OPEN PLAY PLEASES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 139, 15 June 1931, Page 5

OPEN PLAY PLEASES

FORTUNES THAT FLUCTUATED The public came away very pleased with the display of Old Boys and Alarist in Saturday afternoon’s star attraction. The match held interest for two reasons—the scoring fluctuated to such a degree that no safe prediction could be made as to which team would finish with colours on top and, in addition to that, the play called upon the backs for those bright attacking movements which have the power to please the spectator. When the match opened the Old Boy rearguard handled repeatedly, each move gaining ground. With a player of Narbey’s calibre on the last line of defence, however, it demanded just a bit more than average attacking ability to get through. Later on, when a re-ararngement of the green backs was made necessary on account of a player being injured temporarily, Narbey came up.to second live-eighths and his capabilities on defence stopped a great deal of the open play Old Boys had been indulging in previously. His strong running on attack also found a weakness in the red defence.

The two packs were fairly evenly matched, but the Marist breakaways were keener and more effective in their work than tho opposition. At the base of the Old Boys’ scrum, however, Harry Blyth played a very smart, clean game and his ability kept the backs moving. On the day Old Boys deserved to win. They had the better finish, particularly in the backs. At one stage of play Marist had an eight-point lead and Old Boys had to play hard for the remainder of the second spell, first to draw evel and then effect the winning try. They were able to register 13 more points, seven of which wore obtained by kicking at goal—a penalty and two conversions. That second spell effort, in the face of a very fair defence, entitled the reds to honours on the day. The greens used their van to carry an attack to Old Boys’ twenty-five, and an off-side move by the defenders conceded a penalty from which Narbey was unable to profit. The Marist backs moved into action and Smith, backing up, found the line. Cullinane made a run which carried him c'ose to the line. Franklin’s clearing kick was marked by Matson (Marist) and his kick registered a goal.—Marist 3, Old Boys 0.

Bullock-Douglas’ pace paved the way for Old Boys to draw level. Gibson, coming into a Marist passing rush in which a lapse in handling played its part, got possession and transferred to Bullock-Douglas. His pace carried him clear of the wings to Narbey. A punt towards the goal posts brought speed into it again, the Old Boys’ wing outpacing the green full-back. Matson got back in time to prevent a try, but the greens were penalised, enabling Shaw to goal.—Old Boys 3, Marist 3. Another penalty came Old Boys’ way following a red rearguard rush which carried the play to near the green twenty-five. Bullock-Douglas made a nice kick—ol.l Boys 6, Marist 3. Old Boys’ backs, while a scrum was getting down, waited offside and were penalised, giving Narbey a goal from easy range.—Marist 6, Old Boys 6. Matson fMarist) was injured and removed. from the field on a stretcher. Lynskey came on to the half-back position; Narbey filling the second fiveeighths role and Chadwick going fullback. Old Boys kept their backs moving, and it was evident that the style of play was in their favour. A weakness became apparent m their defence, however, as the result of .Narbey’s ability. Lynskey got the ball clear to Cullinane to Narbey, who beat Shaw an.l transferred to Kruse to score. Narbey’s kick was effective.—Marist 11. Old Boys 6. This was the score at half-time. Greens’ Eight-Point Lead. Old Boys’ rover was offside shortlv after tho resumption, but Narbey failed to goal and Old Boys cleared. Gibson ran up and passed to Bullock-Doug-las, the winger beating his vis-a-vis and passing to Harding. Chadwick’s tackle, which was followed immediately after by a penalty in favour of greens brought them out of danger. It was evident at this stage that Ohl Boys would have to play to make good the leeway. Tho change in tho green backs Tad brought tho rods trouble. Faulty play at the Hasp of the serum was responsible for •nutting OM Boys another ''-r. points down. Lynskev goaling fr<. a : enalty. —Marist 14, Old Boys 6.

