Competition Keen in Manawatu Rugby

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 112, 15 May 1939, Page 10

Competition Keen in Manawatu Rugby

Some Splendid Tussles on Saturday ’Varsity Impress Against Kia Toa

Although three series of matches have been played in Manawatu Rugby this season, there are still two unbeaten teams, Kia Toa and Old Boys, who have yet to cross swords. But, judging on the games at the Showgrounds on Saturday, some further interesting encounters will eventuate. A particularly large crowd, which filled both stands, were treated to a display of football in both games which augurs well for the union. Kia Toa matches are usually rather hectic, and Saturday's game was no exception. It was refreshing to watch a game filled with lively incident, and University gave a fine display against Kia Toa’s stubborn resistance. The earlier game, although not such an even tussle, was attractive from the point of the high grade display by Old Boys, who had it all over Feilding in the first few minutes. At Feilding, Feilding Old Boys accounted for United. St. Patrick’s had a bye.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE Senior Grade Kia Toa 6, University 3. Old Boys 20, Feilding 3. Feilding Old Boys 17, United 14 . Junior Grade Woodville 17, Bunnythorpe 3. Kia Toa 27, St. Pat’s 0. Old Boys 25, ’Varsity 3. Feilding Old Boys 13, United 6. Third Grade Kia Toa 6, ’Varsity 0. St. Pat’s 9, Feilding 6. Feilding Old Boys 7, Old Boys 3. CHAMPIONSHIP TABLES

from the ’Varsity line and Parris tried to worm his way across. From a fiveyard scrum, University gained the advantage and Seeley cleared to the line at half-way.

The Second Spell McLaren replaced Terry in the second spell. Thomas cut through University in front of the posts but failed to effect a useful transfer. Kia Toa did not slacken the pressure, but University exploited the line. Kia Toa swung the ball across field to J. McKenzie, left wing, and but for a knock-on there would have been a try. Guild w r ent off with a minor leg trouble and was replaced by Thurston. Kia Toa made a lightning attack, Hampton and McKenzie taking the ball to the corner, where Parris dived over close to the flag. Carr’s kick rebounded from the post. Kia Toa 6, University 3. Little w’as unfortunate in side-step-ping two men and then putting his foot into touch. Kia Toa began to put more fire into their game in the next few minutes and did all the attacking, Thomas and Jarvis cutting through time and again. Kia Toa infringed about 40 yards out and Stewart's kick rebounded from the crossbar. Stewart put the ball out almost right on the line, where Kia Toa infringed, but Stewart’s penalty kick passed outside. ’Varsity Nearly Equalise

Carr failed to raise the flag with a penalty kick from near the side-line. Kia Toa lost a valuable territorial advantage with a scrum infringement. Again they were penalised, but a man got in front when ’Varsity took the kick. Amid intense excitement, University continued to gain ground, and the ball was sent rolling over the line, a couple of ’Varsity forwards in pursuit. R. M. McKenzie, however, was on it in time to force down. ’Varsity still peuned Kia Toa in their twenty-five, but Kia Toa were awarded a penalty. Then came another penalty to ’Varsity, but the Kia Toa forwards had University on the run and play returned to mid-field. Mr. A. Neville was the referee. OLD BOYS QUITE SUPERIOR DEFEAT FEILDING BY 20 TO 3 Old Boys played a vastly improved game on Saturday when they defeated Feilding by 20 points to three. It seemed hardly the same team that had such a lucky win against University the previous week. Reid played an outstanding game for Old Boys, his play being marked by his speed and science. He engineered several good attacks but was inclined to depend on the other players and try to pass out when his owi, speed and weight would have taken him through. Buick was sufficiently safe as full-back and kicked to advantage. Carson, Hill and McNeile played with Detter combination and McGrath sent out good passes from the scrum. Howell completed a good line of backs.

’VARSITY FULLY EXTEND KIA TOA DOUBLE BLUES WIN BY 6 TO 3 If any team in Manawatu on Saturday had the ability to beat Kia Toa, it was ’Varsity, who played a game improved out of sight. But the Jubilee Cup was in safe hands, and Kia Toa won by six points to three. It was a truly great game and as fine a one as one could hope to see in club football. The only jarring feature was an unnecessary number of infringements, the Kia Toa forwards being the worst of'fenders.

