MATCH WITH KAWHIA

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4726, 30 July 1935, Page 5

MATCH WITH KAWHIA

MANIAPOTO'S EASY WIN.

BACKS PENETRATE DEFENCE,

The Maniapoto representatives had an easy win over Kawhia last Saturday, defeating the visiting* team on Rugby Park by 25 points to 6. Kawhia for the first quarter of ah hour held Te Kuiti well; they were then getting the ball from the scrum, though in the lineouts all through the game Maniapoto excelled. Thus Kawhia obtained the first try. But soon after that the Maniapoto team began to hook the ball with almost monotonous regularity. In the game against Ohura and Waipa the hooking was a weakness, but last Saturday, helped by their greatly superior weight, the ball came out fast and sure —and the backs knew what to do with it! A few passing rushes showed a hiatus between Cameron and McLeod, and so they threw themselves into less orthodox Rugby, baffling the Kawhia backs, with working of the blind side, the dummy and cutting in. The latter's defence was far too easily drawn, and time and again the inside backs would claim their attention to allow the wingers, J. Barlow and Griffin, a more or less clear run. A particularly noticeable example of this was noticed just before Griffin scored—the Kawhia defence all went for Cameron, and were outgeneralled when he snapped a pass outside to Griffin.

R. Barlow, J. Barlow and Evans were Maniapoto's star backs, the brilliance of the first two and the sound headiness of the last proving too much for Kawhia. Of the forwards Craig, Trust and Gault were the best performers. On the Kawhia side Fletcher, especially toward the end of the game, amply demonstrated how and why he is a King Country representative, while Morton showed his worth in the more open play. The goal kicking of both sides was very weak.

The following were the teams:— Kawhia (red and black): L. Harpur; A. Edwards, H. Kamana, D. Edwards; W.Edwards, H. Grey; Roache; M. Martin, J. Derecourt; J. Fletcher, Berntse'n, Bregman; Morton (captain) ,~ Ward; Monroe.

Maniapoto (green and white): E. Buckley; E. Griffin, H. McLeod, J. Barlow; Cameron, J. Evans; R. Barlow; Peterson, Brown, Gault; Turner, Trust; Pickra'ng, Davis, Craig.

Mr. F. Irwin was the referee.

After a slight reverse Kawhia, with judicious kicking and harrying, went to the attack. Roache, their half, was fairly dangerous when he came round the scrum on the blind, but he was pulled down, and a few seconds later Gault, breaking quickly from the lineout, harried the Kawhia backs upfield. From a lineout Evans and Cameron handled well, but McLeod was too far behind to hope of receiving a pass. Trust was on the ball, but did not have anyone to support his dribbling through. With the Kawhia men too eager from the scrum McLeod essayed a penalty shot within easy distance with nO/result. A penalty kick for Kawhia appeared likely to relieve, but J. Barlow received it to speed down and inpass to his brother, and it was only by stifling the return pass that Kawhia averted a try. Cameron snapped a dropkick at. the goal, just missing. Good kicking and determined rushes by their forwards worked Kawhia rapidly right down to their goal line, where the ball went out. Morton took the throw-in cleanly and made a short dash which resulted in his opening the scoring for Kawhia. A. Edwards missed a fairly easy kick. 3—o.

Following play in the centre of the field the home team hooked from the scrum, and Barlow booted downfield. The Kawhia fullback waited for the bounce and before he knew what had happened Evans, following through at high speed, took the ball almost out of his hands and dashed across. R. Barlow 'failed to convert. 3—3. From this period in the game Maniapoto never looked back. So confident were they of their powers of ha'ndling that twice the ball was handed from halfback to wing while they were deep in the 25. Then came a splendid movement. Davis sped through with the ball, handed on to Pickrang, who changed direction to with the backs through Evans. Cameron held fire to draw the opposition, then gave Griffin the ball for a final sprint twenty yards down the sideline and then around to the goalmouth. ' R. Barlow converted. B—3. The next three scores resulted from the work of the Barlow brothers. R. Barlow received the ball, and dummying and twisting, beat half the Kawhia team; J. Barlow received it and beat the other half. The kick failed. Then a splendid dribbling rush sent the Greens' to the attack, and from a scrum R. Barlow worked the blind for his brother to go over with but little opposition. The kick failed. 14—3. Again the two Barlows successlully worked the blind. Bob sent Jack away. It appeared as if the latter must be hemmed in, but a perfect inpass back to Bob left Kawhia standing. The kick failed, making the score 17—3. An intercept by Cameron saw the Greens handle right down the field until Pickrang was forced out near the corner. A splendid cut in by Cameron nearly carried him over. Obstruction gave McLeod a penalty shot at goal, but he failed to take advantage of it. Fletcher, breaking away from the tight, relieved the attack, and Ward carried on with him and the forwards until the other 25 was reached. There two penalty shots were taken by Martin and "Duke" Edwards—both were muffed, and in spite of Fletcher's work the Greens harried Kawhia away from the immediate precincts of the line. Morton broke almost through, Buckley saving with a good kick. A. Edwards broke down the line, hurdling the opposing winger, but R. Barlow was on hand to force the ball. , ' From the lineout after the dropkick Craig received the ball to omaX away on an irresistible dash. The Maniapoto forwards were with him as one man, and with about six men charging down in a row the Kawhia

rearguard had no chance. Craig transferred the ball out to Gault to score. Buckley missed the kick. 20—3.

Kawhia's second score came as a result of a very fine piece of work. A Edwards fielded the ball, manoeu-; vred an opening to come upfield and across to make a connection. Pretty passing followed,.resulting,in Morton claiming his' second try! The kick missed. 20—6. Time was almost up, and the final score came when McLeod tried a dropkick. Trust, following through, beat Kawhia to the ball and scored near the posts. Cameron converted. 25—6.