TECH. O.B. MADE USE OF OPENINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 22 July 1946, Page 7

TECH. O.B. MADE USE OF OPENINGS

KAIERAU LACKED A GOOD GOAL-KICKER (By “Cross-bar”). Technical Old Boys made the most of the openings the match against Kaierau presented, while Kaierau, with a territorial advantage, was unable to penetrate a very sound defence, and was unable to score points by goal-kicking. The maroon pack had the edge of the lighter Technical Old Boys’ side and swift breaking forwards got amongst the Technical Old Boys’, backs, Kaierau realising that the danger there had to be nipped in the bud. There were times when the Kaierau infringed the “late tackle” rule. These tactics were penalised once, but could have been dealt with more rigidly on other occasions. Both the backs checked by deadly tackling, and by the swift fanning of the maroon pack, in which G. Gerrie (having his first game after a spell on the line because of boils), Technical Old Boys had to resort to other tactics, and that they were able to do so won them the match. They kept the greasy ball on the ground rather than handle it They left that largely to Kaierau and the maroons found the task very difficult in the face of swift spoilers. Kaierau lacked a reliable goalkicker, and missed at least nine points in penalty goals. It was ironical perhaps, that Alan Duncan, who enabled the side to draw in its game with Technical Old Boys in the first round, was looking on. He was not playing because of the club rule of alternating the standing down that has to be done to give all the players offering a share of the games played. Had Duncan been on the field he probably would have rewarded the hard play of the maroon pack. Other regular players of the maroons on the sideline during the most important match for the club of the season were Clin McNichol, R. Crombie, and R. Ward. Technical Old Boys were at full strength. H. Takarangi, who played full-back for Kaierau, was slow and uncertain and by way of contrast, I. Willacy Technical Old Boys, played reliably. Confined largely to the forwards, it was not a good game to watch, largely because the ball was greasy and difficult to handle, and the spoiling done by both sides doomed the spectacular moves almost before they were launched. Kaierau was responsible for the best move of the day when they scored a try. All the Technical Old Boys backs were subdued, and looked to be standing up to breaking tactics by Kaierau that went very close to, if not over, the offside rule. Some of Kaierau’s moves early in the game were legitimate and perhaps deceived the eye by their virility, but later the forwards took more liberty. Davidson, as usual, led his Technical Old Boys’ pack well and was ably supported by Granville, Lambert, B. Goldsbury, and Owen. B. Goldsbury again demonstrated that he is one of the best, forwards in the union. In the Kaierau pack Bellis, Gerrie, Wanahi, and Fifield were prominent.

There was no back on the field up to representative standard, and the game was one almost entirely for forwards. McPhail, Patterson. and Webby were the best of Technical Old Boys, with Willacy very reliable at full-back. James and I. Whale were the best of the moroon’s rearguard. The teams were:—

Technical Old Boys: I. Willacy; M. Shewan, K. Mcßrearty, A. Webby; K. Dunlop. J. Patterson; J. McPhail; M. Breed, S. Granville, A. G. Davidson, P.; Lambert. J. Clemance; M. Owen, B. Goldsbury, D. Goldsbury. Kaierau: H. Takarangi; B. Bason, I. Whale. P. Henderson: S. Takarangi, J. Bailey; K. James: H. Bidwell; G. Gerrie. E. Beiliss, C. Rae. J. Whale; F. Managh, J. Ross. M. Fifield. Ross was injured in the second spell and the replacement was J. Larsen, and in the second spell Rae went off injured. P. Ward coming on as a renlacement. Referee: Mr. E. Wahlstrom. Steady rain fell just before the teams took the field. McPhail ran round the blind side of the scrum and found the line, putting Technical Old Boys in an attacking position. The ball was kicked by Kaierau to clear, but Willacy fielded it cleanly and nut his team on attack close to Kaierau’s linr» with a sound line kick. There was a line-out then a scrum and Kaierau was penalised for off-sid« nlay. nr bling McPhail to goal—Technical Old Eovs 3, Kaierau 0. There were 29 minutes to go to halftim 0 and Kaierau came at the Technical Old Bovs’ goal with all thn virilitv Beiliss and his pack could command. Gerrie broke the Technical Old Boys’ backs twice, getting Patterson clean and low. Willacy lined under pressure. Twice, however, Petterson man-a?e-t to get his kick in The Technical Old Boys' backs came away and

Shewan set sail toi the line, to ial! io a tackle by Henderson Mcßrearty can stionglv and tried to centre, out the bail went into touch. Granville and Owen broke from a scrum in Kaierau t<- : Hiorv and dribbled the ball over the line, where Owen scored. McPhail converted. Technical Old Boys 8, Kaierau 0. That was the score nt half-time. Patterson did a Ini. of saving for hrtnam in Ih° second xnell hv kicking tn touch. Wanahi and Fifield camo through and Kaierau stormed the

Technical lino. There a period of desultory play followed in which forward countered forward. Bailey had two shots at goal from penalties and missed. Then came the move 15 minutes before time, which enabled Technical Old Boys to establish a commanding lead. Davidson, Clemance, Owen, and D. Goldsbury came bearing down on James He passed the ball back to Takarangi in a moment of distress and the full-back fumbled. Before lie could regain possession Clemance came behind a bouncing ball, which bounced into his bands and he scored McPhailb kicl; failed. Technical Old Bo>s 11, Kaierau 0. In the last le\. minutes came l) t best fnove of the match, Geriie passing to James, to Bailey, tu Bason, inheld again to 'an Whale, who scored Kaierau’s one ara only try, \\ a.-- not converted. Kaierau played “up and und'T” tactics in the last stages of play, field-. ing and lining nicely. Whale had •• shot at goal from a penalty awarded fi r holding the hall when tackled, nl li<- fared -e holier than Bailey, and missed. The game ended without further score.