COMMENTS ON THE PLAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 163, 10 June 1940, Page 9

COMMENTS ON THE PLAY.

' KIA TOA’S WIN. Playing on a muddy ground with the ball slippery and heavy, Kia Toa and United did not provide a good exhibition. Kia Toa had the better of the game practically throughout, their heavier forwards bottling 7 up the United pack and'stopping most of theii' dangerous open play which has won other matches. Coupled with this, the Kia Toa backs were the better, and Carr kept the play well up with a number of long kicks to the touchline. He scored five of his team’s 11 points. Most of the first half was occupied with United on the defensive. The United forwards worked hard, but Kia Toa wore making the play open and this removed the operations from the forwards to allow of fast sallies which went dangerously close to the line.

.United secured the ball freely from the scrums but could not do much with it, their backs being unable to penetrate beyond Thomas and Quinn (playing first and second five-eighths respectively). Thomas was very active, and when lie secured the ball United had to move quickly to the defensive. He was well supported by bis forwards, who came away from the scrums quickly when United secured the hall,.and who were up in support when their own backs moved away. Quick and determined attacks by the backs told in ICia Toa’s favour , in the second half again. GOOD DISPLAY BY OLD BOYS. Old Boys fully deserved their win over Air Force. They established an early superiority and never seemed in danger of defeat. The forwards on botli sides were fairly evenly matched, but the Old Boys backs proved the decisive factor. Air Force were disappointing, and played without their usual dash. The ground was greasy and tho ball difficult to handle, and this no doubt prevented them from gaining the fullest advantage from their backs, although there were sonic good rearguard movements on both sides. Clarke, the Old Boys full-back, was in good kicking form, and scored eight points with his boot, but he missed two easy penalties. The Old Boys’ backs worked well together, and the forwards always played a good game, being conspicuous in dribbling movements. Fell, a former St. Patrick’s player, was having his first game for Old Boys, and was a tower of strength. O’Dea was also prominent. Air Force are trying Younghusband as full-back after having played him closer to the scrum. He seems to bo tho answer to their difficulty in finding a man to fill this position, and played a good game. Sherlock and Sargissqn, tho Air Force inside backs, were in good form. Sherlock’s field goal. was a model effort, and Sargisson was always handv when danger threatened. On the wing Rowland a big plavor, made some good runs. Knight and Horgan were two forwards who impressed, FEILDING OLD BOYS WIN. The Feilding Old Boys v. St. Patrick’s match was a hard forward struggle. The visiting forwards overshadowed the home side’s on numerous occasions with their quick rushes and also their, solid work in the tight. Waldegrave and Rutherford ■ wore the best, forwards on the day and were always in the thick of the fray. In the loose, however. Eade, Shaw and Wells were most prominent. i Of the St. Patrick’s forwards the most noticeable for, their hard work were Webb and Ross. ■ The ' best attacking back on the day was Swinburne, a 17-yfenv-old player who j was having his second game in senior.| football and was formerly in the third grade. In the early stages when the ball was dry lie cut in on numerous occasions and left the defence standing. He should develop into a particularly fine player as he has a safe pair of hands. Cuff gave a good exhibition of kicking and tackling and he and Edlin were the i

best backs in the green side. Edlin was sure at the base of the scrum and many good movements were started as a result of his excellent work. R, Jarrett, a former member of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School first XV and now a resident of Feilding, proved to be a very sound half-back on defence and gave his backs every oppor- | tunity to penetrate into the , St.*'- Patrick’s territory. THE FEILDING MATCH. Thanks to Thompson’s last-minute field goal, Feilding were saved from defeat at the hands'.of University who were in great form. Pollard was injured during the match and Wilson was placed as guardian, but the position was not well filled on account of Wilson being unable to adapt himself to his new role; he persisted in trying to break through instead of clearing. Another Feilding player, Abbott, was also injured and was replaced by Lawton. The struggle severely taxed both , packs, who were subjected to bard, fast work throughout. The visitors, however, appeared to stand up to the strain better than Feilding, who were well relieved by Thompson. This energetic player hod more than his share of the leather, arid bis untiring'efforts were scientific and most helpful. Herbert. University’s guardian, played a very good gamo and his style appealed. He was never bustled and handled the ball calmly. ’ Pyo and Carlick (Feilding) impressed and in the University fifteen McLaren, Bowler and Sellers were seen to advantage. Dormer, captain for the yellows, played well, but was well marked and did not get many opportunities. i