Manawatu v. Wellington.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7903, 1 August 1904, Page 5

Manawatu v. Wellington.

F3t Goai. Post*]

The Manawatu Rugby Union'/have every, reason to feel pleased with the contest, between the above teams, for the 'large'*attendance, on the Showground last Saturday clearly demonstrated that -the';ejJorts .of>the; officials were .appreciated and th-it ,tiht- gapie has onee more become pouiilar.in Palnaerston. . The general" opinion before. thß game was that the local'team would make a "dod fight, and they fully bore out expectations.: ;■; A few: more.gam'es of the same description, should place the Union in such- a position that in the future tiu-y will have rioi trouble in 'fulfilling; their obligation's.. Appended are details of the match:—. :- ~ ; : .. .

From; the ;kick-off Wollington vyeie forced down, and on returning the bill into tlie. field Manawatu booame at'gccssivb, and'penned the visitcra"well on Cheir goal line.' Tho city.foz wards clearing their lines brought the play our-to tha 25's,'and from a scrum thoro H.«witr, passed to Stalker. Purrie cutting in secured the ball and handed it on to Baker, who dashedaway but was quickly grasaed. A large amount of desultory forward work took place, but- tho blaqks1 could not shake the loaal men off. Shortly afterwards Eobertg, Wallace and Barber removed the game to neutral ground, when Wallace jcade nn opening for Molntyre, who ran to the ioner flags, Stalker throwing him into touch in-goal. On resuming Archie McMion, " Paddy ". McMiJAu and Whisker ran the play well oub o£ danger, aud Matiavyatu were again attacking. Tha Wellington forwards gained a temporary advon'age, but H. Hewitt sent tho ball well down the field, Wallace returning rut ot touch. At this stage of the game Wellington had the upper hand and their backs tried, hard to break away, tho iocal~backs'collaring being too deadly. Mainly through ihe fine kicMug of Wallace and Koberls.play was iemovc-d to the Green's base. Wallace giiicing possession made a. good attempt at goal, the ball just going outside the posts. From the kick-but, Spencer, who was giving a grand exhibition at full-back, sent the ball well up the field, tLe Green's again liaviDg to defend. The local backs relieved the pressure, forcing the scene of operations just insida the half-way. On throwing the leather out, the Blacks came through with an irresistible forward rush, . Calriaii, Sweeney, Dnscoll and Gross, being prominent, and despite the efforts of the local backs, the latter scored. If the forwards had got quickly round tiieir backs this score could have easily been saved. JNo goal .resulted. Wellington 3, Manawatu nil. Starting again, the city men were soon aggressive, but " Paddy " McMinn showed that he is still a champion in the front rank, securing th<s ball every time it was pui in his side, thereby nullifying the back Rams ot his opponents. Roberta,. Walker-, and Barber worked oft a pretty .passing run, which was apoii'-d through MacQregor knecklDg on. The Wellington forwardH wore now showing splendid combination, and their passing and dribbling rushes had iianawatu iu serious difficulties on several, occasions. The blacks were hard an the ufctack, when. H. Keivilt came to tbs rescue by punting well down the field. Hepburn, Whiskeiv and '".faddy! McMinn broka nway from the line, their career being cut short by Boberta-punting out. Archiß McJlinn from a loose scrum, Eot e'ean away, hit* brother, and Whisker in close attendance, but Spencer saved in grand style. * rush by the visiting forwards, iu which Calnan, Wright and Grriffiths wero prominent. was saved by Scott. la the lino out the blacks were getting tho . bests of the gams, fiud some very dangerous forward d&srafs took place, the greens' baoks just saving in | time. Both back divisions wer.- SeiiJj ing the ball well, the visitors usii-g sbe touch line effectively. The local men kicked too much into field. Hew;tt, gaining possession of the oval, passed to Fume, who kicked high, raced down on to the fullback and smothered his mum, a scrum taking plsoe. Hewitt threw I the ball to Stalker. The Jaitsr ran well," j but in trying-to make a sure opening iwas colored by Wallace. The Man a. I awatu forwards were not playing with any organisation, and only for that they might have .•• cored oa several occarions. Adttrus headed a rush aud carried the play well down the fisld, Wallace savefl, returning out of touch. At this period Johnstou showed to idvantage, and m conjunction with Bmkh and McMinn brothers, got away with a small dribble Boberfcs falling on the ball, the green's vrere awarded a tree kick. The shot at goal was missed by A. Me Minn. Wellington quickly, ran Ilie game to the home team's territory, and the forwards overrunning the ball gave Roberts a chance. He passed to Wallace, who handed it on to Karber, and the latter crossed near the corner, but the try was disallowed, the ball being thrown forward.. The local men shifted the play to the half-way flag, and from the Imeoufc Hardliam, W-atkins, Wright and Sweeney were seen to advantage in a passing rush. Calnan seciiring the oral ! darted across, Baker collaring- him on I the line. Wnllace placed a neat goal. Wellington-8, ilanawam nil. ■ Shortly afterwards the spell ended.

