THIRD WIN.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19940, 29 May 1930, Page 14

THIRD WIN.

BRITISH RUGBY TEAM.

MANAWHENUA BEATEN 34—8.

PRENTICE DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF. o»ftM ASSOCIAtIOK T»L*O»AM.) PALMERSTON N., May 28. In the third match of its tour the British team scored a runaway victory over ManaWhenua by 34 points to 8. The game was easily the best played by the touring side since it has been in New Zealand. Once again the speedy backs, with their complete mastery of the art of in-passing and displaying more accurate handling than in either of the two previous games, outclassed tho opposition. In the second spoil especially they rattled on tho points. Every try came as a result of passing bouts by the rearguard, which was well supported by the forwards, and tho line was given every opportunity to swing into action. The forwards more than held their own against the solid ManaWhenua pack, and excelled in dribbling and short passing rushes, but whenever a chance arose they sent the ball out to the backs. F. D. Prentice, the. side's captain, made his first appearance of the tour, and distinguished himself by scoring 19 points, comprised of a try, two penalty goals, and five conversions. The game was played under favourable conditions on the Palmerston North Show Grounds before a crowd of about 12,000 people. The teams were:— Britain. Full-back: B. Jennings. Three-quarters: J. Eeeve, A. L. Novis, T. Jones-Davies, 0. Aarvold. Halves: N. Poole, H. M. Bowcott. Forwards: 8. A. Martindale, D. Parker, H. 0. S. Jones. J. L. Farrell, M. T. Dunne, H. Wilkinson, J. Hodgson, F. D. Prentice (captain). Manawhenua. Full-back: Johnston. Three-quarters: Strange, Fletcher, Page. Five-eighths: Akuixa, Biddell. Half-back: TJ. Parata. Forwards: F. Parata, Henry, Fitzgerald, Miles, Gttlpin, Oonrad, Satherley, Tatana.

. THE PLAY. Britain won the toss, and from the kick-off there was a spell of scrummaging at half-way. Manawhenua hooked the ball from the first set scrum and Hodgson came round quickly to bustle the inside backs, who fumbled their passing. Novia took a mark and sent the ball well down the field, and from a scrum there Poole secured and transferred to Novis, who gained considerable ground before he was pulled down. In ten minutes' play neither side had gained any great advantage. Dropped passes by both sets of Inside backs let the forwards get through with their bustling methods, and though the British backs always gained ground when they had the ball there seemed to be a lack of finish. In fact, the play up to this stage had been rather ponderous, with a great deal of indecisive scrumringing round about half* way. However, the British forwards soon livened matters, Wilkinson heading a fine dribbling rush at the end of which the ball was sent out to Novis, who was brought down just in time by Page, and Manawhenua managed to -force. Poole secured shortly after the ,twenty-five kick, and transferred to 'Aarvold who, running at top speed, sent on to Reeve, but he took the pass when off-side. Fast following up by Prentice and Wilkinson waß nearly rewarded, but Strange forced down in the nick of time. In two subsequent rushes the British forwards were rather unlucky not to score. I The First Points. The first points of the day came when Britain was awarded a penalty near the Manawhenua twenty-fivo, Prentice putting the ball over with a beautiful kick. Britain -- .. 3 Manawhenua .. .. 0 The game had then been in progress twenty minutes. Britain made the pace a merry one, and within a few minutes had scored again. A line-out was formed in neutral territory, and Prentice sent the ball out to Poole, who lost no time in setting the backs going. The whole line handled, and eeve side-stepped the full-back, Johnston, and in-passed to Jones-Davies, who went over well out. Prentice missed with ths kick.

