BETTER BACKS WIN THE DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 118, 22 May 1939, Page 5

BETTER BACKS WIN THE DAY

OLD BOYS AGAINST KAIERAU LOSING TEAM'S GREAT SECOND SPELL EFFORT When the match played between Wanganui and Old Boys and Kaierau is remembered in the future, and it surely will be remembered,. the resource of the Old Boys’ backs and the great battle of the Kaierau forwards in the second spell will come to mind first. Surprise Movements. To circumvent the rigid Kaierau defence Old Boys aimed for and achieved surprise, the greatest medium of strength In a Rugby team. Twice Glen Hook and D. Barton applied the reverse pass, Barton, at centre, running to the left instead of the right of Hook. John Polson, teeth gritted, in full stride, carried on from the first move, and, commendable though the fanning Kaierau defence was to force him towards the corner, he charged past three men and scored the try of the day—until then. R. Grace was responsible for the ' next movement of surprise. Away out on Ihe wing, fed by his backs in | orthodox fashion, he suddenly came (sharply infield to a pass nicely placed (to bring his track away from the touchline. With head hack, he sailed I for the line clear of the defence. And the Full-back Scores. [ But the greatest, surprise of all was i the try scored by Knox Welsh, Old ■ Boys’ lull-back. It was a movement

of a high Rugby order, typical of a | side of representative standard. The i move started in Old Boys’ territory, i l he Old Boys’ backs handling. Again I Barton took an infield instead of an .'outfield pass, but. Kaierau was watch- ' ful. Hook fooled t he opposition by I flashing round again and taking the (pass. On surged the attack right into t Kaierau’s twenty-five, when suddenly 1 Welsh loomed up on the touchline as a wing three-quarter. He gathered in the pass and made history by scoring near the corner flag as the Kaierau defence dived at his heels and brought him low. Three tries, one of which was con- ) verted, gave Old Boys a lead of 11. to nil at half-time. Good backs, fed by a van which had the maroons subdued, had justified that lead. Kaierau’s Second Spell. The second spell was Kaierau’s and every Old Boy supporter gave full marks for the tough way the maroon van battled against a solid opposition. Slowness in the Kaierau backs to attack, however, let the forwards down. Every time the. ball came through the Kaierau rearguard's hands Old Boys were too fast and nearly always made the passing fan across the field, even lose ground. There was nothing unorthodox about those Kaierau backs and the only variation they could apply was punt through to send the three-quarters chasing the ball in Old 2 Boys’ twenty-five. And the day was fated to leave Kaierau sadly wanting a goal-kicker. At least three easy kicks at goal were missed, and each miss bore heavily on the hearts of Bill Glenn, Bill Firmin, Jack Beiliss and the boys in the van. ?ut they never let up and battle after battle for the ball surged through the dust of Spriggens Park. Beiliss played a great game, watching the Old backs, fanning well to help

j his own backs, and the red-headed Callaghan played with the dash of a true New South Welshman, hunting for a win. Time ticked round and Old Boys’ feet up in the scrum in front of the goal posts presented Jack Morgan with the easiest kick of the day. He goaled.—Kaierau 3, Old Boys 11. Nearing the End. Ten minutes before the end a breakdown in Old Boys’ rearguard on attack gave Kaierau a good try. Hook attempted a stab kick, but was charged down in his own twenty-five. Like a flash the Kaierau forward.surged into the gap. Firmin scooped the ball up, ran, was tackled, but had got his pass to C. Mackie away. "Now then.’” came the Kaierau cry 1 from the side line, and Mackie raced I into the goal to bring another three I points’ reward for that hard battle lof the maroon van. Morgan s kick, another reasonable one, missed. Old Boys 11, Kaierau 6. Old Boys on Top. There were nine minutes to go! Kaierau could still draw, perhaps win. and the forwards went into it hard again. Old Boys thanked R. Hunter and E. Nicholls a lot. in those closing stages for holding the Kaierau pack back. They stopped rush after rush. H. Brogden made a dangerous solo run or two, but always went a yard too far. With L. Northover, D. McGregor, L. Bourke, M. Sutton and T. Collins showing up, the Old Boys’ forwards gradually wore down the maroons and at. the end Old Boys were, attacking, Their's was the belter van. The'best team won. its finish in Ihe backs always making it dangerous. Kaierau rarely looked like finishing, but got full marks for being couragc- ! ous in the face of a hard pack and better backs. The teams were: Wanganui and Old Boys (red and black): K. Welsh; R. Grace, D. G. Barton, J. Polson: G. Hook, E. Nicholls; R. Hunter; T. Collins; .1. Halligan, L. Bourke, .1. Ollivier, G. Robinson; M. McGregor, L. Northover. M. Sutton. Kaierau (maroon)' C. Vernon; C. McNichol, C. Mackie, S. Leydon; J. Morgan, D. Thompson; H. Brogden: J. Whale; W. Glenn S. Hawkes, W. Firmin, E. V. Beiliss; K. Larsen, E. J. Callaghan, T. Sercombe. J. Anderson. replaced J. Whale (injured) in the first spell. Mr. W. Molan was the referee.