RUGBY VICTORY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 243, 11 September 1933, Page 10

RUGBY VICTORY

MANAWATU’S SEVENTH WIN. BRILLIANT FORWARD PLAY. With a high wind, doing much to mar the standard of the rearguard work, Manawatu, after a somewhat uncertain display in the first spell, won through in striking manner in the closing moments of their game versus Wairarapa at the Showgrounds on Saturday. After having had the advantage of the gale, Manawatu’s margin of six points at the interval did not promise to be at all _ decisive, moro particularly when the visitors added a crossing shortly after the resumption. Howe'er, the magnificent work of the. homo forwards enabled the blues to outplay tho Wairarapa men in the closing moments and add two further crossings. Noither rearguard was very impressive although, individually, several members performed well. Both packs were splendid, with MahaWatu the superior, McKenzie, of tho homo team, being tho oulstanding scrummager on tho ground, and there appears to be every ground to oxpect him to gain a placo in the North Island team. Wairarapa (green).—Hcmi. McKenna, C. Stringfellow, Fitzgerald, Himqna, Strange, I v Booth, E. Kcoble, W. Stringfellow, Reid, Howard, Devino, Trass, Smith, Laing. Manawatu (blue). —Mackay, Strange, Bramwoll (capt,), Elliott, R. Ormond, Gillespie, Metcalfe, Eade, Crawford, Right, Cooper, McKenzie, Mitchell, McClolland, Findlay. Both sides were subjected to alteration, Tilley, Nunn and Donald being absentees from the ranks of tho visitors, while Waldin and H. Ormond were defections from tho home team. Manawatu played towards tho southern goal with the high wind at. their backs, and Wairarapa sot tho ball in action for tho leather to go hurrying back in the teeth of the wind. Failuro by Gillespie to accept & rolling ball allowed tho visitors to invade, but Cooper broke freo to kick high to Htmii, who dashed across field to return to Elliott, who found touch. A knock-on passed unnoticed and Crawford wont off with a couple of partners in support, but ho went too far and' was pushed into touch. McClelland carao out of. a ruck to feed Strange, who had conic infield, and the hall went on to Gillespie, who cut in prettily only to bo brought, down with a trip tacklo when ho was through the breach. Offside by Eindlay drove tho blues back after they had attained a likely position, but Bramwell found touch at the corner to again set tho homesters down there. Motcalfo danced round the side of a scrum to hand on to Gillespie, but although the five-eighth wont over, ho failed to ground the ball and the greens oscaped. A clean heel by the greens enabled Booth to burst away to send on to Ilimona, but after cutting in the inside five-eighth was tackled. A high kick by Bramwell saw Homi mako his first mistake, and from the scrum McClolland went over only for held hall to bo ruled, while immediately following Elliott failed to tako a pass from Gillespie when tho defences were beaten.

Tho delayed score came when Crawford and McKenzie led a blue rush and tho latter was favoured by tho bounce to pile over at tho corner. . McKay’s kick was taken astray by the wind. Hard on tho kick-out the biuo forwards piled back and Metcalfe came away from tho baso of a scrum in possession, but ho tried to go too far and was grassed. Tho greens cleared and a short bout along the left wing was threatening when McKay halted it with a low tackle. Indifferent defensive work .by tho homo backs let the greens, .forwards pile through and they went deep into foreign territory. Although driven back, Reid wont off with- the ball at his too and had McKay beaten when Bramwell got back to save. Hcmi brought off a brilliant save in turn immediately following, but Cooper and Mitchell set the blues down in tho corner. Smith brought the greens back to tho centre, but Hight and McKenzie burst away and the latter was off for tho lino when a trip tacklo brought him down. The blues lost a further opportunity when a raco to ground saw Gillespie win, but the ball was in the dead-ball area. However, they gained their reward when McKenzie handod the ball on to Findlay, who followed through on tho leather to ground it. McKay’s shot failed.

