BATTLING FORWARDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 151, 29 June 1931, Page 4

BATTLING FORWARDS

KAIERAU DEFEAT RAT AN A. The Kaierau-Ratana contest, which was played as the early fixture on bpriggens Park, was mainly confined to a forward struggle with Kaierau given, a run for their money. The native fifteen, as has been the case for several years now, did not appear to know enough about the game to profit from favourable positions. The maroons played with customary vim in the tight and their backs were a more impressive force than Katana’s. The ball was slippery and the groumi heavy. Under these conditions the winners were able to handle better than the Maoris. There were very few bright flashes of play in this match. After scrambling play, contributed to largely because of the greasy ball, Katana were penalised. Jack Morgan was considered an optimist in attempting to goal, but when the ball rose and finally hit a post before bouncing infield the criticism was proved unjustified.

Lockett broke through a minute later and had only the full-back to pass. He , transferred to Moore, but the defence had time to rally and a hard boot under the ball cleared the attack. Pairana beat the Kaierau backs and Simpson was called upon to defend. He got a grubber kick in, allowing Lockett, W. Firmin and Tasker to carry on in a hard rush which ended in the Katana goal, a force resulting. Ratana, profiting by faulty handling in the maroon rearguard, travelled right, to Kaierau’s line. Three scrums followed each other quickly, but Taniou was a little slow in getting the ball clear, resulting in I’. Potaka being smothered. Kaierau got reward at last when the backs handled to let Mutimer score. ,T. Morgan failed with the kick.— Kaierau 3. Ratana 0. I There was no alteration at half-time. I Ratana attacked immediately on the i resumption of play, but an effective screwing of the maroon van brought the | opposition trouble, footwork carry ing ■ the play the length of the field. A free kick brought the defenders relief Kaierau came back to the attack, miss ing a try through Soloman being unable

to handle a slippery ball. Ratana enhevned proceedings when Tamou, H Paki, and Meremere worked a neai piece of passing on the blind side of the scrum. Cheered on by the public the coloured forwards gave more life, to the play in the tight. Tamou and Paki rushed play to the Kaierau twenty-five. A wet ball eluded several! hands and a long kick by H. Firmin , saw the, scene changed to half-way. j There the oncoming maroon attack ' smothered the defence. Mutimer go! I through behind a rolling ball to score, j The kick failed. After further desultory play the game ; ended without alteration to the score. Kaierau6 Katanao Mr R. C. Hamilton was referee. The teams were:— Kaierau (maroon): Simpson; E. Morgan, Mutimer, Soloman; North, J. Morgan; Moore: Lockett. Wilson. Pleasants; H. Firmin, W. Firmin, Glenn; Charles, Tasker. Ratana (colours): Tairoa; H. Paki, Mermere, Wereta; P. Potaka. R. Potaka: Tamou; Pairana; Whale, Tauwhare, J’Bennett, Tete, T. Pa kill Henare. Rawhiti. NO POINTS SCORED TECH. 0.8. AND MARIST DRAW. MATCH ON WILLIAMS PARK. With a cold, biting wind and frequent showers making the lot of players most unpleasant, Technical Old Boys and Marist battled away at Williams Park to emerge level without a point being scored. As the play went it wag a fair indication of the merits of the respective teams on the day, the forwards, who had most of the work to do, being fairly evenly matched. In spite of the heavy rain the groumi was in quite good order, but the surface was on the greasy side and this did not assist the backs who nany passing movements were attempted. In ad dition, the ball was heavy and difficult to handle. The teams wore as follows: Technical Old Boys.—O’Keeffe; Brisco, Lazarus, Renz; Weir, Dennis; Peek; Signal; Tasker, Marshall (hookers), Fowler, L. Stewart (lock), Whyte, Aaehison, Bassett. Marist.—Harrison; Casey, Narbey. Chadwick; Cullinane, Matson: Lynskey; Fennell; Reynolds. Maitland (hookers), Smith. Phillips (lock), Kruse, Kennedy, McGreevy.

All through the first half of the game play was of a desultory nature first one pack and then the other earn ing play well into the opponents’ tei ritory. On several occasions Technical Old Boys were given chances of opening their scoring account with penalty kicks, but Dennis appeared to have left his kicking boot at home, missing narrowly. Thus the spell came without a score being registered. On the resumption both teams put more lite into their movements, and it appeared as if a score would soon be recorded. There was no finish, however, to the work put in, with the result that, try as they might, the backs were unable to get going in a passing rush. Again Dennis attempted to make use of the penalty kicks which were awarded Technical Old Boys, going so near as to record a 1 ‘poster.” Marist, in turn, launched several forward attacks which met steady defence on the part of their opponents, and though the greens managed to carry the ball at toe over the line, one of the defenders was there in time to kick into the deadball area. Thus the game ended: —

Technical Old Boys . . .. 0 Mari st 0 Mr W. H. was the referee.