RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 243, 11 September 1935, Page 14

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MANAWATU UNION

FEILDING OLD BOYS CLUB CONGRATULATED. The weekly meeting of the Manawatu Rugby Union’s management committee was held last night, when Mr A. M. Ongley presided. Others present were itlessrs E. CleveTy, H. R. Crawford, H. J. Hickey, H. Bowler, C. G. Pearse, L. G. Berry, A. F. Helleur, J. R. Hardie, and P. O. Skoglund. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs E. W. Low and L. G. Cope. The Woodville Club wrote advising that it had played Fitzgerald and two other non-members against Feilding Old Boys in the G. and C. Cup contest. At the time they were unaware that Fitzgerald was a disqualified player. The non-members had been called on to fill vacancies. The club had no desire to claim the points or to penalise the Feilding Old Boys Club in any way.—The two points were credited to Feilding Old Boys, but no action was otherwise taken in view or the circumstances.

The explanations tendered by the Ashhurst and Woodville third grade teams relative to their failure to notify their intention to default were considered satisfactory and the fines of 5s imposed were remitted. Mr Hickey considered that the junior subsidiary competition should be brought to a conclusion with the matching of Old Boys and United teams. This would leave the former club free to oppose the champion Horowhenua juniors in the Rowland Cup contest. It- was deckled to adopt this course, and to offer the 21st inst. to the Horowhenua Union for the match. It was further decided to carry out the senior fixtures set down for Saturday and to then review the position. The chairman congratulated Feilding Old Boys Club on having won the Hankins Shield, adding that the club had always been a grtfat asset to the union. Apart from the bright, open nature of their play, the team had always played clean football, and he had not witnessed a single incident against the spirit of the game. Mr Crawford supported the chairman in his remarks, and also congratulated St. Patrick’s Club on their effort, adding that it was an excellent performance for such a young team. Mr Hickey, in also adding his tribute, stated that while St. Patrick’s were somewhat disappointed at not attaining championship honours, they fully realised the winners were worthy champions. Mr Hardie also referred to the good “gates” received when Feilding Old Boys Club plaved, as a result of the attractive football they indulged in. Mr Pearse, on behalf of the Feilding Old Boys Club, thanked the speakers for their eulogistic references to his team.

Mr E. Clevely was appointed manager of the representative team to meet Wanganui at Feilding on Saturday, and of the team to meet Wellington at Wellington the following week. On the latter occasion the team will travel south on the Friday bv the 3.43 p.m. train, returning by “Field’s express” on Saturday evening. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. Fixtures, grounds and referees for Saturday were approved as under; Representative match. —Manawatu v. Wanganui, Johnston Park, Feilding, 3 p.m.; Mr C. Eade. Senior subsidiary. Feilding v. Feilding Old Boys, Johnston Park, 1.30 p.m., Mr R. Akuira; Old Boys v. St. Patrick’s, Oval, Showgrounds, 3 p.m., Mr A. Weston; United v. Woodville, Woodville, 3 p.m., Mr J. Fulton. Junior subsidiary final.—Old Boys v. United, Oval, Showgrounds, 1,30 p.m., Mr G. Dutliie. Fifth grade final. —Kia Toa v. High School A, No. 2 Showgrounds. 1.30 p.m., Mr Dillon. Midgets. —Terrace End A v. Convent B, Oval, Showgrounds.

THE REPRESENTATIVE MATCH NOTES ON THE GAME. While the return meeting between Manawatu and Horowhenua on Saturday furnished a bright display, there were all too many faults for it to be described as a good disulay. Some of jthe tries came so peculiarly as to furnish many laughable incidents. At their previous clash at Levin, Manawatu were a shade fortunate to | w j n by 19—14, and the home union appeared to be taking a ‘ chance in fielding an amended side, but alter a Ivery shaky start, the new representatives quite proved themselves. | Five of the green and whites figured in the scoring, and three of them are members of the United team. Three goals from tries and a penalty goal brought R. Ward nine points, L. iMndlav registered two crossings, and Cuipan one—lß of the 24 points. Horowhenua’s ranks contained a mixture of youth and veterans, Meta Johnston, Parata and Hukaraia being a trio whose association with the Horowhenua Union dates back quite a number of years. However, all three gave evidence that they are not spent forces as yet. I The eleventh hour defection of Crawford left the selectors in a pickle, for thev did not have a rcserye front-row man. Kerrigan, a lockman, filled the position in the first spell, but Southey [took up the role iu the second. It was

consequently not surprising to find the local side beaten for possession in the scrums.

When the teams met at Levin, Broughton occupied the centre position for Horowhenua and he proved himself to be a dancing and elusive member. On Saturday he occupied a wing position and played a more subdued part. His successor at centre, George, furnished eight of Hoiowhenua’s 11 points by liis kicking, but he lacked the thrust of the other.

