RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 249, 18 September 1933, Page 10

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WELLINGTON BEAT MANAWATU. OLD BOYS WIN ROGERS CUP. Manawatu played their penultimate gamo of the season at Athletic Park, Wellington, on Saturday when they suffered their second defeat in a scries of nine fixtures at the hands of the Colts team by 14 points to H after a somewhat uninteresting struggle wherein the elements played a material part. In the absence of the representative team, the opportunity was taken to present the final of the Rogers Cup between the junior combinations of Old Boys and Bunny thorpe. Both teams had figured m the club final, but whereas_ on that earlier occasion Old Boj's’ winning margm was a very narrow one they proved their superiority in no uncertain manner on Saturday. The fiinal of the midget senes was also presented. Terrace End, who had won the right to moot College Street by defeating Hokowhitu during the week, by three points to nil, went on to win the final bj a similar margin. All three teams which reached the advanced stages of the competition were former winners.

WELLINGTON v. MANAWATU,

DISAPPOINTING DISPLAY,

WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. A disappointing exhibition of football was witnessed at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon when Wellington “B 1 representatives met a representative team from the Manawatu Union, and won by 14 points to 11. The Manawatu team this season has been doing exceedingly well, having won seven out of eight representative matches, but . on Saturday they were opposed by a decidedly superior fifteen, and generally gave a weak display. The game for the most part was confined to the forwards, Manawatu having the advantage of a much more solid pack than 'Wellington. The Manawatu pack was watched with particular interest by reason of the inclusion of G. Mitchell and U. McKenzie, two of the nominees of the Manawatu Union for the North Island team. The forwards, #howevcr, gave on tho whole a disappointing performance, lacking punch in their attack, and being generally erratic in their passing. Mitchell and McKenzie, though they worked tirelessly the whole game, did not imThe Wellington team deserved their win on the play of the day. The forwards, though hardly faultless, fully made up for Manawatu’s superior weight, and gained much ground at times with the little-used but effective dribbling _ rush. Wells and Jolly were outstanding in r the vanguard, the former working like a Trojan, and ’keeping on the ball all the time. Backs of both sides were responsible for some bright movements, Thompson and Nees shining in the Wellington team, and Strange in the Manawatu. Thompson amazed, at times with some fine bursts of speed, and Nees played a very “heady game, knowing exactly what to do when the ball reached him on the wing after passing through the back line. Strange secured the most spectacular try of the game shortly before time when ho gained possession about half-way, and touched down after a magnificent solo effort.

The teams were: — Manawatu.—McKay; Strange, Bramwell, Bradley; Ormond, Dowe: Metcalfe; Waldin, Cooper, Mitchell, McKenzie, McClelland, Eade, Crawford and Hight. Wellington.—Masters; Nees, O’Connor, Ball; Thompson, Neal: Tindill: Clayton, Wright, .Tollv, McNeilc, Wells, Howatson. Grenfell and Watson. The opening stages of the game did not prove verv exciting. Tho ground was hard and Wellington had the advantage of a strong following wind. _ Tho first score came when Thompson with a great hurst of speed took tho ball at his feet through tlie Manawatu _ backs, and E. Ball, following close behind, fell on the leather at the right moment. Wellington 3, Manawatu 0. Wellington were not long in scoring a second time wli/m Wells made a likely opening, sent across to Nees, who was following up fast, and who scored a pretty try. Wellington 6, Manawatu 0.

Nces’s chance came again when O’Connor intercepted a kick from the Manawatu backs, shot, tho ball across to Nees, who galloped dowidield to score. lhc try was converted. Wellington 11, Manawatu 0.

The Wellington backs got away, but a likely passing movement was spoiled by Nees knocking on. Play for a while was concentrated in front of Manawatu s posts, whore Jolly raised a murmur from the crowd when he essayed a field goal. Once again Thompson used his speed to advantage, and after making a nice opening passed to Noes, who crossed tho line. The try was not converted, and half-time sounded without any .further score after a long period of loose and mediocre play.

Wellington 14, Manawatu 0.

After the interval, _ the gamo became a little more interesting. A scrum infringement on the part of Wellington gave a penalty kick to Manawatu, but McKay’s kick went wide. It appeared as if tho home side would add to their tally when McClelland sent out to Masters, who sent on to Grenfell. The latter, however, was grassed close in. Wellington continued to attack, but a sudden reversal saw Cooper rush over in a fine effort. McKay took tho kick about 10 yards from the posts, and sent tho ball over to make the score:

Manawatu 5, Wellington 14.

