RUGBY CODE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 238, 5 September 1928, Page 10

RUGBY CODE

HAS THE TIDE TURNED FOR MANAWHENUA ?

TWO SUCCESSES REGISTERED,

(By “Cross Bar.”)

Victories were registered by Manawatu A and Manawhcnua last week. Fortune’s unkindly smile has apparently brightened. With Hawke’s Bay due here to-day and the all important contest with Wairarapa on Saturday week, the change was not untimely. P’ollowing upon their having to submit to defeat on six successive occasions, Manawhenua broke their run of “outs” at the expense of Taranaki on Wednesday last. The 20 points registered against the amber and blacks raised Manawhenua’s scoring total to 104, as compared with 139 by the opposition. That defence has been the weakness of the blues is evidenced by the fact that opposing sides have attained double figures on each occasion. It was Manawatu A’s fourth engagement for the season when they met Bush at Woodville on Saturday and it

brought to the green and whites their first victory. The 1G point margin did much to even up the scoring recorded, Manawatu having registered 46 points as compared with 52 by opposing sides. The record of Manawatu B is considerably in advance of the A’s, althought the distinguishing of the players individually has become confusing, so frequently have members figured in the ranks of both representative fifteens.

Like the A’s, the B’s have participated in four games, but, unlike them, they reversed the order of things in that whereas the first elect lost their first three games'and won their fourth, the B’s won their first three contests only to lose the fourth. Their scoring record reads G 7 points for with 42 against.

Tatana has the honour of heading the scoring returns for Manawhenua with 25 points, compiled from 6 tries, 1 penalty goal and 2 goals from tries., He opened his account again Wairarapa in the first representative engagement for the season; added a try and a goal from a try against Canterbury ; 2 tries and a penalty goal against Wellington, and 2 tries and a goal from a penalty on Wednesday. Strange, the Kia Toa wing threequarter, has proved the fruitful winger for Manawhenua this season, for since finding a place in the side he has effected five crossings. In opposition to Wanganui, Otago and Canterbury he furnished a try in each game, but last Wednesday lie went one better by contributing two. Incidentally, Strange made two crossings against Bush on Saturday, not one as reported previously, C. Hight, the substitute winger for Manawatu, having effected but the one.

Dais, the Oroua wing three-quarter who has assisted Manawatu on three occasions this season, has had the satisfaction of penetrating the opposition’s defences on each occasion. Unfortunately, the dash ho puts into his bursts when in possession of the ball lias resulted in his sustaining an injury in some of the tackles, and he had to leave the field again on Saturday at Woodville. With a stiff cuing of his defensive powers, this player should'make good next season. Fearnley, who has figured for both Manawatu A and B this season, played full-back at Woodville on Saturday and his kicking ability was productive of nine points for Manawatu. TV ith ttvo players of such promise as lie and Wasley in the field next season, Manawatu should not be found lacking in this department. C. Hight has also opened a scoring account for both Manawatu and Manawatu B. ono try and 2 goals from tries being his credit balance" with the A’s, and two tries and four goals from tries with the B’s, he thus having a total contribution of 21 points. In the four matches contested bv the A’s no less than 33 players have participated, while in a like number of games the B’s have required 39 players. The position does not appear so bad. however, when it is mentioned that-17 members have figured for both divisions. THE JUNIORS’ SUCCESS., Congratulations to Manawhenua juniors on gaining a triumph over Wellington juniors on Saturday. At their first appearance against Wanganui, the elect of the two councils made a very promising showing; indeed, they should never have lost and, as there were some very evident weaknesses in their ranks, the re-adjust-ments effected apparently bore fruit. Manawatu juniors have played but the two games this season and now that Manawhenua are combining in this grade as well as in the senior,

probably their activities will bo restricted as a result in the future. Prior to the merger of the junior forces, Manawatu had opposed Bush and Tlorowhenna, when a victory was recorded in each instance, their aggregate points being 35 for with 23 against—satisfactory, if not flattering figures.

Last season, R. E. Hatch, who centres his enthusiasm in directing the fortunes of the third grado players, had some excellent material to base his selections from, and his elect emerged from the season’s activities with v.liree wins and one loss as their record. Wellington fourths, with their wider field, proved too powerful for the green and whites and they had to submit to defeat by 21 points to nine.

It was early evidenced that the same galaxy of talent was not available among the third grade players this season, for whereas in their initial engagement last year they hail accounted for To Kawau juniors by 14—0, thoy bad to bo content with a drawn game (11 —11) this year. Worse, was, however, to follow for Wanganui were able to emerge with a two points advantage at their meeting, while against Wellington fourths they were badly trounced to the tune of 40 points to three, and four days later thev, went under to Te Kawau juniors 9—3. The following tables disclose the contributors in representative matches this season : SCORING CONTRIBUTORS.

Manawhenua. T. P. M F.G. C. Pts. Tatana ..6 1 - — 2 25 Strango ,. 5 — — — — 15 Taylor .. 2 — — 1 1 12 Parata, W. ... .. 1 — 2 — — 9 Akuira .. 1 1 — — 1 8 Galpin .. 2 — — — — 6 Parata, T. ... .. 2 — — — — 6 Westwood .. 2 — — — — 6 Glceson .. 1 — — — 1 5 Crawford .. 1 — — 3 Darragh, H. .. 1 — — 3 Parsons .. 1 — — — — 3 Summers .. 1 — — — — 3 26 2 2 1 5 104 MAXAWATU. A and B Teams T. P. M. F.G. C. Pts. Might, C . 3 — — — 6 21 Waldin, M. .. . 3 — — — 1 11 Mias .3 — — — — 9 Fearnley . 0 1 — — 3 • 9 Strange . 2 — — — — 6 Akuira . 1 1 — — 6 Goldfinch . 2 — — — — 6 Cfochrano . 2 — — — — 6 Bramwell . 2 — — — — 6 Conrad . 1 — — — — 3 Powell . 1 — — — — 3 Howell . 1 • . — — 3 Dewe . 1 — — 3 Griffin . 1 — — — — 3 Hutchins . 1 — — — — 3 Field . 1 — — — — 3 Wells . 1 — — — — 3 Galpin 1 — — • — 3 Riddell 1 — — 3 ShapIesUi 1 — — — — 3 29 ' 2 — - 10 113 JUNIORS. Manawai u and Manawhenua. T. P. M. F.G. C. Pis. Benge 4 1 — — 3 21 Rose 11 — — '3 12 Smith 3 — — — — 9 McKenzie (H.j 3 — — — 9 Cope 2 — — — — 6 Waugh 1 — — — — 3 Seymour 1 — — — — 3 15 2 — - 6 63 THIRDS. Manawatu. T. P. M. F.G. C. Pts. 'Wnuist — 2 — — 1 8 Williams 1 — — — 3 Towler 1 — — — 3 Mitchell 1 — 3 Puklowski 1 —- — — 3 Goodwin — 1 — — 3 4 3 — - 1 23