Although Manawatu won by 13 points, Carr, the green full-back, had a heavier role to play than did Johnston, his vis-a-vis. Carr did not appreciate a rolling ball, but otherwise his work was good. Johnston, as of old, kicked with a lob of power. With Horowhenua eight points up, Henry, the Manawatu skipper, was a worried man, but he set his men an excellent example by getting down to serious business and, with Eindlay playing havoc in the open, the greens steadily altered the complexion of the game. Each team had two members in their ranks who figured in the Wanganui trials for the selection of the All Blacks. Horowhenua had Campbell and It. Merwood, and Manawatu Henry and Bradley. Campbell danced into the picture in the second spell, displaying a fund of dash and nippiness. Bradley employed his fend to some purpose on occasions, but it was apparent that the centre position was somewhat strange to him. Southey the Woodville member who was brougnt into the home team at the final minute, displayed great possibilities as a loose forward, liis pace being phenomenal for a scrummager. On one occasion he burst across the field with Tulloch, the Horowhenua winger after him, but the latter could make no impression. However, with the positions reversed, Southey prevented Tulloch registering a “certain” try after a long chase.

Blytli, with a new hack line at his command, may have felt somewhat uncertain about the members’ capabilities for a time, but it did not excuse his action in twice losing control by kicking when the Horowhenua line was looming up on different occasions. In all other respects he was a live wire, although a kick over the heart led to his retiremet in the second spell. As a five-eighth partnership, the Thompson-Fleteher combination displayed possibilities, although the former was apt to pass a little prematurely on occasion. The move when Fletcher came inside his partner to take the pass and burst through to the open was prettily executed and was well deserving of the try which came from it. L. Bishop, who had assisted Manawatu against Horowhenua at Levin, was back with his old union on Satuid ay—Massey College having been on vacation during the intervening period. The tall forward was a very active member of the blue pack and he was distinctly unfortunate in giving Ward three points from a penalty after displaying sufficient pace to halt Fletcher in one of his breakways. The manner in which he pounced on his opponent was reminiscent of the cat and the mouse.

. THE DRAW AT FEILDING. Although they have been seen in good work in other games this season the Feilding Old Boys pack played above themselves and delighted their supporters on Saturday. It would he almost unfair to individualise, but for improvement in play during the season’s activities Hart stood out as a shining example. Small in stature and lacking weight, he struggled tigerishly in the tight and was never off the ball in the loose rushes. Man for man, the St. Patrick’s forwards were a shade behind their opponents in virility, and before tho final hell sounded they were feeling the pace. Theirs had been a hard task, however, for the greater part of their energies had been diverted to holding the others at bay. For a season’s championship, the game pleased every fancy, and it would be a decidedly critical quidnunc who found any fault .with it. The St. Patrick’s inner backs saved the situation time and again, not because of any weakness on the wings, but due to the •lightning like thrusts of the opposition. Irvine gave his backs all the hall they needed and it was only the stubborn defence of the greens which held up the smoothly functioning black and white rearguard machinery. Any weakness at this point would have been fatal to St. Patrick’s, and the Gillespie Bros, and Spelman are to he congratulated oil sterling work.

Rarely has a game meant so much to both teams from the point of its consequences. Whilst a draw was as good as a win to Feilding Old Boys, it did not suffice for the greens, who needed a points advantage to have gained the following honours which now go to Feilding Old BovS : —TJie Hankins Shield for the Manawatu 1935 Rugby championship; the Jubilee Gup and the honour of meeting the winners of the Wanganui Ilughy Union championship. This is the second win for Feilding Old Boys in the local championship, and the closest occasion so far on which the greens have got to final honours. The Manawatu Referees’ Association made a very satisfactory choice when they appointed hv C. Eadd, of Feilding, as the referee for the game. He has an expert knowledge of the rules and his strict and transparently, just decisions pleased all; both teams were eminently satisfied with the control he displayed. For a reliable place kicker of the ability of Amadio his display was the oni.v disappointing feature of the game to his club supporters. About half a dozen attempts to find the posts from easv positions were astonishing failures and it would have been a sad Mow to Old Bovs bad the opposition von hv superior kicking. As it was there was a fateful expectancy prevailing when Boweli stepped back to take the kick in the last try which meant the name for either side. High hut wide the hall flow over the posts and a momentous championship closed with Old Boys’ gnp narrowly clinched.

FEILDING AND KIA TOA. Feilding and Kia Toa were more or less equal in their encounter at the Showgrounds, the visitors having a little more luck. Both clubs were

sadly-depleted, Feilding having seven defections from their regular ranks and Kia Toa eight. Each team had four players in the representative combination.

Both spells were of only 30 minutes each, and, considering the very hard state of the ground and the hot sun, the total time was quite enough. In the second half play brightened considerably and there was much more open passing, which speeded up the game. There was little to choose between the forwards in the scrums. Feilding secured slightly more of tho ball, although in the second half the Kia Toa backs were giving the better performance when in possession. R. Dewe did good work at the base of the scrum for Feilding,. and Gleeson was a toiler in the pack.. In the Kia Toa side Wasley put some vim into his play, which was slightly better than usual, and Riley also did well.