REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 August 1933, Page 7

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

Horowhenua Outclassed by Manawatu.

Twenty-Three to Nil

Tie return match between Horowhenua and Manawatu was played at "the Showgrounds on Saturday in the presence of a large crowd of enthusiasts! It was expected that it would "be a hard-fought game but, right from the outset, the home team asserted their superiority, and they never gave Horowhenua a look in, the margin at the finish being 23 points in Manawatu's favour. Horowhenua failed to open their account and if .-Manawatu* s goal-kickers had turned every chance to account the total would have been much bigger.

Horowhenua Outclassed Manawatu were superior in every de partmeat of the game, and forwards -and backs combined in many thrilling movements, their accurate handling of the ball being a feature of the play. Tie Horowhenua forwards worked hard, but were overhadowed except in the tight work., . It was a good game and Manawatu .gave a very fine acocunt of themselves. The ground was heavy but in good order and the weather conditions could not have been better. The teams lined out as follow: — Horowhenua (blue): Graham, Spencer, Broughton, Cook, Campbell, Johnson, Stevens, T. Parata, Merwood, •Gray, Payne, Pene, Rapata, Roddick, McDonald. Manawatu (green): McKay, Strange, Bramwell. Elliott, ' H. Ormond, Gillespie, -Metcalf. Waldin, MeClclland, McKenzie, Mitchell, Cooper, Hight, . Summers, Eadc. Sensational Opening Horowhenua won the toss and opeil- - the north. Manawatu pet the ball in motion and within a minute of the start worn three points on as the result of one of the best bits of work ■seen for a very long time. The kick. a short one, was deflected by a Horowhenua man and gathered in by Mitchell, the raking Feilding forward, and •se set off. for the line. : Threatened, he passed to Cooper, who made ground before sending on to Hight.' '■ The lastnamed drew the defence and fired the ball back to Mitchell, who went over for a great try near the posts. H. Ormond goaled and Manawatu were five points on. Manawatu were not slow in adding to their total, and within five minute? from the start Metcalf, the Manawatu half, gathered the ball up in the ruck and sent his backs away. H. Ormond, Gillespie and Bramwell handled, the "last-named cutting in nicely before "handing on to McKenzie, who ran over under the posts. Ormond failed with the kick.

The home side should have scored again shortly afterwards. Horowhenua were attacking but a faulty pass gave Waldin a chance, and he gathered the ball up and raced through. He passed to Gillespie when the way was open, but Gillespie, though well supported, had a go on his own, being overtaken a few yards from the posts. Horowhenua rallied and by solid scrummaging worked down to Manawatu territory. The Manawatu' backs, who were handling with precision, soon had charge again and a short pnnt by Gil'lespie went into touch at the corner. "Horowhenua were then given a pen-

*alty,•but'the'-Green' backs |eeured and anbther thrust ended ",'ri-ght "at the •corner. r The gaine swung-' to the. qth,er ; side and-Cooper rated 'over'tlTbe recalled'by the line umpire.; ; It was fast and open football, and

. v the tome- side was dominating^.play. They were thrdwing the ball :-. about in -fine style with forwards and

/backs '^combining. -to effect. .. V Spencer, one of tEe v 'Horowhenua,.. wings, received a bad knock and had -to leave the field, his place, being taken. "by -Nepia. .;.-?.■?? ," Ormond had a chance of increasing the total shortly afterwards, but a-* 'kick from a handy position was off the line. . The Manawatu forwards were -all over'the opposition a moment later, 'but McKenzie lost the ball; when oyer -the line.

■ Manawatu bad had much the better of the game up to this stage, but the Horowhenua forwards how began to ■show their worth, and ; assisted by a penalty, compelled Manawatu to force. . A long kick by M.-Johnson sent

"Manawatu back to their line, I)ut the Manawfetu backs smashed a passing rush and worked to half-way, where Waldin broke right away oh his own. He had no support, .but'When he was dumped" Hight' 'carried* on-" taking the Tmll over; the dine, where OpLorowhenua were lucky to, force down. Strange's Pace Tells The relief was only momentary, for "Manawatu secured from a scrum in midfield and the ball went along the :iine from Metcalf to Strange, the •speedy winger, racing over near the •corner and round to score near the posts. The kick missed and Mana--watu were 11 points on. Solid scrummaging and tackling •characterised the play for the remainder of the spell, and Manawatu held a •commanding lead at the interval. Second Spell Horowhenua very nearly opened their scoring account at the start of the second spell. Cooper had headed a Manawatu rush to the Horowhemn quarter, but Stevens gathered the ball up- and sent his backs away. The bail travelled along the line to Cook, and the wing sprinted to the full-back and seat a pass infield to Broughton. The -way to the line was open, but Broughton failed to connect with the pass

and a great chance went begging. Roddick 1 then had a shot at goal but failed and the Hoi*owhenua forwards returned to the attack. A scrum went down in front of the posts and Metcalf fired the ball out to Gillespie and Elliott, the latter short-punting past the fullback. He went on with the ball at his feet, but. kuocked-on when he attempted to pick it up. Horowhenua rallied and halted several thrusts, but Manawatu were not to be denied, and when Metcalf gathered the ball up lie started another scoring movement, the ball going along the line to Strange, who outpaced the opposition and scored near the corner. The kick missed and Mauawatu were 14 points on. Cooper was prominent in another : ruclr which took the game to the goal I front. A scrum went down and offside play gave Ormond another shot, but he failed. Third Try By Strange Strange repeated the performance some time later. Ormond secured in midfield and passed to Gillespie. The latter cut in nicely and sent a welltimed pass to Strange, who streaked away to score at the corner. The tally was 17 to nil. The next try was another good one. Horowhenua were attaching, but Brainwell secured and passed to \Valdiu. The ball then went to Cooper, whose pass was knocked back by Horowhenua. Waldin was backing up and he secured again and fired on to Gillespie, who scored near the corner. McKay’s kick missed by inches, and Manaw r atu’s total was 20 points. Horowhenua went close to scoring a moment later when Rapata, who had fielded a weak kick, broke through and sent Mcrwood away to the line, where the latter was tripped. Roddick had another shot, but missed, and Manawatu rushed the game to the other end. The Horowhenua forwards worked back t 6 the Manawatu line, but Metcalf secured from a scrum and sent the ball to Waldin, and Gillespie, the last-named cutting through before passing to Elliott, who made- a splendid run to score at the corner. McKay’s kick dropped under the bar. Waldin left the field and his place was taken by Smith. There was no further score, Manawatu winning by 23 points to nil. Mr G. Cooksley was the referee.