MANAWATU BEATS OTAGO.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2741, 6 September 1923, Page 5

MANAWATU BEATS OTAGO.

BY 20 POINTS TO 11. SOUTHERN FORWARDS OUTPLAYED. IN GRUELLING RUGBY CONTEST. (Special to the -''Times.") DUNEDIN, Last Night. The match between , Manawatu and Otago was played before an attendance of 3000 in lovely weather and on a hard ground. Manawatu won the toss and played with the sun behind them. Otago rushed, Mullins saving and finding the line at half-way. From the line-out an Otago passing rush was stopped by Brophy. From the scrum Akuira cut through and passed to Bailey, who found the line at half-way. An Otago passing rush from half-way was pulled up by Brophy collaring Stewart. Williams broke away from the line-out, but was grassed by Bennett, who snapped up tho ball and found the line. Duflin secured the ball and "dummied" a pass in to Brophy to Mul'.lns, who was collared. From the scrum Bennett took the ball at the Otago twentyfive and, beating McDonald, galloped over the line, scoring at the corner. Akuira narrowly missed converting. Dustln returned to half-way Sinclair centred, and Akuira broke away to Otago's twenty-five. Duffin started a rush, Bennett kicking high. Sinclair marked on the Otago line and Hart commenced a dribbling rush, which reached Cowie, who saved cleverly. Hard forward play followed, with counter rushes by both sets of backs Otago beating Manawatu in the lineout. Good tackling by the Manawatu backs saved time and again. Carroll O'Brien and Galpin headed a rush to Otago's territory. The Otago forwards retaliated with a dribbling rush, which was held up by Gothard marking. Rush and counter-rush were the order of the day. The game was fast and furious. Duslin marked in a handy position, the kick failing. From the ensuing line-out play Otago was penalised for off-side near half-way Akuira finding the uprights with a splendid kick. From the. line-out following the kick-off, Stewart broke away, but Bennett tackled beautifully. After an exchange of kicks by the backs Dustin headed a rush from the Manawatu line to the Otago twentyfive. There was another spectacular back rush by Brophy and Bailey, who passed to O'Brien, who was collared the ball going out at Otago's twentyfive. In a passing rush from half-way Stewart beat Bennett and Cowie and scored. The try was unconverted. The following play consisted of fast rushes by both sides, Duffin playing a magnificent game. Brophy got over but lost the ball, Otago forcing. The first spell ended: Manawatu G. Otago 3. O'Brien retired and was replaced by 1 Ryan, going lock. Shortly after commencing the second spell Otago kicked to half-way. Bailey picked up and kicked and followed up. Sinclair mulled, but Bailey snapped up and scored, Akuira's kick hitting the bar and rebounding into the field. Otago commenced a series of fierce rushes, but Manawatu's defence proved sound. Bailey cut through from halfway and ran to the Otago line, but was collared, his pass going astray. Bailey was injured. Bowler replacing him. Duflin again became prominent by splendid attacking play, which was spoiled by Anderson taking a pass offside under the Otago goal-posts. Otago returned to half-way. More exciting play followed the ball travelling up and down the field in great style, ending in Otago's ground, where Brophy picked up and passed to Mullins, who dashed over and scored, Akuira's kick failing. In an Otago forward rush to the Manawatu lino Murie was hurt and retired. McNeil replaced him. Otago secured from the scrum and passed from the half to the five-eighths, but the movement was cleverly spoiled by Bennett The ball was rushed to half-way, where the Otago backs set up a passing rush, which ended in Lusk scoring an unconverted try. The game became very willing and Ryan was cautioned for rough tackling. The free-kick relieved Otago. From a bout of exciting play Akuira snapped up. rushed through and passed to'Dustin, who rushed over the line, but was collared and dropped the ball. Anderson falling on it and scoring. Akuira's kick again failed. The game continued hard and gruelling, good work being done by Carroll, Duffin, Bennett and Brophy. Brophy secured in the Manawatu twenty-five and ran through the backs to Sinclair. He kicked over Sinclair's head snapped up the ball and scored between the posts. Dustin converted. Sinclair retired and was replaced by McNaughton. After spectacular passing rushes by both sides, Knight broke away, "dummied" Cowie and passed to Lamb, who scored, Dickinson converting. The game continued fast and furious, good work by Duffin and Bennett relieving Manawatu Otago was attacking when the bell sounded, with the score: Manawatu 20, Otago 11. The backs played a great game. It is hard to individualise, but Duffin excelled, playing the best back game on the field. The forwards put up a sterling performance, outplaying the Otago forwards, except in the lineout. The casualties Sly. Murle and O'Brien, wore not seriously hurt. ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR N.S.W. DISAPPOINTING DISPLAY. [Per Prew Asson'*»tlon 1 NAPIER, Last Night. The display of New South Wales against the combined Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay and East Coast team here to-day was most disappointing, the visitors being defeated by 32 to 15. On account of the creditable performance of Hawke's Bay this season greater interest than usual centred on the match but such an easy victory was hardly

