THREE POINTS'

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20183, 27 June 1928, Page 4

THREE POINTS'

MARISTS’ CUP LEAD Reflections on Play in Last Week’s Senior Rugby Matches , By “CROSS-BAK”) Interest in the Metropolitan Rugby Cup competition has been well maintained up to now. and Pirates’ win at the expense of Marists last Saturday makes the contest for honours in the senior grade more open. Marists still have a clear lead of three points from Pirates, but teams like Old Boys and Technical Old Boys, who themselves cannot win the competition, are capable of doing a great deal of spoiling. Kaierau lies within striking distance and is likely to make the most ef recently improved form to rise still higher on the ladder.

A BETTER SHOWING

, PIRATES’ IMPROVED PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERS HELD IN CHECK. The outstanding feature of the match between Mariats and Pirates, was the vastly improved form shown by the blacks. The forwards were largely responsible for Pirates’ downfall the Saturday previous, but against the greens the pack seemed imbued with new life, displaying a determined aim to make amends and doing so in convincing fashion. Quick Spoiling. The Marist rearguard got few chances because of quick breaking by the black van. Pirates were ever on the ball, looked dangerous when attacking and rallied gamely to defend. Backs’ Good Showing. Behind the scrum the team was served by the same backs as were fielded •gainst Kaierau, and in the match un-‘ der review the chain gave the most convincing Pirate display this season. Positions were slightly re-arranged, Wakeling playing at second fiv\e-eighthf and Williams retiring to his accustomed place on the wing. The change made for big improvement. There was greater sting in attack, almost entirely due to surer handling and quickness near th© scrum were the element of surprise counts for much. As for handling in the open and taking high kicks from difficult angles, it is doubtful if any better showing has been made this season than by the Pirate backs in this game. Hardly one ball was fumbled during the whole match and the handling of the blacks contrasted vividly with th© less certain efforts of the opposition.

A. Duncan Rarely Troubled. At full-back for Pirates A. Duncan was rarely troubled. He got much more protection from the team in front of him than he did against Kaierau, and an effectively held opposition meant a much lighter task for him on the day. Duncan ’s weakness is his kicking. James’ Dash

James showed still greater improvement and has the makings of a firstelass wing three-quarter. His dash is something which is only too rarely seen these days, and was a bright feature of Saturday’s game. He shared very prominently in the honour due to Pirates for sound handling. At centre McMillan played fairly. He was inclined to drop passes on occasions and to hesitate at moments when speed, and top speed at that, was vitally necessary. He participated in several nice movements with Williams, however, and persevered with, will improve.

Williams More at Home. Williams found the wing position much more congenial and was unlucky in not scoring one well-earned iry. He showed plenty of dash, but was inclined to be selfish on occasions. In Williams and James the blacks have two good club wingers.

Lowe —Wakeling Combination. In the live-eighths line, Pirates gave • decidedly better display than against the maroons. Lowe and Wakeling worked well together. Wakeling’s speed and ability to get quickly off the mark made him an ever dangerous man and Lowe’s clean handling, passing and kicking evidenced bead work on his part in every move. His ability to pick the ball up in dangerous forward rushes non-plussed the green van many times. Wakeling’s try was a fitting reward to a neat piece of combined play. He showed firstly, clean handling in accepting Wi Ilia ms’ crosskick, secondly, speed in attack, and thirdly, judgment in passing to Head and racing round on the outside to score. J. Duncan on the Job.

The Pirate pivot, J. Duncan, accomplished much better work than against Kaierau. He got the'bail away faster and with more direction, giving his greatly improved chances to expossession. On. defenvt he was the very essence of gameness, and in on® or two attacking movements made elusive runs which took the eye. On one such occasion he ran fully thirty yards through a grabbing defence which he tested almost to its last line. Head in New Role.

Head replaced Monigatti as rover, a new role for the erstwhile wing threequarter. He filled the bill well, as F. Crotty is able to tell, and was one of the reasons why the Marist back line failed to make an impressive showing. A Live Pack.

