RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 230, 27 August 1935, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MANAWATU v. WAIRARAPA. Owing to Henry, Hight, Crawford and Harris being not available for tomorrow’s match with 1\ airarapa, the team to do duty for Manawatu will now be as under: — Full-back. —Hutchinson. Three-quarters. R. Gillespie, Waugh, R. Findlay. Five-eighths.—J. Finlay, Fletcher. Half-back.—Blyth. Back row. —L. Findlay (cap!.). Second row. —Beard, \V illiams, Fleming, Ward. Front row. —Sullivan, Louisson, Ewart. Emergencies.—Backs, Bradley, Culpan; forwards, AVilson, Knyvett.

MANAAVATU v. HAAVKE’S BAY

“WELL-DESERVED AVIN.”

Commenting upon the representative fixture between Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu- on Saturday, the Napier Telegraph’s critic made the following comment on the game:— ' “Superb play on the part of their forwards and superior understanding among their backs enabled Manawatu, in the face of an exhibition of tackling which at times was deplorable, to inflict Hawke’s Bay first representative Rugby defeat of the season. That the visitors caught Hawke’s Bay on an off-day cannot be doubted, but it was the better team that won and the success was well deserved.

“It was a new experience for Hawke’s Bay enthusiasts to watch a magpie pack playing second fiddle to an opposing combination. Manawatu’s splendid pack returned all they received and more, and their backs saw to it that they reecived all the support necessary to maintain the advantage. The Hawke’s Bay forwards, it must be admitted, gained the miner hand on occasions ; their spasmodic bursts, in fact, brought the only bright spots in the home team’s display, with the exception, possibly, of the effort which introduced Le Quesne’s try. “There was very little of the spectacular about the encounter —the wind saw to that. In the first spell, Manawatu had the advantage of a strong breeze, but half-way through the second half it dropped considerably and developed into a series of gusts which only occasionally assisted the Bay men. “The weakness of the Hawke’s Bay tackling contributed very largely to their downfall. Glaring instances of this defect were frequent and were accompanied by an almost pitiful failure on the part of several players to get their men properly. The value of the opportunities which came the visitors’ way was thus increased twofold, anel invariably they were quick to realise on this advantage.

“The Manawatu backs were also a shade superior to the Hawke’s Bay set, their handling being excellent. Their speed also gave them frequent opportunities of riddling the Bay defence, which appeared to be at sixes and sevens whenever the home line was threatened. “The Manawatu insides, Finlay and Fletcher, were in good fettle, and did more than their share in holding the visitors’ position. Gillespie and Findlay, were both dangerous on occasions. “One of the brightest spots of the Manawatu rearguard was the second spell work of the full-back, Hutchinson. His handling and kicking were excellent, and he was responsible for a flawless exhibition. “J. O’Brien, Miller and Collett performed valiantly for the Bay in the loose, while Hannigan, Matnira and Jackson were grafters in the tight. Harris, Beard, Henry and L. Findlay were responsible for a great day’s work in the visiting vanguard.”