Tricky work by Himona prior to sending on to Fitzgerald enabled tho winger to line out. The visiting forwards worked across the goal front whero Metcalfe was caught in possession, and from an ensuing scrum Keeblo snapped the ball up on the blind side to go over close to tho posts. Hcmi goaled with a nicely judged kick and the deficit had been reducodto a bare point. The blues opened with a handling bout, and after the movement had gone across field R. Ormond straightened the lino, up by cutting through. Ho sent on to Elliott, who turned infield only for Ormond to drop tho return pass. However, McKenzie burst through and although he lost possession ho recovered to go over. McKay goalod. After an assault by the greens, Crawford went off in possession to hand on to Hight. but the receiver elected to pass wingwards and the ball was knocked down by Hemi. The backs swung into action, but the movement broke down at Bramwcll, although Ormond recovered only, to find the way barred and tho half-time bell sounded:

Manawatu 11, Wairarapa 5. GREENS THREATEN DANGER.

Himona, who had been playing excellently for the visitors, did not resume owing to his having sustained an injury, Johnston replacing him. McKenzie went through hard on the kick-out to go into the green twenty-five, but the visitors went off in a solid rush which took a lot of stopping. The blues were making valiant efforts to open up the play, but they were held in check and a free kick for offside came very opportunely. After taking a ball very cleverly, McKay failed to find touch and Hemi made no mistake, gaining a great slice of territory. A foolish kick by Strange was hurried over the line and XV. Stringfellow followed through to ground within handy range. However, Hemi missed an easy one and the blues still led. The greens went through after the kickout and they had their opponents on the run. A smart bit of work by McKenna saw him short kick over Mackay’s head, but ho knocked the corner flag down as he went over. A nice dash by Bramwell. prior to centring saw the blue forwards come ,up in line only for the bounce to beat them. Failure by Gillespie and Ormond to hold the ball in turn let tho greens away and they were right down to the line when Fitzgerald was halted. Tho blues were playing up in good style, although it was the forwards who were carrying the burden and McKenzie was a host in himself. When the greens secured from the set scrums, the rearguard was coming into action and danger repeatedly threatened, but the blues, although very weak in their inside backs, were fighting hard to hold their advantage. Bramwell capped a movement by cutting m, but he delayed his pass to Strange and the winger had no room in which to work. Cooper was headed for a try when he went off with the ball at his too. but when down to tho line Hemi kicked the ball away to save. Manawatu continued to hold the territorial advantage, but failure to find the line was costing them big slices of territory on occasion. However, they were now outplaying the greens and a short kick through by Elliott saw the winger and Cooper race for the latter to gam the score. McKay’s shot again swung outside the post, but tlie margin was now more comfortable. Another score came when Strange received a hand on from r indlay. who had broken across to the open, and the winger turned in and out to outpace the opposition. It was the wingers one real opportunity of the day and he made the most .of it. Again the major points were missing. . , ~ Stringfellow made a hid to reduce the deficit with a dazzling run, but Metcalfe came away from a scrum and the ball went along the line to Bramwell, who cut through prior to sending on a high pass to Elliott, but Fitzgerald halted the winger. Manawatu were now outplaying the opposition and another gallop by Strange nearly brought an addition to the score. The play worked across field and the forwards piled over, hut the try. was disallowed. The final whistle immediately sounded and the homesters had gained tho day after a great uphill battle. Manawatu 17, Wairarapa 8. Mr A. Gordon was the referee.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. (By “Cross Bar.”) Neither side was at full strength and. the visitors were further unfortunate in losing Himona at the interval, his display having been very spectacular. The Manawatu rearguard seldom operated impressively, tho handling close in being very uncertain. Bramwell did a lion’s share of work, but he was apt to attempt too much. Ilemi proved himself to be a finished player, his lino finding and length in his kicking making him vastly superior to McKay, the home custodian. Defeat appeared to be staring Manawatu in the face after the interval and tho position was not impfoved by the failure, not once or twice, but repeatedly on tho part of the backs, to find the line with their kicks.

