MANAWHENUA’S VICTORY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 256, 24 September 1930, Page 9

MANAWHENUA’S VICTORY.

NARROW BUT WELL MERITED*

HOPE FOR BRIGHTER THINGS. (By “Cross Bar.”) Like Robert Bruce, Manawhenua’s persistence in the face of adversity gained its well merited reward, for at their seventh attempt they attained their objective—victory. It might be consequently waxing over-enthusiastic to state that Saturday’s victory over Hawke’s Bay aad been well deserved, but in view of the circumstances it was at least fully merited..

Many local enthusiasts will • recall that earlier meeting between Hawke’s Bay and Manawhenua when the Bay, despite being then at the Height of their power, had to be content with a draw with the homesters.

The Brownlie Bros. ; Cooke, Mill and Co. had figured in the ranks of the Bay on that earlier occasion and it was only when defeat stared them in the face that Cooke, with his customary opportuneness, evened up the scoring to save the visitors’ reputation. Saturday’s representatives who took the field for the Bay were but a shadow of that old time team, the majority of those well _ known exponents having either retired from the game or, iike Cooke, Mill, and Irvine, moved on to other playing fields. However, while they differed slightly from the combination; which drew with Wellington, the magpies were considered a strong fifteen. One member of that older brigade in Grenside was still with the Bay team and, in his role of captain, strove valiantly to pull his team through. To that end he changed from centre to five-eighth at intervals, but without avail for, despite his putting in some strong dashes on occasion, the rearguard movements seldom went smoothly. On the occasion of their southern tour in pursuit of the Ranfurly Shield, Hawke’s Bay gained a reputation for offside play and they certainly demonstrated on Saturday that the reputation was not without some foundation. Those breaches were repeatedly costly to the magpies and had McKay and his fellow forwards paid closer attention to positional play they would in all probability have won through to victory. DOGGED DEFENCE WINS.

Manawhenua took quite a large share of* the play in the opening spell when having to contend against the wind and, peculiarly enough, the positions were directly reversed in the second half when Hawke’s Bay held the territorial advantage for the main part. The visitors were certainly the more enterprising and, on the run of play, were probably deserving of the honours.

While Hawke’s Bay without doubt had the more actual scoring opportunities, Manawhenua repeatedly spelled danger to the opposition and, once they got their heads in front, they proved dogged defenders. During those anxious closing moments, Fuller, the blue half-back, performed a vast amount of excellent saving work, he repeatedly finding touch when danger threatened. While he appears to be a one-foot kicker, his display on Saturday should make him difficult to dispense with in the future. The honours of the day, where Manawhenua we.re concerned, undoubtedly lav with the forwards, for although outweighted, the local scrummagers fought it out from bell to bell. Individually, the backs did their full share, but as a concerted force they were sadly lacking. In this respect Hawke’s Bay were superior and it must be granted that they were somewhat unlucky not to put paid to some of their movements. HONOURS 1 WITH FORWARDS. Local enthusiasts have grown to expect a good deal from Henry and his tigerish activities in the tight and loose on Saturday brought him. into prominence throughout the full course of the game. The Old Boys player has proved such a great forward in the loose that it seems a pity to keep him in the front row position when a change might prove more efficacious where actual hooking is concerned while leaving Henry more free to follow the play in the open. .With Miles an absentee, Satherley was called on to. lock tho blue scrum, a role which he filled quite excellently, although the barging tactics of the visitors al too frequently forced the home pack to break up. It is possibly somewhat unfair to differentiate between the other scrummagers for all plaved their part to the best of their ability and it was no mean effort. K. Fitzgerald and C. Height both, showed pace in the open, but there was a tendency on the part of the former to kick rather hard, while his fellow Feilding player was apt to come round the scrum rather quickly. On the occasion of Manawhenua s southern tour, Williams accompanied the team in the role of enthusiastic spectator. It was not till the Auckland match —when shortages were becoming a habit—that- the Horowhenua plaver received his chance and lie has retained his position since. While he has still some rough corners to mould into shape, he has the height and pace to stand him in good stead for the future. , . , The .transfer of Fletcher into the five-eighth position did not show the local player in quite his customary favourable light, his handling close in not being so sure. However, .when given more time, he accepted cleanly enough and his kicking proved very useful, for he has a- powerful punt. In this respect he resembles All Black Cooke who, despite his light physique, has a phenomenal boot. Griffin made quite a good showing in the centre role, although he naturally did not drop back to the support of his fullback as a regular centre should.') He proved to be the match winner on the day, it being the second occasion on which lie had contributed a field goal —he having performed a similar act against Wairarapa. While there was little in the nature of combination about the Manawhenua rearguard, they performed well as individuals and Robb was very active throughout, his tackling, which was almost invariably sound and sure, being a prominent feature of his play. This player has command of a godd turn of speed, but with the back line receiving but little ball in the open, he and Fletcher had small opportunity to get under, way. With Griffin and Page further out, the local line commanded a fund of pace, but it was not made use of save for defensive purposes. Neither of the home wing threequarters saw a great deal of the ball, yet both Page and Amadio proved their usefulness on occasions. The former had one of his spectacular solo dashes right on the call of time, but with a speedy set opposing him, _ he could not find the necessary opening. Bramwell, at full-back, opened very shakily, his ground fielding being his worst feature. However, he improved as he advanced and, although he continued to make an odd slip or two, he nevertheless repeatedly gained, applause from the onlookers for his excellent finding. THE VISITORS. Like that of many another well known performer, the retirement of Grenside which had been announced

earlier in the season, failed to materialise. While the All Black winger may have slowed up somewhat, he is nevertheless still very useful. He worked hard on Saturday to acquire victory, but the dogged defence held the attackers at bay on all occasions. Setford, the Dannevirke inclusion in the visiting team, proved a tricky and elusive player who was a source of danger on the attack. Fortunately for Manawhenua, the openings made were not taken advantage of, although more than once it was only at the critical juncture that they broke down or were stemmed. Botherway, his partner, showed to advantage on occasion, but he lapsed badly at intervals; while Cook, their half-back was only fair.

