SPECTACULAR RUGBY

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 154, 29 May 1930, Page 2

SPECTACULAR RUGBY

BRITISHERS’ COMFORTABLE WIN

CLEVER BACKS AND FORWARDS

Sheer speed in their inside backs, together with a fund of clevernes, and supported by a set of forwards who have the requisite speed to join in any handling bout launched by the rearguard, enabled the Britishers to triumph over Manawhenua in no uncertain manner, yesterday, even though the run of the play may have made the scoring margin somewhat flattering.

Finessing brilliantly for openings, the members of the visiting combination eclipsed the Manawhenua men in the second spell, and made it apparent that we have still much to learn.

The sole consolation forthcoming- to the beaten side was that, although they had the largest number of points debited against them to date, they at least had the satisfaction of registering the greatest number to date against the visitors UNFORTUNATE CONDITIONS

ball away slowly and Akuira failed to take a low pass. Although Manawhenua won the initial scrum, it gave them little advantage and, with Dunne getting offside, the first , penalty of the game likewise went the way of tho light blues. A 6hort bout along the right wing saw Novis gain a stretch of territory for the visitors by way of reply, but bustling tactics by Akuira enabled the homestera to work ciear. Tho light blues attempted to open up a passing game, but when promising Fletcher was tackled in possession. Undeterred, they made a further essay, but with like result. Tho 6crum work of Poole —the visitors’ scrum half —was proving somewhat faulty, but Bowcott saved tho situation by kicking well down to Johnson. The full-backs were both seen to advantage in tho ensuing play, Johnson handing back to Fletcher to clear right under his own goal, while Jennings, after making an indifferent clearance, lined out with a beautiful kick deep in home territory. It was from the advantage gained that the British forwards carried on with the ball at their tors to finally compell the homesters to submit to a force after 12 minutes’ pla". The Manawhenua men had a narrow escape four minutes later when the homo inners failed to halt the fast breaking visiting forwards, and the ball went over the goal line for Strange to force —the referee appearing to give him tho benefit of the doubt, for the winger failed to actually stay its momentum. A long kick by Jennings again forced the light blues, but the relief was only momentary, and offside by T. Parata furnished the visitors with their first three points when Prentice landed a fine goal. In a flash immediately following, the visitors’ rearguard was away and Reeve burst through on the left wing to jump over Johnson’s tackle. He was floored in the corner by T. Parata, but the visitor was able to hand on to Jones-Davies who dived over at the corner. A free charge was ordered but Prentice appeared to refuse to take advantage of it and the kick was an indifferent one. DELAYED SCORING.