Britain .. ..6 Manawhenua .. .. 0 Parata secured from the kick-off and sent the ball out to Eiddell, who Derby, Radio, Silver Jack,, King Ira, Wallace Mao. Harold Denver. Ulm. PACIFIC HANDICAP (in saddle), ot 200 sovb; 3.17 elassj lm—Tarndale. Erin's Fortune, Loeo, High Jinks, .Anon, El Direot, Warepa, Marinca, John Noble, Downcast, Lady Antrim, Harold Lee, Kreisler. Bunchild, Jacky Logan, Peter Daunt, John Logan, Slump, Fight Ever, Teremoa. Pearl Logan. BIRTHDAY HANDICAP Jin harness), of 450 Bovfl: 4.34 class; 2m—Erin's Fortune, High Jinkß, Steel All, Hector's Own, Neeoro, Cyone, Kelson de Oro, Lin?fleld, Kid Logan. Trimmer, Great Logon, Wrackeen, Logan Hanlon, Talent, Muriel de Oro. Morning Sun RAILWAY HANDICAP (In harness), of 200 sovs; 8.17 class; lm Bf—Lady Zephyr, Ambleside. Danny Boy, Arklow, Festival, Imperial Bingon, Thrift, Pro Rata, Captain Wrack Matchmaker. Wave Soon, Scotty Bmeen, Lightwood, Erin's Chance, Country King. Great Abdailah. Kinney Dillon. Dolly Chimes, Lydia, John Logan, Silver Jack, Adjuster, Robert Guy. Diwolina. George Rev, Harold Donver, Hakaria, Playwave, Aquilin, Guy Fawkes. Brook Pointer PENINSULA HANDICAP (in harness), of 200 eovs; 4.49 class; 2M—White Satin, Sea Queen, Peter Lin, Kyra. Gemlight, Midland, Scuttle, Now Metford, Ambition, Accumulator, Fifa, Home Voyago, Swiftbine. Tot Logan. Dionoi. Jade. Repute. Bonnio Belmont. ' ' SOUTHLAND HANDICAP (in harness), of 200 sovs; 5.82 class; Urn—Wild Nita, Nelson MoElwyn Rogal Voyase, Lily Harold, Robert Guy. Denver City .Belinda. Sugcr«s. Imperial Bingen, Lady An fej?» %">]? *#• Country King, Kinney Dillon. Lrdia. St. George. FAEEWELL HANDICAP (in harneis), of 32«1£«; 2.48 cl««! 'i»~frin> Fortune, Strol All, El Direct, Warepa, Cardinal Logan, Terence DiUon. Eoyal Comrade, Sunohild, Daphne do Oro, Lingfield. Kid Logan. Trimmer, Great Logan, Wrackeen, Logan Hanlon, Talent, Muriel de Oro, Tony Victor, Morning Sun |

kicked and, following up fast, caught Jennings in possession. A period of tight scrummaging ensued, from which finally Bowcott sent the ball to halfway with a fine touch-finder. Here Jones-Davies sent the ball to Reeve, who put in a run to the Manawhenua twenty-five, but Novis, who had come over from, the Other wing, missed his pass when a try seemed certain. A fine tackle by Fletcher stopped Aarvold before he oould get speed up, and the Manawhenua forwards swept the opposition before them to bo pulled up for off-side play, when on Britain's twenty-five. Akuira took the shot at goal but missed. Excellent Combination. Where before it had seemed to be Britain's object to let the forwards make the game, now the ball was sent out to the backs on any and every opportunity. The forwards showed that thoy were capable of keeping pace with the rearguard also, and Wilkinson in particular was usually handy when the backs had handled. Aarvold made several splendid openings, and on one occasion seemed certain of a try, the last minute pass being missed, however. The line-kicking was splendid and it was no uncommon thing to see play transferred from one twenty-five to near the other in one kick. Shortly before half-time the forwards and backs combined in taking play well into Manawhenua territory, where Novis secured and passed to Aarvold, both running at top speed. Aarvold had little opposition and ran round to score near the posts. Prentice converted. Britain .. .. 11 Manawhenua .. .. 0 Farrell spoiled a movement when he ran across the field instead of passing, but shortly after Bowcott aroused a roar of applause when he went through the opposing inside backs with a straight run. He attempted to kick over Johnston's head but the Manawhenua full-back brought off a good mark and saved the situation. At half-time the Manawhenua team left the field, but the British players remained.

Before Manawhenua know wha't was happening on the resumption the British forwards had followed up and secured possession. There was a brief passing rush and Wilkinson was across, but as one of the players had put a foot into touch the movement had no score attached to it. For a time the game developed into a contest between the forwards with Britain having the advantage, opening up and sweeping away in 100-e rushes. Manawhenua endeavoured to keep the game tight. A promising passing bout ended when JonesDa vies was tackled well by Page, who was hurt, but carried on after he had received attention.

