RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 243, 12 September 1929, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MANAWHENUA’S SLUGGISH EFFORTS.

TARANAKI’S GOOD MARGIN. Cold weather prevailed for the representative engagement, Taranaki versus Manawhenua, at the Showground yesterday afternoon. The steady cross breeze made handling difficult and the game did not rise to a particularly high standard in consequence. The teams were representative in name only, prominent players on each side being absent, and Manawhenua were disappointing throughout, many of the crowd, which numbered approximately 2000, leaving before the close of the game. The records of the opposing forces for the present -season presented somewhat of >a contrast, for whereas Taranaki had entered upon their representative engagements in highly promising manner, they fell from grace later, although they re-established themselves somewhat last Saturday against Auckland. Manawhenua, on the other hand, lost their first three games prior to winning at their next two appearances. Yesterday’s game marked tho home team’s sixth engagement, but it did not enable them to square their account, their efforts being sluggish throughout and their hackling wretched. The victory to Taranaki enabled the visitors to even up their account with Manawhenua, these provinces having met on five previous occasions since Manawatu and Horowhenua combined for representative purposes, their records now reading: Played six, Taranaki won three with an aggregate of G2 scoring points, Manawhenua won three with an aggregate of 59 points. THE TEAMS.

Tho rival combinations which filed out on to the contesting area a few minutes after the appointed hour were as under:

Taranaki (amber and black). —Collins, Crawford, Hunt, Hammond, Grant, Owen, R. Hohaia Guy, Gargon, Murphy, Clark, Walter McLean, Wolfe, Baldwin. ■ Manawhenua (blue with red and white bars). —Wasley, Strange, Fletcher, Walker, Riddell. Akuira, Bull, Waldin, Crawford, Summers, Miles, Galpin, Conrad D'llzieil, Satherlev. Taranaki defended the northern goal with the sun in their faces, the wind being straight across the ground. Galpin kicked off, but a man in front and offside immediately following gave the visitors the initial -advantage. The blue forwards cleared, but with Akuira tackled in possession Guy dribbled into tho home twenty-five. An attempt to open up by Hohaia broke down at Owen, the five-eighth suffering a temporary injury, but the territorial advantage was maintained. With a clearance going wingwards, Hohaia secured to essay a drop at goal, Walker lining out on the ball dropping short. Grant came into the picture when he sidestepped his way through prior to handing on to his forwards, but tho advance was stemmed before danger threatened. Summers led the homesters free and Walker burst across field in possession, a movement opening among the backs which was halted on the visitors’ twenty-five line. Back their forwards worked, Grant and Owen assisting to that end, and from a free kick Hunt had a drop shot at goal, Fletcher accepting the ball to line out beyond the centre. A bail offside breach by Miles lost to the blues their advantage, but Walker brought the crowd 1o their feet when lie danced his way through to tire opposite end where Collins was required to line out twice in close succession. A carry over by Collins from a hand back by Hohaia resulted in a five yards scrum, Bull attempting tb jink his wav over only to be held up. “Rabbiting” cost the visitors a penalty but Fletcher’s shot from wide out dropped short and Owen finally lined out at the centre. Hohaia fed his back line, but with a score promising Owen held on with supports alongside him and his delayed pass was taken by Walker. Matters were, however, dangerous when Waldin snapped up the ball to hand on to Fletcher who sent it through to Collins, the fullback marking. Strange, who had met with an injury in a tackle, retired, Bramwell going on. HUNT KICKS A FIELD GOAL.

Taranaki worked their way into the homo zono and the blues had. some anxious moments, their forwards being very slow in getting back. Tho acceptance of a pass when in an offside position cost Conrad a penalty, but Collins’s shot went wide, Bull lining out. Exchanges between AVasley and Hunt saw the advantage remain with the visitors and a free kick against a defender gave Hohaia a shot, but his effort went astray, although failure to accept the ball cleanly by Conrad got his side into difficulty. In the ensuing melee Manawhenua pushed their way free, hut Hunt received the hall in tho loose to pot a pretty goal at tho end of half an hour’s play. Taranaki 4, Manawhenua 0.

