WANGANUI RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 153, 30 June 1934, Page 6

WANGANUI RUGBY

TO-DAY’S THREE MATCHES OLD BOYS AND KAIERAU TO MEET. HONOURS IN SECOND ROUND. (By Cross-bar.) The question is being asked at every street corner, in every hairdressing establishment, in clubs and hotels, even on the golf course —“Can Old Boys beat Kaierau?” Even the woman-folk are displaying an unusuai interest in to-day’s clash, and the fact only goes to prove how keen the situation in Wanganui Rugby has become. It is interesting to sum up the arguments for and against the prospects of the opposing sides and to listen to the advice, good, bad and indifferent, which is tendered to them both. This big match of today will end the second round of the Metropolitan senior competition, and will set at rest many anxious minds.

Wanganui and Old Boys certainly beat Kaicrau-in the first round and many

supporters of the club are banking on that defeat to father a dogmatic belief that the result will be repeated to-

day. Others, more wisely analytical perhaps, are taking full cognisance of Kaierau’s improvement in form. Let us look at the records of the respective sides in this year’s competition:— Old Boys. First Round—v. Kaierau, won 13 to 4. v. Technical 0.8., won 6 to 4. v. Marist, won 6 to 3. v. Pirates, lost 9 to 12. v. Waverley, lost nil to G. Second Round—v. Technical 0.8., won 26 to 3. v. Pirates, won 7 to 3. v, Marist, won 11 to 5. v. Waverley, won 1G to 8. v. Kaierau (in the lap of the gods). Kaierau. First Round — v. Old Boys, lost 4 to 13. v. Pirates, won 9 to 3. v. Technical 0.8., won 17 to 3. v, Waverley, won 33 to 8. v. Marist, won 9 to 3. Second Round — v. Waverley, lost 6 to 11. v. Technical 0.8., won 29 to 3. v. Pirates, won 19 to 3. v. Marist, drawn, 8 ail. How, in the name of all that is brilliant in Rugby, can those records help a critic to make a prediction 1 ? Even “Little Eric,” of Behmporc fame, would be non-plusscd and as certainly as conscious as the writer of two things: (1) That Rugby is gloriously uncertain, and (2) that there are harder things to tip than a wheelbarrow. Taking cognisance of those two facts, it would be best for a “predictor” to look at the respective teams of to-day and pay strict attention to the methods they adopt to win rather than to records which arc as deceiving as the bounce of the ball itself. Kaierau play hard, rucking football which gives protection to their backs and' rakes the opposing side behind the scrum with as much effectiveness as a machine gun in the glory of enfilade fire. Old Boys rely mainly upon back play, the central portion of which tries to function, to allow full play to a fast wing three-quarter. Old Boys’ forwards have yet to learn the art of protecting their own backs. Looked at from the two standpoints referred to, the position appears decidedly favourable for Kaierau. By adopting a 32 —3 scrum there is just a chance that the Old Boys’ pack may hold its own. but if it goes out on the field and loafs until the first try is scored and then, if that try is their own, loafs some more, the scoreboard boy can write the winner’s name up right away. Whatever team conquers Kaierau must first conquer t'ho maroons’ pack and smash that rather commendable shield which hovers round the maroon fiveeights and affords them room to move. Onc.e that shield is broken the opposing team stands a fifty-fifty chance with the rather solid Kaierau back line. Marist got tihat chance last Saturday, and after the vim went out of the green pack, put up a wonderful defence to safeguard what had been won from tho pierced shield in the first spell. Old Boys can safely up their minds that unless the forwards can play Kaierau at their own game, the match will go against them. The prediction is: A win for Kaierau. The Other Matches. The other teams are rather far down, the ladder to occasion very keen interest at present. Most attention will naturally Lie focussed on the clash between Marist and Technical Old Boys, which is the early game oa Spriggens Park This meeting will bo notable in that the improved Technical Old Boys’ side will be out to demonstrate its ability in real earnest. Pirates and Waverley are to play on the racecourse. Both these matches will be of the fiftyfifty type, particularly the latter. Marist should beat Technical Old Boys and Pirates should be capable of undoing Waverley. Predictions are made accordingly.