T.O.B. All-Round Play Had Kaierau Shaded

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 May 1948, Page 6

T.O.B. All-Round Play Had Kaierau Shaded

Although there was little between the two teams in points scored, Technical Old Boys were the better team on the day and deserved their victory of 17 points to 13 over Kaierau iu the three o’clock fixture on Spriggens Park on Saturday. The play of both teams was constructive, but the winners were able to pull that extra something out of the bag at the right time.

Four tries, one of which was converted, and a penalty made up T.0.8.'s points, and Kaierau registered two tries, one conversion, a field goal, and a penalty. S. Granville was outstanding in the T. 0.8. pack—indeed, for the consistent devil in his work, his performance has not been equalled by any forward this season. Gudsell, Barnett and Webby were the pick of the backs. J. Whale and G. Gerrie were tigers in the loose for Kaierau, with R. Ward good in both tight and loose. Strong running by Henderson, 1. Whale and Eason in the back line caught the eye. The teams were:—

Technical Old Boys: B. Sloan; J. McPhail, K. Dunlop, A. Webby; D. Aubrey, K. Gudsell; J. Barnett; A. Barnett; J. Clements, P. Lambert, D. Grant, R. Godwin; S. Granville, B. Goldsbury, R. Owen, Kaierau: A. Duncan; B. Bason, P, Henderson, T. Cartwright; I. Whale, N. Thomas; J. James; E. Bellis; G. Gerrie, P. Ward, R. Ward, J. Whale; L. Hill, R. Crombie; M. Fifield. Mr. E. Wahlstrom was the referee. TRY IN FIRST MINUUTE. Play opened sensationally enough with T. 0.8. staging a forward rush to the maroon’s line, from which A. Barnett forced his way over. Webby converted. —T. 0.8. 5, Kaierau 0. Before Kaierau had got over that one, Dunlop tested the full-back with a iofty punt. Duncan was caught by Webby, and ’ the scramble that followed, J. Ba ~ctt came within an ace of scoring. A try-scoring machine, given the ball and a few yards to work in, Henderson, at centre, paved the way for Kaierau s first points. He received after some chain passing from a scrum at half-way, and outstripped the defence in a sprint to the corner flag. Confronted by Sloan at the last second, he lofted the ball inside to I. Whale, who was unmarked, and Whale sped over to score in a good position. Duncan narrowly missed converting.—T.O.B. 5, Kaierau 3.

Aubrey was proving a weak link in the T. 0.8. backline. With 15 minutes of tile spell to go, S. Wilson replaced Owen (injured). Ten points arrived in the last 10 minutes. J. Barnett flashed into the picture with a typically tricky run from the base of the T. 0.8. scrum and went from the Kaierau 25 for a grand try. Webby kicked a poster.— T. 0.8. 8, Kaierau 3. Kaierau retaliated with a foot rush to the line, but the defence held. In scrappy play, the ball came to James, who handed on to Thomas. With the opposition standing well up on him, I. Whale took his pass in front of the posts and snapped a neat field goal.—T.O.B. 8, Kaierau 7. Bason made a glorious scoring opportunity by running across from ihs wing on the blind side to throw T.0.8.’s inside backs on to the wrong foot. He linked with Cartwright on the other wing, but the pair were bundled into touch near the corner flag. On time, Gudsell got the ball to Aubrey and on to Dunlop, who punted ahead to Duncan, who failed to clear. A penalty to T. 0.8. saw the ball go out in the corner, and Granville burst through the lineout to score a good try. Webby's kick missed.—T.O.B. 11, Kaierau 7. HENDERSON AGAIN.

Henderson chalked up a model three-quarter’s try when the second half was but a few minutes old, again having too much speed for anyone except, perhaps, Webby. The Kaierau backline moved away fast, and Henderson grounded the ball wide out. Duncan missed the kick.—T.O.B. 11, Kaierau 10.

Webby was brought to first fiveeighth for T. 0.8., and Aubrey went out on the wing. Both sides now had a period on attack, Webby, Gudsell and McPhail showing up in likely breaks for T. 0.8., and Gerrie and Bason dangerous for Kaierau. When the maroon first five-eighth, Thomas, was smothered by T. 0.8. forwards breaking smartly from a scrum, an infringement led to T. 0.8. being penalised on their 25. a decision which die not meet with universal approval. I. Whale made no mistake, and Kaierau took the lead for the first time at 13-11.

T. 0.8. got their noses in front once more when McPhail put in a dangerous stab kick to Duncan, after T. 0.8. backs had swept from the haltway mark. Duncan went down on the ball and was penalised, Webby finding the posts from a handy spot inside the 25. —T 0.8. 14, Kaierau 13. Hooking regularly, and. holding a territorial advantage, T. 0.8. were quickly knocking on the door again Webby just failed with a free kick, and then play moved to the Kaierau corner from a back move initiated, by Gudseli and Dunlop. From the lineout, Webby cut through and passed to Gudsell, who sent on for Aubrey to fly over in the far corner. Webby did not convert, and despite a desperate rally bv Kaierau, the final score read —T.0.8. 17, Kaierau 13