An immediate reply was forthcoming from the hosesters, but AValdin was beaten in the race to ground the leather. A pass out bv Akuira to Riddell and stab punt saw Crawford caught in possession and a snap mark bv Bull furnished him with an easy shot, but he could not find the uprights. Another opportunity to reduce the deficit was forthcoming when Fletcher had a shot at goal, but the wind carried the ball outside. From a magnificent liner by Hunt, the visitors opened up, Grant setting his line operating and, with the forwards joining in, Crawford spoilt a nice movement by knocking on right in the corner. At this stage Murphy, who had suffered an earlier injury, was compelled to retire, Mercer replacing him which necessitated a re-adjustment in tho visitors’ line. A series of assaults along tho left wing by Taranaki sorely tried the blues until a free kick brought relief. AValter broke away, hut when almost clear was halted. However, Riddell came across in an attempt to clear, and Grant charged down the clearance, he having only to fall on the leather to score. Collins failed.

Taranaki 7, Manawhenua 0

The ball emerging raggedly from the scrum allowed the visitors to come away with it at their toes, the homesters finally forcing from a long drop shot by Hohaia. Manawhenua were very sluggish and it was only a free kick which finally enabled them to invade for the first occasion for some time. Playing the man after he had got rid of the ball, cost a visitor a penalty, hut Fletcher’s kick passed outside, half-time being immediately called. TARANAKI EXTEND THEIR TOTAL.

AA’alter brought the sides into action on resumption and, although the blues invaded, a free kick and nice liner by Hunt, drove them back. Failure by AValker to accept an awkward kick spelt danger to his side, but ho recovered to dash round and line out, although it was a poor effort. A dribblo by Summers carried the blues well down field, but Owen danced through the feeble tackling of tho homesters prior to sending on to Crawford, but a forward pass was ruled. Play was quickening up, but the blues were still unhappy, the

backs failing to handle the ball cleany, and Hunt was stepping in very opportunely. An improvement was forthcoming when Akuira, Fletcher and Walker got moving, hut tho tackling was sound and sure. A pretty movement opened by Owen saw tho ball go in and out, but, with Wasley beaten, Owen got off-side right on the home line. A nico liner bv Wasley drove them back beyond the centre line and an over hard kick forced tho amber and blacks. With play back at the centre Owen cut straight through and the ball went from Grant to Hunt for the last named to go over alongside the posts. McLean goaled. Taranaki 12, Manawhenua 0. Taranaki were giving the homesters little respite and Mercer fielded a difficult ball to dance his way through prior to opening up to his supports, but a great opportunity was lost just short of the goal line. Summers retired ivitlr an injured leg, Bojdt going on. From a line-out deep in the visitors’ territory, Crawford, the blue scrummager, burst clear to hand on to Satherley, but the gap in tho defence could not bo forced. Hohaia jinked his way round from a scrum, but when clear his pass was accepted offside. • With play at the centre, Bull sent out an awkward pass to Akuira and he dropped it. Walter stepped in to go right through and repeatedly fend off Wasley prior to going over at tho corner. Collins failed.

Taranaki 15, Manawhenua 0. An attempt to open up by the visitors broke down and Fletcher wentraway with the ball at his toe, only to miskick a few yards short of his objective. Taranaki came back again, Hunt being halted by Wasley right under tho goal and, from the ensuing melee, the attackers were penalised, tho blues sweeping to the opposite end only for Crawford to kick too hard and enable Collins to force. A brilliant effort by Walker saw tho winger go right through to Collins before being halted and, with an open field ahead of him, Riddell failed to accept the winger’s pass. Tho forwards, however, came in and rushed to the goal front. Guy here retired with an injury to his face. A scrum down was ordered where Bull was disappointed in an attempt to dive over. From a second scrum a clearance went to Walker, who marked, and the winger dropped a goal. Taranaki 15, Manawhenua 3.

Time was called a few minutes later, tho well deserved honours being with the visitors. Mr P. O. Skoglund referred very satisfactorily.

WELLINGTON TEAM FOR SATURDAY.

The following team has been selected to represent Wellington against Manawhenua at Wellington on Saturday : Jarman (Hutt), Pelham (Athietic), Chaney (Johnsonville), Murray (Eastbourne), Tuck (Wellington), Sharpe (Oriental), Leys (’Varsity), Shearer (Poneke), Mollier (Berhamporc), Coulston (Petone), Cave (Oriental), Ward (Oriental), Fell (Petone), Edgar (’Varsity), Graham (Oriental). Emergencies : Forwards, Berry (Athletic), Martin (Petone), Hinton (Hutt); back, Davids (Oriental).

