Feilding’s Colours Lowered

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6632, 11 June 1928, Page 3

Feilding’s Colours Lowered

OLD BOYS UNDOUBTED. CHAMPIONS Ecilding went under to Palmerston North Old Boys on Johnston Park on Saturday (o the tunc of 13 points to 3 in a great battle which satisiied spectators that the visitor? must win the championship. They certainly excelled themselves, Williamson, Brophy aud Riddell setting a matchless standard of play which was only equalled by the meritorious defence offered by the yellow forward pack. This pack with Conrad, Bowler and Pike ever prominent did yeoman service the effect of which lost real significance through the weakness of the backs, who were without the vim and pep 'disclosed in earlier matches. On the other hand Old Boys’ backs were a treat to watch providing unlimited entertainment for the enthusiastic spectators. The teams were: Old Boys.—Williamson, Kells, Riddell, Bowler, Akuira, Brophy, Evans, O’Shea, Sutherland, Gregg, Guy, Galpin, Tremewau, Ncild and Linklator. Feilding.—Roach, flight, Bowler, Waldin, Boddy, Simpson, Brook, Conrad, Darragh (3), Kelly, Pike, Gibbs, and Stevens. Waldin set the leather in motion and the visiting backs tested their efficiency with a good passing rush which the ycdlow backs stopped . Williamson stayed the Ecilding advance with a nice and then the yellow forwards asserted themselves. At first arrested through obstruction for which the blacks wero penalised, the forwards gradually . won territory and from the ruck Bowlcf opened the way for Russell Darragh to score amidst applause. Gibbs’ kick failed. 3—o. Blacks rallied and in the movement Akuira failed to pick up and the yellows cleared. The home forwards came again and a great tackle by George Darragh was followed by a ■fine line kick which Kelly, on the wing, got in as ho was tackled. Employing strategy the blacks brought off a surprise movement which Harold Darragh aided by swallowing the dummy. The advance became dangerous but ended in a fierce struggle on the line. Ecilding wore having their work cut out to watch their nippy opponents. A scrum followed and the blacks got possession but soon lost their assaulting position through faulty passing. The yellows were now hold in their own territory but their forwards routed the opposition, allowing Harold Darragh to slip through with tt.lro ball at his toe. There was only Williamson to pass aud ho made a splendid save, finding the line with a neat kick. The visitors head-work was calling up all the dash Fielding could put in—the pace was furious. With every precision the visiting backs set off again but Evan’s kick was returned by Roach. Palmer took this cleverly on the half way line and returned it for Russell Darragh to mark under the posts. AVilliamsou took the leather which eventually went out on the half way line, with a lot of effort the bulky yellow forwards emerged from their territory but were unable to break down the defence through lack of support from their backs Maintaining the pace the blacks cleared and quickly assaulted with the result that Ncild flow over from tho scrum on the lino. Akuira’s kick failed. 3—3. Kelly brought the yellows back to the visitors twenty-five but further progress was restricted by the active blacks who were quick to perceive every movement. The pressure by Feilding however, caused the visitors to infringe and a good attempt at a. penalty goal by G. Darragh fell short. The follow up was quick enough to compel tho blacks to force. They soon cleared and had Ecilding chasing the leather, Palmer and Gregg being in the van for a certain score. The Darragh Bros, diverted the leather and Brook was lucky to get home to force before Palmer got his reach fully extended. Thanks to Ecilding’s forwards the blacks were soon again defending ami the assault in the visitors’ twenty-five •was sustained as tho bell came with the score 3 all.

Conrad took the leather from the kick oft and attempted to break through the opposition. The effort brought Fcilding into the visitors’ territory where Williamson marked.

His kick was returned by R. Darragh and this time Brophy saved with a capital line kick. The blacks now came with all their pace and getting their backs into motion soon made points. From the lino-out the visitors got possession, tho leather passing along their line to enable Riddell to score easily. Akuira made certain of the extra points. S—3. Kells who had retired just previous to this score owing to an injured leg was replaced by Fox. Tho next movement came from a scrum on tho half-way Hue, Ecilding hooking but fumbling. The blacks snapped up the ball as it drifted from the ruck and passing it along their lino gave Palmer a chance. AA ith a dash of speed ho sot off down the lino outwitting the opposition until brought to earth by H. Darragh. A moment later Ecilding found it convenient to force but the respite was brief for the visitors were now into it with all their vigor. A penalty kick enabled Ecilding to clear their lino and then Brophy essayed a drop at goal and the beautiful effort fouled the post to enable Ecilding to breath again. Thoroughly aroused the yellow forwards now put their full strength against the strategy of their opponents and for a brief moment they crossed over into foreign territory. Repulsed, tho yellows were once again defending being heavily pressed in rising to meet tho rapid movements of the Old Boys. Thanks to their forwards Ecilding once again cleared and entered the blacks’ twenty-five where Waldin made an opening for Conrad and Bowler to follow up. The blacks forced and some effort was required to clear. The position was encouraging to the spectators but the yellow forwards had too much to do, and weak backs let the visitors through. Play swayed for a bit and then the blacks got down to it, enabling Guy to score. Akuira added the extra points. 13—3. Ecilding rallied ineffectually losing ground through an infringement which the blacks used to advantage. Guy snapped up th< return kick, promptly feeding his line who were brought to a halt on Ecilding's line. The ball went out for the last time as the homo team were defending and the game ended in favour of the visitors by 13 points to 3. OROUA SUB-UNION. Senior Final. Apiti 11 v. Rangiwahia 6. Juniors. AVailufca 11 v. Kiwitoa 0. Rangiwahia 20 v. Kimbolton 3. Colytou won from Apiti by forfeit, r