Quick Scoring. Manawhenua was seen to advantage on three occasions when Fletcher, Strange, and Akuira each tried to get across near the corner, and a spell of hard defence for Britain ended when Hodgson headed a fine dribbling rush to half-way. Here the forwards staged a short passing rush that came to an untimely end when Poole passed forward/but soon after he set the whole line going, Jones-Davies, Aarvold, and Novis handling and the forwards carrying on. When the winger was tackled an in-pass to Poole allowed him to transfer to Wilkinson and Prentice, who scored at the end of the beiit movement of the day, in which the ball had not touched ground once from inside half-way to the goal line. Prentice converted. Britain ». ... 16 Manawhenua .. '.. o

Within a few minutes Britain had scored again. Bowcott made a good opening when he side-stepped a tackle and transferred to Aarvold, who also evaded the opposition and put in a run of 30 yards before being pulled down. Poole sent out a beautiful reverse pass from a scrum, and the Manawhenua forwards, in smothering the movement, committed an infringement. Prentice goaled from the penalty. Britain ..19 Manawhenua .. ..0 Another score seemed imminent when Novis broke away, but his pass to Beeve was intercepted by Strange, who ran to half-way and cross-kicked. The forwards were up in time and swept downfleld to the line, where Conrad Bcored amidst deafening applause. Akuira converted. Britain .. ..10 Manawhenua .. .. 5 This seemed to put more heart into the home ■ side and for some time the British team had strenuously to defend until a penalty given against a Manawhenua forward relieved the situation. Strange put In a useful run for the home team but had no one in' support. The ball was given to Poole again, and he set the line going, Jones-Davies and Aarvold handling and passing on to Wilkinson, who was again in support. Wilkinson passed to Novis when near the line and he scored. Prentice converted. Britain ~ .. 24 . Manawhenua .. .. 5 In the closing stages of the game the British backs handled time after time, their passing and accurate handling arousing great enthusiasm among the spectators. Jennings, full-back, ran up after fielding a high kick and received a pass from Jones-Davies to whom the ball had come along the back line. He cross-kicked and Hodgson secured and ran over to score near the posts. Prentice again converted. Britain .. ..29 Manawhenua .. ~ 5 Not two minutes after the kick-off Poole sent the ball to Bowcott, to Aarvold, to Jones-Davies, to Novis. The winger cut in and scored a splendid try which Prentice converted. Britain .. 34 Manawhenua .. - .. 5 There was some sure and hard tackling by the Manawhenua backs when the British line received the ball again. A penalty was awarded against Poole and Akuira had. a shot at goal, the ball falling just short. Page kicked through a gap in the defence, and followed up fast with Metcher doing the same on the other side of the field. The race for possession over the line was won by Fletcher, who touched down well out. Akuira failed with the kick. Britain .. ... S4 Manawhenua .. ..8 In the last few minutes Manawhenua were successful in dribbling rushes and on two occasions got through to W » he T E " tl . sl J' li i le - Time »»■ called just as Britain's forwards were clearing from their twenty-five in a dribbling Mr J. King (Taranaki) was referee. COMMENTS ON THE GAME. [THE gassa Special Service.J , The British team hopelessly outclassed Manawhenua, and should have won by a bigger margin of points than it did. Once again the most noticeable feature of its play was the speed

and dash of the backs, who handled time after- time in movements that swung back from the wingers infield and more than once ended in forwards scoring with the ball not having touched cho ground from the halfway line, and having been handled by a half dozen or more members of the team. The backs and forwards were impressive. The British pack played far better football than that displayed in the opening match at Wanganui, and excelled in New Zealand's own style of forward play, the open, bustling game. Their hooking was on the weak side, and it was not often that the back line received the ball directly from clean heeling in the scrum. In fact, the Manawhenua forwards secured a greater share of the ball in both scrums and line-outs, but seemed to bo unable to make any telling use of the advantage. They endeavourod to keep the play tight most of the game, and failed lamentably in their endeavour. Time and again tho Eritish pack secured control of the ball after Manawhenua had hooked it, and came through in dribbling rushes that bad the defence fully extended, and frequently beaten altogether. Once in possession, the British forwards used every opportunity that presented itself of transferring either to Poole or Bowcott, with a result that the back lino was frequently well started in a passing bout before the Manawhenua backs had fully realised the danger. Britain's forwards did not stay con tent with having sent the ball out. They were always supporting the threequarters, and Wilkinson and Hodgson especially were on hand to receive an in-pass from wingers that is such a noticeable feature of British attack- It is still extremely doubtful, oowever, if their forwards would hold their own with an All Black pack. To-day the opposition was not very strong, nor has a really strong combination been pitted against the visitors during the short period they have been in New Zoaland. It would take an exceptionally powerful and clover pack to rob a strong New Zealand forward team of possession after it had hooked the ball in the scrum or secured it in a line-out. Better guides as to the strength of the British team in this respect will be gained from the match against Wellington next Tuesday, and to a lesser extent perhaps in the match against Wairarapa at Masterton on Saturday.

