RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 August 1931, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

WAIRARAPA BACKS TOO FAST AND CLEVER Manawhenua Beaten MATCH PULL OP BRIGHT INCIDENT MASTEETON, Last Night. In a keenly-contested and at times, exciting game of fluctuating fortunes, Wairarapa Eugby representatives defeated Manawhenua to-day by 21) points to 17, The game was played at top pace throughout and, with both sides favouring an open order type of play. Not a few bright incidents were witnessed. The game was far more evenly contested than the final margin of points indicated. With a fast, bustling pack of forwards excelling in short, fast rushes, Manawhenua were always dangerous. Their backs were a sure, even lot whose penchant for getting out of position more than bad tackling, accounted for several of Wairarapa 7 s tries. There appeared also to be a weakness in the inside backs which was unfortunate as both wingers, Elliott and Broughton, gave dashing and impressive displays. Elliott was outstanding and his tries were good to watch. Eyder, at fullback, was a tower of strength to his side and he repeatedly effected splendid saves. Warren and Graham wero safe, but failed to penetrate. Fletcher scored a heady try but was up against a tough proposition in Stringfellow, the opposing centre. Wairarapa was slow at getting their backs away, but made some good openings. The visiting forwards were a splendid lot who worked splendidly throughout. They wero beaten by the Wairarapa pack in set scrums and tight play, but more than evened up the disadvantage by effective spoiling tactics and swift, short rushes. Gordon, Williams and Findlay were perhaps outstanding. The fast Wairarapa backs were well supplied with the ball, but faulty handling and eff-side play, coupled with the visitors’ sound defence, nullified several promising scoring movements, Stringfedlow and Trapp were the pick of the home backs, while Eeid and McGregor were prominent in the forwards. Manawhenua’s display left the impression that with little more cohesion, they would develop into a well-balanced and dangerous combination. Playing against a strong sun, the visitors had the best of the opening stages. Fletcher cut through and sent out a long pass to Broughton. The ■winger, however, failed to hold the pass and a glorious chance w T ent a begging. Manawhenua kept up the pressure and a few minutes later opened a scoring account. From a scrum in Wairarapa’s twenty-five, Winiata sent his backs away. The whole chain handled safely for “the winger, Elliott, to cross for a beautiful try. Eoddick’s kick missed.

Wairarapa retaliated with a sweeping rush which had the visitors in difficulty. Ryder, however, qleared the danger zone/ Fitzgerald sent Wairarapa backs away again and a snappy back move resulted in Stringfellow scoring. Fitzgerald converted. Exciting play followed. Winiata secured and sold Udy a beautiful dummy and handed to Elliott. The speedy winger left Roach standing by a neal sidestep and scored a tine try. Fletcher missed the kick. The home backs swung into action, but Fletcher intercepted and sent Broughton away. Roach grassed him right on the line. Near the close of the spell, Reid initiated a bright movement which culminated in Fitzgerald crossing. Fitzgerald converted. .Graham and McKenzie sent Manawhenua to the attack on the resumption and Fletcher cut in beautifully to score a good try. Warren missed with the kick,. A few minutes later Hart sent his backs away for Btringfcllow to score a pretty try. Fitzgerald missed with the kick.

Manawhenua set up a series of hot attacks and Waira\ipa had to force three times in quick succession to save. The home forwards finally got away and Taylor scored. Fitzgerald missed with the kick.

Shortly afterwards, Trapp cut through 'nicely to score a splendid try which McKay converted. Manawhcnna then, by virtue of solid, determined play, put on eight points in quick time, Gordon and Findlay scoring tries. Warren converted the former.

Broughton and Graham associated in a bright move that only stopped on the line. Wairarapa had the best of the closing stages of the game. Fitzgerald scored a good though somewhat lucky try just on time and Trapp carved a hole in the defence to score a great try between the posts, McKay converted the last try.

Alteration to the teams: Satherley replaced Mills for Manawhcnna and Taylor and Udy replaced Best and Oliver respectively in the Wairarapa team.

Hawke’s Bay Beat Canterbury After Spectacular Game LAST MINUTE VICTORY. HASTINGS, Last Night. ! A try within two minutes of the end 1 of the game gave Hawke’s Bay ft win 1 over the touring Canterbury Eugby representatives at Nelson park, Hastings, this afternoon, play being fast and open throughout with many flashes]

of bright back play particularly on the part of the home side. In the first half, Bay held the upper hand continually both forwards and backs showing form superior to the visitors' backs, and opened up play every opportunity although they showed weakness in passing. At the interval, Bay had 12 points to their credit, Campbell, Wilson, Setford and M. Howell all scoring tries none of which was converted.

In the second spell, Canterbury livened up and the forwards gave the home pack as good as they received. Two penalty goals by A. W. Roberts in quick succession, opened the visitors ? scoring account while a few minutes after Hart scored a line try for which Day made a splendid opening. A. W. Roberts failed to convert. The visitors tried hard to take the load and at last, were successful, K. Brown scoring from forward play. A. W. Roberts converted which gave Canterbury a lead of two points until about two minutes to the call of time. Both sides played desperthe play ranging up and downfield at a great rate. Every attacking moves met with a solid resistance. When the visitors were within the Bay -5, Cooke suddenly broke away, racing downfield. On reaching A. W. Roberts he kicked and in a dive for the ball it bounced over his head. Wanoa, however, caught it and scored a most spectacular try which Grensidc converted. Bay had the advantage of the remaining few minutes of play winning thus by 17 points to IT.

Australian Team Known as Wallabies

WELLINGTON, Aug. 19,

The Australian team to play Otago on Saturday is as follows:—Backs, Loss, Hemingway, Towers, Cowper, Palmer, Primrose, Malcolm; forwards. Cerutti, Bonis, Blait, Judd, Whyatt, J. Clark, Ecvillc, Palfreyman. The manager, Mr. Davis, stated today that he hoped the New Zealand Eugby Union would retain the use of the term All Blacks for the New Zealand team, as it made a greater differ--' ence in the matter of recognition, especially in Australia. He also said that the present Australian team would be known as the Wallabies. He expected that many of its members would gain places in Australia’s team for South Africa in 1933.