The indomitable ’Harry Carr, apart from his valuable kicking, proved almost infallible in defence, and his play was a highlight of the game. Parris, Thomas and Jarvis proved a tricky trio and cut through the tightest barrier. Wasley was over-inclined to kick, but Hampton played a worthy game on the wing. Two particularly strong packs of forwards were opposed, University probably having an advantage in weight with big men like Terry, Carter, Gray and Craven, but the Kia Toa pack lacked nothing in vigour and ability. Thorne, Fitch, Beard, Williams and McKenzie showed out In a pretty even bunch. They were particularly adept at following up, which worked well with a kicker like Carr behind them, and gained much ground that way. Frances made no mistakes as fullback for University. Little, Guild and Mitchell were a very dangerous threequarter line and burned up the ground with their speed. Stewart played a very useful game and was unfortunate in not adding more points with his penalty kicking. Tha Teams The teams lined out as follow: Kia Toa: Carr, Hampton, Wasley, McKenzie, Jarvis, Thomas, Parris, Speedy, Thorne, Greatorex, Gardner, Beard, Wililams, Fitch R. McKenzie. University: Frances Little, Guild, Mitchell, Stewart, Blackley, Bennett, Green, Seeley, Craven, Carter, Terry, Gray, McKee, Wallace. The Game From the outset it appeared that University would be playing a different game from the one last -Saturday, which was their first outing. They showed far more combination. For a while play was rather tight and was confined mainly to the middle of the field. The Kia Toa forwards tried several times to boot their way through, but Frances was safe at full-back. Carr nearly succeeded with a field goal. University infringed in a line-out and Kia Toa were awarded a penalty a yard from half-way. Carr’s kick landed under the posts. Ho was offered another kick from not so far out, but still a difficult angle, and put it over. Kia Toa 3, University 0. Mitchell showed a tremendous burst of speed up the side-line, outpacing several men, but was hauled up within a few yards of the line. He got his pass away and Stewart broke through to cross the line, but a forward pass was ruled. University were awarded a penalty about 30 yards out and Stewart put it over to equalise. Kia Toa 3, University 3. The teams scrummaged a few yards

Dermer was inclined to kick whenever he had the opportunity, but no doubt it was more or less to the advantage of his team, as the Feilding backs were outpaced by their opponents. W. Sutherland saw little ol’ the ball, but showed himself to be a fast wing threequarter. Thompson, Feilding half-back, was quick to make an opening but did not see as much of the ball as the opposing half. Porter played a brilliant game in the forwards and worked like a Trojan. He was the best on the field, but ably supported by Fleming, Shand and Cutler. The Teams The teams lined out as follow: — Old Boys: Buick, Reid, McNeile, Howell, Hill, Carson, McGrath, Waldegrave, Lewin, Shand, Fleming, O’Dea, Forbes, Porter, Cutler. Feilding: J. Sutherland, W. Sutherland, Mowatt, Wilson, Williams, Dermer, Thompson, Anderson, Blake, Scott, Newman, Nicholson, Sutherland, Anderson, Fitzgerald. The Game Old Boys began throwing the leather about in a most attractive manner until they infringed with a knock-on. A penalty soon came to them, however, in the Feilding twenty-five and McGrath scored with his kick. Old Boys 3, Feilding 0. Shortly afterwards, from half-way, Old Boys won the ball and McGrath sent on to Carson, and he to Hill, then McNeile and Reid. Reid dodged two men, nearly lost his balance, but ran on to score not far from the corner. Shand’s kick failed. Old Boys 6, Feilding 0. Old Boys had another chance when they got the ball m the Feilding twenty-five, but Reid ran across field to set his backs in motion, and the long pass he sent away was not accepted and went into touch. From the line-out, however, Old Boys continued the attack and Porter scored in the corner. Shand’a kick again missed narrowly. Old Boys 9, Feilding 0. Feilding took the ball from a scrum and Thompson sent Dermer, Williams, Mowatt and Sutherland away, the movement reaching the Old Boys twenty-five.

