UNITED v. OLD BOYS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 456, 14 June 1937, Page 2

UNITED v . OLD BOYS

(NOTES BY “GRANDSTAND.’’) United are to be congratulated on their victory over New Plymouth Old Boys, for there can be no doubt they were the better team on the pllsy. The feature of the game was the inability of the visitors to live up to their reputation as even likely contenders for 'the northern championship. * *• * The brothers, B. and S. CliffordJones, in the five-eighths line, were no match fox* Adlam and McCready, who harassed their vis_a-vis all day and broke through several tmes, at the same time establishing an almost inviolate defence. Backing them up all the time came Richardson, who was in splendid form, end their combined work gave Hoskin at centre a particularly bad time. The result was that Ford, the crack winger, was left shivering in the cold for the greater part of each spell. On the few occasions he secured ithe ball he was well marked by, L. Lash, whose tackling was deadly.

On the other wing, Ries kept M<cIntyre in check, and it remained for the forwards (Evans and Uhlenberg) to register New Plymouth’s two tries.

* The two full-backs, Johns and W. Lash, hiad a great deal to do, and the former was conspicuous in this respect in the exchanges between them, invariably gaining much ground with his kicks. Lash, however, did his job well and is improving with exxperience.

Robinson, Uniited’s half-back, capped a fine day’s work with a try, which was the result of resourcefulness and an attractive dash for the line. F. Uhlenberg, behind the whites, fed his backs excellently, and his itry was well-earned.

The United pack worried New Plymouth all day, and beat them except in the line-outs, in which the honours were flsirly even. Any advantage secured by the visitors was losit in the open, when the United® showed their best combination to date. Bonner again proved thait he is a dangerous man near his opponents’ line, his try being the result of vigorous following.

Bowler displayed more dash than usual, but should puy more attention to his passes ait critical times.

There was little to choose between the forwards, buit Thomson deserves special mention; in build, temperament, and aim he is an example of a typical Rugby forward. Health, Murphy and Thompson were never far from his side. Bilski and O’Keefe completed an enterprising and vigorous. combination. * * * The opposition pack worked as well as possible, but it was plain that the side depended upon the backs it.o win. Towfards the closing stages, desperate efforts were made to break United’s line, and the ball travlled out to the wings many times, but all to no purpose. The spoiling work of United accounted for what a spectator termed “la spiritless game,” but really it was the absence of anything brillianit in the New Plymouth display that gave rise to the expression. Especially to the home team’s supporters, the game w-as full of interest.