KIA TOA SECURE TWO-POINT MARGIN

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 160, 10 July 1939, Page 3

KIA TOA SECURE TWO-POINT MARGIN

Narrow Win From Feilding Old Boys

Playing at Johnston Park, Feilding, on Saturday afternoon in fine weather, Kia Toa had a narrow win over Feilding Old Boys, the score being 5 —3, all of which points were secured in the first spell. The home side were unlucky not to win, for they staged a rattling good game and were ever dangerous in sparkling thrusts. It was a hard battle throughout and the long struggle in the second spell saw the visitors stage a grim defence which served to keep the home side from penetrating. Of the Feilding team Waugh was a weak link in mishandling and although a capable player in other respects, he repeatedly failed to take cleanly the really vital passes. Their forwards played particularly well. For the visitors Thorne and Gardiner were outstanding in the forwards, but McKenzie failed to put in any weight and played a roving game without team spirit. The teams were:— Feilding Old Boys: Gloyn, Gowsey, Dashwood, Whyte, Waugh, H. Dewe, Reynolds, Wells, Rutherford, Freeman, Robertshawe, Whisker, Black, Finlay, J..Dewe. Kia Toa: Carr, Robinson, Miller, McGrath, Jarvis, Parris, Thomas, Gardiner, Thorne, Lathan, Cotterill, Williams, Beard, McKenzie, Fitch. Tho home side set the leather iu motion, but Beard returned and his supports quickly followed up to press dangerously, the sortie ending in Dashwood forcing. Finlay opened a nice movement which broke down as the visiting forwards once more took charge. Dashwood, however, recovered smartly and, cutting in, made a nice run until the defence took charge. The pace was on and no sooner had the blues taken possession than Robertshawe and Rutherford broke the advance and brought play to the visitors’ twenty-five. Under hot pressure the blues fought keenly until Robinson picked up. His kick proved too hard and Dashwood collected nicely to move swiftly up the sideline, sending out to Waugh, who was accompanied by Wells. A great openiug appeared for Old Boys from this sparkling run by Dashwood, but Waugh’s pass out to Wells was definitely forward and a try was lost. A moment later Old Boys had possession again, and Waugh came in rapidly to send on to Finlay, who handled beautifully, returning to Waugh, who scored. Finlay’s kick failed. 3 —o. The visitors attacked vigorously with their forwards dribbling the leather up in great style, but offside play cost them the territorial advantage and saved Feilding.* The defenders recovered through Finlay but Carr returned his kick, which Gloyn accepted and averted trouble. In the keen struggle which followed as Old Boys advanced up the field Parris suffered a jarred back and had to retire temporarily. Whyte then opened a pretty movement from blue’s twenty-five yard line, cutting out two of liis supports with a long pass to H. Dewc. Support for this enterprise was lacking and the blues broke through to be frustrated by Reynolds, who found the line with a speculator. The visitors then took charge through Thomas, who picked up and cut through to hand on to McKenzie, to Jarvis, who scored. H. Dcwe claimed a leg of Thomas but the five-eighth broke away as he sent the leather on to McKenzie and the defenders, out of position, had to concede the try, which Carr converted. 5—3.

A particularly vigorous effort by Thorne saw the blues travel from deep in their own territory to Feilding’s twenty-five, where H. Dcwe recovered. A knock-on spoilt Feilding’s progress, but WaYtgh. picked up again and sent on to Black, to Finlay, whose short punt was gathered iu by Carr. The leather failed to go out and Gowsey picked up to send ou to Dashwood, who was grounded deep in blues’ territory by McGrath. Feilding continued to bold the territorial advantage until close on the spell, when the blue forwards broke through and a forward pass by McKenzie checked the thrust.

Finlay opened the second spell with a brilliant piece of play, but the absence of support compelled him to infringe with a pass on the ground. Carr missed the kick. Old Boys were not now tackling so effectively and mishandling was responsible for many dangerous situations. However, they ‘ were an equal match for the aggressive blues, who were soon obliged to force. Good work ou the part of the visiting forwards saw Feilding under pressure until Black picked up and sent on to Waugh, who broke through in great style, but a forward pass to Freeman spoilt the movement. However, J. Dewe came m to take up the attack once more and blues were pressed to tlieir goal-line, where Carr saved. Another sparkling movement by the visitors opened as Thorne picked up and cut in swiftly. His pass to Gardiner was smartly intercepted by H. Dewe, who broke through and started a great race for the goal-line. Within an ace of registering, he was hauled down by Miller, and Carr again came up to save a dangerous situation. Holding the territorial advantage close up to the blues’ goal-line, Old Buys battled hard. The blue hookers won the scrum under the goal and Thomas kicked lo Gloyn, who missed his attempt at a field goal and b’ues forced. Old Boys cont inued Lo handle splendidly and a nice movement followed when 11. Dewe cut out a line of bine defenders with his long pass to Finlay, who accepted cleanly and jinked his way through tho opposition. Carr prepared for the tackle, but Finlay passed

a long one to Gowsey, who failed to hold and a “sitter” was lost. Whisker prevented the blues from breaking away and from the line-out the homo side forced the play to blues’ corner flag, where the defenders forced. At this stage Farris had to retire and the vacancy was filled by Lett. Towards the end Feilding were Lard pressed and were compelled to force just as the game ended. Mr. A. Weston was the referee.