KAIERAU’S WELL-EARNED VICTORY

Wanganui Chronicle, 12 August 1946, Page 6

KAIERAU’S WELL-EARNED VICTORY

SENIOR CHAMPIONS WELL BEATEN

Although the game, on the whole, was unspectacular and inclined to he scrappy, interest was kept up right to the end by the closeness of the scares. The final score was Kaierau 9, Tech. Old Boys 4. Although Kaierau held a five-point lead at the final whistle, the score, to portray the true merits of the day, should have shown a much larger advantage to the maroons. In the latter stages of the first ha!f and all through the second spell of the gam? they were the superior team, and territorially the game was theirs practically from whistle to whistle. From the kick-off it was apparent that Tech, were off form. The backs could not handle and the forwards, undisputably a fast and solid pack, were not playing their usual game. Shortly after the start, however, Kaierau were pushed back to thetr ow,i twenty-five, and after a siege lasting about five minutes—during which J. McPhail appeared to score a good try—J. Patterson clinched the issue by dropping a goal, thus gaining the first points of the match for his team, and the only ones they secured.

Tech’s combination improved a little and their backs showed glimpses of their usual form. It was Kaierau’s day, however, and they were at the top of their form, the solid defence of both forwards and backs preventing several tries from being scored against them in the first half. P. Henderson gave his best exhibition of the season. His tackling was beautiful to watch, especially when lie brought J. Patterson down just short of the goal line with a spectacular dive from behind.

Once the Kaierau pack settled down they took play well into the Technical half of the ground and there they stayed. For the rem?’, ider of the spell they held their opponents in their own twenty-five, and except for one try in the corner, scored by Bason, the opening for which was made by S. Takarangi, their efforts were of no avail. Tech, were off form, but they certainly defended their goal line heroically for long periods. On several occasions, however, Kaierau looked certain to score, but knocks forward’ and other infringements prevented them from compiling perhaps more than 15 points before the interval. Half-time came with Tech, still holding their advantage of a “potted” goal against Kaierau’s unconverted try.

On the resumption of play, Cairncross had replaced A. Webby on the Technical wing. Shortlv after play had started the Kaierau half-back (J. James), who had been playing a sound game behind h’s scrum, was injured. I. Whale took his place, coming from ; centre, and Cartwright cam? on to occupy the vacant wing position. It | seemed that with the loss of James, the sting had been taken out of the Kaierau rearguard, but Whale quickly ’ sett’ed down. From a scrum halfway he worked the blind sid? and sent I Cartwright away down the side-line. The wing beat several men. jumped ! out of a tackle by Dunlon. and passed ' the ball on to G. Gerrie. who had * come across in support. Gerrie ran I unopposed across th? Technical goal , line, Duncan missed with the kick. - Kaierau 6. T. 0.8. 4. After Kaierau had wrested the lead Tech, put a’l they had into their game, but to no avail. They could not beat Kaierau nack. who seemed to smarten up as lhe game progress- ■ ed. The Tech, backs also could dn , little in th? fane nf th? determined I tackling of both the Kaierau for-I wards and backs. Thpv tried long j kicks and follow-un tactics, but like ; the rest of his team the full-back <A. Duncan) could not go wrong, and he would freoiientlv drive Tech, back with long kicks to the lino. I. Willacy, th? Tech, full-hack, also played I a remarkable game, his stead'- defence [ being the cause of manv of Kaierau’s movements breaking down. Kaierau’s last try cam’ when Bel- | lis charged down a kick by J- Me- i Phail. H. Pi.lwch gained possession ’ and nearly succeeded. A scrum went down iust short nf the line and Kaieran hooked Using the blind side . again. Whale sent <n tn Henderson. | who canned off a brilliant cf-miay with : an eoually snectacu’ar tr'. The winger literally dive 1 and fl'w the , ’ast five vards before scoring. Duncan missed the kick and th rt game ended with Kaierau holding a well-earned five-point load Mr. E. Crottv was the referee.