WEAK TACKLING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 145, 22 June 1931, Page 4

WEAK TACKLING

OLD BOYS GO UNDER. KAIERAU TURN THE TABLES. If Old Boys anticipated accounting for Kaierau it is a pity that they did not take a leaf from the book of their own side which won in the lirst round. Had they done so the first thing they would have learned was to 4 4 go low” when tackling. This match proved, more strikingly than ever, that the fifteen which hopes to succeed against Kaierau must have its defence thoroughly up to top notch form. Inside backs must go down and wings must tackle properly, grassing their men low. As a rule a good attacking side can play up to Kaierau by profiting by mistakes made by the maroon; themselves. Saturday’s match wa a decided exception. Kaierau have improved their rearguard and, at the finish, they were playing Old Boys at their own game, making the play open, and exhibiting tactics which have been foreign to maroon play for many years past. In a review of the match next Wednesday the main contributory causes to this change will be examined. When the match opened it looked as though Old Boys would respond in a manner that would live up to the form of old. There were two fast passing rushes that were neatly executed, but for the remainder of the match the side crashed badly. They were soundly beaten fore and aft. An endeavour will be made in the Bugby columns of Wednesday to explain why. Let it be said now that Kaierau’s win was well deserved, the tables being turned on Ok 1 Boys in a manner which left no doubts as to the side which deserved the laurels of a victor. After scrambling play Old Boys were penned to a defensive role. Blyth brought them out a certain distance and the maroon backs opened out, the reds smothering the move at Mutimer. Ohl Boys moved to the attack following a break clear by Harding. Blyth was up in support and the ball travelled out to Spriggens’ wing. A fast run had the maroons down deep in their twenty-nve before Spriggens fell to a tackle by Simpson. The reds performed a pretty move which was deserving of a better fate. Wills got the ball clear to Shaw, to Gibson, to Bul-lock-Douglas. The winger side-stepped his vis-a-vis and passed infield to Shaw. A stab punt that was meant to find the goal found touch instead and the move came to nothing. Failure to stem the maroon van in a spirited dash brought Old Boys trouble. Play hung close to the red goal for a few minutes, Duncan and North handling to give J. Morgan the chance he was waiting for to pot a goal. It was a good kick—Kaierau 4, Old Boys V. , A Chance Missed Old Boys carried the play back into the maroon twenty-five and were in a promising position when Shaw attempted a pot. The ball favoured Old Boys’ right wing, but he was not up. Tho reds were awarded a penalty, Powell’s kick being fielded by J. Morgan. He beat the on coming van and lined at half-way. From a point in the opposition’s twenty-five J. Morgan tried to profit from the penalty, but the flight of the ball was wide. A few minutes later Simpson was given an easy chance almost in front of the goal, but the points were thrown away. Kaierau’s forwards were definitely superior at this stage, Old Beys being penned to a hard run of defensive play on their left wing. Maroons scored just before half-time, a doubtful decision on the referee’s part awarding a try to Glenn, who failed to play the ball w\th his foot immediately following a tackle. W. Firmin ran up and passed to Mutimer, to Glenn, to Charles. Franklin took the last man low and Glenn picked up and touched down over the top of the pair lying on the ground. J. Morgan’s kick failed— Kaierau 7, Old Boys 0. This was the score at half-time. Old Boys moved up to a passing rush, Shaw trying the **silly” kick tactics. A bouncing ball favoured Moore and failed to tackle him on an infield paved the way for the second Kaierau try. Moore passed „o J. Morgan, to Glenn who scored. It was a great try that fittingly rewarded a quick cross-field attack, the spear-head of which changed direction with surprising suddenness. The kick failed—Kaierau 10, Old Bovs 0. The reds raised their supporters

hopes when Spriggens broke through and only had Simpson to pass. Gibson w in support, but Spriggens’ aim was to pass the other way and he ' kst a good chance, apparently through not knowing that his centre had comb j round. Kaierau had absolute mastery at this stage and after three passing rushes they scored again, luckily it was true. A clearing kick was charged down by Lockett ano he had an unprotected goal ahead in which he had only to fall on the ball to score. J. Morgan goaled from an easy position—Kaierau 15, Old Boys 0. Another Kaierau try was notched as the result of throwing the ball about and making the game open. The whole maroon line handled to E. Morgan’s wing. J. Morgan showed his sense of anticipation by coming round on the outside to score. The kick failed.— Kaierau 18, Old Boys 0. W. Duncan was injured and carried off the field and later. North had to leave. For a short period Kaierau were playing with 14 men but any life Old Boys had was but a flickering spark. The maroons need not have worried about replacements as they were masters in every part of the field. The game ended with their line intact and the scores reeding:— KAIERAU .18 ODD BOYS 0 Mr N. Reid was referee. The teams were: — Kaierau (maroon). —Simpson; E. Morgan, Mutimer, Moore; North first, J. Morgan second; W. Duncan; G. Lockett; Wilson, Pleasants; H. Firmin, W. Firmin, Glenn Charles and Tasker. Old Boys (red).—Franklin; BullockDouglas, Gibson, Spriggens; Shaw second, Curtayne first; Blyth; Wills; McLean, Moffatt; Powell, Brooker, Harding; Neilson and Watson.