FAST OPEN GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11227, 5 June 1922, Page 7

FAST OPEN GAME

'VARSITY DEFEAT OLD BOYS. INTERESTING CONTEST AT PETONE. / 'Varsity climbed another rung on the championship ladder in defeating Old Boys at the Petone Oval on Saturday morning. The characteristics of the game were clean, fast play, with many bright individual performances. . Old Boys’ determination to "draw blood" in the second spell, produced some good football, but their opponents, always keen, yet not bustled, proved equal to the repeated onslaughts, the final scores iust about representing the difference between the two teams. THE PLAYERS. The players were: — University: Full-back, McKay; threequarters, Malfroy, Aitken, Jackson; tivo eighths. Murray, Siddells; half, Trapski; forwards, Smith, Maloney, Soott, McCrea, Thomas, Bryden, Burns, Pope. Old Boys: Full-back, Malcolm, threequarters, Faber, Morris, Gray; fiveeighths, Gibsop, Robertson; half, Hanson ; forwards, McCall, Barclay, Can, Owen (look), Fordham, Jones, Menaies, , Chegwidden. Mr O. H. Cleland was referee. PLAY OPENS. Old Boys won the toss, electing to play with the slight breeze from the south. 'Varsity attacked at the outset, when, from a loose driven rush Aitken became temporarily conspicuous until the leather Was played on the ground, and Old Boys’ took a free-kick. Ten minutes play saw the first infringement of the new rules. Old Boys then rallied and counter-attack-ed, making play keen. 'Varsity, checked instituted a dribbling rush, from which Thomas picked iip and passed to Trapski. who kicked instead of passing when close to the line. Old Boys then carried play to. their opponent’s Boundary, where Siddells saved, the same movement being repeated, and in turn checked by Siddells, who booted up field, where Gibson executed a beautiful, intercept, and gaining ground, A multiplicity of green jerseys compelled him to dispose of the leather per foot. Play went to the Old Boys’ territory, following a pretfy display of a passing rush, but when Siddells looked hopeful, the ball touched the ground and then Old Boys turned the tables. GREENS DRAW FIRST BLOOD. From a eorum ten- yards out, some tangled play ensued, from which Siddells re-exerted himself and scored a try, Aitken converting. After fifteen minutes’ play the scores were:— 'Varsity 5 Old Boys ® Old Boys then pressed, with Malcolm conspicuous. McCall led a passing rush, which Siddells promptly checked by intercepting and kicking l . A dribbling rush by the "greens" was not successful, and a quick retaliation enabled Malcolm to save. AITKEN AS HURDLER. Aitken. created quite a sensation at a very opportune moment. Play had moved to within fifteen yards of the Old Boys’ posts when Stevens secured, was challenged, passed to Aitken, who, being in a similar predicament, chose the one alternative and 'hurdled the pack on the ground, shooting with the leather to the southern post, where he scored. McKay narrowly missed conversion. ’Varsity : «... 8 Old Boys 0 Through the smartness of Siddells, the Old Boys’ defence was asain penetrated, - a-iid from adipe-but at'the half-way.'Sid-dells nassed to Aitken, who took a leisurely run round the post. McKay failed to convert, hitting the post for the second time, ’Varsity 11 Old Boys 0 Onlv a few minutes play, and the collegians increased roeir scoring account. McCrea had saved splendidly, and some zig-zag was indulged in when Smith took up the ball from ten yards out, gave it to -Malfroy, who scored. McKay verted’Varsity 18 Old Boye 0 Give and take play followed until, from off-side play, Malcolm took a splendid kick from about five yards off the halfway line. Siddells marked from behind the posts. Play was reversed, and Aitken snapped up the.' leather only to throw forward. A GOOD POT. ’Varsity attacked vigorously, and play went to the Old Boys’ twenty-five, where Trapski passed to Murray, and then to Aitken, who potted a goal neatly from the stwenty-five. ’Varsity 20 Old Boys 0 ’Varsity pressed again, found slight opposition, set up a fine forward movement, from which Jackson scored, and McKay converted. Half-time found no alteration in the scores. ’Varsity 25 Oldi Bogra 0 A REBUFF FOR ’VARSITY. Old Boys attacked in tihe second spell and looked ae if they would completely rebuff their opponents. They opened with a dash to the ’Varsity fortress) where Fordham secured and dashed over. Malcolm converted. ’Varsity 25 Old Boys 5 ’Varsity threatened, but Malcolm again cleared and play went back to the ’Varsity domain. A scrum ended in a force down. From a line-out five yards from half-way line the leather came to Gibson, thence to Menzies, who shot over, Malcolm took a praiseworthy kick and converted. ’Varsity 25 Odl Boys 10 ' The greens [pressed again, but Carr cleared and Owen marked. From the ruck, Aitken secured, paesed to Jackson, who took it well and dashed to the boundary, where he was pushed out. Aitken again followed up his claim and executed another fine dash, eventually disposing of the leather to Malfroy, who mode a fine run, which was terminated when ihe was pushed out of touch. . GREENS SCORE AGAIN. Aitken got away and looked dangerous, but Malcolm stopped him, the ball went to Malfroy, who got over. McKay converted. ’Varsity 30 Old Boys 10 MiCdll received a dislocated shoulder at this stage and was subsequently taken to the hospital. OLD BOYS’ LAST SCORE. Old Boys secured their last soore when, from the ruek, Jonee secured and successfully wended his way through a peasage of green jerseys and scored; Malcolm converted'. 'Varsity 30 Old Boys 15 The rest of the game was in favour of 'Varsity. Siddells and Maloolm were conspicuous. Jackson received from Soott and scored after some intricate play. MoKay did 1 not convert. ’Varsity 33 Old Boys 15 A few minutes later the green set up a passing rush, the ball travelling through the bands of Jackson, Burns, Pope and Scott, the latter scoring. It Was not converted. 'Varsity 36 Old Boys 1 15 The end name soon after, when Trapski did some smart work and centred. Thomas shot in and carried over. McKay failed to convert, and' when the whistle went the scores were:— ’Varsity 39 Old Boys 15

THE CAME REVIEWED OLD BOYS’ BACK DIVISION WEAK. There were only two prominent factors which militated against the progress of Old Boys, and one of these is preventable. The first, judging by Saturday’s match with 'Varsity, was a noticeable superiority of the ’Varsity team andi the second was the poor back play of Old Boys. ’Varsity’s combination was good; they displayed ripe j udgment and at times were almost leisurely in their defeating tactics. Old Boys were no easy task, and their forward work was spectacular. The backs were their weak link throughout, but in the second spell they showed improvement, which is always encouraging. The game was interesting because of the free nature of the play, characterised by clean, open tactics. If Aitken maintains the speed which he demonstrated on Saturday he is going to have opponents thinking. His fine judgment and perceptive powers maike him a truly brilliant three-quar-ter. Siddells, the solid five-eighths who plays for ’Varsity, was a big factor in the game. When cornered, the player knows no defeat and “wins through’’ re.peatedly. He fully justified his place as five-eighths and works well with Aitken. Trapski is in the right place as halfback for the Collegians, and played consistently. Old Boys have a full-back whose career promises to bo meritorious. Maloolm is young in ( years, but ripe in judgment. His play was praiseworthy indeed.