Old Boys moved to the attack with their rearguard showing, determination. Blyth getting possession in the green twenty-five to send Shaw, Gibson and Bullock-Douglas away. The winger had the dash to score. Powell’s kick was successful. —Old Boys 11, Marist. 14. Tho reds were pressing at this stage and Marist were penalised again within striking distance, but Shaw’s kick missed. Marist gave away three points immediately after through taking the ball out of the scrum, Bullock-Douglas goaling.—Old Boys 14, Marist 14. This left Old Boys battling for 2 score to win. Twice Bullock-Douglas got away but the defence closed with the attacks. A few minutes later Blyth was nearly through on his own before transferring to Brooker who scored. Bullock-Douglas goaled.—Old Boys 19, Marist 14. Fennell raised the hopes of his side by intercepting in a red passing rush He did not have the pace and there was no support up. when Franklin’s tackle saved tho day and the game ended shortly after with the scores unaltered: OLD BOYS 19 MARIST 14 Mr R. C. Hamilton was referee. The teams were: Old Boys (red and black): Franklin, Bullock-Douglas, Gibson, Spriggens., Shaw, Curtayne, Blyth, Wills, McLean, Harding, Powell, Moffatt, Brooker, Neilson, Watson. Marist (green): Narbey, Casey, Phillips, Nelson, Cullinane, Matson, Chadwick, Fennell, James, Frater, Smith, Maitland, Phillips, Kruse, Reynolds. VALUE OF A FIELD GOAL KAIERAU'S ONE-POINT WIN Darby turned out for Kaierau to hold the maroon’s last line of defence in their match with Technical Old Boys. The side had much at stake in this game and it was essential that defence should be sound in the face of the speed of the opposing rearguard. As a spectacle the encounter did not rise to great heights, though there were flashes of open play which pleased, notably that in which Technical Old Boy., participated to score the one try in the team’s total of six. Kaierau

HOW THE SENIORS STAND. FIRST MATCH, SECOND ROUND. Technical Old Boys .... 8 Pirates .. 8 Old Boys 8 Kaierau 7 Ratana 3 Marist 2

pluyed with traditional vim in the van and in the second spell were undoubtedly the better side if the term 4 4 better” can be held to properly describe the team which does most of the attacking. As a matter of fact Technical Old Boys were hard put to it, all through the game, to keep pace with and play inch for inch against the Kaierau van. Play developed into a matter of determining which set of forwards could effectively control the ball and the maroons, mainly because of weight, and not clever footwork, wore superior. At actual footwork, Technical Old Boys showed more resource and in this Signal, their rover, was a leader. In the last quarter of an hour the tussle resolved itself into hard bullockiug play with the Kaierau van only so far superior as to be able to get close to the line. The blue and whites defended strenuously and there was but one lapse from grace in their effort which let North through to score. Kaierau’s winning points were obtained by Jack Morgan’s field goal which brought the reward his forwards had been battling for so long. On the day Kaierau deserved to win by no more than tho point revealed in the scores. Though they had territorial honours the scoring finish was conspicuous by its absence in the face of a tireless defence. Kaierau attacked very solidly in the opening stages of the match. Both teams tried to use their b eks, but the slippery ball prohibited accurate handling. An example of how this militated against the play was revealed after Simpson, Lockett and Tasker had combined to force the play deep into the opposition’s twenty-live. The maroon backs attacked, Duncan, North, J. Morgan, and. Glenn handling. Moore, the winger, when he was unmarked, could not prevent the greasy ball slipping through his hands. The blue and whites, as the result of Signal coming through with a dribble and a neatly placed kick, brought the maroons a a turn at defence. Darby hesitated a little, too long and his clearing kick was smothered. Three times in succession Technical Old Boys hooked the ball from set scrums, only to find the defence up to them. A ‘‘orcc got the maroons out of danger for the time being. Delves placed his side back on the attack with a kick to touch. Before Kaierau could extricate them- | selves from a defensive position they I conceded two penalties, the first of i which Delves did not profit from, but I the second enabled him to find the bar. I —Technical Old Boys 3, Kaierau 0. I J. Morgan tried the Nicholls 1 ‘silly”

