INGLEWOOD-UNITED PLAY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 441, 24 May 1937, Page 2

INGLEWOOD-UNITED PLAY

(BY "GRANDSTAND”) Spectators at the Inglewood-Unit-ed match were keenly watchful of the activities -of L. Arnold, the Maroons' half-back, who has been chosen to act in the same capacity in the Tara-naki-Wellington representative match at Hawera on Wednesday. The general opinion, as far as could be judged from subsequent comments on his play, was that if he played up to' the standard displayed on Saturday Taranaki would have little cause for complaint abour their half. Arnold was the pivot and mainstay of the Maroons, and whenever he secured possession there was almost sure to be something worth watching. In attack he was spectacular and in defence .superb. The liberal and reliable manner in which he fed his backs was a lesson other backs should' learn .and practise assiduously.

Ward wag a good support, and his handling was remarkably certain. He has pace and knows when to use it. His were also good, but almost invariably when the second-five, eighths, Rumball, sent on the leather, the oppositjon was right down on the centre, L. Arnold, so that the wings were not able to operate as often as the spectators could have wished. However, when McCullum and E. O Byrne obtained possession they /gave the United backs a lot of trouble, '.hough they were, unable to break through. Corkill, at full-back, had a lot to do, and kicked and tackled well. * * * The Maroons had a solid pack, and there was . a hanger-on among uhem. The three Murphys worked like tigers throughout, and P. and D. had a good mate in Jones, a new member of the team, when .they were in the loose. Young, s. O’Byrne, Corney and Brown were prominent. The hookers, beat their opponents for the ball on most occasions. * * * United We Stand. United finished up the first round wrth only a single point to their credit in the championship table, and, strangely enough, they earned it in the first mutch, when they drew wiltli lukapa by p «o 9 on Pukekura Park, New Plymouth. Their supporters are disappointed at the result, especially In view of the good start made.by the teain. However, their record of poliita docs not read badly; in fact, it was surpHsing 'that though they were be: ten five times and scored only 26 points, there were less points ■/cored against them than against

five cut of the other six teams in the competition. Star, also with five tosses, had the largest number of points scored against them, namely 99, while United’s was. only 48. Thete figures show most clearly the stuff that the Uniteds are made of, while lhe brave displays jiiade in their contests is shown by the following record of the respective scores: Draw 9—9, losses 5 —6, o—3, 6 —ll, and o—3. As'-the club supporters would tay—the' luck was against them. * * * Individually the backs have shown that they were little interior to their opponents, but there wa. a a lack of finish in their play that made all the difference between victory and defeat. The forwards., too, fit times played brilliantly, but lacked the stamina to con/lnue the push right to the e,nd of the games. There is plenty of time, however, to retrieve their reputation and many club supporters confidently believe that 'the White, Blue and Golds will beat more teams in the second round than will beat them. One thing certain is that the round will be full of interest, starting as it does with one Sltratford team on top of the ladder and the other at the bottom.

CENTRAL DIVISION Junior Grade Results First Junior. ll beat Midhirst 6. Eltham 3 beat United 0. Toko a bye. Third Grade. Inglewood 16 beait School 3. Stratford 12 beat Cardiff 5. Eltham 26 beat Midhirst 0. Fourth Grade. Inglewood 3 beat Stratford 0. School A v. School B, to be played wnen School resumes*. Eltham, a bye. In the match between Midhirsit and Stratford, there wag a good deal of interest, and the Red and Blacks deserved '.their win.. Crighton and Anglesey scored for Stratford, Pollard converting one and kicking >a penalty goal. Hosking scored for Midhirsit and Cookson kicked a penalty goal. Eltham’s. score against United was a penalty goal.