REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 September 1931, Page 7

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Manawhenua Narrowly Defeat Wairarapa IN BIG SCORING MATCH GOAL KICKING THE DECIDING FACTOR The Manawhenua Rugby team registered a meritorious victory over Wairarapa at the Showgrounds yesterday, the game marking the close of the repre-' sentative programme for the season. The final scores were Manawhenua 26, Wairarapa 22, and the game was fast and open, and full of interest for the spectators. The visitors crossed Manawhenua’s line on five occasions and the home side registered four tries, but Manawhenua's goal kickers, Johnson and Amadio, were in form, the flags being raised on six occasions, when the four tries were converted and two penalties put over. Fitzgerald converted two tries for Wairarapa and kicked a penalty. It was a good match and well worth watching. The packs were evenly matched, but the Wairarapa back line showed a slight superiority in .penetrating power, though the home backs made the most of their opportunities. A drawn game would have been, a fairer indication of the respective merits of the teams. The afternoon was fine, though overcast, and there was a bleak wind blowing diagonally across the ground. The playing area was in good order. The Teams The teams lined out as follows: Manawhenua (red, white and blue): Ryder, Elliott, Fletcher,. Broughton, Farata, Johnson, Wifliata, le Quesne (captain), Hight, Roddick, Amadio, Dalziell, Youle, McKenzie, Williams. Wairarapa (green); Roach, Oliver, Stringf elfow (captain), Fitzgerald, Clark, Denby, Lupinski, Parker, Day, Anderson, Roff, Fairbrother, Smith, Best, Trass. The Play Wairarapa won the toss and played against the udhd. Le Quesne set the ball in motion and a. scrum'wept" down on the Wairarapa side of half way'. The ball was hooked by Wiairarapa, Lupinski' Sending it .to Fitzgerald, oh the blind side, but Elliott charged his kick dowh. The home forwards went away in a loose rush, blit a penalty cost ,them t the 'ground they had made. Youle broke atfay on the line, but was smothered when a try seemed probable. The Wairarapa half was penalised for taking the 1 bail out' of the serum andrJohaoon hadashof from the 25, but thi ball swung to fhe left of the posts. Wairarapa worked the

game back to half way, but a lucky ■ speculator sent Manawhenua away again and, the ball coming out from a melee in front of the posts, Johnson ran round to the corner and passed infield to McKenzie, who went over, but lost the ball. A penalty brought rc-_ lief to the greens. The First Try There was little of interest for some time following the kick, but after one unsuccessful attempt the Manawhenua backs went away on a scoring movement, the ball being handled by Parata, Johnson, Fletcher, Broughton, and back to Fletcher, who fired a long pass in-field to Hight, who scored in a handy position for Johnson to add the major points. Manawhenua 5, Wairarapa 0. The movement was nearly repeated a bioment later, but Broughton’s pass infield, after a good run, was not accepted. The attack was kept up, however, and Wairarapa were compelled to carry back to force. Johnson Kicks a Penalty Parker was penalised for coming round the scrum too quickly and Johnson kicked a goal, giving Manawhenua an eight-point lead. Wairarapa Retaliate

Wairarapa then took a' turn at attacking and the backs went away down one wing to near the 25. A scrum formed and, failing to gather in the rolling ball, Parker speculated out to his wing three-quarter, Fitzgerald, who had Stringfellow in support to take his pass. Stringfellow made a good run, drawing the full back before centring. Anderson gathered up the ball and raced over near the posts. Fitzgerald converted the try. Manawatu 8, Wairarapa 5. A moment later Clark broke through to the full back before passing to Stringfellow, who was grassed from behind. Fletcher came round and made a good save. Wairarapa were all over the home team at this stage, and another promising rush saw the ball go into touch in Manawhenua’s 25. Johnson received a bad knock and had to leave the field, Warren taking his place. A Pretty Try . From, the line-out the ball came back to Lupinski, who started his backs away on another scoring effort, Parker rounding off a very pretty movement after the ball had been handled by Denby, Clark and Oliver. Fitzgerald's kick missed. Wairarapa 8, Manawhenua 8. Wairarapa Take the Lead Wairarapa immediately added another five points when Oliver picked the ball up in the loose and sent it out to Denby. Denby cut a couple of men out and fifed the leather to Clark, to Stringfellow, who broke right through after selling the dummy and scored by the posts. Fitzgerald converted. Wairarapa 13, Manawhcnua 8. Mana whenua retaliated and went very close when the ball went out to Fletcher, who cut in and streaked away to the line, where his pass went astray. There was another thrill a minute later when Fletcher passed to Youle, who went over under the posts, only to be recalled for a forward pass. The home forwards broke over at the corner, but could not get the ball down. Penalty Goad by Amadio The game worked across the goalwhere Wairarapa were penalised and Amadio raised the flags with a good kick. Wairarapa 13, Manawhenua 11. Fletcher, the Opportunist The game, was fast and exciting, first one team and then the other holding the Upper hand. Manawhenua regained the lead when Oliver failed to field a high kick from le Quesne. Lupinski got possession, but was promptly dumped by Amadio. Fletcher raced up and kicked the ball across to the goal front and, streaking after it, found the bounce just what the doctor ordered and raced over by the posts. Amadio kicked the goal. Manawhenua 16, Wairarapa 13. Another Try by Fletcher

