed on the wing. He was formerly a Taranaki representative. UNIVERSITY BEAT S. PATRICK’S. In spite of a heavy score against them, St. Patrick’s made a good showing, but University were too strong iin a match at Massey College, and 1 won by 27 points to 3. University won I the senior competition last year and ! will be very hard to beat this year, i They might have had an even greater score in their favour. The team is being coached this year by Mr M. : Cooper, the Rhodes Scholar, who has represented Oxford University, Scotland, Wellington and Manawatu. It is possible that he may turn out lor the team rf it is short of players in the vacation. Tries were scored for University on Saturday by Tutaki (two), Wallace, McLaren, Bowler and Seeley. McLaren converted three. Stewart kicked a penalty goal for University and Powell kicked one for St. Patrick’s. Eighteen of University’s points were scored in the first half. OLD BOYS BEAT UNITED. Old Boys were not troubled to beat United by 14 points to 3. The game was ragged in parts, but Old Boys showed an advantage in the back division, taking plenty of opportunities to open up the play. In the second half United had several opportunities to score from penalties hut showed a deficiency in the goal-kicking department. A notable addition to the strength of the Old Boys team is Clark, a former Auckland representative, who at full-back handled well and showed excellent kicking ability, thus filling a department in which the 'team was previously lacking. J. Scott, a promoted junior, played a good game, and Barraud; also a promoted junior, showed good promise. Howell, a Manawatu representative winger last year, is being tried as second five-eighth this year. Newcomers to United are Robertson, full back, Campbell, centre three-quarter, and Rolands and Arnett in the forwards. Promotions from lower grades include Hill, a former third grade player, to half-back, and Ryder, a junior, to second five-eighth. Findlay has retired from the team. Hill and Campbell in the backs and Luxmore and Arnett in the forwards played good games. Davidson. Barraud and McNeil scored tries for Old Boys, Clark converting one and kicking a penalty goal. Arnett scored for United from a forward ruck. JUNIOR GAMES. In junior games Old Boys heat United by 6 points to 5, Hubbard scoring a try for United which Nicholls converted*. Kia Toa beat Air Force by 14 points to 9.