BEATEN ON TIME

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 73, 24 September 1923, Page 4

BEATEN ON TIME

WELLINGTON GO DOWN BEFORE

MANAWATU

'A DISAPPOINTING GAME,

(El TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

PALMERSTON N., 23rd Sept.

The Wellington provincial touring team had victory snatched from their grasp in the last ten minutes of their game with Manawatu on Saturday, the home team, piling on 13 points in quick time in face of a-heavy wind. The final score was 16 points to 14.

As an exhibition of football the game was more than disappointing, though frequently exciting incidents retained the interest.. Early iD the play—in fact, throughout the first spell—the Manawatu men could not handle the ball at all. Tenacious tackling and spasmodic loose rushes sav«d them and enabled them to emerge at half-time with the score 3-all. In the second spell, however, the exhibition was brighter, though, for some time was still subject to lamentable mulling. Mullins played the game .of his life, and frequently shone out in spirited dashes towards the close. Malcolm was quite safe as fullback for Wellington, and rarely missed f ball. M. Nicholls, though occasionally brilliant, was by no means at true form. Hart opened play when opportunity offered, though wing-forward tac.tics on both sides were fairly effective. A strong wind .favoured Manawatu in the first sp-ell, the opening stages being straggly -and characterised by faulty handling and a failure to gather in passes. Wellington organised the first offensive, M'Gregor breaking through the ruck at half-way. Duffin pulled him up as he was transferring to th-s backs, and Bennett relieved. The Wellington backs stemmed a counter-move by the Mainwatu 'forward's.' Nicholls got the ball and -was off for a sure try when he knocked on. Immediately afterwards Wellington were granted a. penalty'in a fair position, Malcolm kicking a beautiful goal.

The Manawatu forwards combined in a \ vigorous dribbling movement, which .was-reversed by Hart shooting the leather put to Nicholls, Johnson', and Frater, the last-named missing. Wellington's.back division attempted to organise effective passing, but their opponents' kicking was too solid. Play at this stage speeded up, and both sides got well into the fray. Manawatu had several attempts at from penalties, Mullins striking the bar on one occasion with, a difficult .one from near .half-way. ;.-A period of congested play followed, Maria- ' watu ■•pressing' Wellington past the neutral line?- Then suddenly the ' game opened out. Akuira tipped the ball to Duffin, Brophy, and Mullins, the lastnamed making a brilliant dash, scoring at the corner. His own kick missed. For the remainder of the spell honours were even, half-time seeing the score: Wellington, 3; Manawatu, 3. On resuming, Wellington swept into the home twenty-five at a great rate, and placed Manawatu on a strenuous defence. Sly instituted a. short counteroffensive, but was forced back. King snapped up from a line-out on the corner and scored, the attempt to convert failing. Wellington, 6; Manawatu, 3. The efforts of the home fifteen to keep the marauders out were fruitless, and M'Gregor shortly added a further try, Nicholls^ converting. Wellington, 11; Manawatu,-3.

M'Gregor (centre three-quarter) again came through the ruck and started a rush to the Manawatu goal, which Untied in King adding a further try. Nicholls missed the kick. Wellington, 14; Manawatu, 3.

Things looked well nigh hopeless for the home team, but to the surprise of all they rallied and infused plenty of vigour into their play. Sly made the first move. The forwards took the centre of play to Wellington's goal, and Nicholls, in an attempt to get out, hung on giving Akuira an easy penalty shot. Wellington, U; Manawatu, 6. With about ten rainutes to «-o and Mauawatu eight points to the bad, the game became furious. Dribbling into the Wellington twenty-five, Carrol mad© a desperate attempt to pick up. A long kick relieved, but Brophy got possession, and with a dazzling run he raced through the opposition backs and scored a splendid try. Akuira goaled. Wellington, 14; Manawatu, 11.. Manawatu did not spare man or ball, and the concluding- stages were- marked by intense excitement. Violently they hammered at tile Wellington goal and just as tenaciously .the visitors hung to their tackling and crowding- tactics. M'Donald made an opening .for the equalising try, and gave Anderson a chance to get through under the' posts. Akuira put the ball over, arid placed the home team two points to', the/good, the niial score being :— ••■■-.*, Manawatu , „ jg Wellington ..........;.;: .'. ■■ v Mr. A. W. Thompson refereed.