THE RUGBY CODE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 229, 25 August 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE RUGBY CODE.

New South Welshmen Open Tour; Appearance at Auckland; Promising Opening; Manawhenua beaten by Wellington; Free Scoring Game; Poor Goal Kicking; Canterbury Touring Side Lose to Otago. Feilding soundly beat Kia Toa; Feilding Old Boys default to Athletic.

'.To-day was ev busy one throughout the Dominion, the INew bouth Welshmen opening- their tour at Auckland when they proved capable of accounting for the northern province by 19 points to eight. In the far south the touring Canterbuiy team tried conclusions with their neighbours, Otago, victory resting with the home team by the substantial margin of 31 points to nine. ° Manawhenua played their sixth game for the season at Levin when Wellington furnished the opposing force, but once again defeat was the portion of the combined forces, the Empire City representatives annexing the honours by two points after a bright, free scoring game. Feilding won the second senior competition locally by soundly defeating Kia Toa.

SPECTACULAR FOOTBALL. WELLINGTON’S NARROW WIN. GOAL KICKING ASSISTS MATERIALLY. A contest, which was in the nature of a Ranfurly Shield trial, was staged at the Recreation Ground, Levin, this afternoon, when Wellington, an unsuccessful challenging combination for Dominion honours, opposed Manawhenua, who have still to fulfill their challenge against the present holders. At thenmeeting with Wairarapa, Wellington had .suffered a reverse by a bare si;: points and it was consequently expected that to-day ! s game would furnish a line on the prospects of Manawhenua when they make their endeavour to wrest the trophy from their neighbours over the range. The home team had but recently returned from a southern tour and, while it w-as anticipated that some amendments would be made prior to the side again taking the field, such did not materialise and the weak spots shown on the tour were again manifested. However, Manawhenua gave a vastly improved performance and, had they made more use of their goal kicking opportunities, they might well have won through. It was spectacular football with scoring coming at frequent intervals and the issue in doubt right throughout. THE TEAMS. Conditions were excellent for play, the rain of the early morning having given way to brilliant sunshine, aitiiough it left the ground slightly heavy. Two eleventh Hour alterations were made in the ranks ’of the home s.de, the rival fifteens which filed out being as under ; Wellington (black) .—Cuming, Mackay, Ramson, Broderick, Chaney, Mackenzie, Coman, Porter, Wilson, O’Regan, Shearer, Blacker, Sly, Graham, Edgar. Manawhenua (blue'). Taylor, Strange, Westwood, Roberts, Robb, Akuira, Parata, Dalzell, Summers, Crawford, Tatana, Galpin, Parsons, Satherley, Miles. .Manawhenua elected to defend the western goal, they having the sun at their backs and Porter set the ball in motion, Roberts being forced into touch inside the twenty-five. A free kick at tie first scrum to the blues enabled item to .work to the attack, an attempt to open up by the blacks passing across the field without any direct advantage. A free kick for offside enabled the visitors to work to midfield id a break away saw Robb come i -toss to save. A long kick by Taylor vent unaccepted by Cuming, but he recovered to send to Strange, who was caught in possession and forced into touch. A further free kick carried the blacks to the twenty-five line where a hand hack to Coman saw the half ("it through prettily to beat Taylor and go over in a good position. Shearer goaled and within 10 minutes of commencement the visitors were five points up. Wellington 5, Manawhenua 0. Immediately following upon .the kick cut, a cut in by Robb enabled Manawhenua to invade and a great opportunity was lost when an awkward bounce beat two blues who were handy. Satherley attempted to barge Ins way through, but was upended and the blacks freed their line. However, the blues returned and from a scrum Parata dodged round the side and when challenged by Coman, threw a pass nut to Tatana, who ran over and round to good position. Taylor goaled. Manawhenua 5, Wellington 5. A kick through by Strange placed Goman awkwardly and be threw the ball out into touch. The acceptance of the kick was smothered and from a scrum the blues heeled to Parata, who sent out to Akuira, but a high pass went unaccepted and offside relieved the situation for Wellington. A free kick in turn saw Taylor narrowly miss his objective from a shot just inside the centre line. A spectacular effort bv Chaney brought a brilliant try to the blacks when ho side-stepped his -Viiy clean through, badly bluffing the opposition. Shearer had no difficulty in goaling. Wellington 10, Manawhenua 5. a further sensational turn was'forth-, corning when Roberts swung a long m.ss infield to Akuira, who sent on Westwood, to Strange and the winger followed, through to kick past Cuming and ground wide out. .Table's shot went slightly astray. Manawhenua 8, Wellington 10. The blacks went to the attack,, but from a return kick Taylor came through , 7/ side to hand oil to Roberts who returned for the full-back in short mint, but Broderick sent the bull into P thc ’dead ball area. A five-