Manawatu’s record for the season now reads: Eight engagements, seven wins; one loss; points for 129; against, 67. They have registered 35 tries to their opponents’ 14.

While three of McKay’s efforts on Saturday were deserving of better results, the absenco of a. goal kicker has cost Manawatu dear this season. Of their 35 tries the major points have been aded in only six instances.

O’. StringfelloWj the former All Black, displayed some of his old time dash at centre. Quite frequently it appeared as though he was assisted in his cut-ins by forward passes, but the movement was executed so smartly that it was difficult to detect. Bramwell had the honour of captaining Manawatu in the absence of Waldin, who is nursing an injured ankle, but ho was hardly the player of earlier games. He repeatedly went too far and starved Strange for ball. Although lacking in vim in going into an opponent and in his tackling, Strange can still score tries when given room in which to operate. His contribution was a sensational one and did much to smooth over his earlier lapses. Manawatu’s two nominees for the North Island team, McKenzie and Mitchell, were very prominent figures. Both got, through a lot of hard work, but it was undoubtedly McKenzie’s day. He was tho outstanding forward on the field. The Wairarapa selectors nominated three members for the North Island team, but Nunn, the half-back, did not take tho field in Saturday’s game. Reid and Devine, the two forwards who have been nominated, both played solid football. K. Reid is the only one of the quintette aforementioned who has worn the fern leaf, and in addition to being a Wairarapa representative he has worn tho Manawatu colours. In those days he was assisting Old Boys, but ho originally hailed from the Wairarapa. Last season Smith, who occupied a place in the green pack on Saturday, wore the Manawatu and Manawhenua jersey. However, like Reid, he returned to his home province after only a brief stay here. The rival half-backs, Metcalfe (Manawatu) and I. Booth (Wgirarapa) displayed a tendency to come away from the base of the scrum too much. These tactics got Metcalfe into a good deal of trouble and the greens’ first try was duo to his being caught in possession. Findlay made quite an excellent substitute for Waldin, even if he did not quite attain the heights of that player He certainly partnered Cooper in fo.lowing up and the pair went very well. The hooking honours appeared to bo determined on which half-back put the ball into the scrums. There were occasions when Manawatu secured and the leather emerged, so suddenly that it quite beat Metcalfe. , Home supporters have every reason to be pleased at the display given by their forwards, for with their backs to the wa.l they rose to great Heights. Everyone was a worker and it was pleasing to find Crawford and Hight, ■ two of the front row men, in the van in some of the rushes.

JUNIOR FIXTURE.

MANAWATU AN D HOROWHENUA DRAW.

The Manawatu junior representatives journeyed to Levin on Saturday to meet the Horowhenua juniors. Neither side posseised combination and a somewhat drab game ended in a draw, each side registering nine points. The Manawatu rearguard were furnished with plenty of ball, but faulty handling saw movement after movement break down. Manawatu opened tho scoring per medium of a fine penalty goal by Ward, who found the uprights from just inside the half-way line. However, a splendid dash by Anderson brought a score to the home team and thereafter the scoring see-sawed. Buick completed a rearguard movement for the green and whites, but H°rowhenua drew level again when Hirmi turned a penalty shot at goal to profit. The teams retired for the interval with their scoring accounts equal, but on the resumption idorowhenua took tho lead for the only occasion in the match when from a melee Anderson furnished his second crossing. Time was flying without Manawatu having made up the deficiency when a pretty bit of work by Waugh and Gillespie saw the latter, with a splendid burst of speed, outpace the opposition to cross wide out The kick failed and tho final whistle found the score unaltered:— Manawatu 9 v. Horowhenua 9. Mr C. Howell was the referee.

