MANAWATU v. TARANAKI.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 4029, 3 September 1898, Page 2

MANAWATU v. TARANAKI.

The match ended in a win for Tarant^ki by 7 to nil. Taranaki won the tods and decided to defend the southern goal, with the wind in their favour. Manawatu having kicked off, A. Hunt** returned to touch at half-way. From the line-out Manawatu started a i passing *ush, but were smothered, A. Hunter getting the ball returned to touch again. Line- work brought the play into Tarttnaki's territory, but from a penalty Bayly sent the ball out atf the opposing 25, and after some close play the ball was carried to the centre, when from a scrum for t»ff. B ide play the ball was passed through J. Hunter, Allen and Bayly to Carroll, who was thrown -in at the 25 touch. After a lot of up and down the field, play, Manawatu in their own 25 started loose rush, but J. Hunter picked up the ball, and passing to Jacob, he potted a neat goal. Lambie returned Hewitt'^ kick out to half-way, and Shannon getting the ball from a scrum, a splendid passing rush was initiated by Manawatu,.. in which Poidevin, Bennett, Hewitt andGieson take part, and it was only stopped in time by Jacob grassing Giesoti a fc the 25. Manawatu pressed their opponents and A. Hunter relieved with a useful kick. A little latter on Manawatu was penalised, ancl Bayly sent the ball into the visitors' territory, where Jacob got a mark, Watson making a splendid attempt, the ball falling just inside the post. The next feature was another •brilliant run by Gieson, who, however, could not break through the Taranaki backs. From a serum Allen kiekeol down the field to Bennett, who returned the ball, and ' from a scrum came another passing rush by Shannon, Poidevin, Hewitt and Gieson, whioh brought the play to the home team's territory, A. Hunter returning. From the line out Taranaki started a forward rush which was spoilt by hard kicking, and Manawatu again forced. Allen returned Hewitt's kick and Manawatu, through good line work, pressed Taranaki, but the home forwards relieved with a rush in which Pearson was knocked out and had several ribs broken, W. Glenn taking his place. Hewitt and Geisen each got a mark in close succession but the ball was forced back into the Manawatu's 25 and from a ecrum Allen received the ball from Hunter and the Manawatu full-back having fallen a score resulted. The kick at goal however was a failure. After a little give and take play in neutral ground the spell ended : Taranaki 7, Manawatu 0, In the second spell hard play ensued and became the order of the day, but Manawatu were generally kept in their own 25. The visitors were unfortunate early in the spell, an accident almost disabling Hewitt. , From a scrum Hunter passed the ball through Allen to Bayly, whom Hewitt grassed, but in doing so received a nasty knock and had to retire to full-back, Bennett taking his place at centre and Matheson replacing Bennett at wing three-quarter. After give and take play for some time in neutral ground Taranaki pressed Manawatu, who are relieved by a penalty kick whioh Jacob returned, but a rush by Manawatu carried the ball , over the Taranaki line, resulting in a force down. Matheson returned the kick-off, and shortly afterwards Hewitt had an unsuccessful pot at goal, Taraagain forcing. Hewitt failed to return, and from the line out a passing rush was started by Taranaki, but Glenn threw forward just under the goal posto and Shannon getting the ball from a scrum relieved and the game ended after a little give and take play in Manawatu's 25. For Taranaki, Allen and Jacob were best in the backs, the Hunters also playing well." The Manawatu backs all played remarkably well, but Taranaki defence was too strong to permit them to score. The visiting forwards got decidedly the best of the line out and in the scrum got the ball pretty well as often as Taranaki, but in the open they were weaker. Mr J. Campbell acted as referee. Manawatu play Wanganui to-day and will have the assistance of several forwards, who could not come as far as Hawera. Wanganui Collegiate School in the football tourney beat Christohuroh by 15 to 7, and Nelson by 32 to 0.