Wellington started' tlie . ball in motion. Scott securing rail well upj tie field, au'd placed the 'ball out at ■the; -'half-way- The Une-out pHry of the local men nad iindergponc an iaxprovemont, and at times it was very, effective and / gained Considerable "■round.-Archie McMinir brbtig-ht oli" another of those sensational rushes which characterises his play, and Whisker blocking! the :return. the ball went out at tie corner. Fro-tn the tKrow-in. ArcMa McMimn 'took, tife ball and fell across. ~F. Hewitt made an excellent attempt, the ball fa'Jliug under the bar-, Wellington S, litanawatu 3. The Greens still kep.t up attack, but tKo defence."of Ithc visitors was good. Hewitt again made splendid attempt at goal from, .a free luck, Wellington being forced/ In kicking out,. Baker marked, and sent • the leather out near the corner. A great struggle took place here, _■ the ■ Manawatu .men -battling witli great determination ,to get over, but being, ' met witli equal vigo'urv At last their efforts were rewarded." A3ams, picking -the ball up; w'orkect Ms way ito thb linej when Archie- ITcMiiin- grabbed tie ball and 'diyed across.^ The try was disallowed on the grounds : that he was collared ori the. line^ Wellington then' forced the local men out -o£ their, ground. ■ A passing rushi; took place "between Roberts,''-.. Wallace, and Mclntyre..- ' The last-named, when looking- dangerous, was; splendidly grassed by Baker.- The visitors were pressing, Wio; Greens very hotlyi,;ahcl Wall ace, running, strong;' centred the baH^;-;-/Hia/;for\vards^;r(inniHg,'.:(i)j i 'V.t6;' ■■■"'. ."■ '-..'r :y.y '.;■:"'■ ■>?■ i": -y.-\' ■'■'.V' ! :-' '-';.'■■

It bungled, Jfanawatu "forcino-. On resuming play, a pretty passing rush took place, Roberts* Wallace, Barber; ■ amd-■"-'.' McGregor handling•■ the t 'ballVr.in!; perfectv slyl^ Furrie collared. Barber; -and then gat on-to McGregor, and saved r.--wbart loo.kQcl like •a, "certain score. Th« game was now very1 fast, and local forwards wore playing a muchibetter g-ame than in the : - pi-eviou's.. spell,.bu-ii their oi-ganisation ''"was'"not near equal to that-'of-: 'tlie ciiy'mea.:"Paddy"; McMinn, who 'had hem pi aying a heady game all ; throiigh, worked the ball clear... of a loose scramble, - and carried tbe leather to Spcneciv, who ag'ain ■■; demonstrated what a reliable full-back he is by punting out of touch... During this spell Wallace's, was splendid, especially*.his punting out of bounds. The Manawatu backs, also, lacked well, ;b)iit centred too muoli!, giving their forwards too much to g'o>. Manawatu were now straining' j every nerve to 'get on terms %\-itli! j their opponents, arid Hewitt, Stalk- ; or,' Scottj and Jiime, moved up tho fi-old with a passing- run, tlio latter boing. thrown out of touch. Forward rushes on t'lic part of AVelling-tori sent tho ball back to half-way, M-'hen Archie McMimy-; with a .-cliiXblingrush, shot through the Wellington! •backs,-: and, -brimpirigi tiro full-<back over, had a clear lead with tho iball, but | ,he. was., unfairly obstructed by' the Wellington men.. The referee would have been justified in, awarding- him a try, instead p£ a free kick, for if_ ho had no-t been- interfered with in the' manner, cfcscri'bed he would liiayo scored. Tho rost of the-i spell was a seri-es of forward play, j j\r-arna;TVatu 'being; well in it nil the i time, Imt tlra aUniirable defence of the opposing-, backs kept tkcii ia oltcck, the whist'lo sounding closed "on the scene of a fast and in revesting game. .-...■- ' • •; ° J

In viewing the form shown by the players. F. Hewitt demonstrated that:he is a splendid kick;. He was feeblf in taking the ball, but got out of his difficulties well. Furrie and J. Baker showed marvelous defensive work ; the former should be given more chances. Scott did net sepm to have a great deal to do, but nevprthelps-s he acquitted himself xvii.'u eredifc. Stalker's game at (ive-eighf-s proved himself lo he a. very sound vlayer, but he should have passed on feveral occasions instead of frying to break through. H. Hewitt h»s lost none of his .dash. He kicked in fine style- It would be an improvement'in Ins play if he would transfer the ball to hia fiv'^-eighih quicker. Tho forwards cave one the impression, eepecially in the-fii-at ppoll, that tbey wore troubled with " that tired ■foeling." But the p=«lm must bo piven to Archie McMinn, Whisker and "Paddy " MeMinn; the list-- amed never " hncikad" better. Wolliogton paid a tribute to his abilities by placing. three men in the front row, but he got the ball nil the same, Adams, Fmner and J.:-hr>3»on worked bard. The Wellington basks in combina-ion wore ahead of ihe local men, and Hpencer at fu'l-backwußfault--Igs=. McGregor 3id not give one the ircpresoion thofc ho was a New Zealand 'Tep." Barber and Me In tyro were sife and ran and kicked well. Wallace ia a perfeas player, aud if he had been away Manawfttu would have fcored a vicory. Roberts, at h&lf. kicked and passed wel'j, and if Harvey, the New Zealand half, is batter^ than him, he arast be a c inker. The forwards play wall together, mid their loose forward rushes wero very effective!, Calnan and Sweenpy being tho pick. Cross " grafted " hard, but he was not so conspicuous as the other two. It is to-be hoped H*veeney will be able to take hia'placo in the " rep." team on Wednesday, for he was greatly missed, last Saturday. I should also liked to have seen Boon in. for his style of play would have benefited the 'team considerably. . *

An unpleasant feature of Saturday's match was the obstruction Archie McMinn received from seme ot' the Wellington., players, who interfered with him on several occasions in a most unfair manner.