A DRAWN MATCH

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 285, 29 August 1935, Page 16

A DRAWN MATCH

Manawatu-Wairarapa Rugby Contest

HIGH WIND SPOILS PLAY Dominion Special Service. Palmerston. North, August 28. Playing their first local representative fixture after having won four matches away from home, the Manawatu Rugby representatives had to be content with a drawn game, 5-all, against Wairarapa this afternoon. A high wind and Wairarapa’s spoiling tactics prevented Manawatu from making the game open, and this, combined with excellent defence, particularly on the part of Henderson, the full-back, enabled Wairarapa to avert defeat. The Wairarapa forwards, who were considerably heavier than Manawatu, were allowed much latitude and were not penalised for off-side play as much as they should have been. Manawatu tried hard to open up the play, but found Mt no easy task iu the high wind, and not being able to get the strong three-quarter line into action failed to make the match spectacular. Neither side was at full strength, but those who replaced the regular players were worthy substitutes. The teams were.: — . Wairarapa: Henderson, Buick, Stringfellow (captain), Udy, Martelli, Clark, Habib Grantham, Devine, Trass, Rosytb, Faults, Hart, Reid, Elsworthy. Manawatu: Hutchison, R. Findlay, Waugh, Gillespie, Finlay. Fletcher. Blyth, L. Findlay (captain). Ward, Williams, Fleming, Ewart, Louiseon, Sullivan, Beard. ~ . , Manawatu kicked off against the wind and immediately went to the attack. The Wairarapa forwards eventually changed the venue of play and tested Manawatu s defence. Fleming was injured and replaced by Knyvett. Beard headed a strong forward sortie which augured well until the ball went out of touch. Despite the strong wind against them, Manawatu enjoyed a territorial advantage, and just before hjlf-thne It ard actually crossed the line in possession, but was held up and pulled back before he could make the necessary connection. A determined dash downfield by Wauga brought Manawatu into Wairarapa’s quarter, where the visitors were called upon to defend for an appreciable period. The Wairarapa forwards broke away in loose formation, Waugh stopping them, dangerously close to the goal-line. Manawatu quickly swept them back, and from a lineout L. Findlay, R. Findlay and Fletcher handled smartly to send Gillespie over well out. Ward Ricked an excellent goal. A few minutes later Manawatu were robbed of a certain try when Sullivan knocked the ball on after having crossed the goal-line. Stringfellow intercepted a pass when Manawatu were attacking, and catching the defence out of position, succeeded iu penetrating into Manawatu’s quarter before being brought down by Gillespie. Wairarapa returned to the offensive, several forwards being associated in an attack that resulted in Trass scoring in a bandy position. Grantham converted and made the score 5-all. Ward was given a golden opportunity of scoring by Blyth. but the former, unselfishly elected to pass out instead of going on his own, and a knock-on Halted play, which finished soon after. Mr. J. Fulton was referee.

KOWHAI BEATS PIRATES

Palmerston North, August 28. In a curtain-raiser to the representative fixture Kowhai defeated Pirates by 10 points to 3. after a somewhat scrappy game. Pirates had the advantage of the wind in the first half, but could noc score. Early in the second half McNeile broke away and opened Pirates’ account with a try, following which N. Bremer and Harper scored for Kowhai, N. Bremer converting both, to make the final score 10-3. Mr. B. Holdsworth was reicree.

ODDS OVERCOME

South Canterbury Defeats Southland

By Telegraph.— l’r<s.- Association Tiinaru, August 28.