A sequence of loose scrums followed, in which Manawatu seemed to gain the advantage, and when the ball went out to the backs, rather a nice passing rush was spoiled by Bramwcll _ knocking on. Metcalfe and’ Dewc figured in a splendid rush, but the greens failed to finish off the attack. Tindill was proving a tower of strength to his side, while Dewc and Bramwell were conspicuous for Manawatu. The latter mulled a pass for Ball to pick up but the Wcllin'jtonian could not handle’ the leather and fell heavily. Neal sent to Thompson, to Bradley, who fumbled while the same trio made it hot again

straight away, although without success. Bramwell, who had been injured, left the field and was replaced by Findlay. Ormond beat tho opposition to tho leather, and, snapping it up, shot it out to Waldin, to Strange. Tindill stemmed the rush, but was temporarily injured in tho attempt. Neal found touch a moment later to save a green attack. Mitchell broke away and sent on to Ormond, who sent on to McKonzic, who came down short of the line. Manawatu were launching numerous attacks, but Wellington, marking well, brought the backs down. Mitchell was injured and Smith replaced him thirtyeight minutes after the spell commenced. Manawatu went over right after this, but the player was hold up and could not complete the onslaught. Prior to tho end of the gamo, Manawatu went hard and raised six points in fine stylo, with tries by Findlay and Strange. However, their efforts to even the scores were unavailing, and the game ended:

Wellington 14, Manawatu 11, Mr R. J. Baton refereed.

THE ROGERS CUP.

OLD BOYS THE WINNERS.

BUNNYTHORPE LACK FINISH,

A fitting conclusion to a most interesting competition in tho junior grade was signalled when Old Boys and Bunnythorpo filed out to the oval to contest the. final in the Rogers Cup series—a subsidiary competition which had been played oil the “sudden death” principle. Throughout the full season at least lour of the participating teams in the inter-club series bad been possible champions at an advanced stage, the position being finally narruwed down to two, and Old Boys won a great final by the narrow margin of two points. That the two finalists had merited the positions they attained was evidenced in tho subsidiary competition when they again won their way to the final, but on this occasion Old Boys proved their superiority by registering three tries without reply and thereby took the Rogers Cup for tho second successive year. The teams were: Bunnythorpo (maroon). Reynolds, Sutherland, Waugh, McKinley, Duthic, 0. Pinfold, J. Powell, Mitchell, J. Pinfold, Clevely, Burton, Bongo, W. Powell, Pentecost, Thomas. Old Boys (black).—Robertson, Ongley, Thomas, Buick, Plank, Stubbs, Norris, Lovelock, Louisson, Quirko, Withers, Ramsay, Moxon, Day, Cutler. Old Boys defended the southern goal with the wind at their backs, and although Bunnythorpo lodged the initial assault they were driven back and a centring kick forced the maroons. A wild pass which went behind its connection got tho blacks into trouble and tho maroons piled through to the centre where a long throw in at a lino-out enabled J. Powell to set his lino operating only for a pass to go astray. A burst by Buick saw the winger go deep dowtifiekl before being forced into touch. _ The country team cleared, but fast following up by tho black forwards bustlod the opposition and a series Of short kicks saw Reynolds fail to halt tho leather after it had crossed the goal line and Lovelock dashed up to secure tho force. Robertson added the major points. From a free kick to tho blacks Moxon followed up fast to take Reynolds in possesison and Withers and Moxon made bids to cross in turn, but were halted and tho attack culminated in a force. The blacks continued to maintain the pressure, but another force resulted when Robertson had a long shot at goal, the ball bouncing in front of the goal to sail over tho bar—a profitless effort. A try came to tho blacks when Stubbs snapped up behind a scrum to cut through prettily. When down to tho full-back be voered outwards to link up with Norris, and his fellow five-eighth accepted the pass to complete. Robertson made no mistake and' tho margin bad been extended to 10 points. Stubbs and Moxon were prominent figures for the blacks and Thomas accepted tho ball near the stand touch-line to kick across field. The bounce beat McKinley and in a flash Buick was away to fend off an opponent and go over wide out. Robertson, made a great effort to goal. The remainder of tho spell found Bunnythorpe submitting to repeated force-downs as a result of over-hard kicking by the blacks, but with tho score unaltered. Old Boys 13, Bunnythorpe 0. Bunnythorpe opened strongly on the resumption and tho blacks were bard on tho defensive when Norris burst cleay in possession, but his pass to a support wont astray. Burton met with an injury to his ankle and was compelled to retire, Guard replacing him. A brilliant run by Ongloy, saw the black winger weave bis way through tho defences to work infield only to bo halted at the goal mouth. Failure by Robertson, who was standing very deep, to got under a long kick, saw the ball work into touch and an ensuing clearance into the wind by tho full-back failed to reach its objective, but the bounce beat two mavoons and allowed the kicker to recover and force. Time was speeding and tho country 'fifteen’s account was still unopened. Danger momentarily threatened the blacks when Duthio went away in possession, but tho advance was stayed and a handling bout by Stubbs and Ongley sot tho blacks hot foot for tho other end, where Robertson had two fruitlos; shots at goal and time found the scor unaltered after a scoreless spell. Old Boys 13, Bunnythorpo 0. Mr S. G. Still was tho referee.