yards scrum was ordered and from a clearance Akuira marked, but lie failed to find the uprights. Back piled the blues and from a throw in right down in the corner Summers accepted to go over. Taylor failed. Manawhenua 11, Wellington 10. Scoring was fast and furious, Coman opening up another passing bout in which Chaney cut through and the ball went in and out to Porter, who dived over in a tackle. Ramson landed a beautful goal. Wellington 15, Man a when a a 11.

An exchange of marks left the centre of activities in the black zone and from a handling bout Westwood made a bold bid, his- short kick being forced down as Strange rushed up on the scene. A sharp foray by Wellington was stemmed by an infringement and a short punt through set the blues again on the attack, but the defenders, following upon some hot moments, worked their way free and the blues were penalised for putting the ball in incorrectly, but the range was too great for Ramson, Akuira lining out. With Manawhenua on the defensive, Westwood suffered an injury and was compelled to retire, T. Parata going on. The newcomer came into prominence when he burst through the ruck, but he held on too long. Half-time sounded with play in neutral zone and the scores unaltered. MANAWHENUA GREAT FORWARDS. Roberts opened up with fireworks by sending a wide pass across field to T. Parata, but Porter got across to stay their advance and a lucky liner found touch b.*yond the centre line. The blue forwards were playng great guns and they were quickVv back. At this stage Cuming went off, Petersen substituting. From a scrum right under the blacks’ goal posts, the bluesj heeled and, although the handling broke down, T. Parata barged his way over. Taylor failed. Manawhenua 14, Wellington 15. A short handling bout carried the blacks to the attack and, although repelled, Porter went close'to the line before bong halted: A pass out went along the line to Mackay who bolted over wide out. Ramson went close to goaling. Wellington 18, Manawhenua 14. A ground ’ kick by Strange which found touch set the blues attacking in the stand confer, but the blacks came away in a handling bout, failure to hold a. pass by Ramson spoiling a dangerous movement. Directly following a certain score was lost when a hand on was accepted offside right on the goal line. Wellington maintained their advantage. Porter again playing a prominent part to that end. A kick through to Petersen furnished the fullback with an excellent opportunity to pot a goal and lie ran into position to land a neat goal. Wellington 22, Manawhenua 14. “Unperturbed, the blues fought back and, from a rush to the line, Galpin picked up and went over. Tataua’s kick went under the bar. Manawhenua 17, Wellington 22. Summers, who had been in a bad way finally left the field, Moodie coming on. A strong rush bustled the Wellington backs off the and Tatana went over in the tackle, Taylor missed an easy shot. Manawhenua 20, Wellington 22. A simple- try came the way of the blacks when a rolling ball worked in field along the touch line and Sly was handy to pick up and go over. Ramson failed. Wellington 25, Manawhenua 20. The blues—came away in a handling bout, but Strange was swept into touch at the twenty-five line. A free kick in good position was not availed of by Taylor, the ball swerving in after passing the posts, while a further one saw His drop shot pass low. The blues | were fighting hard to equalise and they held the blacks penned up on their : line. From a lineout r W. Parata ' claimed a mark and his drop shot hit the bar, rebounded from the upright back on to the bar to bounce over. Manawhenua 23, Wellington 25. Play was hard, fast and exciting, but Wellington came back and Coman fed his speedy winger for Mackay to das'h over wide out. Ramson failed. Wellington 28, Manawhenua 23. From a free kick at the centre Tatana found the uprights with a good range kick and the-teams filed off with 1 theLscores standing two points in the visitors’ favour. Manawhenua 26, Wellington 28. Mr E. Bevan carried the whistle. j