FIRST REP. MATCH

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4799, 19 June 1939, Page 5

FIRST REP. MATCH

MANIAPOTO DEFEAT OTOROHANGA. BACKS LOOK PROMISING. ENTERTAINING FOOTBALL. Entertaining football was witnessed on Rugby Park last Saturday when the Otorohanga and Maniapoto senior grade representatives met, Maniapoto winning by 19 points to 6. Though some of the play showed that the teams had yet to settle down —this was the first rep. match of the season —at times, particularly towards the close of the game, the spectators were kept in high excitement. Few people will deny 1 that the discovery of the day was Maniapoto’s wing threequarter, S. Wolfe. An Aria Senior B player, in Senior A rep. ranks, he proved himself one of the best attacking men on the field, and his strong determined running gained one try. Another newcomer little known to the local football public was Russell, the Maniapoto second five-eighth, who played a solid game. For their first time together, the Maniapoto backs played a good game. They had two excellent wingers in Wolfe and Richards, and being well fed by their forwards, they gave their wings as many chances as was possible. Nor was their confidence misplaced. The forwards packed and handled well, though they did not hold the advantage over Otorohanga that their weight warranted. Comparatively little dribbling was seen except in relieving, though that may have been because they felt that they could depend on their backs. But one thing is sure, they cannot again afford to be so often penalised. Lifting in the scrum and offside play resulted in Maniapoto being penalised three times as much as Otorohanga, and they made quite a practice of it in their own 25.

Picking the individual packmen on last Saturday’s play is hard. Vicary was probably the pick of the forwards in the open play, but he was not so conspicuous in the tighter work. The success enjoyed by Hangatiki this season was not difficut to imagine after seeing the hardworking Davis brothers, Koro, Ben and Ted, in action last Saturday, and Coffin was playing his usual opportunist game. On the Otorohanga side Phillips was probably the pick of the backs, though he was not always consistent, and the former Maniapoto player, Gilbert Waretini, supported by Palmer and Prescott was numbered among the better forwards. The teams were as follows:

Maniapoto.—McNeil; Wolfe, Collins, Richards; Russell, Franich (captain); Graham; K. Davis, W. Moir, Ben Davis; R. Martin, Ted Davis, Vicary, Willison; Coffin. Otorohanga. Jones, Broughton, Phillips, Campbell; Rogers, L. Cameron; Snowden; Old, Siseley, Parker; Siseley, Emery, Waretini, Prescott; Palmer.

Right at the start of the game Phillips had a chance with a penalty kick, being unsuccessful. For a while Otorohanga had slightly the better of the game. When a rush led by Martin swept play to the Otorohanga 25, the Otorohanga pack retaliated. Maniapoto had the first real chance of the game when the ball passed from Franich through Collins to Wolfe, who won clear only to be recalled for putting a foot over the. line. From the lineout play swung to the other side of the field, and there Richards received to crash over on the blind side in the corner. McNeil failed to convert. 3—o.

Otorohanga immediately attacked and after a five-eighth had cut in Phillips was unlucky not to score. Just as the Maniapoto pack fought their way back a player was caught offside and Phillips took advantage of an easy kick. 3—3. Almost immediately Maniapoto went into the lead again; Coffin gained possession, ran 20 yeards and passed on to Willison, who scored wide out. McNeil’s kick failed. 6 —3.

Even play followed, Otorohanga players endeavouring to break through, while the Maniapoto backs, well fed by their forwards, were swinging away. Another try came to Maniapoto when Graham sent his backs away, the ball passing cleanly out to Wolfe, who outstripped the opposition in a run down the line. McNeil’s kick failed. 9—3. Once again Otorohanga were spurred to greater efforts, the short kick and follow up being well exploited. This gave Otorohanga another chance, but Gilbert Waretini was penalised for rabbiting, and a few minutes later Phillips was unsuccessful with a shot at goal. After half-time the lighter Otorohanga pack kept up the pace, aided

by their inside backs, and their reward came when Waretini sped through the ruck and over. 9 —6. Both teams' let up a little after this, Otorohanga maintaining equal territorial honours by reason of the innumerable penalty kicks awarded it. And suddenly Maniapoto woke up to cause great excitement. Throwing the ball about in great style, they attacked hard. Richards was brought down after the backs handled, but Collins was backing up and carried on a few yards. He was lowered, but Koro Davis was there to seize the ball and carry it over. It was a good score, resultant from excellent backing up. Coffin converted to make the score 14—6.

