GORGE ROAD IMPROVEMENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2753, 20 September 1923, Page 4

GORGE ROAD IMPROVEMENT.

BOROUGH COUN OIL'S CONTRIBUTION.

LOAN OF £4240 KAISED,

Recently the Manawatu Gorge Board of Control approached the Borough Council for a financial contribution over and above the £16,000 already received from that body for the speedy completion of improvements to the road through the Gorge. The Council has now made arrangements with the local branch of the Union Bank for a loan of £4240, this being'he amount of the final contribution towards the work. The rate of interest on the loan is 51 per cent, plus 1 per cent, sinking fund, and the currency is 20 years.

N.S.W. ON TOUR.

FINAL MATCH AT MASTERTON.

WAIRARAPA-BUSH UNION TEAM WINS.

FINAL SCORE, 14—8,

(Per Press Association). MASTERTON, Last Night

The New South Wales team concluded its New Zealand tour to-day with a match against a Wairarapa and Bush combined team, in the presence of i!000 people, Including l ' Viscount Jellicoe and suite. The' weather wa.s fine, but a southerly blew across the field, making the fielding of the ball difficult. The game in the first spell was uninteresting, neither side attempting to vary its methods of attack. The tackling of the visitors was lamentably weak, while that of the home team was not much better. However, it greatly improved in the second spell, and the game developed into a more interesting aspect. The visitors were superior in the scrum work, Mingay making splendid openings for New South Wales, but with the exception of Sheehan they were not taken advantage of. New South Wales lost several chances to score through not backing up, especially in the second spell, when they were within striking distance of Wairarapa's territory for the greater part of the time. The lineouts were atrocious, both sides indulging in rucking tactics, which were invariably pulled up by the prevalent whistle. The first spell was in favour of the home team, but in the' second the visitors, taking Sheehan as the pivot of attack, adopted different methods and towards the end were going at a merry pace. The condition of the home team was beginning to crumble to successive combined onslaughts of the blues. Wairarapa were early on the aggressive, and after seven minutes, the home forwards finished off a back movement by Q. Donald getting over. Siddells failed with the kick. 3—o. Mingay, using both sides of the scrum effectively, placed blues in a commanding position often, but the wingers were invariably crowded on the line and the effect of the attacks was lost. Jury, of Wairarapa, was conspicuous in a solo effort, eluding almost the whole team, but with only one man to beat, the movement met an inglorious end by his holding when tackled. Nothling transferred play to the twenty-five, where J. Donald was penalised in front of the goal. Stanley kicked a goal, and the score was three all. The Wairarapa forwards were superior in the loose to the visitors and frequently had them penned on the line. In one rush, McCrackcn kicked over the lino, and in a race for the ball was plainly obstructed, but a force-down was awarded. The spoil cnrled with Stanley having an unsuccessful shot at goal.

In the second spell the visitors had a slight sun in their eyes. New South Wales scored a spectacular try, Mingay, Sheehan, Loudon, Buntine and Nothling participating, the latter finally fending off the opposition and scoring in the corner. ITo converted it himself with a magnificent kick from the side. Wairarapa replied immediately and went straight down field, and Q. Donald scored almost under tho posts. Knowles converted, and the score was eight all. Despite successive attacks, the visitors could not penetra.to tho defence and Wairarapa added two tries, one by Booth and another by Jury, the lattcr's being the best try of tho day, secured by passing infield after all the backs had handled. Mr T. Parata refereed.

THE WING FORWARD. FATAL HOSPITALITY. [Per Vr&KB Association 1 MSA.TERTON, Last Night. Mr Bosward, manager of the Ne\< South Wales Rugby team, in speaking at a complimentary dinner to-night, expressed the hope that the New Zealand Rugby Union would abolish the wing forward. There was no doubt, said Mr Bosward, that men like Bellis, Porter and Donald were spoiling good football, and he felt sure that the wing forward would not he taken kindly to when the All Blacks visited England next year. The winger was not an asset to the game, but a spoiler of good football. It was far better to play without bordering on Infringements all the time. New Zealand was standing behind New South Wales in no uncertain manner a.s far as Rugby was concerned, He expressed his thanks for the wonderful treatment, the team had received in New Zealand and he felt bound to admit that the unbounded hospitality of the New Zealand people had proved too much for the teo.m and had, in some cases, contributed to their defeat.