MANAWHENUA SUPERIOR TO WANGANUI.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 September 1931, Page 7

MANAWHENUA SUPERIOR TO WANGANUI.

Home Forwards the Deciding Factor.

There was little or no time wasted 'Over the preliminaries and it was only A few minutes after the arrival of the teams that the game commenced. Manawhenua gained the initial advantage -and had five points on within a few moments of the start. The movement w.as repeated and another score nearly . .resulted. The forwards, however, kept -at. it and despite frequent penalties -against them, had II points showiilg on fhe board before Wanganui opened .their account per medium of a penalty kick. Just, before the teams changed -over Wanganui were penalised near the ;posts and Fletcher goaled, giving his ■-side an 11-poiht lead at half-time . Wanganui held the upper hand for •quite a while, at the opening of the sec'bnd spell and they gave Manawhenua ■plenty to do to keep them out. Dun■c'an penetrated on one occasion after a scramble on the line. Wanganui refumed to. the attack following the kick -and made repeated onslaughts on the Manawhenua line, but without further -success. About half-way through the -spell the home ’ forwards again asserted themselves and for the rest of -the match kept Wanganui on their own side "of half-way, tries being scored by Broughton and Johnston. It was a good game despite the adverse conditions and though beaten Wanganui were not disgraced for it "would have taken an exceptionally good •pack to have held Manawhenua on the •Jay. ( The Teams. The teams lined out as follow: Manawhenua (red, white and blue): 'Eyclqr,' Elliott, Fletcher, (captain), "Broughton, Graham, Johnston, Winiata, G-qrdon, Hight, Roddick, Miles, Payne, "Satherley, Williams,, McKenzie. Wanganui (blue and black): Lowe, Bullock-Douglas, Morgan, Williams, 'Delves (captain), Blyth, Duncan, Wal--din, Walter, Lockett, Mclntyre, Tamou, ' Stewart,* Thompson. Tasker. The Game. The ground ha'd received a thorough soaking and there were patches of water everywhere when the teams took the field. Manawhenua won the toss and Wanganui kicked off towards the morthern-goal. Manawhenua immediately set off on the attack and a loose rush took the ball to. the goal. Graham kicked the ball through and within a couple of minutes of the start Fletcher, who had followed fast, scored the opening points. Fletcher added the major points "himself and the home side led by five ■points. , The movement was - nearly repeated a moment later and then, obtaining from a scrum near the line, Johnston cut through and sent the ball to Graham who made further ground and then passed back to Johnston, who, however, failed' to take the pass and a great -chance went begging. The attack was sustained for some time, but Waldin made a good opening for Wanganui, but "his long pass to the backs went astray. Stewart headed another rush and ■through faulty handling by Manawhenua, went through to the full-back, Ryder passing the ball in to touch near the corner. 1 The home forwards took •charge again and rushed the ball to the other end and after some skirmishing on the line the ball was sent behind. tried to kick it into dead ground but missed and Williams dived on to it to score another try for Manawhenua. Roddick's kick lacked direction:

Manawhenua 8, Wanganui 0. Manawhenua were then ''penalised three times in quick succession. Delves had a shot with the first penalty but the ball dropped short. A Fine Piece of Play.

Manawhenua, thanks to enterprising work On behalf of the forwards, .kept Wanganui penned down and when Johnston took the ball off the feet of the bhie, forwards he started a very pretty back movement which added another three points to the total. Johnston started away from just inside half-way and passed to Graham who, in turn, the ball to Fletcher. The centre cut through beween Morgan and Williams and raced away to score a ’brilliant try which Roddick failed to •convert: Manawhenua 11, Wanganui 0. The Wanganui pack then took ‘ charge and carried the play to the goalmouth and Ryder, as a last resort, hung on and was penalised, Bullock-Douglas , putting it over: Manawhenua 11, Wanganui 3, The next few moments were remarkable for good runs by Ryder, the Manawhenua full-back, and Williams, the 'Wanganui winger, and two good line Tdpks by Ryder and L’owe. Johnston put Manawhenua in an attacking posi‘tiop, but the Wanganui forwards smashed up a passing rcish and raced away to the other end where Ryder 'brought off a good save. Delves then marked the ball on the twenty-five line and kicked high. There was a man in ■ front and the Manawhenua forwards 'broke away from the scrum. They were nearly over, but Wanganui were penalised on the line and Fletcher raised the flags with a. good kick: Manawhenua .14. Wanganui 3