Feilding backs began to see more of the ball and made several sallies into Old Boys territory. Old Boys infringed about 30 yards out, and Dermer put over a good penalty kick. Old Boys 9, Feilding 3. A smart bit of quick, short passing by the Old Boys inside backs gave Carson an opening for an easy try. McGrath was rushed before he could get in his kick. Old Boys 12, Feilding 3. The Second Spell The game remained brisk but somewhat indeterminate until Lewin engineered an opening to send Fleming off an a practically clear run to score near the posts. McGrath converted. Old Boys 17, Feilding 3. The Old Boys forwards initiated another scoring movement, Porter crossing over to score. The kick was disallowed. Old Boys 20, Feilding 3. Newman was injured and Feilding replaced him with Anderson. The game became rather ragged for a while. Cutler looked as tnough he would get away with a clear field in front of him, but fumbled when trying to pick up< Mr. J. Burgess' was the referee. JUNIOR GRADE Three junior grade games were decided at Rugby Park and the standard of play was in keeping with the earliness on the season. Old Boys beat ’Varsity by a comfortable margin of 25 to 3. For the winners, Tremewan, Barraud, Moor (2), Peters, Wilson and Puklowski were the scorers, the try for ’Varsity coming from Blennerhnsset. Kia Toa ran up 27 points, while St. Pat’s failed to cross. For Kia Toa, Morgan (2), Coornbe and Beard scored, Wills secured a field goal and Beard converted three. Feilding Old Boys, with 13 points, beat United, who scored six. The victors’ tries were by Hurdle, Pulford and Dewe, Beazer converting two. For United, Andrews and Ryder crossed. RESULTS FROM OTHER CENTRES WELLINGTON First Division. Wellington 14, Well. Coll. 0.8. 6. Poneke 22, University 3. Marist Bros. 0.8. 9, Athletic 6. Hutt 16, Oriental 3. Petone 15, Eastbourne 3. Johnsonville 24, St. Pat’s 0.8. 11. Second Division. Hutt 3, Athletic 3. Miramar 6, Marist Bros. 0.8. 3. Wellington 18, Onslow 15. Petone 16, Poneke jo. CHRISTCHURCH. Athletic 12, University 11. Merivale 14, Sunnyside 3. Old Boys 24, Christchurch 8. Southern 11, Technical 11. Air Force 5, Albion 3. WANGANUI. Pirates 13, Marist 8. Taihape Old Boys 9, Waverley 8. Kaierau 16, Technical Old Boys 6. O AMARU. Athletic 11, Old Boys 6. MASTERTON. Carterton 10, Red Star 6. Old Boys 8, Masterton 0. Greytown 10, Gladstone 3.

Senior Grade. P. W. D. L. F. A. Pts. Old Boys .. 3 3 — — 40 11 6 Kia Toa .. 3 3 — — 25 15 (v St. Pat’s .. 2 1 — 1 22 17 2 United . .. 2 1 — 1 25 17 2 F.O.B. . .. 3 1 — 2 31 47 2 ’Varsity 2 — — 2 3 9 0 Feilding 3 __ 3 9 39 0 Junior Grade. P. W. D. L. F. A. Pts. Kia Toa .. 3 3 — — 72 6 6 F.O.B. . .. 3 3 — — 19 11 6 St. Pat’s .. 3 2 — 1 19 25 4 Old Boys .. 3 2 — 1 45 17 4 Woodville . 3 1 — 2 23 19 2 United . .. 3 — — 3 14 28 0 Bunnyth ’pe 3 — — 3 3 07 0 ’Varsity 3 — — 3 3 25 0 Third Grade. P. W. D. L. 'F. A. Pts. St. Pat’s .. 2 2 — — 9 6 4 F.O.B. . .. 2 1 1 — 12 8 3 High School 1 1 — — 14 — 2 Old Boys . 2 1 — 1 12 15 2 Kia Toa .. 2 1 — 1 14 9 2 Feilding 2 — 1 1 11 14 1 University . 2 — — 2 0 6 0 United . .. 1 — — 1 0 14 0 Feilding H.S. . .. 0