RANGITIKEI SUB-UNION. Toko-Stanway juniors 6 v. Utilcu juniors (Taihape champions) 0. WELLINGTON’S RECORD. STILL UNBEATEN. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept, 10. In boating Otago by 20 points to 17 beforo 10,000 spectators at Athletic Park on Saturday, Wellington woro hard pushed to maintain their unbeaten representative record for this season. Ten minutes before time Otago wero leading by three points, when Wellington drew level with a brilliant try. In the last threo minutes Otago were attacking hotly when Pag-e initiated a brilliant movement from his own goal line for Lilburno and Killeen to gam ground and send Robins away for a 50 yards run and tho winning try. The game ended almost immediately afterwards. Tho weather conditions wore excellent, with a hard ground, a slight southerly wind and no sun. Playing with tho advantage of tho ivind, Otago outplayed tho Wellington forwards in the tight and the loose, while the backs broke evenly. Taylor dropped a magnificent field goal in the first two minutes, and half-way through the spell ho added a- penalty goal from well out. Wellington attacked and from the ruck Kilby opened up a blind side movement for Robins to score an unconverted try. Just before the interval H. McSkimming made a brilliant opening for W. Allan to score after a 40 yards run,giving Otago a 10 —-3 load at half-time. An alteration was mado to the Wellington back lino when Lilburno joined Pago and Killeen came to the centre. Pollock went to full-back and Griffiths to Killeen’s wing. This saw an immediate improvement in the Wellington attack. Pago made a brilliant opening to send Lilburne over, Lilburno converting. Then Lilburne put Wellington in front with a penalty goal only to see R. McSkimming regain tho lead for Otago with a spectacular field goal. Lilburne again evened with a penalty and then Taylor once again put Otago ahead with a penalty goal. In the last ten minutes Killeen and Robins scored trios to give Wellington a last-minuto win: Wellington 20, Otago 17. Taylor played a magnificent full-back game for Otago, ranking as tho best custodian seen at Athletic Park this season.

WELLINGTON COLTS BEAT BUSH. PAHIATUA, Sept. 9. With their backlino giving a delightful display of bright, open football, the Wellington Colts’ Rugby team concluded their northern tour at Pahiatua this afternoon, when they defeated the Bush representatives by 17 points to 9. The weather was beautifully fine, but there was a strong northerly wind blowing, which proved troublesome to tho players. Having tho Wind in their favour in the first spell, the visitors made tho best use of tho advantage, and led by 14 points to 3 at half-time. The Wellington forwards in the first spell received a fair share of the ball from tho scrums, and lost no

opportunities of setting their backs in action. The visiting rearguard gavo _ probably the host display seen in -Pahiatua this season. They possessed enterprise, and their speed and combination made them at all times dangerous. Tindill played a splendid game behind the visiting scrum, and with tho inside combination between Webb and Atkins working effectively, tho three-quarter line received innumerable opportunities which they were by no means slow in turning to account. Chosterman was sound in centre, while Ball and Thompson both showed rare turns of speed. Although having youth in its favour, tho Bush back lino lacked finish, with the result that most of the opportunities that did come its way wero lost. All the backs combined well, but they were unable to penetrate, tho stubborn defence offered by tho visitors. In the second spell Bush mado equally good use of the wind, keeping tho Colts penned in their territory practically throughout tho spell. They wore, however, again unable to present any finish to their movements, and in consequence their many assaults on the visitors’ line were practically fruitless. Tho Bush forwards, led by Mahoney and Gunn, played a great bustling game, completely overshadowing their opponents in the second session. Of tho visiting pack, Grenfell, Howatson and Jolly were always to tho force. Both tho full-backs, O’Connor, Wellington, and Udy, Bush, were sound, tho former in particular in tho second spell coming through a lot of hard work with colours flying.