Physically Pit. So far as physical fitness is concerned, the team that played this afternoon displayed none of "the short of a gallop" signs that were to bo seen in the Wanganui match. It played with a vim and vigour that lasted from kick-off to final whistle, and it is apparent that the players have now recovered from the effects of their sea voyage. The forwards who took the field to-day do not comprise the strongest combination the side can produce. Beamish, Ivor Joneß, and Black, who played well at Wanganui, were on the bank, and their inclusion in any pack Britain puts on the field would give it additional strength.

Aarvold Outstanding. Aarvold played an outstanding game in the British three-quarter line. His speed and his swerving run had the defence badly puzzled. It was seldom that Britain did not gain considerable ground when he had the ball, and it was seldom that a tackle found him in possession. Reeve, on the wing, also ( played a fine game, and proved himself an exceptionally hard man to pull down. i Novis, on the other wing, was not quite so impressive as Reeve, but was always dangerous when he had the ball. These three three-quarters were all adept at passing inwards, and by this means frequently swung the attack back along the line after the man on the wing found his path blocked, and where in the ordinary course of events he would have been tackled and more likely than not the ball would have gone into touch. The cross-kick was also used fairly extensively by the British three-quarter line, and through perfect understanding of this type of play one try was scored right under the poßts. Poole and Bowcott were an efficient combination behind tho scrum, though In the opening stages of the game Bowcott'a handling was Inclined to be erratic. Jones-Davies played a sound game. Altogether the British back line was far superior to the opposition as far as attacking went. On defence the tackling was sound, but .none of the backs was called upon to do much in this direction. Prentice's First Appearance. Prentice played In this match, and distinguished himself not only as a clover, hard-working forward, but also as a place-kick of much more than average ability. In all he scored 19 points, 18 of which came from his goal-kiok-ing. Wilkinson and Hodgson were always to be found where there was work to be done, and they headed most of the dribbling rushes. Parker and Martindale did a lot of splendid work in the scrums, and Farrell also played a conspicuous game. At half-time the British team remained on the field, and it was evident that Mr Baxter's decision in this respect was an unpopular one with the spectators. When the teams suspended operations at half-time being called, there were cries of "Come off, New Zealand," and considerable good-humoured barracking. The Manawhenua captain (Galpin) asked the referee if his team could leave the field, and permission was given. The Manawhenua men filed off, but the British team remained in a group near the half-way touch line and had their breather there. Mr F. Robinson, manager of the Manawhenua team, Baid after the game that as the refere,© had given,his permission the players were perfectly entitled to leave the field if they ao deSired ' , ',# X The British team leaves for Maswrton to-morrow.

THE WING-FORWARD*

MR BAXTER'S CRITICISM SUPPORTED. A SYDNEY WRITER'S COMMENT. (UNITBD PBESS ASSOCIATION—B* K.BCTBIC TBLEGBAPH— COPYRIGHT.) SYDNEY, May 28. The football editor of the "Sydney Morning Herald" declares that Mr James Baxter a criticism of the New Zealand wing-forward was apparently not directed at Individuals, but at a method which has developed Into a cancerous growth on the game. "His frank utterances will have the unanimous support of every country except New Zealand,' he "No cleaner or more chivalrous athletes can be found than E. A. Beltis and C. G. Porter, to mention but two wiug-forwards of modern times. Their methods, however, transgress the laws of the game, and authority must take the blame for persisting in Illegal play after the sin has repeatedly been revealed. New Zealand stands In infamous Imperial isolation in its defiance of the canons of a great game." (FBBSS ASSOCIATIOB TELEGBAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, May 28. "Just a storm in a tea cup," said Mr A. HcLeod, chairman of the Taranaki Rugby Union, when asked to express an opinion regarding Mr J. Baxter's references to the wingforward in New Zealand. "The whole tone of Mr Baxter's speech and the immediate Context made it quite apparent to his listeners that the use of the word 'cheat was applied in a sporting sense to oonvey the speaker's sense of the referee's inability adequately to govern the movements of an obstructive winger. I heard Mr Baxter's references to this matter, both at Wanganui and New Plymouth, and it is only fair to him to say that I saw no occasion to tako any exception td any of hie remarks, which were made in quite a sporting and friendly spirit, and constituted only fair comment from bis point of view."-