MANAWATU ON TOUR.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2744, 10 September 1923, Page 4

MANAWATU ON TOUR.

NARROWLY DEFEATED BY SOUTH CANTERBURY. BROPHY IS BRILLIANT. (Special to Times.) TIMARU, Last Night. South Canterbury defeated Manawatu on a dry ground by 17 points to 14. The visitors had the better of the early play, and at one stage led by 11 to 3, but the home team outstayed them, and were a bit unlucky in not increasing their score. The game was played before a large attendance in dull weather, with no wind. Manawatu won the toss, Canterbury setting up a hot attack, which was saved by Bailey. Several dangerous passing rushes by Canterbury were spoilt by knocking on. Then Carroll broke away, but a promising rush was spoilt by Duflin knocking on. Spectacular combined runs by both sides found Manawatu eventually defending, Bailey again saving by kicking into' touch. From the line out Lawson essayed a pot, Cowie returning to half-way. Manawatu set up another attack, Akuira finding the line in Canterbury's 25. Brophy saved another attack. Retaliating, Manawatu set up a passing rush, Duffln sending to Brophy, who was forced out inside Canterbury's 25. Akuira then broke away and passed to Sly. The latter's pass was intercepted by Mathieson, saving a certain scare. Canterbury continued to attack, but .Brophy's defence was sound. Greens broke away and carried the ball to Canterbury's ground. Duflin set the backs once more going, the forwards participating, followea by a penalty kick in front of Canterbury's .goal posts, Akuira converting. 'Manawatu 3 —o. McNeil became prominent. Breaking away, Canterbury returned to the attack. Hare, with a kick, allowing Cowie to force. From a series of line outs Dustin, who was playing a heady game, broke away, but his chance was spoilt by. a forward pass. From the scrum Akuira sent the bail to Duffln, to Brophy, who dummied and ran through, scoring a clever try. Akuira's effort at goal failed. Manawatu 6—o. Canterbury set up a further attack, but the ball went out at the Manawatu 25. A free kick was awarded to S. Canterbury, Scott converting with a great kick. Manawatu 6, South Canterbury 3. Sly broke away, and commenced a strong- rush, Fairbrother saving by kicking into touch. Brophy again broke away, carrying play into the Canterbury's 25. From a scrum Akuira passed on the blind side through the back to the full-back, who kicked over his head, but a Canterbury man bumped his, obstructing a suro score. This, unfortunately, was not detected, and Canterbury forced down. Akuira was laid out temporarily at this stage. From halfway Bailey secured and ran to the full-back, passed to Galpin, who passed in to'Carroll, to Brophy, to Mullins, who ran in and scored", Mullins converting. Manawatu 11, S. Canterbury 3. Attack and counter-attacft followed, play going up and down the field. Akuira, Sly and Dustin were prominent. Cowie fumbled a catch and was penalised for holding on, Scott converting. Manawatu 11, S. Canterbury 6. After a short, spirited contest in midfleld, Edgier secured, and breaking away, ran past Cowie, scoring a spectacular try. Scott's kick failed. Manawatu 11, S. Canterbury 9. Fast play, with good worn on both sides, closed the first spell. McNeil went off with a kick on the thigh, O'Keefe replacing him. Sly broke away with the ball and carried it to Canterbury's 25. A free kick to Manawatu for off-side play gave Akuira a chance, which was not availed of. Give and take forward play, with spectacular passing- by the [backs, followed, off-side play saving [Manawatu from a fierce attack. The [Canterbury forwards were at this period playing a great game, especially Stewart, who commenced several passing rushes, which kept Manawatu busy, and Scott, securing, ran through, scoring behind the posts, converting himself. S. Canterbury 14. Manawatu 11. Play now became faster and keener, both sides doiiw their utmost to pierce the stubborn defence Morris then hurt his shoulder, Bennett going on. Akuira, Mullins and Gothard were prominent in good defensive work. A passing rusn was set going by Duffin, who passed in to Brophy, to Mullins, with Bennett handy, but Mullins kicked in-field to Canterbury, who returned to halfway. Bennett promptly threw tb« leather in to Dustin, who passed to Bailey, who dashed for the line, but was collared by Ederler in good style near the line. From a free kicK to Manawatu, Mullins sent the ball over. Fourteen all. With only a few minutes to go, play became more exciting, each side playing all it knew Mullins was hurt, but played on. Brophy was working like a Trojan to stem the onslaughts of the Canterbury men. Dustin broke away with a fine rush and passed to Duffin, who missed, and Canterbury broke away to the Manawatu line, where a free kick to Canterbury allowed Scott to convert. The whistle sounded shortly afterwards, with 'Manawatu attacking strongly. * Although beaten, Manawatu were not disgraced. The South Canterbury team consisted of a strong pack of forwards and the monotonously successful place-kicking oi Scott was a hot proposition. No onwould have recognised the Manawatiteam to-day as that which playea Southland and Otago. Nearly all thimembers were sore, suffering from bruises, skinned knees and stif; muscles. The backs could not get going and were painfully slow in attack. Brophy stood out as usual and played a brilliant game. Cowi> had a day off owing to skinned knees Amongs the forwards Sly, Carroll Galpin, Gothard and Dustin shon out, but the whole team felt the effects of the hard ground at Dunedin.