MILLAR AND GIORGI CUP.

TERRACE END THE WINNERS

The midget competition, which is restricted to tho diminutive members of tho local primary schools, has furnished the spectators at local matches with a fund of interest this season, and tho final of tho series was decided at tho interval to tho junior fixture when Terrace End registered their second success in the series, having won the trophy last year. Tho rival eights were:

Terraco End (blue). —Hopkirk, Dcriclq C. Hardie, Johnson) Walker, Mutch (capt.), Goodwin, Bull. College Street (red and black). —McMinn, Rickard, Poananga, J. Stubbs, Russell, N. Pegden (capt.), Shearer. A short kick off brought the blues again into play and they forced their opponents. A spectacular run by Dench promised a score, but he went into touch at tho corner. McMinn transferred twice in succession for Collego Street and the advantage gained was carried further by J. Stubbs, who was unlucky not to cross. Tho red and blacks continued to maintain the advantage until the change over, but with the wind now favouring them the blues fought their way to the reds’ goal line, where Mutcli was disappointed after a bold effort. However, after being held at buy, the blues gained a well deserved try when Bull secured to run diagonally and scoro well out. It was the one score of the game, for although the reds continued to display a fund of dash, they could not reach an attacking position. The display was a fitting one for a final, the boys show-

plenty of dash, while the tackling was little short of spectacular. Terraco End 3, College Street 0. A CLOSE CALL. CANTERBURY RETAIN SHIELD. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 16. Canterbruy had a very narrow escape from losing the Ranfurly Shield to Taranaki to-day, a very closely-fought match ending in a draw —15 points all. Canterbury were saved only by a field goal by Ilazelhurst in the last few minutes of play. It would appear that tho Canterbury team has had enough Rugby for tho season, for thero was ovidence of staleness.

The dominating factor of the game was tho supremacy, both in tight and loose play, of tlie Taranaki forwards. Rarely did Canterbury get tho ball from set scrums, and the Tarnaki men in the loose launched attack after attack that smashed past the Canterbury inside backs and looked aways dangerous. Canterbury were much superior in the back division, but the visitors’ forward supremacy kept the Canterbury flyers very quiet. Fortunately for tho shield holders the combined play of the Taranaki backs was poor. Had they been able to penetrate with their back rushes they would have won by a good margin. As it was, Taranaki were attacking for the greater part of the second spell, but if the Qanterbury forwards had shown such energy and dash as they have shown in previous Shield matches they would have fed the Canterbury backs and they would probably have shown up the Taranaki backs rather badly. The first half of the game produced little good football. Canterbury established a five points lead after about a quarter of an hour, when every back on the Canterbury side handled, and tho full-back, French, scored and converted his own try. Canterbury scored again in the first spell when Andrews came in at the end of spectacular passing to run over at the corner. The kick failed. Jiist beiore half-time Collins, Taranaki fullback, potted a goal from wide out. The score at half-time was: Canterbury 8, Taranaki 4. Misunderstanding between the Canterbury full-back and Oliver in taking a high ball allowed K. Fookes to dash over under the posts. Ross converted, and Taranaki led 9-8. The Taranaki forwards paved tho way for the next try, bursting through tho defence. Wills scored near the posts, but Ross missed tho goal. From long range French kicked a penalty goal. Taranaki went further ahead when the forwards" went to Canterbury’s line, and Ross, joining in, dived on the ball at the corner flag. He missed the goal. With 17 minutes to go Canterbury were held at bay until tho last, five minutes. Then the backs got moving, several passing bouts going close to scoring. Two minutes from time Ilazelhurst, hemmed in by defenders near the posts, snapshotted a goal, and the scores were even.

