A STUBBORN GAME

Northern Advocate, 1 June 1936, Page 3

A STUBBORN GAME

EXHILARATING FORWARD DUEL AT HIKURANGI In a headlong fury of a game between Old Boys and Hikurangi, honours were left easy—a converted try apiece. From the first whistle until the end it was a tremendous struggle between two spirited packs, attack and counter-attack changing the complexion of the game .every few minutes. Although Dickson Park was in splendid condition, a* sharp shower, which fell just prior to the commencement, made the ball greasy and difficult to handle. This threw a still greater responsibility upon the forwards of either side. Hikurangi, who in previous matches had hooked the ball much as they willed, maintained a slight supremacy in the set scrums, although they did not have to contend with Scarborough, who has a touch of water on the knee. ' No Sluggards. There were no sluggards in the Hikurangi pack, every man pulling his weight, but one would like to speak of Mclnnes and recall the number of times he stood at the base of a mayl, apparently immovable as a rock. J. Brydon and S. Finlayson have lost none of their lustre, while M. McConnell is a player who is rapidly approaching representative form. The breakaways, and Redwood in particular, were responsible for smothering the diminutive Smith more effectively than has been accomplished in any of Old Boys’ previous matches. The visitors, however, were by no means held in the forwards, and in the loose played with even greater drive and devil than hitherto. : They matched the Hikurangi pack at their own storming game. It is a? pity that Ferguson is called upon to Expend so much energy in the front row crush. He has the vigour of an ideal breakaway forward, and.

confined as he was on Saturday, was always, on the ba11..: Bindorr is hard and fast, and Burns, in line-outs and general play, uses his weight -'and height to advantage. Hart was obviously not in condition, and could not make the pace. Impregnable Defence. Hikurangi should have made more use of the short punt ahead and less of the inside pass against opponents, whose defence round the scrum was impregnable. Even during the first half, when the ball was far too slippery to handle with any certainty, Conway attempted to sling it about. Evidence of class was not wanting in the Hikurangi half-back’s play, but, if anything, he overdid it, with comparatively inexperienced men outside him. The fiveeighths added to their own difficulties by standing too far out, and once or twice, rather than risk a long pass, Conway trapped the ball in their direction with his foot. Although Smith, too, was harassed by a fast-breaking pack, he came out on the credit side, and several of the openings which he created with E. Wilson, the first five-eighths, failed only for the want of finish further along the line. Wilson played a heady game, and his incisive running repeatedly straightened but Old Boys’ attacks. Centres Go Well. Bath the centre three-quarters went well. Rarity backed up splendidly, and his try was a brilliant piece of opportunism. For Old Boys, Tapper was steadiness itself, his well-judged kicking for the line being particularly useful to his side. It was not a day for Wing threequarters. Campbell, for Hikurangi, did some smart things, and if Symes could only handle, his general robustness in other directions would carry him far. The hard-worked full-backs shared the honours. Holm wood’s positional play was excellent, he kicked with great length, and when the position warranted, came up with his threequarters to start passing movements—a rare virtue in Nc-rthern full-backs. His vis-a-vis, Colin Wilson, while sometimes standing out of position, made up for any deficiencies in this respect by the acrobatics of his football. He bounced here, there and everywhere, where the need was greatest, and the ball bounced from his toe with unfailing precision.

Hikuransd in Trouble. Soon after the start Hikurangi were in difficulties, and, rather than concede the ball and a possible adverse score, Holmwood allowed himself to be penalised. Tapper slipped pi-os-trate in attempting the kick.. Hikurangi next made a strong Claim, featuring nice in-and-out passing up the centre of the field by Reuse and Pomfrett. The ball went across Old Boys’ line, where both the full-back and Thorburn, who had followed fast, missed grounding. Smith forced, however, but a little later Rarity threw out a long pass and Campbell actually was over, when recalled for a belated knock-on. Twice Collins fumbled for the ball, when he should have kicked defensively, and on the second occasion Rarity dashed up, fielded the ball, and flashed across for a good try, which Conway converted. Playing with the sun at their backs. Old Boys started a telling siege. Smith penetrated beautifully once, and E. Wilson cut through to within a yard of the line. The ball was hooked from the scrum, but F. Collins made no use of it.