MANAWATU BEAT NORTH OTAGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 52, 30 August 1937, Page 15

MANAWATU BEAT NORTH OTAGO

(By Teleitfitpb—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. Scoring their third successive win, the Manawatu Rugby representatives today defeated North Otago by 17 to 8. There was a large attendance. Despite extremely erratic handling throughout the game, '■■ Manawatu's backs were able to. penetrate the visitors' defence convincingly enough thanks to fine openings made by J. Finlay (second five-eighth). Even more, however, was victory due to the supremacy of the forwards, who dominated the game in the loose and in the scrums and line-outs secured possession on the majority of occasions. Their share in the game is indicated by the fact that the forwards scored four of Manawatu's five tries. R. M. McKenzie, the All Black forward and Manawatu captain, played a particularly fine game, completing two movements by scoring after the backs had handled. Fell, another tall forward, played excellently, also scoring two tries. The remaining one was secured by Buick, who also converted one try. Had the passing of the home side been more efficient, the score must have been greater. North Otago were handicapped by the fact that they fielded the lightest pack for years. They owe much to S. Easton (full-back), who, in addition to scoring five points off his boot, kicked a penalty, and converted the team's only try. He made numerous saves and kicked unerringly. For the visitors it was the first game of the northern tour; for Manawatu it was the last before their own northern tour. Of eight matches played so far this season their Only defeats have been at the hands of the Springboks and Hatoke's Bay.