Football.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8195, 23 May 1906, Page 2

Football.

(Bv " Si'kctatui:."]

- — Santlon v. liuiimi (Oroua Bridge.)

This game was played at Oroua Bridge on Mr Pearce's ground on Saturday last. Mi* O'Dea acted as referee and his interpretation of the rules pive every satisfaction to both sides. The ground was very greasy. Sacdon put irt a very strong team, including the MeXao 15rcs., cx-Manuwatu representative warriors. All their forwards and backs played a very good giirae, they tackled very strongly and their kicking was good. Our young Oroua Bridge players .should learn a few lessons from their play. Sandou won by 12 points to 3. no goals bein-i kicked. The Richardson Bros, played a good game in the back division, and MeJSae Bros, played line gurries as wing forwardn. In criticising the Huiuxai players I will start fiora the full-back, H. Mason. His kicking and finding tho touchline was weak. Ho does cot take bis man low and should not " speculate." Mc Royal at wing three-quarter played a very solid game, but had very little assistance from the other backs. Ho scored a pretty try after beating the whole of the Sandon fifteen, and should nearly secure a place in tho Awahou rep. team. His kicking ulso was well judged. G. Royal at ecntre-throequarter played a poor game. Ho seemed as if he did not know what to do, Ho was nearly always out of Mb place and left his opposing centre to another man to look alter. Ho is very slow in getting away and should pass the ball before being collared. S. Birchley : This player, on Saturday's form, wants more training. Ho displayed a good turn of pace, but did not find tho line enough; he collared sometimes rather too high, especially when Ilitcbio MoNao scored tho last try. B. Simmons at five-eighth was very faulty. Bo tried to play the whole game himself; seldom passed the ball to his" centre and when ho did, passed it overhand and much too slowly. He should make tho underhand passing hie study. He is very weak in defending and collars too high, in fact he seemed frightened of a big man. Ho should aleo leara to stop rushes by picking up the ball instead of speculating, Tho half-back showed plenty of pace but h« is, inclined to turn hia back to tho pack and kick tho ball. Ho never passed to the five-eighth and is weak in defence, Tho wing forwards played a real solid game, especially Pate Larkins—McNae was kept busy with this dark Sandow. Tuna on the other wing also protected his half but played ofl'-fiide too much. Tho front rankers played & very good game bat abould book the

ball out much quicker. The seedfed , row all played well, but they and all tho other forwards should dribblo taore. In the back row James Kennedy jplaycd a real tip-top game; he is an old hand and ia a good forward. A. Kennedy showed a keen desire to keep hia pants clean. Ho is a good man in tho loose, but shirks any tight work. He should keep'his placo in tho line-out and should learn to get into the serum quicker. Tho Oroua Bridge team ia being coached by that ono.time good forward, Manawaroa. Ho has succeeded in getting together the material for a good team, and a# he keeps them training every night tbo team should be hard to beat before the season in much further advanced". {