THE WALLACE CUP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 183, 6 July 1936, Page 10

THE WALLACE CUP.

IIE PRESENT ATI VE FIXTURE

OROUA BEAT TE K A WAIT

Dominating play in the last five minutes, ivhen they added nine points to their total, Oroua decisively defeated Te Kawau by 20 points to 5 in a representative match played at Sanson on Saturday afternoon. To Kawau' lost the Wallace Cup, which they had held for the previous two seasons. Play was lifeless in the first spell, players doing much running which brought negl gible results, and the match became very drab as a spectacle. Far more animation was shown in the second spell, Mr J. A. Colquhoun, one of the Manawatu selectors, was present looking for possibilities for inclusion in the Manawatu team.

The Oroua buckline functioned much better in the second half and the Te Kawau defence collapsed towards the end of the game, their opponents running through them. The teamsc were: — ■ Te Kawcu.—Pedersen. Gayler, Donaldson, Bromley. Mudford, Gust, ‘Wright, Sanson, Davey, Henson, O. Gardner, Williams, George, M. Gardner, Hammond. Oroua. — Pollard, Shannon. Stevens, Kearney. Pawson, .7. McKenzie. Carr, Hodge. Beilski, Freeman, Thompson, Hamilton, Sowerby, D. MfcKenzie, C. McKay.

Though Oroua appeared to lie_ the heavier of the two teams, Te Kaivau showed more vigour in the opening exchanges, securing possession from the scrums and carrying the attack into their opponents’ territory, where Hammond had an ineffectual attempt to kick a penalty goal, hut C. McKay led the Oroua forwards in a counter offensive. Gayler failed in an attempt from wide out to kick a penalty goal for Te Kawau, who got the opposition on the run, George being prominent in a strong rush. However, Kearney short-punted up the side-line, came up fast to take the ball on the bounce and using his speed, outsripped the opposition to score in the corner. Shannon failed to add the major points. To Kawau were compelled • to force a minute later before a forward rush. Stevens cut in smartly to initiate an Oroua attack, hut the movement was not completed. Hamilton, the Oroua captain, retired with an injured ankle, and was replaced by .Meades, le Kawau rallied alter a period of desultory play, Wright getting away on the blind side and then Pedersen carrying on ttie attack, through the centre, but the defence held. Te Kawau were attacking strongly when the spell ended. Kearney began to open up play on the blind side in the second spell, and several times despatched the Oroua backs nicely, hut they persisted in getting in front of the hail. However, they swung into action for some good movements, Stevens and Shannon carrying the attack deep into the Te Kawau territory. Freeman was active at the head of.forward rushes, bursting light through on one occasion, hut he was unsupported. Donaldson relieved the pressure when he penetrated the Oroua defence, and the Te Kawau forwards carried right on to the line. Henson dived over, hut was recalled for stepping into touch. However, O. Gardner secured and forced his way across. Gayler then converted with an excellent kick from a. wide angle. With Te Kawau maintaining the offensive, Pedersen narrowly missed landing a field goal. However, the situation changed swiftly when Pawson broke clean away and kicked through. He raced with - the opposition for possession, hut Gayler got there first, only to miss gathering up the ball. Pawson got up to kick it across and score. He failed to convert his own try. The Oroua forwards kept up a hammering attack and finally dribbled through for Freeman to heat the opposition in the dive for the hall. Kearney converted. Shortly afterwards Thompson got away to race the defenders for a rolling hall and score as he was tackled in the corner. Pollard’s kick missed Play had only been resumed a minute before "Stevens, Pawson arid Kearney were associated in a pretty piece-of passing whicli.culmin a ted in Kearney crossing. 'His kick failed, the hall striking the-cross-bar and rebound, lig. George was caught offside in front of hi 6 own goalposts, and Pawson kicked an easy penalty goal just before the game ended with the score : Oroua 20, Te Kawau 5. Mr L. Sim was the referee. ■ FEW REPRESENTATIVE PROSPECTS.

Though-one of the Manawatu selectors Mr J. A. Colqulioun, was iu atteiiiiance to watch prospective players for provincial honours, the play in the Wallace Cup match between Oroua and 'ld Kawau, at Sanson, was distinctly unimpressive. It was far below true representative standard. Kearney, the last Oroua winger, who scored two nice tries, was the only player who might be entitled to strong consideration. His speed was certainly a big factor, but tiie opposition was weak, and he handled a little uncertainly at the beginning of the game. However, his prospects could not be entirely ignored. Shannon and Stevens, the other Oroua three-quarters, played well, but not brilliantly. Stevens handled with precision, but showed no enterprise, ■and added little thrust to the hack ! movements. | l'awson, a brother of the redding | player, shone on the attack, and made some good openings. He set on example in following up, but it was not emulated by most ol the others. Instead of coming through, the forwards waited for the opposing full-back to ! miss the ball beiore they considered it worthwhile to do so. Inis was poor football. Pollard was very sound as the Uroua full-back, and rarely tailed to clear, even when overtaken by forward rushes. r reenian was easily the pick or the forwards, and Hamilton went well until he retired injured. Donald was the only le Kawau back to show real initiative, hub Mudford handled well- , „ , . Te Kawau hooked the ball cleanly from most of the scrums, and thenpack played well until they tired towards the finish. Geor"C and U. Gardner were the best fonvarus, but all the others did thensnare, Hammond and M. Gardner showing up in the loose. The main feature was that the pi&3 lacked polish, the handling was frequently indifferent, and tne backs v.uuld not keep in the correct attacking positions, frequently overrunning tne man with the ball.