Half-time'/Was v. ■'signalled a minute later, the teams changing over without leaving the field. '

Second Spell. f The Wanganui vanguard was not 'long in getting to,'work iti the second • •swell and they quickly had the home •side in distress. ? After a sustained attack Duncan bullocked his way over

In the representative game played, at the Showgrounds on Saturday Manawhen.ua defeated the Wanganui team by2o points to six, .shewing a superiority in every department. Wanganui put up a good fight but were outclassed, the hom,e forwards dominating the game for the greater part of the time. Th| morning, though overcast, was comparatively fine, but heavy man set in just before noon and continued for the rest of the day. At the time set for the curtain-raiser to start, the ground had received a thorough drenching and there were pools of water everywhere. The curtain-raiser was abandoned and the big game had not been in progress long before the ground was a sea of mud. The conditions could not have been worse but the teams played very good football and the match was full of interest from start to finish. '

PRIMARY REPRESENTATIVES

near the corner. BuUh’l&Douglas failed with the kick: Manawhenua 14, Wanganui 6. The visitors were making no effort to pick the ball up and with hard kicking were able to keep Manawhenuan penned down for some time. McKenzie, who was playing a great game, lifted the siege on two occasions but penalties sent the home side back. Ryder, however, kicked through and following fast, got to the ball in time to start a rush to the other' end. Wanganui promptly set up a counter attack. McKenzie and Gordon then headed another Manawhenua rush which went right through the opposition and a' try went begging when McKenzie failed to dribble the greasy ball over the line, Wanganui having time to rally. Solo Effort By Broughton. Manawhenua maintained the pressure and a score resulted when the bail was kicked across to Broughton. Broughton booted the ball over the line and won the race to it scoring a try just inside the dead-ball line. Fletcher's kick failed: Manawhenua 17, Wanganui 6. Manawhenua were going great guns at this stage and another score came when, from a scrum near the twentyfive, Winiata fired the ball out to Johnston on the blind side. The tricky five-eighth twisted his way through and though tackled on the line, dived over for a very fine try. The kick was disallowed: - , . ‘ Manawhenua 20, Wanganui 6.' Over the closing stages of the game the Manawhenua forwards ' dominated the play, which, except for brief periods, remained in Wanganui’s twenty-five. There was no further score, however, and the final scores were 20 —6 in Manawhenua's favour. Mr. H. Hands ably controlled the match: , CURTAIN-RAISER TO MAORIWALLABY MATCH.

The following team has been selected to represent the Manawatu primaryschools against Horowhenua next Wednesday as the curtain-raiser to Australia v. "Maoris match: —Andrews, Oppatt, Harris, Mullins (Sanson), Gavin, Fitzpatrick (Convent), Jorgensen, Tremewan (Hokowhitu), Bunker, Mason, Pierard, Bradley (Terrace End), York, Karton, Stephenson (College street), Sexton, Waller (Oroua Downs), Donaldson (Rangiotu), Staples*, (Manchester street). The team will assemble at the main gates of the Showgrounds at 12,30 sharp. , ■ j WELLINGTON 111. 5 v. HOROWHENtJA 11. 3. The weather on Saturday afternoon was anything but favourable to the annual match between the Wellington .third grade and Horowhenua junior Rugby representatives. The Levin Park Domain ground was half-covered with surface-water, and rain fell practically throughout the game. A small attendance watched the proceedings from the shelter of the grandstand. Considering the adverse conditions, the play was of a creditable standard, and the use of the respective sides of their resources as far as these could be brought into service provided a fairly constant source of interest. The visiting team were somewhat lighter than of recent years, but in stamina the sides were fairly well matched. Wellington had a splendid back line, whose combination would have afforded a spectacular treat in better weather Of the forwards, the local set displayed the greater alertpess, and territorially Horowhenua had rather the better of the game. Mr Bangi Broughton gave a skilful exhibition of refereeing, the interest of which he enhanced by calling out the grounds of his rulings. The teams took the field as under: —

Wellington (black): —Full back Dryberg; three-quarters, Platt, Brooks, Sturrock; five-eighths,, Fredric, Greenbank; half, Toms; forwards, Bradley (wing), Barry, Taylor, Henshaw, Whittington, Green, Bromley, Chudleigh. Horowhenua fred and blue)(—Fullback, G. Huff; three-quarters, ' Ford, Hurrin, K. Robinson; five-eighths, Campbell, Simpson; half, Jenkins; forwards, Pene (wing), Anderson, E. Robinson, Barber, Russell, Thomas, Richardson, Carswell. ■ Early 'in thfe match Jenkins had to retire, and Hartley took his place as half-back. «

