COMMENTS ON THE PLAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 157, 3 June 1940, Page 4

COMMENTS ON THE PLAY.

ST. PATRICK’S AND AIR FORCE. From the point of view of interest for the spectators, the St. Patrick’s —Air Force match was the best seen on the oval so lar this season. Air Force were caught napping at the outset and then set about retrieving the position, only a stern de fence keeping them out. Early in the second half they took command of the game and hammered the defence repeatedly, but could not finish off their attacks. As often happens, an attempt at a field goal was the turning point. St. Patrick’s swept the ball to the other end after the kick and the situation was reversed. The up and down play, in the first half, then the two distinct periods of attack in the second half, made for a most interesting match. • One of the features was the high standard reached in handling the bait under the most adverse conditions. Air Force did not enjoy any monopoly of the ball from the scrums, but secured a good share in the line-outs. Sargisson and Younghusband proved their combination again in the five-eighths positions, and when the latter secured possession the play always developed rapidly and increased its tempo of attack. Throughout the play was hard, but it was pleasingly shorn of any approach to questionable tactics or temper. St. Patrick’s owed their win to the ability to capitalise, quickly, the opportunities they received. Further, they defended with vigour. Air Force were unlucky- to miss a score on ono occasion. RAIN MARS PLAY. United and University struck the worst part of the day in their match, for much of the first luilf ..was played in a steady downpour of ruin. At the outset tho rain was but slight, and handling the ball was difficult, but not impossible. As the match progressed both sides could only leave the ball, on the ground and rely on footwork. Side-stepping and other quick changes of direction proved to bo traps, and on numbers of occasions attacking players swept through the defence purely on account of tiie treacherous state of - the ground. For the same reason attackers often found themselves, foiled, good control of the ball being most difficult. D Findlay, coach of the United team, who expected to have retired from the game, turned out again on account of the team being 1 without four of their usual players. lie does not intend to play regularly. Birehall, who played lus first match for this season, having had a shoulder injury which has kept him off the field, made a good showing at wing three-quarter, despite the fact that he lias usually played

in the forwards. As it was, ihoro was Jittlc to choose between the forwards and the backs in tactics on the day on account of flic rain. University were •hampered by the abscncc of six of their best players, who wero in Auckland, for the North Island v. South Island Universities’ mutch. Further, .Graven broke two ribs while • playing at Danneviike during the. vacation. Their play was affected further by the tact that about half of their number were suffering from heavy colds, contracted at the Mounted Rifles’ camp at Levin. EEILDING FORWARDS SUPERIOR. In a match, which was played to suit the slate of the heavy ground, Eeilding beat Kia Toa by three points to nil. The 1 visitors showed great superiority in t lie forwards, who dominated the play for nearly all the game. All the visitors’ forwards worked hard, but the same could not be said of Iho other pack. From the scrums and linc-outs, with Garlick, Kitchen and Sullivan doing well, the yellow forwards gave their backs every opportunity to penetrate. The best back on the day was undoubtedly Dormer, who was in excellent form and continually cut through to leave the opposition hacks standing. However, Fitt, the Kia Toa centre three-quarter, was always dangerous and stopped several dangerous movements with his sound tackling. The only try of the match was an excellent one. Thompson,, going round- the blind side of the scrum, kicked a high hall to Carr, who dropped it for Wilson to pick up and dive' over. An incident at tliis stage saw Wilson ordered off. Manderson and Thurston were the only prominent players in the blue pack. Manderson gave a good display and foiled many movements with his fast breaking from j Iho serum. | EVEN PLAY AT EEILDING. I The scores, B—all,8 —all, were a fair indica- | tion of the game between Fcilding Old I Boys and Palmerston North Old Boys, jat Johnston Park,, although the home ! side played a move solid game, refraining from the speculative tactics of their opponents. Back-line action was rarely seen in the game, which was very much a forward one. A weakness in the football seen at Johnston Park this season has been noted in the scrummages, and on Saturday there was no improvement in that respect. Quite frequently the referee had to break ,up the packs for re-formation. The respective full-backs, Gloyn and Clark, gave good displays and both added the extra points in respect of the two tries scored. _ . Waugh, who is recognised as being » very speedy, met bis match in Reid, • who overtook him in a brilliant turn or i pace. ; Several promoted juniors were seen in • the home team’s ranks, including Shaw r and Swinbourn.