SHIELD RETAINED. CANTERBURY BEAT BULLER. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 9. Canterbury won their fifth match of the season for tho ltanfurly Shield by beating Buller at Lancaster Park this afternoon by 13 points to 3. The game was played on a dry, fast ground, but in a strong easterly wind which militated against good football. The game was, in fact, the dullest mterprovincial game the 1933 season has produced. Tho whole match consisted of a succession of scrums and line-outs. Buller had evidently decided that they had no chance if they opened the game to challenge the Canterbury backe, and their intention, carried out with determination, was to confine the game to the forwards. The quickbreaking Buller forwards kept play under control for the most part, securing an even distribution of territorial advantage, but as an attacking factor their tactics were impotent against the Canterbury defence. Canterbury established a lead early after Buller had held play in Canterbury territory for the early minutes of the game, and then it seemed that Canterbury were willing to wait for opportunities and content to hold their lead. Tho three trios scored by tho winners were the result of good backing up and ability to seize chances. Combined attacking movements were rare and tho standard of play was poor. Canterbury were by far the moro finished team, both forward and back. Either they were not exorting themselves or they had a day off. In the first spell King scored a try after Mullans had made a good break from a scrum, and French, who played at fullback, goaled. The spell ended with, the score 5-0 in Canterbury’s favour. Early in tho second spell Manchester broke away brilliantly, ran into a good position, and passed to Hazelhurst, who scored. French goaled. Hazelhurst broke away, sprinted down the blind side and passed to Bowes, who showed good speed and scored in the corner. French failed to goal. Buffer’s tlireo points came from a penalty goal kicked by Holder. The attendance was estimated at 11,000.

SOUTH ISLAND TEAM. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 10. The following team has been selected to represent the South Island against the North Island at Wellington on September 23: —■ Full-back.—J. Grainger (North Otago). Three-quarters. —F. G. Plart (Canterbury), H. Smith (Otago), \V. T. Dunno (Otago). Five-eighths.—C. Oliver (Canterbury), R. Hazelhurst (Canterbury). Half-back.—R. B. Scandrett (West Coast). Forwards. —A. I. Cottrell (Canterbury), J. Hore (Otago), L. George (Southland), J. E. Manchester (Canterbury), D. Max (Nelson), G. Purdue (Southland), A. H. Andrews (Canterbury), T. Metcalfe (Southland). Emergencies.--E. Holder (Buffer), R. R. King (West Coast).

. RESULTS ELSEWHERE. Timaru.—South Canterbury 13 v. North Otago 0. Blenheim. —C. G. Porter s Wellington team 14 v. Marlborough 8. Carterton.— Wellington juniors 26 v. Wairarapa juniors 6. Wanganui. —-Wanganui 21 v. a Wellington team selected by C. G. Porter 11. Invercargill.—Southland 23 v. Taranaki Auckland. —Surpriso results characterised the senior Rugby championship games, the leading teams, ’Varsity and Ponsonby, both being defeated, by Grammar and Alanukau respectively. Three teams, Ponsonby, ’Varsity, and Marist, are now level in the lead for tho championship. Results were: Grammar 8 v. ’Varsity 5, Training Collego 8 v. Technical Old Boys 8, Manukau 13 v Ponsonby 12, College Rifles 12 v. Grafton 12, Marist 19 v. Otahuha 6. New Plymouth.—South Auckland 27 v. Taranaki B 13. WALLABIES DEFEATED. 1937 SPRINGBOK TOUR. CAPETOWN, Sept. 9.

The Western Provinces beat the Wallabies by 4 points to nil in the presence of 15,000 spectators. Tho Provinces’ side included several Springboks. The second spell produced no score, but it was marred by a demonstration against the Wallabies owing to an injury to Van Eyssen, who was carried off, but resumed later. He was clearly looking for trouble and got it. At the conclusion of ths game a huge crowd surrounded the teams, joined hands, and sang “Auld Lang Syne.” A special Rugby conference decided to recommend the Rugby Board to accept the invitation to tour New Zealand and Australia in 1937, and that after this South Africa should participate in international tours either at homo or abroad only at five-year intervals. The l feeling of the conference was that South Africa should concentrate on developing domestic football, and not encourage international tours, which disorganised the gamo locally. Nevertheless, in order to assist football in Australia, it felt that this invitation should be accepted.