The Southland tour ; ;ig team went down to South Canterbury to-day by 30 points to 17. The weather was good, but the ground very hard, and a strong northwest wind upset calculations considerably. The visitors had the advantage of wind and sun in the first half, and in the first 15 minutes established a lead of 8 points. The indications were they would pile up a big total, but few reckoned on such determination as was displayed by the South Canterbury team, particularly the forwards, who though facing the wind, which was a severe test of stamina, were opposed by a pack which had a big advantage in weight. Aided by the wind the visitors led by 17 points to 6 at the interval, and even then it was felt that the gruelling first half would have left South Canterbury without a finishing spurt, and few thought they would come out with as good a margin as they eventually secured. South Canterbury made much better use of the wind than did the visitors, with the result that the fast light forwards were a constant source of danger. T' lp y gave their backs every chance, ami the rearguard staged several brilliant movements which left Southland standing. One rush opened tip well in fhe South Canter bury twenty-five, and'the ball'went along the chain, the wing taking a reverse pass to gallop half the length of the field ami score under the posts. Another rush near the close of the game saw Morrison cut. the defence to pieces aud score brilliantly behind the uprights.

The Southland forwards were always dangerous in the loose, their handling being a credit to big forwards, but the backs failed to profit by their example and lacked penetration. While most of the South Canterbury points came from fine back rushes, the honours were with the forwards, who played with great determination.

Neither team was ar full strength, and the hard ground probably upset the visi tors, who would have been more at home had the going been soft. Tries were scored for the winners by Martyn (2), Morrison (2), Ryan (2) King and Thomson, Martyn converting three. For Southland Thomas and Baird (2) scored, Thornbury converting two. Thomas kicked a field goal.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS Wairarapa Wins Tourney At Greytown Dominion Special Service. Greytown, August 28. By defeating Wanganui in the final games of the ’Wellington district primary schools’ quadrangular tourney, which concluded at Greytown to-day, Wairarapa took the banner for the first time for four years. The win was very popular, the boys playing consistently good football throughout the tournament. Today's games produced the best football of the tourney, although a high wind again spoilt accurate handling and kicking. In the early game Wellington outclassed Manawatu. Although they won only one out of three games, 'Wellington appeared to be the fastest and cleverest team in the competition. Manawatu, with the wind in their favour, held Wellington down to 6-0 in the first spell, but in the second half Wellington was the only team in the picture and ran out

the winners by 26 points to nil. ■ The AVanganui-Wairarapa match was jau exciting encounter, the seorg s&gdhjg

at. 3 all with about five minutes to go, when I’aget, the Wairarapa skipper, scored a pretty try. Wanganui were the better team on the day, although full credit is due to the Wairarapa lads who battled hard from the outset. Wairarapa now have one more win to their- credit than Wanganui since the inauguration of the tourney in 191.6. At the conclusion of the final game Mr. E. G. Coddingtou, president of the Wairarapa schools' union, presented the championship banner to Rayner, vicecaptain of the Wairarapa team. Mr. Coddington congratulated the team on its success and also referred to the performaners of other teams. The games, he remarked, had all been played in a very fine spirit.

Following are the positions of the teams as the result of this year’s gamed-; Points Ch.

Despite limited finance, the result mainly of the action of the New Zealand Rugby Union in refusing to make its annual grant of £4O toward the expenses, the tourney, which was controlled by officials of the Wairarapa primary schools’ union, proved most successful. As can be seen from the table given above there was little between the teams, the luck of the game playing a big part in several matches. Ou the whole the games revealed that the standard of Rugby in the primary schools is still on a high plane.

Taranaki Wins Tournament By Telegraph.—Press Association. New Plymouth. August 28. Taranaki again won the primary schools’ rectangular Rug'by tournament.. In the final matches, which were played to-day, Taranaki beat Hutt Valley by 8 points to 6, and Horowheuua beat llangitikei by 16 points to 6. Taranaki won three games, Hutt Valley two, Horowhenua one. and Rangitikei none. Football of a remarkably high standard was provided. SECONDARY SCHOOL GAMES By Telegraph,—Press Association Hawcra, August 28. Tile second series of secondary school matches in connection with the Taranaki Rugby jubilee was played at Hawera this afternoon. The attendance was 2000. Auckland Grammar School defeated Otago Boys’ High School, 3 points to nil; New Plymouth Boys' High School defeated Christchurch Boys’ High School, 9 asate & &

W. L. D. for agst. pts Wairarapa 0 1 14 9 .) Wanganui 1 1 1 17 12 3 Wellington .. 1 o 0 29 13 Manawatu .. 0 i 9 35 2