WANGANUI BEATEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 231, 29 August 1938, Page 9

WANGANUI BEATEN.

MANAWATU’S FINE WIN. FORWARD SUPERIORITY. Fielding a better pack of forwards, the Manawatu representative Rugby team beat Wanganui on Spriggens Park by 16 points to 13. The winning team scored four tries, two of which were converted, and Wanganui scored three, two being converted. Wanganui had a great team of attacking backs, and in the first spell had Manawatu well beaten. Ten points were run by Wanganui within the fi,rst 20 minutes, but the visiting forwards made themselves felt to some purpose toward the close of the first spell, and weaknesses in tackling by Wanganui let J. Finlay, the Manawatu five-eighth, make two great openings. From the first he scored himself and from the second sent G. W. Hunt, one of the front-row forwards, over. At half-time Wanganui had a lead of two points. After the spell Manawatu played more convincingly. A policy of keeping the ball away from the Wanganui backs was resorted to, and again weaknesses in defence made themselves apparent in the home backs. E. Nicholls, the Wanganui and Old Boys’ club five-eighth, who was called on at the last minute to deputise for Jv. Welsh at full-back, played a safe, solid game. Only three of Wanganui’s forwards measured up to Manawatu’s standard —W. Firnun, W. Thompson and T. Collins. C. Dickson, the sideranker, played well in the loose but did little in tbe tight. Manawatu were served splendidly at the base of the scrum by C. Edlin. E. Chamberlain, the Wanganui player, played well when his team was on top and did some cleyer work round the side of the scrum, but he lacked the pep of bis opposite number, though Edlin had by far the better pack. J. Finiay was a very penetrative back for Manawatu, but the second five-eighth and centre were not up to the standard of Hook and Barton of Wanganui. Little play reached the Manawatu wings. In W. Powell, B. O’Dea, G. W. Hunt and W. Sullivan Manawatu had a great quartet of forwards, and they proved again that, good as hacks may be, they need the protection of a good pack in tight as well as loose. The play of the home forwards dimmed the hope growing in some quarters that the Wanganui team might extend Hawke’s Bay in the event of the Bay winning the Ranfurly Shield. With a pack like that fielded against Manawatu Wanganui’s challenge would be futile. The teams were:—Manawatu. —R. Ricliards ; D. Buick, G. Simpson, L. Hills; C. Heliir, J. Finlay; C. Edlin; K. Beard; B. O’Dea, W. Powell (eapt.), A. Williams, A. Whyte : G. W. Hunt, L. Thorne, W. Sullivan. Wanganui.—E. Nicholls ; L. Burgess, D. G. Barton (capt.), M. Shewan ; G. Hook, M. Dickie; E. Chamberlain ; T. Collins; C. Dickson. C. Apou, W. Firmin; W. Moffett; W. Thompson, J. J. McDonald and B. Goldsbury. SCORING MOVEMENTS.

Barton ran, forgot Shewan, travelled infield and passed to Dickie, to Chamberlain, to Dickson, who scored. Barton goaled.—Wanganui 5, Manawatu 0. Apou tried to get possession near the line, failed, and Thompson came awa.y, ran, passed to Barton, to Hook, to Burgess, who scored. Barton goaled.—Wanganui. 10, Manawatu 0. Play settled in the Wanganui half as a result of the superior opposing forwards. Finlay was let away' to carve the defence clean in half, passing five or six players en route to the line. Sullivan’s kick failed. —Manawatu 3, Wanganui 10. Finlay came away again and was supported by Hunt, who scored. Finlay goaled, and at the change over the scores read: Wanganui 10 Manawatu ... 8 Hills ran strongly down the left wing for Manawatu, and O’Dea came nicely to score. Finlay converted. —Manawatu 13, Wanganui 10. The ball was carried out to the right Manawatu. ring and was centred, Whyte running up to score a good try. Finlay’s kick missed. —Manawatu IG, Wanganui 10. Firmin sent the Wanganui backs away. Dickie, Hook, Barton, and Shewan handling. Shewan kicked over the head of the opposing player and Barton got up in time to score. Barton’s kick failed, and the game ended soon after with the scores: Manawatu 1® Wanganui .... .•••