Play was hard and even for a period, but Williams went away down the line with the ball at his feet. Clark picked it up and, when bustled, centred to Warren, who started a passing rugh. The ball was handled by Winiata, le .Quesne, Amadio and Fletcher, the lastnamed side-stepping his way through for another good try. Amadio goaled again.

I Manawhcnua 21, Wairarapa 13. I Wairarapa made a great, rush, but Stringfcllow was up-ended when the way was clear. Beforo half time' other good runs were made by Denby and Stringfcllow, The Second Spell Manawhedua started the second spell with a lead of eight points, but three of them went west when Warren fired out a lo,ng pass which was intercepted brilliantly by Clark, who raced away with Stringfellow in support. A nicely ( judged transfer was taken by Stringfellow, who bolted over near the posts. Fitzgerald, missed an easy kick. Manawhenua 21, Wairarapa 16. The home forwards worked the game back to the other end, where Roach saved well. Clark was called upon to get his side out of trouble, but a penalty against le Quesno- subsequently relieved the pressure. ’ The .'green backs attempted to get going, but a bad pass enabled Mana,yrh§nua,, to - byeak raway. Fletcfie? secured and made a characteristic dash through the ruck, but was hauled down a. few yard ß short. Wairarapa broke away on two occasions, but Ryder sent them back with good line kicks. Parata, who had gone into the forwards, broke through and passed to le Quesne, who kicked deep into the green quarter/ Elliott Score* The game .'went across the held, %H»lre AwkiKiio obtainediiviiff ran to Met’jMir, wift ifeut in * nicely oresending out to BUiott, who, though halted, got

going again and scored .a line try near the posts. Amadio made no" mistake. Manawhenua 26, Wairarapa 16. Some exciting play followed, the first thrill coming when the visiting backs went away, but the movement was spoiled by a faulty pass. Broughton made a great run for Manawhenua, jinking his way through to the line. Wairarapa retaliated with a series of short forward rushes and bustled their way to the other end, where Manawhenua were lucky to force. The greens were back again immediately, both backs forwards combining well in clangorous movements. • Warren halted the advance by kicking the ball out of the hands of one of the backs. Fletcher halted the next rush, and then Youle, then Fletcher again. Fletcher was proving a tower of strength,,both on attack and defence. The Manawhenua forwards staged a rush, which was well stopped by Roach, who, however, received a kick on the head and had to be carried oft' the field. His place was taken by McKay. Trass Gets Over The Wairarapa forwards carried all before them in a brilliant rush. Parker scooped up the ball in the loose and passed to Trass, who raced to the line, where he was brought, down, but he forced his way over for a try near the posts. Fitzgerald missed. Manawhenua 26, Wairarapa 19.

The home side attacked for the next few minutes and took risks in their efforts to penetrate, Wairarapa nearly turning two mitsakes to good account. The game was again held up for an injury to Eoff. Warren joined in off-side and McKay had a shot,' but the ball passed outside. The Wairarapa team staged a very fine passing rush, backs and forwards taking a hand. The ball passed right across the field, but the movement was halted just short of the line.

; The Final Score A few minutes before time the home side were penalised right in front of the posts, and Fitzgerald raised the flags with a good kick. Manawhenua 26, Wairarapa 22.

’There was no further score, the home side winning a .ffood game by four points, Mr. H. Hands was the referee.