WANGANUI’S DEFEAT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 247, 16 September 1935, Page 8

WANGANUI’S DEFEAT.

MANAWATU BACKS TOO GOOD. A HANDSOME MARGIN. Playing delightful but carefree football at' times, but always holding a margin of safety, the Manawatu representative team beat Wanganui at Johnston Park by 25 points to 11. For the greater part of the game the visitors fought on the defence and it was only in the closing stages of the second spell, when Manawatu were resting over much on their oars, that Wanganui seized the opportunity to add to their total points, in both the forwards and the backs the home representatives were superior to the visitors, and in combined work Manawatu also gave the better display. The teams took the field as under:

Wanganui (black and blue). —Meremere, M. Dickie, Campbell,' Smith, Chase, Jones, Welsh, Steere, McClenaghan, James, Firmin, Davidson, Tomson, Poppe, Stewart, Manawatu (green and white). — Brown, Gillespie, Waugh, R. Findlay, J. Finlay, Fletcher, Blyth, L. Findlay, Powell, Williams, Harris, Beard, Henry, Ewartt, Southey. Manawatu opened facing a bright sun and within a few moments J. binlay had effected an entry into the blue defences, an effort which was checked by the watchful Steere who led the return rush. Desultory forward play hovered round the midway line for several minutes, the greens finally moving off, J Finlay ooerating fast from the base of the scrum to be several yards into the blue line, before he was halted. Scrumming down near the line the greens heeled out to Blyth, who dived round to go over by the posts. J. Finlay converted. Quiet play iollowed, but interest arose when the blues reached halfway and Chase intercepted between J. Finlay and Fletcher. The stocky fiveeighth made a good effort to break away but dropped the ball, Henry grabbing it 'to return the compliment. Handing on to Gillespie, the winger beat Dickie and romped on to the open where he fell to Firmin, who came across fast. Another green raid collapsed when Beard dropped the ban, and from here Wanganui got to work. A shattering run took the blues well down, and a temporary halt was overcome by Meremere, who came right up from the rear in possession to set Campbell going down the wing. Brown brought the blue centre down, but he had passed to Davidson who swerved off and short punted across, Dickie dashing up to the force. Chase failed with the kick. Nice handling by the Wanganui inner backs started the next movement, Smith getting the leather from Campbell at speed and gaining yards in a sprint before he fell to It. 1* md]ay. The tall green winger got possession and evading a couple of high tackles swerved and dodged his way back to drive gaining force as the pack flew to the support. Fighting tigerishly on their line the blues held the threatening score off and yard by yard sent the invaders back. Trouble loomed up when Smith caught Brown in possession, Blyth coming to the rescue to line out. Wanganui tailed to make the most of their chance and packing har d the green serummagers forced their way back. Carried along on the crest of the green line the ball flew from man to man, L. Findlay making the final dive over, but he was recalled to a knock-on. Not to be denied the Manawatu hookers shot the leather back to Blyth who bridged the gap. J. Finlay’s kick failed. . „ The blues lost the services of Meicmere in the ensuing play, 'lhompson replacing him. Still m Wanganui ground the greens launched anothex raid which developed diagonally to \Vau <T h who was unable to take the filial transfer, Campbell getting m a kick which, eased the pressure. the spell ended with the greens still aggressive and the scores: Manawatu 8, Wanganui 3.