Once again Wolfe crossed only to be brought back by the umpii’e’s flag. A scrum on the line ensued. From it Graham cut in down through the breakaways to cross. Russell converted with a fine kick. 19—6.

Though they had gone down 10 points in as many minutes, Otorohanga were still able to keep in the picture. After B. Siseley had dribbled downfield, Phillips was given a gift penalty right under the posts, but his attempt failed, and the game ended with the score unchanged.

COLTS v. SENIOR B. WINNERS’ IMPRESSIVE BACKS. The deciding factor in the contest between the Senior'A Colts and the Senior B reps, were the former team’s backs. The packs were very evenly matched, but Colts’ rear division worked exceedingly well, considering that this was the players’ first game together, and the final score was 14—3 in their favour. The best forward on the field was Battley, who as usual never seemed to be off the ball, and he found good support from Rowan and Gordon Lee. The pick of the backs were Silcock, especially strong as a defensive player, but also good at feeding his backs, and that very promising West Coast player, Kjestrup. In the juniors the halfback, W. Neal, Aldi’idge and the fullback Cullen played well, though the backs did not get away sufficiently to judge their real capabilities. The forward division played well as a unit, holding the heavier Colts’ pack in fine style. Martin and R. Neal were noticed doing good work, but there was not a great deal to choose amongst the vanguard. The teams were as follows: Senior A Colts.—Anderson; ThornKjestnip, Tane; Burrell, Quest; Silcock; J. Farrell, Keepa, Buckeridge; Battley, King, Rowan, Munro; Lee. Senior B. Cullen; Aldridge, Waite, Tangihaere; Thomas, Piercy; W. Neal; R. Neal, Johnston, Smith; Martin, Anderson, Holloway, Weir; Beable.

Fairly early in the game the Senior B players gained three points with a penalty taken by Cullen. Halfway through the first half, however, Rowan twisted his way through the loose to gain a try and even the scores. Farrell’s kick, a good effort, was unsuccessful. Halftime came with the score 3 all, and the honours if anything in favour of the lower grade team. Though the Colts’ backs were beginning to look dangerous, so far the breakaways had been able to keep them handicapped.

In the second spell these backs started to speed away. A foretaste of what was to come was seen when Burrell cut in nicely, and a score went begging when the pass between Kjestrup and Thornton flew astray. Then Burrell sent Kjestrup away on a great solo run which ended in his crossing under the posts. G. Lee missed the kick. 6—3.

Playing good football, the Colts’ backs were now dominating the game. Good work in the five-eighths resulted in Kjestrup sending Thornton over for a try, G. Lee again failing with the kick. Only good tackling by the lower grade players prevented the score being piled up against them. Though the Colts’ backs were penetrative, they could not quite drive their advantages home, and when a try did come at last it was from following up by Gordon Lee. M. Anderson converted to make the final score 14—3.

THE JUNIOR MATCH. - MANIAPOTO WIN NARROWLY. A keen contest resulted in the junior match between the Maniapoto and Otorohanga teams. Maniapoto won 9 points to 6, by reason of good work by their rear division. The evenly matched forwards played a hard match, but in the backs Maniapoto were in the ascendant and would have probably achieved a greater advantage had they been prepared to give their wings more chances. In the forward division Ryder and Miln were performing fine work, and in the backs two very promising players were Ray Smith and Robertson.