MANAWATU BEATEN BY ASHBURTON

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 259, 31 July 1939, Page 11

MANAWATU BEATEN BY ASHBURTON

Heavier Pack Outplayed i WEAKNESSES IN HOME BACKS Dominion Special Service. PALMERSTON N., July 29. Plaving better all-round football, the touring Ashburton Rugby representatives beat Manawatu today by 24 points to 10. The victory was honestly earned, though for the spectators the match was not particularly attractive. Though Manawatu had a considerable advantage in weight in the forwards, the Ashburton pack taught their opponents something about ball control, and that was mainly why they did so well. That side of their play was of great assistance to their backs as well, as it enabled them to offset some of the disadvantages of being beaten for the ball in the great majority of the set scrums. Another serious weakness of the Manawatu team lay in the five-eighth line and to a lesser extent in the half-back department. Given plenty of opportunities by his forwards, the half-back, Parris, sent out passes that were not always easy for the five-eighths to handle,, with the result that the opposition were able to stop any threatened attacking movement at its source. Of the two five-eighths J. Finlay, who is strictly a forward, did better than J. Thomas, who was decidedly off his game. It was a great pity that the Manawatu side fell down behind the scrum, because much was expected of the three-quarter line, which received few chances. A. Stewart, at centre, was of necessity more prominent than either, of the wings. J. Mitchell on the one wing did not receive even a fighting chance to show his speed, but D. Little was more fortunate, scoring Manawatu’s solitary try after by far the most brilliant individual effort of the match. A few minutes later he went very close to repeating the feat. On the contrary, the Ashburton fiveeighths. A. Fergus and A. Kelly—particularly the former, who scored two of his side’s tries —were a tower of strength, to the side, and the half-back, D. White, with limited opportunities, performed well. R. Lilley, at centre, was also on his game. A feature of the play of the Ashburton side was the uniformly good line-kicking, and frequently great stretches of ground were gained by powerful and well-directed kicks. In that department the full-back, T. Bchrms, had no equal on the field; his full-back play also was first-class. Generally speaking, the lighter but cleverer, faster and more resourceful Ashburton. pack ou.t-gen.erallcd' Manawatu, whose only superiority was in the tight. The particular star of the Ashburton side wasD. Harrison, whose try was one of the best of the match. B. New.ton also played a sound game. The leadership of R. McKenzie was a big asset to the .Manawatu pack, every member of which gave the best that was in him; particularly sound games came from C. Porter, T. Newman, G. Iserry, and H. ‘McDaren. The Run of Play. The weather was fine and overcast, with a cold wind; the field was in first-class order. Winning the toss, Manawatu played With the wind, and in the early stages gave promise of doing well, carrying play frequently to the Ashburton line. In several of these sorties Stewart was prominent, and on one occasion, when by fast following u.p he eaught the full-back in possession, he was rather unlucky not to have scored. On another occasion Stewart made a nice opening and passed to Little, who, after a smart run, kicked over the full-back’s head; a score looked certain, but Ashburton somewhat luckily cleared. At this stage Manawatu were penalized several times in quick succession. J. Finlay broke through, beating several men, and handed on to Little, who, however, was cramped for room. McLaren was prominent in some of Manawatu’s attacking movements, and on another occasion R. McKenzie made a characteristic dive for the line, missing by a few feet. Ashburton then took a hand, and a strong attack was stemmed when O'Donoghue was thrown out near the Manawatu line. Manawatu dren first .blood when J. Finlay kicked a goal from a penalty. Manawatu 3, Ashburton 0. Ashburton were not long in equalizing, A. Fergus scoring a nice try which Behms converted. Ashburton 3, Manawatu 3.

■ Fergus again became prominent and carried play to halfway. Another hot Ashburton rush was pluckily stopped by Buick, who took the ball from the toes of the forwards. Ashburton camo again, and following some good forward work D. Harrison scored, Behrns again converting. Ashburton 10, Manawatu 3. With the wind behind them Ashburton went great guns in the second spell and it was not long before Kelly scored another try, Barhns again converting. Ashburton 15, Manawatu 3. Following the kick-off J. Finlay potted from a long way out. Ashburton 10. Manawatu 7. . Then came the finest try of the mateh. From an opening made by J. Finlay the ball was passed to Little at about the twenty-five-yard line,. and with a determined run he scored a splendid try. The .kick was unsuccessful. Ashburton 15, Manawatu 10. Manawatu came again, and a really promising movement in whieh Parris, Thomas and Little participated resulted ■in a force-down. A few minutes later D. White kicked a field goal,’ making the score Ashburton 19, Manawatu 10. Right on time Fergus again scored, and

Behrns maintained an unbroken record with the kick, making the final score Ashburton 24. Manawatu 10. The teams were Ashburton : T. Behrns, J. O’Donoguee, R. Lilley, C. Bradley, A. Fergus, A. Kelly, D. White, D. Brooker, J. McKenzie, W. Moore, A. Matheson, B. Newton, I. Hart, D. Harrison, B. Doig. Manawatu : Buick. D. Little. A. Stewart, J. Mitehell. J. Thomas, J. Finlay, N. Parris, I. Dustin, L. Thorne, C. Porter, T. Newman. G. Terry, R. McKenzie, H. McLaren, W. Powell. C. Eglinton was the referee. NORTH AUCKLAND BEAT AUCKLAND By Telegraph—Press Association. WHANGAREI, July 29. In a representative match this afternoon North Auckland beat Auckland by 14 points to 9 in the presence of more than 3000 spectators. IN OTHER CENTRES By Telegraph—Press Association. , Christchurch: University won the 1939 senior Rugby championship by beating Athletic 14-8 at Lancaster Park. It was a highly exciting game throughout and a big crowd saw some of the best football of the season, specially in loose rushes. University were down eight points at half time but decisively made up the leeway in the second spell. Other results: Albion 26, Air Force 3; Old Boys 16, Christchurch 9; Technical 16, Southern 11 ; Sunnyside 9, Merivale 6. Taranaki: Tukapa 16. Stratford 16; Old Boys 5. Oknto 0: Clifton 9, Star 3; Inglewood 6, Eltham 0: Hawera 11, Waimate 8; Athletic 5, Kaponga 5; Okaiawa 12, Patea 5. Dominion Special Service Hawke’s Bay: Maori Agricultural College 11 beat Marist 3; Hastings 16 beat Havelock North 3; Technical Old Boys 18 beat Hastings School Old Boys 11; Pirates 25 beat Napier High School Old Boys 11. M.A.C. and Celtic now share the lead with Technical Old Boys and Hastings one point behind with a game in hand. Dannevirke: Dannevirke 12 beat the challengers, Oroua, in a match for the Bebbington Shield, Southern Hawke’s Bay Saracens 11 foeat Athletic seniors 3. Central Hawke’s Bay: Tskapau 9 beat Porangahau 3; Old Boys 6 beat Waipukurau 5; Omakere 12 beat Waipawa 6. Wairarapa: Old Boys 21 beat Greytown 3: Gladstone 11 beat Red Star 5: Carterton 26 beat Masterton 6, Horowlienua: Athletic 37 beat Shannon 11; Foxton 12 beat Kuku-Manakau 0; Wanderers .14 bant Raimi .13.