Manawatu opened the second spell vigorously, the ball not touching the ground in a lengthy journey to the blue twenty-five. Here the Wanganui defence consolidated, but a H'esh avenue of penetration was sought by the greens who verged oft on to the right flank. J. Finlay took the hand on from Fletcher, but could not pass Smith. A sortie by Wanganui stemmed the green advance, momentarily, but a weak kick by Thompson fell into Harris’s bands. He sent a pass to Powell who swerved infield before handing on to L. Findlay who dragged his tacklers over by the post. J. Finlay goaled. Lacking cohesion in their rearguard, Wanganui were unable to reap the lull benefit of their individual attacks, likely openings being blocked repeatedly before the blues could give full support. In a rugged forward action Henry was injured and left the field, Sullivan replacing him. Twice the greens were within an ace of scoring, mainly due to weak clearances from the blue custodian, good tackling by the defending backs holding them up. Jones came right through from the ruck with the ball in possession to take play to the open, a short-lived blue offensive fading away. Swooping down on the leather the green rearguard paralysed the opposition with a lightning-like thrust. From man to man the ball shot unerringly, 11. l‘indlav finally handing on to L. Findlay, to Gillespie, the winger taking a high last pass anove his head at full speed to swerve his way past Dickie and leave the opposition standing for a glorious try. J. Finlay missed. Events new moved rapidly with .Manawatu in complete control. Tlirow-

ing the leather rbout with absolute confidence Manawatu forced their way through the loose defence to reach the blue twenty-five where J. Finlay delighted the crowd with a splendid field goal. ' . • The scoring was not yet over, however, for hard on the resumption the greens regained possession, the leather coining through to the smoothly functioning backs. Waugh took the transfer and the fleety centre, throwing off all tacklers, ran over unmolsted. J. Finlay made no mistake. Wanganui went to the attack on resumption and, inspired by a great solo run by Smith with the ball at his toe, carried Manawatu before them. The fire of the drive fizzled out as the distance lengthened, and a gift try was lost when Waugh got up to line out. Wanganui returned per medium of Campbell and in defending the greens infringed, Chase kicking a goal. Manawatu now eased off considerably, the blues seizing the chance to renew their efforts. First Steere and then Stewart led the pack on a foray, but the greatest danger came when Poppe worked his way through with a j inky run. Again want of support let the blues down, but profiting by the greens’ mistakes they came again. The bell sounded with the ball in play and, throwing defence to the winds, the blues attacked in force. Handling well the ball went from man to man for Campbell to go over and ground under the posts. Chase converted and the game ended:— Manawatu 25, Wanganui 11. Mr C. Eade refereed.

MANAWATU’S SUPERIORITY. Behind the green scrum Blyth played masterly football, his decisive work and quick thinking twice carrying him across the Wanganui line from scrums close up. Besides opening the way for several promising movements, two at least which led to tries, J. Finlay came off the field with 1U points to the credit of his kicking ability. The day was perfect for kicking and had all his attempts been closer at hand the tally would have been greater. Prominent at all times in the blue I'orwaul ranks was Steere, the burly Wanganui skipper, lie was ready to seize every opportunity, but fortunately lor the greens support for him was not always forthcoming. Greater penetrative ability on the part of the Manawatu backs worried the visiting defence, but it is to their credit that when their turn came to attack they had sufficient fire left to be troublesome. Campbell’s fast jinky runs were hard to check and the try lie scored at the end was a fitting •reward for good work. The temperature of the almost summer sunlight was rather much for both teams, but surprisingly enough it was Manawatu, who had the sun behind them in tho second spell, who tired first. The greens, however, had put everything into a hectic half hour’s play which earned the reward it merited, but at the same time it caused them to over-tax their energies. The change of full-back from Thompson, who replaced Meremere (injured), to Welsh, by the Wanganui skipper, proved beneficial. Thompson was well out of representative standard in the position, but in fairness to him it must be said that he usually plays in the centre. Welsh gave a great display of handling, but bis kicking, as with the opposing custodian’s also, lacked direction. Brown, in fact, has played better club games, being over slow in getting rid of the ball and surprisingly weak in tackling. The game revealed that Manawatu took the field with a definite plan of action, and the marked superiority resulting from this was responsible for the wide margin in the scores. Individual effort was not lacking on the Wanganui side, but for the most part their work showed 15 individuals trying to play a team. This resulted in the cohesive work of the greens smashing the attacks time and again, notwithstanding the fact that the Wanganui hookers more than held their own in the set scrums. It was in the loose that the ordered manoeuvres of the greens told their tale, the fleety wings and Waugh at centre carrying a large share of the work.