kick to get through a wakeful opposition. Coming up fast ho got the ball beyond O’Keefe, but speed, aed the fact that the leather was in the “dead” area frustrated a l.aierau score. There was no alteration in -ae position of the teams at half-time. A Spectacular Try. Technical Old Boys made one of the most spectacular scores ever registered on Spriggens Park shortly after the te sumption. They were awarded a pen alty and instead of kicking hard Delves punted lightly and regained, sending his backs away, the whole line handling. Dennis drew his man splen didly and gave Brisco possession just inside Kaierau’s twenty-five. The de fence was caught napping and the winger scored over Darby’s tackle. L’he kick failed.—Technical Old Boys 6, Kaierau 0. The try deserved the judgment that the maroons were caught napping. Kaierau battled hard and the forwards, asserting their weight in rhe scrums, had the blue and whites down on tl\eir line. Morgan tried to register a field goal ? enabling the defence to force. Coming back to the storming of the blue and white line Kaierau’s hopes went up a hundred-fold when North corkscrewed his way through tho hesitant opposition to score. The kick failed.—Kaierau 3, Technical Old Boys 6. J. Morgau’s boot gave the maroons a point-lead a few minutes before the close of the game. The forwards gave the ball to Dunean, to North- to JMorgan, who found the bar and registered a field goal.—Kaierau 7, Technical Old Boys 6. The remainder of the game had Technical Old Boys penned to defence and though Kaierau struggled hard for another score they were unable to get through. When time was called Technical Old Boys had to be content with a point defeat. KAIERAU 7 TECH. ODD BOYS .... 6 The referee was Mr W. H. Rowe. The teams were: Technical Old Boys (blue and white). — O’Keefe, Brisco, Dennis, Brown, Reid, Delves, Peek, Signal, K. Bassett, Tasker, Fowler, Whyte, Stew art, Thompson, Ward. Kaierau (maroon). —Darby, Simpson, Glenn, Moore, North, J. Morgan, Duncan, Lockett, Firmin, Pleasants, Wilson, Thorburn, Firmin, Charles, Tasker.

