Rugby Football

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6836, 18 April 1932, Page 3

Rugby Football

FEILDING VISITS A PIT I On Saturday afternoon Feilding seniors travelled to Apiti to engage the country team in a practice match, which produced a real hard game, in which the Apiti forwards more than held their own throughout. The result was a victory for the visitors by 14 points to six, the score at the interval being three to nil in Foil ding’s favour.

The first half of the game appeared likely to be scoreless until Elliott got over to give Icilding a three-point lead. Early in the second spell Plank registered a try, which was followed by one for Apiti wdiich Mclxay secured. Stevens then got away to cross the line for McCorkindalo to convert, making the score 31—3 in favour of the visitors. Hight was next to display scoring form, but Plank’s attempt to convert hit the post. 14 —3. Shortly aftci'wards the home forwards launched a stirring attack, and from this vigorous movement Viles emerged to cross Fcilding’s line. 14—6.

From the play it would appear that the Feilding forwards arc not yet ready. They require a lot more practice to reach that form which was evident in the front rank last season. On the other hand, the backs went astonishingly well and the play suggests that much can be expected from the back line. Stevens, as of yore, was prominent in the rearguard, and the work of Bourlce and McCorkindalo promises well. The three worked splendidly and must prove a tower of strength when tho real contests commence. Not that tho game against Apiti failed to draw out the best in the Feilding combination; it was a hard-fought contest and Feilding W3s always extended. Of the forwards, Smith, Hight and Paucini were the pick, Hight offering tho vigorous game for which he is noted.

Unfortunately, Elliott had to retire in tho first spell and was replaced by Dennis Coombe, who is a newcomer to Fcilding and a youth who gives promise of good football. Paucini, who wa? hurt early in the second spell, was replaced by Fitzgerald. Stevens, who was wing three-quarter in the first spell, changed places with McCorkindalc, full back, in the second spell, but the original positions undoubtedly worked much better. Tho first five-eighth, Matson, worked well, but is inclined to bang on too long on occasions. Summed up, the game was a good “pipe opener” and about a-s hard a contest as the yellows are likely to meet with during the forthcoming competitions. They emerged from the struggle a strong team, and attention to practice and training should see the yellows prominent early in the season.

FEILDING OLD BOYS v. KIMBOLTON Feikling Old Boys were a very fit team when they met Kimbolton in a friendly match on Johnston park on Saturday and trounced the visitors to the tune of 37 points to three, fhe visitors, who were playing their first match, were far from ready, and in their op ponents found a combination in which every department was trained to the minute.' The greens had a merry time, their backs working to perfection ai.d co-operating closely with the untiring forwards, who gave no chances. The odds Were against Iho visitors from the outset, and the greens made the most of the practice.