NARROW WIN FOR OTAGO

WANGANUI BEATEN BY TWO POINTS. Per Press Association. WANGANUI, Sept, 11. Tn a representative Rugby match played here to-day, Otago defeated Wanganui by the narrow margin of two points, the final score being 22 to 20. 'l’lie better team won, though the home side played spiritedly in the second s]>oll. The two points correctly represented the merits of the two fifteens. In tho first session, the honours were with Otago, the backs playing to Wanganui’s defence with sharp passing movements. Inaccuracies on the part of the outside men, and Wanganui’s low tackling kept the score within reasonable, bounds. Tn the second spell, the visitors did not have so much territorial advantage and Wanganui made reepated thrusts, the teams scoring neck and neck until the end. Findlay opened the scoring by kicking a goal from a mark for Otago. A few minutes later, a nice passing movement in the Otago backs, tho whole chain handling, sent Wilson over. No goal resulted and Otago were six points up. The Wanganui van took a hand and Ileise scored under the bar after a rush with tho ball at toe. Tilley converted. Bathgate goaled from a penalty, making the score: Otago 9, Wanganui 5. Kilby worked tho blind side and Tilley scored for Whnganui and the board at half-time read: Otago 9, Wanganui 8. . , , Scott added to Otago’s account by scoring near the posts and Bathgate converted. Tilley retaliated by scoring from a movement initiated by Beiliss. He repeated the performance and the scores were level —14 all. The visitors were not long in coming back and after a passing rush, Scott pushed the defence aside, Bathgate converting. The Otago backs, in a nice passing rush, heat the defence and Oliver scored, the kick failing—Otago 22, Wanganui 14. Ambrose regained the ball on tho bounce and heat Nicholson to score. Kilby then swung the Wanganui backs into action, a pretty movement letting Ambrose cross well out, after taking an infield pass by McLennan. The kick was unsuccessful, the match ending: Otago 22, Wanganui 20.

AVIN FOR AVELLINGTON TEAM. Per Press Association. HAMILTON, Sept. 11. In a Rugby match played here this afternoon tho AVellington representatives defeated AVaikato by 22 points The visitors had all tho better of the first half, back and forward, and should have had a bigger margin than 11 to 3 at half-time. Many of their chances failed because the inside backs were not sufficiently penetrative. In the second half the AVaikato forwards played an improved game, often pressing the visitors. Tho latter opened out again in the concluding stages, putting on 8 points quickly. AVellington were first to score. Cuming putting a goal over from tho field. Then Hoazelwood. the visiting full-back followed suit. A long run by Huxtable with Foley and McDonald in support saw the latter score. A breakaway by Anderson fell just short of a try for the home team. In the immediate play AVellington were penalised, and Hawke goaled. AVaikato set up a strong attack at the beginning of the second half. Buckingham opened the game in front of the goal arid Kemp scored. Play then see-sawed for some time. Securing from a ruck Julian scoieil for AVellington. AA’aikato were dangerous, but good defence kept them out. Julian again set his backs going in the twentyfive and Rushbrook scored. In tho last minute, Julian again crossed, and Ileazelwood converted.

MATCH FOR PRINCE OF AVALES CUP. Per Press Association. AVELLINGTON, Sept. 11. Spectators numbering 3500 enjoyed a Rugby treat at Athletic Park today, when the second match of tho season for the Prince of AVales Cup was played between tho AVestern Maori

District (the holders) and tho Eastern Maori District.

The two fifteens, comprising splendid specimens of physical manhood, took the field and they moved quickly throughout the two spells of 45 minutes. The Rugby material was there and only needed moulding into shape. The chief weakness apparent was the tendency to throw tho ball anywhere, with the result that it landed often into the hands of tho enemy. The Western team owed its victory to a superior set of backs, which moved quickly and showed up well, both on attack and defence. For Western, Fuller, Johnson, W. Robinson, Hohaia, Reed and Pelham scored tries, Fuller converting three. For Eastern, Reed, Ruru and Williams scored tries, Nepia converting one. Western won by 24 points to 11, thus retaining the cup. The handing over of tho trophies was done by Hon. H. Atmore. CANTERBURY B DEFEAT WEST COAST. -Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, Sept. 11. Tho Canterbury B representatives today defeated AVest Coast by 27 points to 12. In the first spell West Coast held a slight advantage, the half-time scores being 12 to 9 in their favour. However, the visitors’ backs thereafter were superior to their opponents, who had to rely mainly on their forwards.