REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 August 1928, Page 6

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES.

TARANAKI DEFEATED. MANAWHENUA’S FIRST WIN. ATTRACTIVE GAME AT PALMERSTON NORTH. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., Aug. 29. In the presence of 4000 people Matnawfienua. registered the first '’win of their representative season to-day when they defeated Taranaki 'by 20 points to 16. The game was l played in bright sunshine and provided attractive Rugby. Manawhenna were better in Ithe ftrsr. spell, registering 14 points to Taranaki ’$ 8. The home rearguard gave a most improved display in this spell, passing and handling attractively. In both backs end. forwards Manawhenua held the upper hand, but after the interval Taranaki asserted themselves very vigorously. Their backs 1 showed up better in this half, while the forwards fully held their own with I Manawhenua. Mamawhenua (deserved the win, but Taranaki were a weaker team than that which established a hitherto unbeaten representative record. Kivell, Baldwin and Williams were absent forward, and Brown, the ex-All Black, in the backs. Stevenson and Parsons did not line out for Manawhenua. The first try came when Tatana, taking an overhead pass from Roberts, battered his way over in the corner. Taylor failed with the kick. Then from a bright passing rush, all the backs handling, Strange received from Akuira to score well cut. The kick failed. The next try came to Manawhenua iu practically the same way as the preceding one, Taylor scoring in the ; corner and Akuira failing with the kick. Manawhenua’s fourth try came from a machine-like rearguard attack which saw Strange run round behind the posts. Tatana converted. Taranaki opened their account when Walter burst down the lino with the ball at toe for Crawford to score. The kick failed. Taranaki continued strongly, Murphy battling over from a line-out for Collins to convert. Half-time found the scores Manawhenua 14, Taranaki 8. Taranaki re-opened well, repelling a Manawhenua attack for Guy to score from a forward rush. Collins failed to convert. Manawhenua replied with another j attractive forward attack, which saw j Taylor complete wide out. Tafatna failed to add to the score. Taranaki countered with ia splendid i rearguard movement from half-way, all the backs handling for Whelan to in the corner. Ike. converted ■putting Taranaki only a single point behind. The final try came to Manawhenua when Tatana scored from a forward rush just on time. The kick failed, and the game ended: Manawhenua 20 Taranaki 16 SOUTHLAND DEFEATS CANTERBURY. A BRIGHT EXHIBITION. INVERCARGILL, Aug. 29. Playing under ideal weather conditions Southland defeated Canterbury in a representative match at Rugby Park to-day by 25 points to 17. The ground was in good order, and there was an attendance of from 3000 to 4000. For some time the play was even, the visitors not seeing much of the ball, but in the second spell both teams entered into the spirit of the game. They gave a bright exhibition, and the interest of the spectators was maintained to' the final whistle. At halftime the visitors led by 11 points tS fe, but Southland improved considerably in the second half, the filial score being 25 points to 17 in favour of the home fifteen.

Southland (maroon) won the toss, and played with the sun behind them. Three- minutes after the start, from a line-out in the Canterbury twenty-live, Barnett shook off a tackle and passed in to Southern, who got across. The kick failed. Southland 3 Canterbury 0

Southland kept up the offensive and Porter had a shot at goal, hut the ball, although it went over, was touched by an opponent’s hand. .Canterbury then threateniecl when Page threw out a long pass, but Southland got in early. Bird and Johnson missed and Hay put in a good dash, beating two men to score. A few moments later Loveridge from a penalty put the hall over. ■ Canterbury G Southland 3

Playing with more confidence, Canterbury pressed hard, and heady kicking by~ Mehrtens placed the visitors in a good position. Fookes opened up well, but a knock-on spoilt the chance. Galbraith then secured and made a brilliant try. Loveridge converted

Canterbury 11 Southland 3 Canterbury was penalised and McEwan made a splendid kick, which just missed. A few moments later Roberts got over, but the referee oi--dered a scrum, from which Canterbury cleared. East play resulted, both teams putting their energies into the struggle. Southland attacked vigorously, Johnson securing from the scrum handed to Bird and Southern, McLeod finally securing and getting over. The kick failed. Canterbury 11 Southland 6 Half-time sounded without further addition' to the scores. On resumption Canterbury had the wind in their favour, bub a minute after play recommended Bell obtained possession , and with a brilliant dash eluded the Canterbury '* defence, and just outside the goal passed to Bird, who scored in a handy position. The kick failed. Canterbury 11 Southland 9 Neat passing by the visitors’ backs made the position dangerous for Southland, but Murray tackled Chesley well. From half-way Mehrtens essayed a pot, which although a splendid effort, just missed. Canterbury kept up the attack, and from a line-out Toby Robinson scored easily. The kick failed. Canterbury 14 Southland 9 In retaliation Southland pressed and Barnett kicked a penalty goal. Both teams then game a splendid exhibition of the game, the final scores being: Southland 25 Canterbury , 17,

OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. HOME SIDE WELL BEATEN. s DUNEDIN, Aug. 29. Under ideal conditions Otago met the Louring South Canterbury Rugby team at Oardisbrook this afternoon, the visitors winning by 27 points to ,20. The Otago forwards showed a strange re- . versa! of the form shown in the match I against Canterbury and were well beaten by the visiting pack. The f Otago backs were superior, but bad * lew chances in view of the fact that the forwards were completely outclassed. South Canterbury kicked: off with the sun in their eyes. Mclntosh broke through and starting passim?: which broke down near the line. Churchill, Matheson and Webb returned with a passing rush which ended in the lastnamed 1 s being forced out at the comer. Then Marslin was nearly over and Churchill failed with a free kick. The visiting forwards attacked 1 , but MoCTyimont regained the lost ground with a clash up the wing. The visitors were playing with a dash, and when Otago backs fumbled Scott- picked up and ran into the centre, passing to Halsted who scored unopposed and converted his own try. Trotter made a swerving run, beating the defence badly, but his pass went astray. The forwards then broke through and were nearly over when Nicholson fielded brilliantly and 1 kicked out. Brandanovitch made a fine opening, but gave Webb a bad pass. Bad handing had spoilt Otago’s cli an cos- so far. From a line-out Giddings made a dashing run to put South Canterbury on .attack. Webb, and Marslin returned, and then Brandanovitch made a brilliant opening for Otago, passing to McQymont, who scored. Nicholson missed with the kick. A minute later T. Manning secured from the ruck, ancl forced his way over for the visitors. Halstead failed to convert. Play w T as even until the Otago backs were sent away from a scrum an the visitors’ 25, tlie ball going out to MeOlymont, who had a clear run in. Nicholson’s kick failed. The second spell had been in _ progress only a minute when the visitors’ •passing broke down. Webb ran in and, taking the ball in his stride, beat his man at the corner. He beat two more when lie wais over the line and scored behind’ the posts. Brandanovitch missed the kick. Directly after the _ kick-off _ Otago were penalised in their own 25. Ihe scrum failing to move back at the referee’s order, Halstead kicked a goal. Otago rushed play to the other end where Giles passed to Webb, who crossed at the corner. Nicholson failed to convert. „ , ' A couple of minutes later Stewart charged down Judge’s kick when oven the line, regained the ball and scored for Otago. Nicholson converted. The visitors’ forwards launched a hot attack on the Otago line, Stevenson forcing liis way over neap the posts. Halstead’s kick failed. _ . Giddings and Scott put the visitors on the attack once more, but the Otago forwards' rofurnod, Stewart scoring. *vfc the corner. Nicholson kicked a poster. Stewart showed out in another attack but Halstead made an opening as a result of which Stevenson scored, Halstead missing the goal. Through Otago’s fumbling Halstead broke away again. He passed to Gaffaney, wihoi scored under tne posts. Halstead converted. , GErren play followed until -after & torward rush Roper forced his way over, Halstead converting. The game endSouth Canterbury 27 Otago 20

WARATAHS _WIN AGAIN. FINE OPEN GAME. YESTERDAY’S DISPLAY AT WANGANUI. WANGANUI, Aug.. 29. After a bright open display, this Waratahs defeated Wanganui to-day by 20 points to 16. What appealed about the visitors was the open play and the passing. The ball was thrown about in very unorthodox style, orthodox styleWanganui played an .inspiring game and responded well to the call for greater efforts' when their backs were to'the wall, setting up a rigid defence. In the forwards the home team held the mastery, .sweeping through the Waratahs lines in fast rushes during the .second, spell. In fact at one stage half way in the second spell Wanganui was actually two points) in the lead. Malcolm, at halt, and 'Westfield, the custodian, were outstanding figures. The former's passing and the latter’s cool fielding being exceptionally good. From the kick-off the visitors iset up ai series of attacks which were only j viist frustrated, "Wanganui had the chance of opening the scoring when a free kick was allowed, hut the hall tell short. Phipps, kicking high, sent the Warn tab forwards after the ball, and Minisie crossed. Ma!corn’s kick failed. Waratahs. Wanganui • - • J* Play swept to the-visitors’ 25, but faulty handling nullified good isdonng movements till Cairleon finished off a good run by passing to Tillpy, ' ull ° scored 1 and converted his own try. Wanganui 5 Waraitahs 3 The visitors retaliated immediately, and Abbott crossed, George adding the two points. Waratahs ° Wanganui .’ o In the period that followed the W aratahs held the upper hand o’Connor scoring and Abbott goaling from a penalty. An offside gave _ Tilley a chance which lie did not Truss, xund at half-time the score was : Waratahs The home players tried hard to make up the leeway and following a successful penalty kick Oxlev .scored and Tilley converted.', putting W anganui ahead by 16 points! to 14. Amid wild excitement the home side seemed possible winners at this stage, hut ’Westfield time and again proved the .stumbling block, and a swift reviersai of tactics saw the Waratahs sweep upheld, tsnairl scoring. Abbott missed the kick. Waratahs were now a point up. The Waratahs made a sensational last-minute attack, twelve men handling. for Towers to finish off shortly before tiiui?, the game ending with the seres: Waratails 20 Wanganui 16 FT.TI DEFEATS AUCKLAND lINIV'ETRiSITY TRAM. (Australian Press Association.) Received .0.55 a.m. to-day. (SUVA, Aug. 30. Fiji defeated the Auckland University Rugby fifteen by eight' points to nil. Four thousand spectators were preisent, Including the Governor, Sir Eyre Hutson. The visitors’ back line teas too slow. A farewell ball was held in the evening at the Grand Pacific Hotel. Sir Henry Scott!, president of the Fiji Rugjby Union, proposed the health of the visitors. The team leaves by the Tofuia for Auckland this afternoon.

THE' NEW ZEALAND TEAM. j ALL BLACKS INVITED TO PLAY i AT MELBOURNE. Porter lias been appointed captain! and Cooke vice-captain and A. J. Gcd-! ties manager of the New Zealand team. 'The returning All Blacks hav!e been asked to play in Melbourne and the terms have been sent to the manager to see if it would aiuit the team.