contemplated. The combination of tho dombined team throughout was better ■ than that of the visitors, whose handling- at times was very patchy. The local forwards were the heavier pack, | an advantage which they made great' use of. This was evidenced very much by the manner in -which the Brownlie brothers repeatedly broko through tho N.SW, line, giving- the backs a j splendid opportunity to make the j game open. The latter handled and marked with precision, but the greater pace of the Welsh backs enabled them to tackle the wing men before materialising. The visiting backs also threw the ball about, but throughout the iii-st half the deadly tackling broke up the spectacular movements. In tho second half the local full-back, Wood, retired, injured in the knee, but was not replaced. This weakened the line of defence. Consequently the Welsh backs were afforded a splendid opportunity, the wing men, Erasmus and Nothling being able to race in practically without opposition. This weakness was counteracted by the local forwards, who were dominating the loose play, and smothered the inside men before they were able t'o send their three-quarters away. The fast fallowing up of the forwards resulted in their scoring five out of the seven tries, and of these Nepia converted four, N.S.W. had innumerable chances to add to, their score as the'result of penalty kicks, but failed miserably in this respect. Their score consisted of five tries, none of which was converted. Play at the start was fast. Mill .:ont the locial backs away, and tho : ball was handled by Nepia, Walker, and LockwQod, tho latter taking it at top of speed, and crossing. Nepia goaled. The visitors invaded combined territory, where Nothling had an unsuccessful shot at goal, Meagher secured from the scrum, but the resulting rush gained little ground. M. j Brownlie and Heeny were next in i evidence. M. Brownlie passod to Matthews, to C. Brownlie, who trans-, ferred back to his brother, the latter scoring. Nepia again goaled. A little later Lockwood again scored, Nepia | missing tho kick. Taylor and Thorno | led a strong blue forward rush, Noth- | ling having an unsuccessful shot from a free kick, Erasmus, in a strong run, put the blues on the attack, the same player being robbed of a try by Nepia. Erasmus was again prominent four minutes later, scoring a splendid try well out. The kick failed. The next score came to Now South Wales after a powerful run by Nothling who scored an unconverted try. Shortly before half-time Nepia kicked a penalty for tho local men, the score at the interval being—Combined 16, New South Wales* 6. The second half was devoid of much interest, New South Wales being outclassed. The combined forwards showed great dash and stamina, giving the blues little respite, further tries being scared by Kirkpatrick (2), and Matthews, two being converted by Nepia. For the blues, Nothling and Marro'tt (2) were the scorers. At tho dinner in the evening the visitors' manager said the combined team was the best team they had met so far on the tour. WANGANUI DKFEATS OTAGO'S TOURISTS. A CLOSE FINISH. (Per Press Association). WANGANUI, Last Night. Wanganui defeated Otago after a fast game by 14 points to 12. The visitors, owing to players being • injured, had great difficulty in raising a team, Glengarry (half) having to play as hooker. Otago had the best of the early stages, and threw the ball about a lot, at half-timo leading by nine points to nil. On resuming Glengarry scored from a line-out. Potaka was hurt, and was replaced by Delves, the latter signalling his arrival with a,beautiful Held goal. Ross next kicked a penalty goal, and Cameron, with a potted goal brought the homo score to 11. Ross, with a try, next put Wanganui in the lead. Play was exciting in the closing stages. Webb followed up a kick and beat the Wanganui full-back fo.r pace, but before he could touch down the ball struck the corner flag. SOUTHUAND DEFEATS WAIRARAPA. Ter Press Association 1 INVERCARGILL, Last Night. Before four thousand spectators, on a dry ground, with a blazing sun and practically no wind, Southland 19 (four tries, two converted, and a penalty) defeated Wairarapa 8 (a converted try and a penalty). The gamo was fast and exciting, but in the second spell the home team were far too go.od. Southland's tries wero scored by Gilmour (t), Richardson, and Rice, rtichardson converting two and kicking a penalty. Provan scored for Wairarapa, Knowles converting and kicking a penalty.