TALL RUGBY SCORING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 239, 8 September 1932, Page 2

TALL RUGBY SCORING

HAWKE’S BAY SUPERIOR

MANAWHENUA’S POOB SHOWING

Tho Manawhenua and local Rugby club coaches were afforded an object lesson at the Showgrounds yesterday when Hawke’s Bay gave a delightful display of open football, tho supporting of the player in possession and the coming round for a return pass being features of their play. Tho tactics and finish of tho magpies was' in direct contrast to that of the homesters who, although repeatedly furnished with tho opportunities, could make little uso of them, being a set of individualists rather than a combined force. The home forwards played very ruggedly, but they too frequently lost the territorial advantage by kicking too hard, while in tho set scrums tho ball was repeatedly kicked through to the opposition instead of being heeled. By sheer determination—although by far from good tactics— Manawhenua awoke from their lethargy in the closing moments to add points and thus prevent a big score being registered against them. It was all the more creditable in that they had battled away one forward short throughout tho spell, Youle, who had received a leg injury in the first spell, having to retire after resuming at the interval. Manawhenua has been unfortunate in respect to injuries; yet another of their best players was not available yesterday when Fraser-Smith was prevented from taking the field. The teams were :

Hawke’s Bay. (black and white). — Varton, Howell, Grant, C. Smith, Evans, Bradley, Lamie, Satlierley, Hawea, Smith,’ Bolls, Wilson, Ireland, Large, Drummond. Manawhenua (blue). Barrett, Cook, Johnston, Elliott, Bramwell, Wat ley, Irvine, Pratt, Roddick liopata, Palmer, McKenzie, \oule, Cooper, Ogier. The visitors defended the southern goal with the sun at an angle on their backs, Boddick kicking off. Although the blues heeled from tho initial scrum, two beautiful line kicks by Smith, on the Bay’s right wing, gave to tho visitors tho advantage. The acceptance of a return by Elliott saw tho winger short-punt through, but a minute later Bradley cut off a pass to send on a pass to a support, who centred across field and Bolls, who had come up fast, secured on the bounce to go over in the tackle of Johnston. Satlierley goaled and tho visitors were five points up in almost as many minutes. , , . . The visitors secured the ball in the majority of tho scrums and. opened up at every opportunity. Finally a thrust saw the ball go along the .me to Smith and then back infield to Grant tho centre forcing his way over under’the posts by .-dicer determination. Satlierley made no mistake with the kick.

ATROCIOUS HANDLING. Although the home forwards were holding their own, when tho ball emerged to their rearguard the handling was atrocious. A great solo efrort by Bramwell saw tho five-eighth deceive the opposition, but when down to Varton he sent out a pass. The connecting link was not up and a glorious opportunity was lost. A few moments later, with a clear field ahead, a pass from Bramwell to Johnston was deflected when Cook was outside waiting for the final pass. From the centre line the magpies were away, Rolls coming up with great dash to accept a pass after the defence had been beaten, but the pass was forward. A period of solid forward play at midfield was followed by a pretty piece of supporting work bv the magpies when Barrett failed to get to an awkward bounce. Howell secured and when he was tackled Grant came up to accept and go over at the corner. Grant made a good effort to add tho major points. A reply came when Wasley burst through to hand on to McKenzie, who gave the final pass to Ropata for the support to go over wide out. Barrett’s kick passed just outside. A series of ridiculous inter-change passes got the blues into difficulties when almost down to their objective and Grant intercepted to burst away and wait for a support to come up. The pass went forward, but the effort was immediately followed with a beautiful field goal by Varton who accepted a ground clearance to send the ball sailing between the posts from the region of the centre line. The half-time boll immediately sounded with the visitors leading by a substantial margin : Hawke’s Bay 17, Manawhenua 3. Immediately on the resumption the magpies were away, but the movement broke down just when success appeared assured, Wasley snapping up the leather to find the line beyond the centre. Another try came the way of the visitors when Bramwell was taken in possession and Grant secured to badly deceive the defence and sidestep Barrett to go an and complete under the posts. Satlierley converted. Following upon a feeble attempt to work the right wing, the blues secured a score when Palmer burst through a ruck to hand on to Cooper, who took the ball at his finger tips to go over. Johnston’s kick slid over the bar to build tho points up to eight. Smith, who had been showing great determination in his running, stepping through tackle after tackle on occasion, got an overdue try when he came infield to take a pass from Lambie and go straight through the opposition for Satherley to goal. HOMESTERS RALLY.

Tho blues forced their way downfield and although Wasley was disappointed in the one instance in his endeavour to burst through the press, a hand out from the base of the scrum by Irvine enabled him to complete a later effort. Johnston’s kick failed. Satherley was the next contributor for the Bay, but be failed from an easy, position to advance the total beyond 30. A short burst by Palmer and McKenzie paved the way for the ball to emerge to Bramwell and tho fiveeight bluffed his way past man after man to be left with an open field and lie grounded between the posts. A free charge enabled Barrett to goal comfortably. A centre by Wasley saw Roddick and Cooper charge through, and although the former failed to gather tire hall in a defonder failed to halt its progress and Cooper grounded. A free charge enabled Barrett to goal comfortably. A centre by Wasley saw Roddick and Cooper charge through, and although the former failed to gather the ball in a defender failed to halt its progress and Cooper grounded. Barrett brought the home team’s total to 21. The recovery at the eleventh hour was a redeeming feature, but the blues were a well beaten side on the day. The final score was;

Hawke’s Bay 30, Manawhenua 21 Mr A. Gordon refereed.