Ennis. Tasker, Thompson, Anderson, Monigatti, Heald and Wilson, constituted the Pirate pack which gave a good account of itself throughout the game. The scrumming was much more effective and gave Duncan all the chances possible to keep his backs on the move. Monigatti played a splendid game, hi» spegd in the loose to good ef-

feet. Anderson, Tasker and. Heald stood out among the others. It is perhaps unfair to give special credit to any individual in the forwards, however, for the seven played together well, their efforts being the biggest factor contributing to a decided Pirate superiority. A Summing Up. In brief, the blacks fielded a good team and deserved victory by a bigger margin than two points. If Saturday’s form can be maintained the blacks’ chances of success in the cup competition will be far from remote.

LESS STING

MARISTS’ DEFEAT DISCUSSED The Marist team displayed far less sting in their movements than in previous matches and appeared stale in comparison to the lively play of the blacks. It is to the credit of the greens, however, that their defence was tenacious, even though it was well pierced on two occasions. Two other Pirate movements all but reaped reward and nothing but tenacity of purpose kept the line clear when first Wakeling and then Williams wjere knocking at the door. On another occasion Monigatti lost a try but infringed within a foot of the line. Rally at the Last. The greens made a determined rally ia the last five minutes of play and kept the blacks defending until time was called. In one sense the attackers were unlucky in not crossing, but after the determined display of Pirates through the greater part of the game it would have been unfortunate had the black colours been lowered at the end. Greens’ Last Line. Boraman retired early with an inquiry and prior to leaving the field was not up to form. Narbey played as full back filling the gap until half-time. He was sound and considerably strengthened the greens’ defence, but his ability on attack at centre was lost, and it was not surprising to find him resuming his original position after the spell. AL. Coxon played at full back in the second session. He was sadly out of position there and it would be unfair to judge him on his display. Little Work. llie three-quarter line, Murray, Narbey, Puti, had little to do in attacking movements due to the blacks’ spoiling closer to the scrum. On defence, however, the trio were sound. Narbey gave the best all round < J splay. Vangioni Reappears. \ angioui took his accustomed place in the green rearguard, and it is now definitely announced that he will not be absent from Wanganui for at least six months. In .Saturday’s gam© he was well watched and got few chances. On defence he was sound, stopping the black forwards many times. R. Coxon at five-eighths and F. Crotty at half had to stand up to the onslaughts of the Pirate van. Their own forwards rarely got the ball from the set scrums or tight play and as a result good attacking form on their part was impossible. Playing a defensive game for the best part of the match they did well. Where was the Vim? The expect dash in the Marist pack failed tu materialise. McLean, Haywood and L. Froinont showed up better than the others. Kruse played his first game this season and led "several dangerous thrusts at the Pirate defence. Cutelli did not show form approaching his best, except when defending. To Win. The greens will naturally make a determined bid to retain and improve their present lead. To win they will need all the dash of their earlier games, end that sting in attack which was lacking last .Saturday must reappear in harder, more virile/play in the stern matches ahead. ladies enjoy fragrance of DILL’S BEST. The most convincing thing about Dill’s, Best Tobacco during its eighty years’ progress has been the wholehearted praise of the smokers themselves. Every day' new adherents in this country are voicing the old remark r “Yes, Dill’s Best is a mighty fine pipe tobacco.” Of course, :t’s just plain common sense that pipe smokers are turning to one of the best tobaccos they can get. The; are entitled to it. Light up your pipe full of Dill’s Best. Draw in the ripe fragrance of this delightful old tobacco. Enjoy its full pleasant aroma—its extra smoothness—its comfort. Barlow Bros.. Christchurch arc the New .Zealand Distributors.