STRUGGLE IN THE MUD PIRATES AND RATANA DRAW. FORWARDS’ DOGGED FIGHT. Overshadowed in the first spell by Ratana on a heavy ground which gradually became a quagmire, Pirates had an uphill struggle in the second spell and managed to make a draw of it in the last minute of tho game, much to the relief of a large number of their supporters, who had journeyed out to Ratana to see tho match. As an exhibition of Rugby it had very little to enthuse over, for the conditions made handling of tho greasy ball almost impossible, while pools of water on tho ground frustrated any attempts at passing rushes indulged in by the backs of either side. The result, a draw with three points each as the result of unconverted tries, just about indicates the respective merits of tho teams, though it appeared as if Pirates would have had a margin on a dry ground. If any spectators attended in anticipation of seeing play that bordered on rough tactics they misjudged the rival teams, for it was a match in which the real sporting spirit of Rugby was displayed throughout by members of both fifteens. In this connection it may also be said that the spectators also showed more consideration than has been seen on the racecourse grounds, for there was no encroaching oil the sidelines. As a matter of fact they all kept outside the bordering fence, pakeha and Maori alike, and applauded impartially. The home team elected to play down tho field, Pirates thus being handicapped by having tho slope against them in their efforts to reach the goal. Despite the fact that Pirates soon set up a hot attack they were driven backi by Ratana and a series of scrums fo! lowed in the visitors’ twenty-five. Pirates were gradually forced back to their line and from a scrum Tete secured and scored a try for Ratana. The kick failed, the heavy fall failing to rise.—Ratana 3; Pirates 0. Stung by this early reverse Pirates made endeavours to carry play into their opponents’ territory, and hopes were raised when Potbury made a great run up tho side-line from half-way to near the corner, where he was pulled down within striking distance. Playing the ball on the ground cost Pirates a free, which enabled Ratana to clear, but back came the black forwards an l from tight play within five yards of the line a score appeared imminent when the defenders were penalised. Smart took the kick but the ball was too heavy and failed to find its objective. Tho muddy ground was becoming churned up and players found it hard to retain their footing. Play settled down for a time in neutral territory. The Pirate forwards kept the ball at their toes and pressed the defenders back but they kicked too hard over tho line and Ratana forced. Back canv* Pirates on the attack but offside play right in front of the goal lost them another chance and Ratana cleared. A couple of minutes later Pirates were awarded two free kicks in succession and this enabled them to reach the Ra tana line, but again the defenders man aged to force in time. Pirates could not sustain their effort and the home team had a turn on the attack, a succession of line-outs in Pilate territory culminating in a free on the visitors’ twenty-five. The kicker had no chance of adding to the scon* as the ball would not rise. The halftime whistle sounded immediately after. A Last-Minute Try. On the resumption Ratana attacked at once but Pirates were able to work play into the home team’s twenty-five, where Lowe attempted to kick a field goal but failed. On the kick-out. Ratana attacked so stoutly that Smart was compelled to force, thus extricating Pirates from a very tight corner. A little later the blacks had invaded tho Ratana twenty-five but wore forced back until J. Williams obtained possession and made a groat run for the line, being forced out near the corner flag.' The defence held and play swung back to tho Pirate line, where a desperate struggle followed, only for an infrigo ment by the attackers to give Pirates a little relief. Katana kept up the pressure but found it impossible to handle the ball under the conditions and final ly Pirates managed to repel them. Play swung in favour of the visitors as time drew near, and for ten minutes

they kept hammering away at the Ratana line. Timo and again they were within an ace of scoring, and finally J Williams managed to beat two de fenders in a race for a rolling ball, touching down for tho equalising try. Smart made a great attempt to convert, the sodden ball hitting an upright ami bouncing the wrong way. The whistle went without any further play, with the score standing: PIRATES 3 KATANA 3 Mr J. M. Richardson was the referee. NEXT SATURDAY’S MATCHES KAIERAU TO PLAY OLD BOYS The major fixture on Saturday next will be the contest between tho senior teams of Old Boys and Kaierau. Pirates are to play Marist in the early game on Spriggens Park. The Fixtures Committee has allocated grounds and arranged times of j>lay as under: Senior Kaierau v. Old Boys on Spriggens Park at 3 p.m. Marist v. Pirates on Spriggens Park 3 p.m. Old Boys v. Ratana on Racecourse at 3 p.m. Junior A Marist v. Tech. College on Tech. College at 3 p.m. Ratana v. County at Ratana at' 3 p.m. Wangaehu v. College at College No. 2 ground at 2.30 p.m. Junior B Old Boys v. Aramoho on Racecourse No. 2 at 1.30 p.m. Pirates v. Tech. Old Boys on Racecourse No. 1 at 1.30 p.m. Kaierau have a bye. Thirds T. 0.8. v. Ratana at 1.30 p.m. Old Boys v. Marist on Racecourse No. 3 at 1.30 p.m. Pirates v. T. 0.8. on Racecourse No. 3 at 3 p.m.

MAORILAND CUP A CHALLENGE WITHSTOOD. Technical Old Boys major team of thirds challenged Kaierau, holders of tho Maoriland Cup, and the issue wa> decided in the match played yesterday according to the draw of the Metropolitan Union’s cup contests. The game resulted in a victory for Kaierau by seven points to three. Seoul lar scored for Technical Old Boys in the first spell, but the try was not converted. In the second session Howell scored for Kaierau and later P. Stower* kicked a field goal. The final scores were seven points to three, Kaierau re taining the trophy they won from Pir ates on the King’s Birthday. Mr W. Mutton was the referee.