MANAWATU JUST WIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 68, 17 September 1936, Page 14

MANAWATU JUST WIN

DEFEAT OF WAIRARAPA

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

MASTERTON, This Day. The visiting Manawatu Rugby representatives defeated Wairarapa by 28 points to 27 in a bright and entertaining match of fluctuating fortunes at Masterton yesterday. With barely ten minutes to go, Wairarapa held a 27-13 lead, but the visitors came to light with a. last-minute rally to pull the game out of the fire. Neither team was at full strength, but while the standard of play was not high there was plenty of colour and incident.

The game was played on a hard ground in bright, warm sunshine. Both sides threw the ball about freely, providing many sparkling movements. The Manawatu backs handled more surely and straighter than the home rearguard, 'but until the closing stages ths-.Wairarap^back3..reveale.dpf.BfesoMde

ity on defence that was surprisingly good. The forwards were well matched and finished up about honours easy. The Manawatu pack worked well in the tight but found it difficult to cope with the quick-spreading Wairarapa forwards. The game was played at a fast pace and many of the players had bellows to mend before the second spell was far advanced. Manawatu's form held out much better than did that of the home team. In fact, Manawatu registered a particularly good performance to come out on top.

The half-time score was Wairarapa 16, Manawatu 10.

With ten minutes to go, Wairarapa were still in the ascendancy, but when the visitors came to light with their rally they cut the home defence to ribbons. Tries were scored for Manawatu by Brinsden (2), Campbell, Nicol, Crawford, and Buick, five being converted by Firilay. For Wairarapa tries were scored by Donovan (2), Peterson, Clark, Holland, Brooks, and Grantham. Ward converted three.