CLEAR AND DECISIVE

OLD BOYS’ TRIUMPH COUNTY’S SPASMODIC THRUSTS Apart from the open play of Old Boys there was little to. enthus© over in "the big game on Saturday. The blues were a decidedly superior combination to County and the margin of points very fairly reflects the merit of the play of the respective sides. County Weakened. Four of the County team were absent through sickness and were replaced by emergencies. The side lacked team work and rarely looked like scoring at any stage of the match. That Kicking! The game was remarkable for the . weak goal-kicking and the numerous attempts to drop kick in emulation of South African players. Had Thompson been in form County would not have made a bloodless effort. There were no fewer than ten attempts at field goals, the majority made by County. All failed! .Some wer© close it is true, but close just doesn’t do the trick. County’s Best Backs. Chapman, Phillips and Thompson were the pick of the County backs. Thompson, however, did not give an exhibition in keeping with his best. in the, forwards L. Stewart, Connors and the Harding brothers appeared to be the hardest grafters. Be it known that the puck struggled gamely, but the blue inside defence was too sure in picking up. The Best in Wanganui. Every game played this s'eason has served to add fresh laurels to Old Boys’ backs. There is o doubt that the blues field the best attacking machine behind the scrum in Wanganui Rugby, their only serious rivals in this respect being Technical Old Boys, the latter team, on recent showing, having developed much improved form. In Blyth, Ball and Carlson Old Boys fielded a dangerous combination which made the most of possession. Speed in passing and moving close to the scrum are two essentials to good back play and the trio named know the value of both to an attacking side. With a rover of Cox’s calibre added, and backs like Udy and Hunter the blues should be given few chances to handle th© ball by any team opposing them. Fulton’s Improvement. Few players have shown similar improvement to that of Fulton since the opening of the season. The Old Boys’ custodian has been taking keen interest in his play and evidence of the fact was demonstrated fully on Saturday. His kicking _s W©ll judged and powerful. He fielded high kicks with accuracy, but was troubled at times with a bouncing ball. This has always been Fulton’s weakness —gathering in from the ground.

Hard-working Pack. The blue forwards grafted well and their hookers got possession from a majority of the serums. McCrae, Murie, Roddick and Calcott were the outstanding, members of the van.

SCHOOL RUGBY

WANGANUI AND TE AUTE. INTEREST IN TO-DAY’S MATCH. The annual matches between the Collegiate School and To Ante College take place in the College grounds this afternoon and promise to provide play in keeping with the best. The visitors arrived in the city yesterday and will be 'entertained to morning tea by the Rugby Council today. The second fifteens play at 1.30 p.m. and the firsts at 2.45 p.m. THE TEAMS. The first fifteens of the competing schools have been chosen as under: — Collegiate School. C. R. Swainson W. J. Rainbow. R. W. Poniare, W. R. Taylor. J. R. Mackenzie, J. E. Gies©n. H. H. Ramsay. H. W. Scott, M. H. Blyth. C. H. Bethell, D. A. Hudson, T. A. McFarlane. J. B. Young, W. E. Robertson. Wing-forward: J. N. Barron. Te Aute College. H. Wickcliff. J. Rei, O. Piper. J. H. Ruru. R. H. Dprie, H. F. Kiln. P. Gemmell. K. Lawson, W. P. T. Turei. T .Tirirau, R. Paenga, N. H. Te Kawa. J. Greening, J. Keretene. Wing-forward; W/.Walker

WANGANUI AFFAIRS

METROPOLITAN SUB-UNION WEEKLY MEETIN GHELD. The weekly meeting of the management committee of'Vhe Wanganui Metropolitan Rugby Sub-Union was held last night. Present, Messrs R. J. Stevenson (chairman), C. H. Warden, P. Wilson, L. Froinont, R. Blennerhassett, H. Hague Smith, D. Wilkinson, A. Pownall and E. V. Laws. A motion of sympathy with the treasurer. Mr F. J. Burton, in the illness of his wife, was passed. Ordered Off. A junior player was before the committee owing to being ordered off in a match last Saturday, the referee mentioning the fact that bad language had been used. As the player was considered to have suffered enough in the matter he was cautioned not to repeat the offence and was allowed to retire. Taihape Sub-Union. The Taihape Sub-Unio?. confirmed July 7 as the date of the match with Wanganui and requested to be sup-