Although tho heavy rain of Tuesday morning had heralded indifferent conditions for the match, the hearts of enthusiasts rose high in tho evening when the heavens cleared and a rising barometer indicated that better things were in store. However, that optimism was short lived, for the unstable barometer swung sharply back onco again and the steady rain and tho noise of the wind in tho early hours of yesterday morning made it apparent that a real touch of winter had come. With the ground becoming sodden and greasy, changes had to be made in the programme and both curtain-raiser games were postponed. To date this season, exceptionally good playing conditions have prevailed tor followers of the Rugby code, and tho change in the elements right on the eve of the big match was naturally accompanied with regret. Fortunately, matters improved before the game was duo to be entered upon, and patrons commencsed to proceed to the Showgrounds from an early hour. When the teams filed out a sea of faces greeted them, the main stand being filled to capacity, wlrilo the tiered seats which had been placed on tho eastern side of the ground were backed by a mass of closely packed onlookers. Many sought points of vantage on the surrounding buildings and it was estimated that the gathering numbered some 12,000. INTERNATIONAL RULINGS.New Zealand has introduced quite a number of innovations to the rules of Rugby; just how many, few of even the keenest enthusiasts realise. However, the present tour has disclosed many of the little by-paths .along which Dominion Rugby has drifted, although it is a moot point whether the international interpretation of those very laws are preferable. The calling ot the scrum half as' to when and from which side of tho scrum tho ball is being placed was considered by many of the onlookers yesterday as quite contrary to the rules, yet while this rule does not figure in the New Zealand handbook it is included in the English rule book. It was noticeable, however, that with the call from the scrum half tho British hookers displayed a tendency to lift their feet — quite frequently prematurely —and Referee King duly penalised them for the breach. The making of the mark with the heel of the boot when claiming a mark —another necessity—appears somewhat trivial and unnecessary. When the Britishers made their first appearance at Wanganui, it was they who were the first to enter the playing area. However, instead of the fifteen filing out, they came careering on to the ground like schoolboys delighted at being set free. The Want ganui team marched out with all decorum to line up and face the visitors for the exchange of cheers, but the reply from Britain’s dark blue clad men did not materialise —they were not prepared for it, it being the custom at Home to only cheer at the conclusion of the game as an expression of good feeling towards their opponents. However, the visitors complied with the Dominion custom yesterday. DIFFERENCE IN SPIRIT. Thero is an all apparent difference in spirit between the Britishers and New Zealanders in their pursuit of the game they love, the one taking it light-heartedly as a sport, whereas New Zealanders are apt to take it all too seriously. A little point which instances such in no small degree has been evidenced in respect to the retirement at the interval. Players at homo are accustomed to remaining on the field of operations, chatting among themselves in light-hearted vein, whereas New Zealanders more frequently retire for a council of war, the attention of the masseur, etc. Mr Baxter, manager of the tourists, fell in with the wishes of the Wanganui and Taranaki Unions by retiring at tho interval, but while Manawhenua retired yesterday, the visitors declined to do so. FUND OF TALENT.

The side stepping run of Reeve, badly beat Strange and Johnson in a bid for the line, but tho former got back in time to tackle the British flyer as he turned infield. The pass, however, went on, only for the receiver to knock on. It was Conrad who cleared with a solo effort which brought forth a burst of applause,while smothering work by Fletcher enabled the homesters to threaten real danger when they swept to the goal front. However, those extra few yards wero not to be held for from a penalty Akuira was optimistic enough to essay a long shot at goal, only to lose the territorial advantage. The tackling of some of the homesters was not proving too sound, and from ono invasion the play worked across field to Novis, who dashed along prior to handing infield to Aarvold, the centre running over and round behind the posts. Prentice made the visitors’ advantage 11 points after 32 minutes play. Although the Britishers had fully merited their advantage, for they had had the major portion of the play, the wind had proved a bugbear to the homesters, while, to add to their discomfiture, it showed signs of abating as the game advanced. With but 11 points against them at the interval, Manawhenua promised to make a fight for the laurels, but they were overwhelmed in the closing 40 minutes, although they went under contesting every inch of the way. Britain 11, Manawhenua nil. SOLID TACKLING.

It was a sensational re-opening for, with the kick out dropping short of the homesters, who were placed deep, the onrushing forwards secured to go on and over only to be recalled, they having gone into touch en route. Manawhenua sparkled when Fletcher and Akuira burst through the centre, but the final kick Enabled Jennings to clear and the brilliant Bowcott came into the picture once again. The first casualty of the game was when Page lay flat out after affecting a brilliant tackle of Jones-Davies, but after receiving attention on the side line he''resumed, although it was quite evident that ho was “groggy.” The Englishmen, using their superior weight in the scrums, were simply pushing the light blues off the ball, but while they were sweeping into action repeatedly, sound tackling was keeping them in restraint and upsetting their handling. The Manawhenua ■backs were also essaying the handling game when the opportunity offered — which was Only at long intervals —and one side-stepping effort by Strange preceded a series of inter-change passes between Akuira and Riddell, but the defence was sound.

