KING COUNTRY DEFEATED

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4437, 29 August 1933, Page 5

KING COUNTRY DEFEATED

WANGANUI TOO GOOD. VISITING FORWARDS PLAY WELL. (Special to Taumarunui Press.) Better combination in the backs and a greater margin of speed won Wanganui the representative Rugby match against King Country at Wanganui on Saturday, the final score being 15 to 3. Viewed from a territorial aspect honours in the match were fairly evenly divided, but the winners had better finishing wings, and inside backs who knew how to play those wings into action. The first spell was an even affair, but Wanganui had sufficient finish to score a try and a field goal, while their opponents, though they played hard and tried to make the most of dearly won possession, could not cross the line. In the opening stages of play Wanganui hooked from the set scrums, but it was not long before King Country developed a superiority in this phase of the game, and towards the end of the match they were taking scrums instead of lineouts. The winners had too much speed, however, to allow the visitors to profit to any great extent from the possession won from the scrums. Friedlander got the ball away well, but there was not a happy combination existing between Mauriohoho and Galbraith. Mauriohoho was solid enough, and stood up to defensive work excellently, but was little less than a connecting link between half and second five-eighths. The result was that Galbraith, who was looked to to open the play up with a bit of thrust, saw very few chances. It is true that he did cut through on occasions, but they were few and far between, and he was adequately marked by Morgan. Taken all over, the King Countary back line did not function smoothly as an attacking force. The one move which earned reward was well done, and if others during the day had been of like calibre the score in favour of the visitors would have been larger. Wanganui, on the other hand, appreciating that the opposing defence was of the very solid type, resorted to stab-kicking to get through, and from two moves of this nature the wingers, Bullock-Douglas and Brisco, scored a try each. Sound judgment on the part of Lowe, at first fiveeighths, in placing the ball from those two kicks, plus the swift backing up he got from the wings, enabled the defence to be pierced. The one other occasion when King Country had their defence broken down was early in the game, and the opening came from a surprise move on the blind side of the scrum between the home half-back (Brogden) and a breakaway forward (Matthews). McLeod, the visitors' full-back, was drawn by Matthews and fast following up by Walker, another Wanganui forward, gained the try. Ignoring the field goal, and recol : lecting the three tries Wanganui scored, prompts the judgment that Country put up a superb defence and shared honours very nearly equally with the visitors from a territorial point of view. Not one passing rush from half to wing was allowed to circumvent the losers' defence. That, in itself, was of distinct credit to the King Country team, particularly when it is remembered that an All Black winger was waiting to finish those moves off. Stab kicking, which enabled the wings to show their margin of superiority in speed, had to be adopted to outdo the spoiling moves King Country brought to bear on Wanganui attacks. McLeod, the King Country fullback, came through the day with a great deal to his credit. His form suggested a player of solidity and sureness. He was very deliberate in all his play, but gave the impression that he needed plenty of time to get through. Clemett, probably because he saw more of the ball, performed better than Lawler on the day. Galbraith was the star inside back, but the way Mauriohoho combined with Clemett to score the solitary King Country try suggested that he (Mauriohoho) is a player of promise. Riddle was the forward who caught the eye most. He was ably supported by Bradshaw, Trust and Margan (until he was injured). The way in which this pack battled in the dying stages of the game, when, very obviously, they were tiring badly, deserved greater reward than three points. On the day Wanganui deserved to win by 8 points and not 15 as indicated in the scores. The teams were:—

King Country (blue and green): McLeod, Lawler, Gilbert, Clemett, Galbraith, Mauriohoho, Friedlander, L. Brown, Armstrong, Margan, Fletcher, Trust, Kawe, Riddle, Bradshaw. Wanganui (blue and black): Rodgers, Brisco, McPhee, Bullock-Doug-las, Morgan, Lowe, Brogden, Lockett, Walker, Mclntyre, Fowler, Matthews, Murphy, Taieru, Waters. Territorially, the first spell was even, but Wanganui had sufficient finish to score seven points, and, at the same time, keep their opponents at bay. The winners made the first rearguard action, but it broke down at McPhee (centre). For a time the home forwards were the dominating force, and three times they saw the backs mishandle and let them down. Brown and Riddle led the King Country forwards out of a defending position, and once they found themselves in Wanganui territory they hooked the ball. A tendency to hang on by the five-eighths kept undoing the good play of the van and losing opportunities. A penalty kick, which Morgan used to find the line near the corner, got Wanganui out of a tight corner. A minute later the same player had a shot at goal, failed, and the clearing kick was fielded by Bullock-Douglas, who stopped infield and coolly potted a goal. Wanganui 4, King Country 0.