WELLINGTON’S EASY WIN,

AUCKLAND ROUTED.

Per Press Association,

AUCKLAND, Sept. 16. The annual Rugby match between Wellington and Auckland at Eden Park , today resulted in an easy win for Wellington by 37 points to 9. Splendid conditions prevailed and the attendance was 25,000. Auckland were completely ouclassed except in hooking the ball from the scrums. Even with this advantage the Auckland backs failed to impress. The Wellington rearguard played brilliant football and some of the movements were a treat to watch. The visiting forwards were also good in loose rushes and tackling, and their support of the backs was a feature, Wellington were quick to start counterattacks from almost any position, and especially from opponents’ . mistakes. Ihe Kilby-Lilburne-Kineen combination was splendid. NORTH ISLAND TEAM.

MANAWATU PLAYER CHOSEN,

AUCKLAND, Sept. 17. The North Island selectors, Messrs E. McKenzie (Wairarapa) and F. E. Sutherland (Auckland), have selected the fol lowing team to represent the North Island against the South Island, at Wellington, next Saturday:— . Full-back. —G. Nepia (East Coast). Three-quarters. —F. S. fuller (Wellington), T. H. C. Caughcy (Auckland), A. Bullock-Douglas (Wanganui). Five-eighths.—B. A. Killeen (Wellington), J. R. Pago (Wellington). Half.—F. D. Kilby (Wellington). Front-row forwards. —F. G. Cooper (North Auckland), W. Hadley (Auckland), J. Loeson (Waikato). Second-row. —H. 11.I 1 . McLean (Wellington), E. R. G. Steere (Hawke’s Bay), R. McKenzie (Manawatu), A. Mahoney (Bush). Back-row.—E. Solomon (Auckland) Reserves.—Back: H. Lilburne (Wellington). Forward: R. Clarke (Taranaki).

MANAWATU’S REPRESENTATIVE.

R. McICENZIE’S RECORD.

(By “Cross Bar.”) The announcement that R. McKenzie, the Kia Toa and Manawatu player, lias been included in the North Island team will be received with general satisfaction by district Rugby enthusiasts, for it has boon felt that this promising forward was well worthy-,of inclusion among the best of tho North Island, if not of Now Zealand.^ McKenzie while still a schoolboy at Kakariki, played for tho Halcombe junior team, and on joining the staff of the Post and Telegraph Department at Palmerston North in 1928 be made his first appcaranco locally as a member of the St. Patrick’s fourth grade team. In the closing stages of tho season ho was figuring in a higher grade, but the following winter found him stationed at Waikanao and ho rose to junior grade football once again. Indeed, in that season ho displayed such marked advancement that lie gained a place in the Manawhcmia junior combination which opposed Wellington at Athletic Park. The 1930 season found him at Woodvillc assisting tho senior combination, but difficulty in fielding a full team finally resulted in the club r. tiring from the competition. Tho Kia Toa Club sought McKenzie’s services and ho had the satisfaction of donning the representative jersey for Manawhcmia that year against Wanganui, while he took part in throe of the engagements fulfilled by Manawatu A team and a like number for Manawatu B. It was then apparent that better things wore in store for the big scrummager and lie filled a permanent place in the Manawhcmia side in tho first game of tho 1931 season and lias gained representative honours continuously since. His record that season is worthy of mention, for he took tho field on seven occasions for Manawhcmia and four times for Manawatu. Last year lie participated in Manawhenua’s six’engagements and donned, tho jersey for Manawatu on two _ occasions, while this year ho has participated in the nine matches Manawatu has fulfilled, tlie association with Horowhcnua for representative purposes having been terminated prior to tho current season opening. Thus in the 1931 and 1932 seasons bo did not miss a representative fixture wherein Manawhcnua figured, and lias a full complement of appoarances where Manawatu is concerned this year. He has been a useful scoring man, both for his club and for the representative combinations in which ho lias figured, his activities of the present term having brought him five trios and a goal from a try in representative football and two tries and two penalty goals in club football. McKenzie’s record has been consistently good, with a promise of even greater things when ho gams the polish which asosciation. with tho Dominion’s best invariably brings, and one and all will wish him the best, of fortune in his essay to reach tho Dominion’s Rugby heights