RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 133, 7 May 1945, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OLD BOYS' NARROW WIN

When the Manawatu Rugby Union's competitions were continued on Saturday the grounds were heavy following the recent rains. Nevertheless the displays at the Sportsground were good and some bright rearguard movements were seen. In the principal match Old Boys quickly went to the attack and had play in the Feilding Old Boys' territory. For lifting in a scrum the visitors were penalised fairly wide out. Harkness's kick went astray. Feilding Old Boys turned the tables with a fast forward rush led by Fitch and Wilson which took the play to the Old Boys' twenty-five, whore Rush, who represented Manawatu as second live-eighth last season, slipped past two defenders and kicked a held goal. The visitors nearly added to their score when Kenevan gathered in the ball, t)niy to be grounded by Brooker short of his objective. Old Boys penetrated the visitors' territory by a succession of long kicks by Harkness, whose kicking was a decided advantage to' his side. McKcnna sent his backs away for Millard to cut in and pass on to Brooker, who scored in the corner. The kick missed. Old Boys kept up the attack, but faulty handling by the backs cost them several opportunities. Rush was ropcatedly called on to save, which he did with credit. In the second spell the home side kept up their attack with forward rushes led by Puklowiki. In the backs, Harkness and Millard made a number of unsuccessful attempts to break through. Morgan, who went out to the first live-eighth position after the interval, left the deloncc standing when he received the ball from a scrum and ran through to score near the posts. Buick's kick was wide. For a long period the Feilding players were hard put to keep the home side from adding further to their score, • good tackling halting movements which looked like reaching fruition. In the closing stages the Feilding forwards rallied, but were unable to penetrate far. When the final whistle sounded Old Boys were attacking. The final score was: Old Boys 6; Feilding Old Boys 4. Mr Burt was the referee.

A senior contest between United and Ohakea B provided the curtain-raiser. The opening exchanges were fairly even. Weak passing by Ignited caused several promising | movements to break down. Ohakea opened ■ their account when from a high centre kick I Griffin secured and dived over. United attacked, and following a fine solo run of 25 yards, in which he shook off a number of tacklors Cuff went over for a. good try. Throughout the greater part of the spell the city players had the airmen defending desperately. It was evident from the opening of the second half, that; the airmen would be hard pressed to keep their opponents from adding to thoir score. Soon after the commencement Ward secured from a ruck and dived over. This was followed shortly afterwards by a try by Edlin who worked the blind side and dived over. weak passing spoilt a number of movements. United kept up the attack. Register snapped up a pass and after sidestepping one tackier ran round to score under the posts. Edlin added the extra points A feature, of the play at this stage was the good work in the ruck by W aidegrave and Powell and tb« good passing from the base of the scrum by Edlin. the former Manawatu representative half-back. He gave many glimpses of his pro-war form When the final whistle sounded the snore was: United 14; Ohakea 3. Mr 1 Madgwick refereed.

Results:— , , _, . Senior—United- 34 v Ohakea B 3; Old Bovs 6 v. Feilding Old Boys 4 Junior.—Bunnythorpe 11 (tries by Hyde and Cheatham, conversion and penalty goa: by Cheetham) v. Huia 8 (try by Pukotapu, conversion and penalty goal by Williams): Mr C Eglinton refereed. Longburn 25 (trios by Holland (2). Matthews. Carter (2) Mitchell (2), and Pratt, conversions by Mitchell, ITolloway and Adlin) ; Mr C, Rumble refereed. Kia Too. A 9 v. I«eliding Old Bovs 5; referee, Mr D. Thompson. Marist North 11 (try by Callughan converted by Kreft. penalty bv Sherman and try by O'Connell) v. Hui Mai 6 (Bailey a try and Mnllins a penalty); referee, Mr O Pinfold. Oknhea 9 (tries by Richardson, Tuapawa and Wolletf) v. Marist South 0; referee Mr G. Duthie High School 25 (tries by Frankc (2), I; Yates (2), Brooke, Bowden, Mawliinney, two conversions by I. Yates) v. Kia Toa B 3 (try by Moar); referee. Mr B. Trow. Third Oracle—High School 14 v. Old Boys 5; Kia Toa 6 v. Feilding Old Boys 0.