Since their arrival in the Dominion, the Britishers have tried out a variety of talent, for the side which opposed Taranaki included nine members who had not taken the field at Wanganui. Of those newcomers six again figured against Manawhcnua yesterday, while the team was further built up by four who were being given their first tryout. Thus in three matches the Britishers have tried no less than 28 of their party. That they have a fund of talent at their command the Britishers strikingly demonstrated yesterday although it was upon Bowcott’s shoulders that the major portion of the work of furnishing the openings fell. The opposing combinations in yesterday’s match were as under: Britain.—R. Jennings, J. Reeve, A. L. Novis, T. Jones-Davies, C. D. Aarvohl, N. Poole, H. M. Bowcott, H. Wilkinson, J. McD. Hodgson, F. D. Prentice, J. L. Farrell, S. A. Martwidale, D. Parker, H. C. S. Jones. Manawhenua. —Johnson, Strange, Fletcher, Page, Riddell, Akuira, W. Parata, T. Parata, Satherley, Tatana, Galpin, Conrad Miles, Henry, Fitzgerald. The visitors’ uniforms were of dark blue with wide-cut white trousers, while the home members were clad in their red and white barred jerseys on a royal blue ground with black shorts. AN AUSPICIOUS START. F. D. Prentice, captain of the Britishers, who was making his first appearance on New Zealand soil, signalled his entry auspiciously by winning the toss of the coin, and he elected to take full use of the strong southwesterly wind by playing towards the town end. Akuira kicked off for Manawhenua and it was Prentice, peculiarly enough, who failed to accept the ball. A scrum followed and, to the delight of the onlookers, the local men hooked the ball, but a delayed passage saw W. Parata get the

SCORING RATE QUICKENS. Great work by Prentice brought the Britishers free of danger and, from midfield a handling bout was launched by Hodgson, who sold the dummy very effectively. In and out, from forwards to backs and infield again the ball went to finally terminate at Farrell in the centre of the field .the burly forward having only to fad over. Prentice mado the margin 16 —the additional five points having taken 15 minutes to secure. However, within three minutes another three points were forthcoming when, with Fitzgerald getting in front, he furnished Prentice with a gift three points. The long raking stride of Reeve, who wa3 an adept at stepping through a tackle, saw the Britisher go clean through tackle after tackle prior to opening up, but with the defence beaten Johnson secured to burst down the touch line. His centre went unaccepted and Conrad kicked through to Jennings. The local scrummager was on top of the full-back before he could clear and Miles kicked over for T. Parata to fall on the ball. Akuira made the home points five, but the deficit was to prove all too great to recover. ,

Britain 19, Manawhenua 5.

The success appeared to put fresh vim into the homesters and Henry and Conrad were showing up very prominently; indeed, the Manawhenua forwards were outplaying the opposition at this stage. The pace was as fast as ever, but it was the rearguard which came to the rescue of the visitors. Selling the dummy effectively once again let Jones-Davies away past Page and, although the winger got back to tackle Wilkinson, who had accepted the infield pass, another player was handy, for Novis came up to accept the hand on and go over. Prentice made sure of the extra points. Finish was proving its tale and a centring kick by Jennings set the dark blues away again, and Hodgson showed great pace to run the balance of the distance and score.

