THE RUGBY WORLD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 244, 14 September 1932, Page 9

THE RUGBY WORLD

THE GAME AND ITS PLAYERS

CULLED FROM ALL SOURCES.

Manawhenua have won four games and lost four against Taranaki since 1925 —the year Horowhenua and Manawatu combined for representative purposes. Although tho 20 —16 victory of Manawhenua over Taranaki was the heaviest scoring registered in the .series between the two unions, Taranaki has an aggregate of 115 as compared with Manawhenua’s 79. In the eight seasons Manawhenua and Wanganui have mot, Manawhenua have won on five occasions and have registered an aggregate of 129 points as compared with tho river city's 111. From 1925 to 1927 Manawhenua carried tho day against Wanganui, but after being beaten 25—6 in the latter season, Wanganui turned the tables in 1928 in no uncertain manner by winning 22 —6. In the annual clashes between Manawhenua and Wanganui, the winning margins have always been well defined and since 1926 the margin has not been once below 10, while it has been as high as 19 points. Home and home matches between Wairarapa and Manawhenua were introduced in 1927 and Saturday’s game marked the 12th between the sister unions. The honours rest with the greens, however, they having won nine games to three. Manawhenua and Wairarapa have met on two occasions in Ranfurly Shield contests. In 1927 Manawhenua won by 18—16. but in 1929 Wairarapa ran up 37 points to 16 against the challengers, although in a game a month previously only two points had separated them. The return to a dry ground and a light ball—particularly as it was a brand new one—appeared to find Manawhenua' all at sea against Hawke’s Bay. On occasion the attempts by the homesters to handle appeared ludicrous to the onlookers. While every member of the back, line in the Hawke’s Bay team last Wednesday diplayed plenty of dash, the splendid feeding of his backs by Lamie and the piercing thrusts of Grant, at centre, were features of the game. Hawke’s Bay have always been able to produce some Maori stars and there were several members of the native race included in the team against Manawhenua. Their two wings, C. Smith and Howell, were typical of the race, being strong and tricky runners.

There have been a few field goals kicked on the Showgrounds oval this season, but none has approached the range of that by Vnrcoe, the Hawke’s Bay full-back. While he had plenty of timo to judge the direction, the drop was from little short of the centre line.

it was rather strange that two of the members dropped by the selectors for Saturday’s match against Wairarapa should have been Manawhenua’s most fruitful scorers. Cooper had registered 17 points in the four matches preceding, while Barrett had 10 points, the pair having been leading the field.

“Cross Bar” hns stressed, time without number, the necessity for local players to cultivate in club football the art of supporting the man in possession and of coming round for a return pass. However, the art has been developed to a minimum degree and spectators at tho Showgrounds on Wednesday appreciated Hawke’s Bay’s stylo of play by way of contrast.

Supporters of local football had been in despair prior to Saturday, .Manawhenua’s showing against Hawke’s Bay having disgusted many. After their well merited victory over Wairarapa, hopes have now sprung into being once again. Football is ever an uncertain game, and this has been strikingly evidenced this season. AVairarapa beats Hawke’s Bay twice, but were in turn narrowly beaten by Wanganui when playing 14 men. Taranaki beat Hawke’s Bay. yet the latter team turned round and beat Alan aw henna, who had just previously beaten Taranaki. Wanganui, who narrowly won from Wairarapa, beat Manawhenua by 10 points, yet Manawhenua completed the run of inconsistency by beating AVairarapa ey 21 points. In racing parlance, “It is a case for the stipendiary stewards.”

Manawhenua has but one game remaining to be played and that will be against 'Wellington. In the past the Empire City lias displayed a habit of treating. Manawhenua lightly by placing II teams against them and, unfortunately, the local representatives have failed to take advantage of the position. However, the time has arrived when the authorities should demand ’Wellington’s best in opposition. At time of writing tne Manawhenua team to oppose 'Wellington has not been selected, but it will surprise if the rearguard is retained. Johnston. who has done yeoman service for Manawhenua in the past, is still very active, but his handling and tackling have degenerated, and Kells, on Ins present form, might be preferable. Plank was not at his best on Saturday, but to experiment further at this late stage might be disastrous, although Barrett should be capable of developing into a useful five-eigl\th. Findlay and Flight earned their places on Saturday and, in the event of Eraser-Smith going back in, it might he preferable to drop McDonald. While the last named shows a good turn of speed, “Cross Bar” has still to see him tackle an opponent in one of his fast follow-ups. Woodville carried far too many “guns” for Kuku, the Horowhenua junior champions, in the Howland Cup game on Saturday. The 28 0 reverse suffered by the southerners was the heaviest in the history of the se nos. The play-off in tlio midget competition between Terrace End A and Convent was not productive of the close struggle anticipated, the north end school being undoubtedly superior on the day. The Millar and Giorgi Cup lias been in oxistenoe three years and the trophy has been held by Hokowliitu and College Street Schools and now Terrace End School. Eleven men handled the ball in one of 'the Buller Rugby team’s scoring movements this season, but it was not in Saturday’s unsuccessful challenge for the Ranfurly Shield in which tlio bright hopes which had been entertained were rudely shattered. Prior to Saturday’s game with Canterbury. Buller had not tasted defeat since winning the Seddon Shield in 19J0. They had played 21 representative matches, won 20 and drawn one. Before the game on Saturday their prospects had appeared particularly bright by reason of the fact that thev had beaten West Coast, wlro had given Canterbury such a close call, by 27 points to nil.