Horowhehua kicked off from the east end and secured a penalty kick near the twenty-five flag. Thomas sent it Wellington backs bandied nicely .to return play ever halfway. Following up a free kick the Blues invaded to the three-quarter line, and, the Blacks being again penalised, Hurrin had a. sh^t, - which did not go the full distance. Pace and heat handling of the ball brought visitors to the 1 opposite quarter. Hartley replaced Jenkins as half for Horowhenua, the lattet player being unwell- Play verged up to the home line, but the defending backs were on the alert and timely footwork transferred operations across- the centre. From a scrqm, at halfr-way the Blues got possession and Simpson increased the. advantage. Hurrin had a shot ■at goal, but the ball .was too slippery to be directed accurately from . the

angle. A serum on Blacks’ twentyfive gave slight relief to Wellington. The latter side were next penalised for holding the ball, and_ Thomas had an ineffective shot. Horowhenua continued the pressure and Dryberg forced. A scrum at 25 yards from the visitors’ goal was followed by a free kick for Reds, C. Huff taking it. The ball fell below the cross-bar. Soon afterwards there was a scrum close to the Wellington goal, but the danger to their line was removed by Brooks punting to toubh. E. Robinson made a good run up the'centre of the field till he was tackled at- the twenty-five. Horowhenua continued to have the territorial advantage for quite, a while. Wellington .forwards then broke through with a dribbling rush, C. Huff saving when the line was in imminent danger. The Blacks repeated the attack, but their b.acks, after handling promisingly, lost the wet ball, and the Blues poured into the opposite territory. The visitors .’got the better of the race, however, and the position- was quickly reversed. Scrums took place near the Blues’ line and they, were relieved by a free kick. Hollowing a well sustained' dribbling rush, Horowhenua reached a favourable position, from which however, they were repelled by Dryberg. On their returning, E. Robinson made a good sprint, but his pass went astray. A scramble over the line followed, and several players fell on the ball, but the Blacks cleared. Soon after this, C. Huff made a fine solo effort and scored in, the corner. Hurrin failed with the kick. Horowhenua 3, Wellington 0. i Blues applied the pressure again, and came near scoring, a five-yard serum resulting, from which the ball went into touch. Half-time sounded a few minutes later. On changing over, the Blacks attacked and C. Huff immediately returned the ball. Then it was dribbled back, and Whittington took possess-, ion, bringing play within the twentyfive. A line-out a few yards from goal was indecisive. Toms marked and kicked high, his team running well into the opening, only to find the defence solid. Short-punting took Horowhenua half-way, but in the rain and slush it was practically impossible to hold the ground gained. The visitors worked their way back, and a scramble took place on the home line. Blues ,were awarded a free kick, which gave them temporary relief. Prom a linesout (Wellinlgton obtained possession, then lost the ball, which rolle’d over for Horowhenua to force. By kicking and following up the Blues crossed half-way, but the Wellington forwards met them square-on and turned the tide. C. Huff momentarily held up the invaders, after which they reached a position near the goal, where a scrum ensued. The ball went over the line, and Bradley fell on it, scoring for Wellington. The visitors were put in the lead by a goal neatly kicked by Dryberg, Wellington 5, 'Horowhenua 3.

The Blues took a fresh lease of life for a time, and from a penalty kick they reached a good position for a lineout. This ended in a knock-on, and from the scrum Blacks forced. Wellington at last found an opening and swarmed down to in-goal, the bail going over the dead-line. A line-out at 10 yards gave possession to the Blacks, but their backs were unable to keep the ball properly on the move to enable one of their number to run round to the line. A forward rush by the Blues was nullified by a Wellington player kicking’; back to the dead-ball line. Prom a scrum in Black's territory the ball went into touch, inside the 25, and in ensuing play Wellington were penalised. C. Huff took a *shot at goal from the angle and just missed the objective. After a scramble, Wellington made an opening and used dribbling tactics, by which they reached the opposite 25. Prom here the Blues were relieved by a free kick, and they followed up the advantage. ,• Wellington forwards overran them, temporarily, then play teturned to their own 25. AIL the local back division handled, but the ball was lost into touch. Morris took the place.,of .Bradley, the Blacks’ wing forward, who had an attack of cramp In the knee. Blacks crossed over half-way and their opponents were holding them, when time was caled, the game ending: Wellington 5, Horowhenua 3.