Novis was again in the picture when he accepted the ball to step his way through the defence to run behind the posts. With Prentice adding the extra points in both instances, the advantage had swelled to 34 points to five. MANAWHENUA’S REPLY. Although Akuira was disappointed in a shot at goal, the ball dropping under the bar, the homesters gained their reward when Page kicked across field to follow through and catch Jennings. Fletcher burst through to snap the leather up and go over, but the scorer failed to find the uprights, the cheer of the crowd dying away in disappointment. It was a fine fighting effort of the homesters which enabled them to come back after having had to submit to score after score being registered against them, and it was the feeling of local enthusiasts that, while their representatives had been outgeneralled and beaten by superior tactics, they had not been disgraced. And so the game ended : Britain 34, Manawhenua 8. To the home forwards went what honours came the way of Manawhenua for, while crude in comparison with the visitors, they battled away with wonterful determination throughout and, had they the added weight of T. Parata in the scrummages, they would have done still better. As a rover the burly Horowhenua player was wasted, tor, although he stood wide out, he was invariably beaten by the opposing inners, and in many respects proved a hindrance to his own inside men. Conrad and Henry were the outstanding members of the homo brigade, but Miles and Galpin performed a lot of hard work in the loose. Fletcher stood out in the rearguard, although Riddell and Akuira were seen to advantage on occasions. There was, however, a general lack of consistency about the home back, but facing such a finished opposing force made their task most unenviable. THE REPLACEMENT RULE. The replacement rule has caused a controversy throughout the Dominion since the arrival of the Britishers, more particularly in the centres where the matches have been staged to date. For years it has been an unwritten law in New Zealand to allow replacements at any 6tage of the game. At one time it was considered that, after the interval, it should not be permitted, but to-day finds no obstacles raised to replacements being made right up to within a minute of the final bell. There is nothing in the international rules to say that players shall not be replaced, but Britain applies a strict ruling to the words that a Rugby team shall consist of 15 players—no more. That there can be less is apparently overlooked, and it is on those occasions that a team which suffers the loss of a playing member is unnecessarily penalised. Peculiarly enough, it was the Britishers who were the first side to suffer by the interpretation when their fullback, G. M. Bonner, sustained a cut over the eye when tackling Tilley, the light blues’ wing three-quarter at Wanganui. For such to arise in a Test match would be most unfortunate.

Yesterday, the play was free from serious mishaps, although it did look at one stage as though Manawhenua were to lose Page, their left wingthreequarter, but he recovered sufficiently from a touch of concussion to continue. THE REFEREE. A word of praise is due to Mr J. King, of New Plymouth, for the excellent manner in which lie controlled the game. his interpretations being strictly fair throughout. In addition to carrying the whistle, he had the added duty of keeping the time, as demanded by international rules, while the playing with only the one ball save when the other went well astray was another obligation demanded by tho international rules.

PLAYERS ENTERTAINED,

INFORMAL DINNER.

After the match an informal dinner was held when, in addition to members ot the British and Manawhenua teams, Dr. J. Adams, president of the New Zealand Rugby Lnion, Mr S. S. Dean, chairman of the management committee of the New Zealand Union, and members of the Manawhenua District Council were present. Mr J. A. Goiquhoun presided. Conveying to the visitors wishes for a successful tour, the chairman said that that afternoon the object of rivalry was the pursuit of an oval ball. In the evening he liked to think of that self same ball as a symbol of concord, to be grasped in friendship by the teams. Un the British side there was a “Prentice” hand to grasp one end, while Manawhenua had a veteran who was “Galpin” to take the other. “It this afternoon’s play was the ‘Prentice’ hand, then 1 pity New Zealand when Britain puts forward the master hand,” added the speaker. Mr Colqulioun congratulated the manager ot the British team (Mr J. Baxter) on the ability of the British players, and pointed out that the Manawhenua team had fought well and hard. Palmerston North vas proud of its representatives and, at the same time, was assured that the game as played by the visitors that day demonstrated that the international rules provided a game fast enough for anyone. The manager, Mr Baxter, who replied to the toast of the British team, expressed thanks for the cordiality received and remarked that two tilings in Palmerston North had impressed him forcibly. One was the impartiality of the spectators watching the game, as any good movement was applauded, and it was the play, not the player, who was complimented. The second, was the spontaneous generosity of the people’s greeting. Palmerston North had been extremely fortunate inasmuch as the captain, Mr F. D. Prentice, had made his (lift appearance during the tour, and he felt sure that, despite the fact that he had scored so freely, he was as pipumr with the public as with the members of the team.

Mr Prentice replied briefly, ing thanks to the referee lor tho able manner in which he had interpreted the rules. The game had been a thoroughly enjoyable one. Cheers were exchanged and after several impromptu liakas had hern given by the Maori members of the Manawhenua fifteen, the gathering concluded with “Auld Dang Syne.”