AA'ATRARAPA v. MANAAVHENUA

ALTERATIONS MADE

Manawhenua’s next appearance on tlie Rugby field will be in the return game versus AVairarapa at the Showgrounds on Saturday and, following upon yesterday’s match, the selectors, Messrs A. AV. Thompson nnd M. AA'iniata, have made several changes in the

home team. The fifteen which will do duty for Manawhenua will be:—Fullback, AVasloy; three-quarters, Cook, Johnston, Elliott; five-eighths, Bramwell, Plank; half-back, Irvine; back row, Hight; centre row, Palmer, McKenzie, Mitchell, Findlay; front row, McDonald, Roddick, Itopata. Emergencies : Backs, Campbell and Griffin; forwards, Pratt and Cooper: The match lias been timed to commence at 3 o'clock, the curtain-raiser being between Kuku, the junior champions of Horowhenua, and AVoodville, the junior champions of Manawatu, to determine which club will have the right to hold the Rowland Cup.

TARANAKI GO DOAA’N TO AVAIKATO.

Per Press Association. HAMILTON, .Sept. 7. AA r aikato \ defeated Taranaki at Rugby Park to-day by 25 points to 15. There were ideal weather conditions and the ground was perfect, but instead of the fast open game that was expected play was ragged and most of the scores were the result of the defenders taking advantage of the attackers’ mistakes.

SOUTHLAND BEAT AVELLINGTON.

Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Sept. 7. The Southland Rugby fifteen maintained their unbeaten record for the season to-day by defeating AA'ellington by 20 points to 14 in a game that was fast and exciting. The weather was fine and the ground slightly heavy.

LATE B. P. PALMER.

HIGHEST IDEALS OF SPORTSMANSHIP.

“NEAV DIGNITY TO SPORT.”

A fine oration was delivered by Rev. R. J. Stanton at the graveside at the burial in Otahuhu cemetery, this week, of 11. P. Palmer, the All Black, whose tragic death at the week-end has pained Bugby circles. Mr Stanton said: “We have gathered together to-day to commit into the safe keeping of God one who has rightly won his way to a high position of honour amid an ever-widening circle of friends, and whose career has been suddenly cut short so far as this world is concerned. Bert Palmer was such an unassuming fellow, with a generous and happy disposition. He was held in the highest esteem by those who had played with him, and among the boys of tho Otahuhu district school, where he regularly went along to teach them how to play Rugby football. The boys idolised him as a hero. Returning from his All Black trip to Australia, a rousing welcome was accorded him only a few days ago. “Bert Palmer was imbued with the highest ideals of sportsmanship and manhood, and in his career at home here and in his games overseas he fully demonstrated his inspiring qualities as one who ever played the game. Perhaps there is nothing more wonderful than for a man to pass out in the fulness of his vigour, at the zenith of his career, with his sporting instinct and his sunny nature fully appreciated by a wide and ever-increas-ing circle of friends. RISKS OF THE GAME.

“Bert Palmer was ever ready to take risks, as were all those men who did things worth while. Our national game of Rugby lias been a potent factor in bringing out in New Zealand manhood the many excellent qualities which our men possess. And so from the game there are many lessons to bo learned. When a nation comes up against adversity and trials, that experience of the field helps it to ‘play the game.’ “While we mourn the passing of our comrade of the field, may we resolve in the few moments wo aro here in this hallowed place to give a new dignity to sport, to the game of life and to our business of life.” “Wo cannot help being profoundly sorry that ho has been taken from us, yet it is on such occasions as this that we remember those deep instincts which tell us that this world is all too small and life too short for any man worth while to play out his part. In the light of the revelation that has been given to us there is tho certain hope, for those who will lay hold of it, which inspires men to be and to do their best. In this way tho Christian religion can touch every moment of life, and wherever we may be. The Christian hope overlooks the physical change called death in the fuller life, the fuller opportunity and the fuller achievement. The Christian life cannot erect broken columns as memorials —a life cut short like Bert Palmer’s may seem somewhat to resemble such, but ‘on earth the broken arcs; in heaven the perfect round.’

“PLAY THE GAME OF LIFE.” “God does not put deep instincts into our lives, nor gifts to develop in order to finally disappoint them, but it is my firm belief that if Bert could speak to us at this moment from his new vantage point he would say : ‘Play the game of football and the game of life with a new exhilaration because of what I see.’

‘‘To his mother, brothers and sister I extend our heartfelt sympathy with the assurance that in Christ you still possess your loving son and brother, and may the vocation of bereavement bring you into closer fellowship with God, who is the author and insj>iration. of all good life.”