ST. JAMES 8. v. OLD BOYS 6.

NZ Truth, Issue 161, 18 July 1908, Page 3

ST. JAMES 8. v. OLD BOYS 6.

?_si*ri was. a very, small margjin of points; , between these' teams at • the call of time. The heavy going did , not suit tne style of' play, of either team, and the big match on the adjoining ground at times attracted the attention of both teams, which spoilt what niight have heen a fast, open, interesting game. The JiminiaS certainly should have won by more than a bare two points, innumerable chances being thrown away m tbe second spell, bad judgment ,on the parh.ol some dt.the Red hacks being the cause. The winners were getting the ball m the sctulp, and Ted Roberts invariably played the blind mdc, giving his wing threequarter (Saumgart) no room to move, .with the v result that he was pushed into ftouch-in-goal painfully often, and the scoring backs . on ,'the open side 'had to look oh and wait for a chance to have a go. There were several nice passing bouts enacted on both sides and one or two flashes of individual brilliancy, notably m the second spell, when -Dawson received a pass goiirg at top, and- raced oh until he reached the Red full J back. "Cocky^' at-ip_fempted-to dodge and just failed to beatThomas, whose hand touched him on the Knee with just enough force to hiring the would-be scorer to earth.- It was a pretty effort and deserved a score. "Banjo". Paterson and Gilbert were T.ejrhaps the pick of the White backs. Dawson showed up at t mes, Thomson .was not so "well as he has been. Avery played a hard game on the wing for the losers. Jacobson," m the pack, worked hard and followed up consistently. pThis player grunts m a peculiar manner. When after the leather on Saturday he seemed worse than usual. The forwards of each team were very evenly, matched. .Wright, on. the wing,.was "orl-right" ami can teach ihost .wings how to throw, m a ball on. a lineout. .• '■• .... Manning always on the ball. He leads the.Jiiihmy forwards, m great style.. Periy and Wighton were m the thick oi the fray and worked hard. Qfjer-eagerness on the part of the win_m_a: was responsible for the loss of more •imi one scqre.: This was very noticeable dct timesr-perhapsf the easy win the. week latere had something , to do with ithut it fs hard fqt'ia-niSh to score when he ''Jesjps His hut.r 'so jiirimies, take heed frefor* you lose a-hiateh by it. Tttj Roberts brothers, of the winners* ftra«_r division, were prominent at times. .Jfailson put rapre dash than usual into

his play but hangs, to the leather far too much. He cannot dodge, and ho would, do better if he did not try to. .Ferguson is not playing nearly so well; ,as he did last year and seems ,to be under a cloud. Thomas, as-^full. was .not so surq as ,usual, the heavy turf being-against him.