King Country attacked immediately and McLeod tried to goal from a penalty but failed. A moment later he found the line at the corner with a well-judged kick. Play straggled to the opposite side of the field, following the line-out, and a speculating kick got the ball over the Wanganui line and a race ensued between Clemett (King Country), BullockDouglas, and Rogers (Wanganui fullback), the last-named getting there in time to force. Galbraith flashed through to make a great opening a

few minutes later, and he had Rogers in front of him, a lone defender. Rogers' tackle was of the right order, however, and Galbraith's pass to Lawler went forward. King Country were now definitely having the better of things, getting the ball from the scrums and calling upon the Wanganui defence for stern work. Lowe relieved matters so far as the home team was concerned by breaking away. Morgan travelled with him on one side and Matthews (forward) on the other. Lowe elected to pass to Matthews who dropped the ball. Brogden came into the picture almost immediately afterwards and paved the way for the first try. He picked up near a loose ruck, corkscrewed his way through it and transferred to Matthews. The forward tried to bullock his way over McLeod, failed, and dropped the ball. Walker, luckily perhaps, was in support, and gathered in to score. Morgan's kick failed. Wanganui 7, King Country 0.

Just before half-time King Country faced an unlucky bounce of the ball and thereby lost a try. A clearing kick by Rogers was fielded by Clemett, who attempted a field goal, but the ball travelled across the leld to Gilbert and Lawler, who had only one man marking them, Brisco. The Wanganui winger went for the man instead of the ball and the crowd had the spectacle of Lawler breaking away. Rogers had come round, however, and the winger, faced' by the home custodian, actually got over the line, but lost the ball and failed to fall on it as it bounced, Wanganui forcing. A lucky let-off for the home team! The score was still seven to nil in favour of Wanganui at half-time. Margan was injured soon after the interval and was replaced by Stewart. Wanganui scored immediately as the result of a nicely placed stab punt by Lowe, which caught McLeod out of position and sent Bullock-Douglas up. The winger regained nicely on the bounce and scored. Morgan's kick hit a post and bounced the wrong way. t From that out King Country tried to make the most of a superiority m hooking, electing to take scrums instead of line-outs, but the speed of the Wanganui tacklers, plus the very reliable play of Rogers at full-back, kept attacks at bay. Lowe repeated his stab-kicking tactics, this time to Brisco's wing. The ball was so punted as to bounce in the wide gap left between McLeod and the touchline when play was on the other side of the field. Brisco flashed un. regained on the bounce, and scored as Bullock-Douglas had done. Morgan s kick was successful.

Wanganui 15, King Cuntry 0.

Morgan missed an easy shot at goal a few minutes later. The play then settled down to a conflict between a King Country team striving hard to cross their opponents' line and a stern defence. The forwards played strenuously, and, at last, reward came. Priedlander and Clemett combined in a blind side action, the winger going up close to the Wanganui line. He was cleverly supported by Mauriohoho, who flashed up in time to take the pass and score a well earned try. Lawler could not goal. Wanganui 15, King Country 3. Mr. W. H. Rowe was the referee. JUNIOR REPS. MANIAPOTO RETAINS BOLES CUP. The Maniapoto-Taumarunui junior contest for the Boles Cup was a good game. The Mamapotos appeared to be the superior team and during most of the first half and some of the second held a definite advantage. They hooked from nearly every scrum, especially in tne first part of the game, and the forwards, led by O'Malley and Willison, were able to hold their own and also a little more against the visitors until near the end of the match when, apparently becoming exhausted they let the Reds through. The Maniapoto backs found that the visitors were good on defence and that penetration was difficult; Stringer in particular played a great game, while Taylor was one of the most prominent of the Reds. In spite of the advantage held through most of the game, Maniapoto were a little lucky to have won. They were more or less lucky when Elliott, towards the end of the second half, managed to force; they were lucky when an easy penalty was missed. It has to be conceded in its turn, however, that previously Maniapoto had been unlucky, too, m not scoring more frequently. A forward rush headed by one of the Taumarunui locks sent play down to the Green 25 for the start, but it was not long before the home team retaliated. Kirton's work in the loose was nullified by Dean kicking through. The Maniapoto backs, receiving from the opposing fullback, went away; then Willison broke through and the Greens were very unlucky when the ball bounced the wrong way for him to score. Penalties kept the Greens in midfield for a little while, after which Willison sent the ball on to Elliott, only to have the latter's short kick go right into the arms of Robinson. Back came the Greens, however, packing Taumarunui hard on the line, and on several occasions they were very little short of scoring. Dean was over b-.t the referee pulled him back. The backs handled, but the short kick through, tactics which did not appear to be working too well, was not so short. Mark came round to give to Elliott and there was no support handy. A penalty, however, sent the Reds on the move to the centre of the field. An intercept by one of the five-eighths kept them going. Another penalty saw them in the 25, but work by Black and Willison relieved. Dean worked to send on to Stringer and again the short kick failed. Maniapoto were back on the offensive by this time. Then suddenly Stringer collected the ball in the loose and went right through the ruck to score well out. Black's kick, though a good attempt, was unsuccessful. Maniapoto 3, Taumarunui 0. The offensive was maintained by the Greens after the kick-off. An interception by Dean and O'Malley put play in the 25, but a drop kick from Black went astray. From the scrum which followed the Maniapotos hooked as usual. Johnston

