To-day’s Rugby

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6864, 21 May 1932, Page 8

To-day’s Rugby

TWO SENIOR MATCHES AT SHOWGROUNDS. Two senior games have been set down for decision at the Showgrounds to-day and a number of junior games, and Rugby enthusiasts should find plenty to interest them. The star game is that between Palmerston North Old Boys and United—last year's champions—and a good even game should result. Old Boys beat Kia Toa last Saturday, thanks to a fast pack of forwards, but United’s vanguard is noted for hustling tactics and Old Boys will have to show their best form to carry off the honours to-day. The other senior game is between Feilding and Massey College, which is timed to start on the No. 4 ground at 3 p.m. The curtain raiser on the oval will be provided by the United? and PalmoTston North Old Boys A. teams. Kia Toa travel to Feilding to meet the Feilding Old Boys team at Johnston Park. COMMENT ON LAST WEEK’S GAMES. Following is some brief comment on the senior games played in PalmeTston North last Saturday:— Old Boys Play Good Football. Old Boys turned the tables on Kia Toa on Saturday after many fruitless attempts. The margin in score between the two teams was not groat—only four points—but the Old Boys held the upper hand during most of the game. The reason for this was the outstanding performance of the Old Boys’ pack, which is composed of young players, five of Whom are just earning their spurs in senior football. They were opposed to a heavy and experienced pack, but this did not seem to worry them any, and the tackling and sustained concerted work of these young players was quite refreshing, reflecting great credit on the cluib’s senior coach, O. Galpin. The backs performed quite creditably and they gave the pack every support. The back line would be a more effective attacking force if the two five-eighths were to make a point of getting off the mark and running sljtaightcr. This would give their mainstay—Fletcher —more opportunities of penetrating. The game with United to-day should be an attractive one and if the Old Boys repeat their display of last Saturday, a fast and open game should result. Kia Toa’s Forwards Did Not Pack Well. The Kia Toa team accounted for United the previous Saturday and they played convincing football, indicating that they were near the top of their form. Old Boys should have met an improved team last Saturday, but on this occasion the double blue forwards did not pack as they usually do and seemed to be puzzled by the tenacious younger players opposed to them, and they wore never given the chance to settle down to their work. The Kia Toa backs played quite well, the veteran, Mullins, being the mainstay. The forwards held their own in the linesout and they got the ball from the majority of set scrums in the first spell. After the interval, however, Old Beys assumed the upper hand in both departments of the forwarl play. Kia Toa play Feilding Old Boys at Feilding to-day and though they are meeting an unbeaten and very fast team, their supporters consider that the result might come as a surprise to football fans. Feilding Old Boys Continue Winning Sequence. Feilding Old Boys have an unbroken record this season and on Saturday scored an easy win against Massey College. The Feilding backs played convincing football and some of their combined movements were particularly fine. The centre three-quarter was outstanding in attack and he took full advantage of every opportunity that offered. The other members of the back division also played well and with a great understanding of each other's play, indicating that the team is under a good coach and getting plenty of practice. The forwards were not so convincing and Massey College held them in thi3 department of the game. Had. the play been confined to the forwards it would have been a close contest. Massey College Not Yet in Form. Massey College were outclassed by Feilding Old Boys, but the collegians can be expected to give a good account of themselves before the season is much further advanced. Le Quesne was the outstanding player on the ground on Saturday and, though he was leading a beaten team, he never once let up in his endeavours to prevent Feilding adding to their total. Even in the closing ton minutes of the match, when it was obvious, that Feilding Old Boys wore going to win by a big margin, he was still tigerishly fighting to prevent the game developing into a debacle. His backing up on defence was a revelation and he left nothing to chance. Massey College’s full-back was called upon to do a great deal of work and at the start proved more than equal to all demands made upon him. As the game progressed, however, he seemed to take a somewhat fatalistic viewpoint, and ho did not display the same confidence. Massey College play Feilding to-day on the No. 4 area at the showgrounds. COMMENT FROM FOXTON. From Our Own Correspondent. Ideal weathor prevailed last Saturday afternoon when, before a very large attendance on Easton Park, football enthusiasts had the opportunity of witnessing three local junior teams — Motuiiti, FiTe Brigade and Foxton—in aetion. The curtain raiser was supplied by Fire Brigade and Motuiti, whilst opposed to Foxton was Athletic (Levin), who were on very even terms at the head of the championship tabic with their opponents. The display shown gave one the impression that all the teams must have been training haTd for the pace was a cracker from the first whistle to the last. Fire Brigade, per medium of their speedy backs, triumphed over Motuiti by 28 to 11,

whilst Foxton were victors over Athletic to the tune of 23 to 3. Ihe star players of the Fire Brigade backs were Hirini, E.- Stevenson and W. Dunn, with Roore at the head of the forwards. Considering that it was his first game this season, Pedersen did very well, with C. McCarthy, Devonshire and S. Bills not faT behind. The Motuiti team was composed mostly of "old war horses,” and some who had not seen, a football before. However, they put a lot of dash into their play and are as keen as mustard. In their backs, Gilmeur was the best, with K. Matthews and "Shammy” following closely. Cootes, Poplar and Takarua weTe prominent in the forwards. Foxton v. Athletic. The best back on the field was G. Williams, the local full-back. His defence, with one exception, left nothing to be desired. His line kicking was a feature of the game, and out of the 23 points scored, 11 points came off his boots. Geoff should go close to rep. honours this season. The rest of the local back division all played woll with perhaps B. Coley, G. Hirini and K. Robinson at the head. Hartley, behind the pack, stood up well to the heavy Athletic onslaughts, but should put more pop into his passes at the base of tho scrum. Perhaps his injury in the first spell hampered him in this Tespect. Time and again his five-eighths were caught with the ball. G. Hirini was inclined to cut in too much. He should vary his play more. However, if given room to work in he is a very hard man to stop, as he is very fast off the mark. He and his partner, E. Coley, were very sound on defence. Tho diminutive R. Coley tackled resolutely and was very unlucky not to scoro on one occasion. More will be heard of this player in the futuTe. B. Coley and K. Robinson, the wingers, are a very fast pair. The former possesses a nice swervo which he used to advantage when he scored. The latter did not get enough of the ball to show Ms capabilities, but he used his pace to advantage when he overhauled D. Taylor, the fast Athletic winger. Of a fast set of bustling forwards, E. Robinson, Richardson and Taylor stood out, with the rest not far behind. The paek infused a lot of dash into their play, and possessing a lot of 1 ‘ devil ’ ’ quite overshadowed their opponents in the loose. Curtis, behind the pack, was safe, the same applying to Hogg and Drysdale. Athletic possessed a heavy pack, headed by the two Bishops, and one and all played remarkably well, using their weight in the tight, but Foxton counter-attacked in the loose. Bishop’s try when he dribbled over, was the first time Foxton’s line had been crossed this season.