Neither of the wing three-quarters was particularly impressive, but, like their opponents, it was the exception, rather than the rule, to see the movements going smoothly wingwards. Sherriffs was indeed unlucky in one instance in the second spell when he was whirled round on the line to lose the ball and enable the blues to .escape with a force-down. Crooks was of a lighter stamp, but showed possibilities. He was in reality substituting Rum, the Te Auto College player, who met with an injury against Wellington. There were some very useful . forwards included in the frontal division of the Hawke’s Bay team, but there was some doubt as to whether the numerbings in the programme were worn by the players as enumerated. McKay made himself prominent by reason of his offside tactics, but Harvev, Wilson, Rolls and Roach showed up in some of their movements. The forward pack w'as minus Steere and Campbell on Saturday and the inclusion of this pair would, without doubt, have materially strengthened the visitors. In view of the . fact that Manavhenua’s next match—on Saturday will be in opposition to Wellington, who were somewhat fortunate to escape with a draw against Hawke s Bay at Athletic Park on the 13th inst., there is now every ground for hope that the blues will make quite a creditable showing in their final match for the season. Should the Ranfurly Shield holders come to Palmerston North at full strength, it would be possibly a little too much to expect Manawhenua to carry the day, but it would be indeed pleasing to find the local players bring a somewhat uninteresting season to an auspicious conclusion. MANAWATU DISTRICT COUNCIL. FINAL GENERAL MEETING. The final general meeting of the management committee of the Manawatu Rugby District Council for the 1930 season was held ’ last evening when there were present: Messrs J. A. Colquhoun (in the chair), R. E. Hatch, K. Eglmton, H. Crawford and H. Hands. ROWLAND CUP. The Horowhenua Council wrote confirming Saturday, September 27, as the date for the Rowland Cup match which is to be played as the curtainraiser to the Wellington-Manawhenua game. A later letter advised that Foxton was the champion junior team for the southern district. —Received. RESIGNATION WITHDRAWN. Mr T. Pagan, delegate from the Feilding Club, who had tendered his resignation at the previous meeting of the council, wrote thanking the president and members for the kind words and sentiments expressed by them concerning the work done by the waiter in the interests of Rugby. Now that the Feilding grievance had been fully ventilated, arid as members of the.. Council realised how deeply the matter under discussion had affected the Feilding players and supporters, he had much pleasure in following the suggestion of the council by withdrawing his resignation. —Received. The chairman, in moving that _ permission to withdraw his resignation be granted Mr Pagan, commented that no doubt the council members would be pleased to hear of the happy outcome. It evidenced a fine spirit on the part of Mr Pagan. Mr Hqnds seconded and, when put to the meeting . the motion was carried unanimously. REQUESTS FOR JERSEYS. Mr L. M. Wotton, on behalf or Ford Motors (Manawatu) Ltd., made application for the use of a set of jerseys at the week-end. —Granted, subject to the cost of washing being borne by the players, it being tlie opinion of members that the calls were now becoming too frequent for the cost of washing to be borne by the council. • Mr L. K. Jackson, on behalf of the Druids’ Lodge, thanked the council for the use of jerseys during the season and made application for th© use of a set on Saturday next. —It was decided to advise. the applicants that a prior claim prevented tho application being granted. INSURANCE CLAIM.

The Manawatu A. and P. Association wrote in respect to an account forwarded by the council for medical attendance rendered to a High School player injured in a Winter Show fixture. While such "had been paid, it was thought that as the council carried its own insurance scheme, and received a donation from the association, the cost should be borne by the council.—Tlie chairman pointed out that the council only recognised medical claims for attendances at the surgery of the council’s doctor and, further, that High School players were not covered by the scheme. It was decided to advice the A. and P. Association accordingly. BENEFIT DANCE.

The secretary of tho benefit dance committee advised that, by reason of a duplication of an engagement on tlie part of the orchestra, the dance would now be held on Wednesday, October 1. It was asked that all trophies be called in before Saturday for

the purpose of making a display. Arrangements are to be mace accordingly. COMPETITION WINNERS. The following competition winners were declared, the chairman congratulating the clubs concerned on their successes:— v Junior Sudden Death.—Kia Toa B. Third Grade Sudden Death.—St. Patricks. Midget Competition. Hokowhitu School. In respect to the last-named competition, it was decided to mark the occasion by presenting each member of the Hokowhitu “eight” with a souvenir copy of G. T. Alley’s book on the British tour of New Zealand. INTER-DISTRIOT GAME. Permission was granted the Kia Toa Club to play the Kaierau Club (Wantanui) for . the Licensed Victuallers’ hield on Saturday week. The match will be for the championship of the two districts.

Permission was also granted the Kia Toa Club’s fourth grade team to play the Pirates Club (Wanganui) on the same day. \ FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY.

The fixtures for Saturday are as follow:—Senior representatives, Wellington v. Manawhenua, No. 1 Showgrounds, 3 p.m., referee to be selected. Rowland Cup Final.—Foxton (Horowbenua junior champions) v. Kia Toa B (Manawatu junior champions), No. 1 Showground?, 1.30 p.m., Mr W. Rowland. OTAGO JUBILEE. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Sept, 23. Functions arranged by the Otago Rugby Union for the celebration of its golden jubilee were commenced tonight, when a successful smoke concert was held ,in. the Dunedin Early Settlers’ Hall. Representatives of all periods in the history of the game in Otago were present.