sent on to Stringer who again dummied and twisted his way over in great style. Smyth failed with the difficult kick.

Maniapoto 6, Taumarunui 0.

On the resumption, the Reds made an assault, but Stringer burst right through in great style, though his kick through went over the dead ball line. Black made a determined attempt to cross a few minutes before half-time and received an injury to his knee, Topp replacing him. Battley headed a rush to the 25 where the backs got the ball out for Elliott to be collared near the line. Hard packing was relieved by a penalty. A very good chance was lost when Smyth cross-kicked a penalty to Johnston, but Elliott failed to get the pass. Willison gained and once more the backs tried, McNeill delaying his pass too long. Again the Greens were unlucky when, Johnston giving to Deane, the latter lost possession. The ball was kicked near the corner and it seemed certain Stringer must score, but he failed to collect, while Smyth was there just too late. Willison burst through from the line-out and the Reds beat him for the ball. After Johnston and Elliott had handled, however, the Red forwards suddenly walked over the home team to gain the other 25, and Buick very nearly was over. Play swept up and down the field again. Then Taylor came through and a wild scramble resulted on the line. Anderson's kick was wild, but Elliott forced to save a certain score. The Red half-back and Kirton brought play down from the drop-out and the Reds gained the upper hand in the forwards until O'Malley and Stringer dribbled right through. Back came the visitors, however. When given the real chance, however, of a penalty right under the posts their diminutive half-back failed. Another penalty inside a few minutes was awarded to the visitors and this one was well out and upfield. With a beautiful dropkick Hibble placed the ball between the posts. Maniapoto 6, Taumarunui 3. Mr. J. Sheppard was referee. MAORI REPRESENTATIVES. WAIKATO v. KING COUNTRY. WIN FOR KING COUNTRY. The King Country Maori representatives met the Waikato Maori representatives at Te Awamutu on Saturday, the result being a win for King Country by 9 points. King Country kicked off against the wind and very soon Taylor ran over behind the posts. Wetere converted. —King Country 5, Waikato 0. Fast following up saw Maniapoto fall on it behind the goal. N. Jackson converted. —King Country 5, Waikato 5.

Hira kicked straight into Weka's hands and he charged straight over. The kick failed.—King Country 8, Waikato 5.

The King Country forwards were too good and in a scramble in the corner Rata got over. The kick failed. —King Country 11, Waikato 5. Tukere and Meredith broke through to the line, and from the scrum Rapa Jackson got over under the posts. N. Jackson converted. —King Country 11, Waikato 10.

King Country came away, but a great rush headed by A. Jackson and Hubbard saw a scrum just in front of the posts. Hira failed with a field goal. Play was very fast and open. A penalty by King Country failed. Then N. Jackson also failed. Bell made a dazzling run, but was hauled down in the nick of time and Waikato forced, and half-time found the score: King Country 11, Waikato 10. After the spell A. Jackso'n worked the blind side and sent Ranganui away. Then it went across to the other side. Edwards broke away and scored. Wetere converted. King Country 16, Waikato 10. The ball came out, passing from A. Jackson, Mate, R. Jackson and Hubbard to Tukere, who scored. The kick failed.—King Country 16, Waikato 13. A passing rush by King Country, Anderson, Rapu, Jones and Waka, saw the last-named score. The kick failed. A smart rush and pass saw Anderson score under the posts. Another kick failed.—King Country 22, Waikato 18. A passing rush saw Jones score in the corner. The kick failed. —King Country 25, Waikato 13. The next score came when Koroheke got over. Wetere converted. — King Country 30, Waikato 13. Mate broke away and with R. Jackson ran the full length for Mate to score. —King Country 30, Waikato 16. A passing rush saw the ball go out to Tukere, who scored under the posts. N. Jackson converted. —King Country 30, Waikato 21. The game ended soon after. Mr. N. McCready was referee.