MANAWATU DEFEAT TE KAWAU.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2434, 28 July 1924, Page 8

MANAWATU DEFEAT TE KAWAU.

FAST GAME ENDS 14—13. I “ VICTORY SNATCHED AT CALL OF TIME. The match between the Manawatu representatives and Te Kawan team provided an excellent illustration of victory being- changed to defeat at the last moment for Manawatu, by a well-earned try at the call of time, reversed the advantage which their opponents had, and emerged, when the whistle blew, with a margin of two points. The game was very fast throughout, and though loose in places, the interest was well sustained by splashes of really good football, and attractive passing rushes. The teams were evenly matched, as the score would indicate—l4—l2. To Ka.wau organised the first offensive movement early in the game, Wi Neera giving out a long pass, which set the backs in- motion. Seeker dashed in at a convenient moment, and saved the situation temporarily, a bad kick by Callender causing a force. A counter move was initiated by Callender, who opened the field for the Manawatu rearguard. Wasley secured possession, drew both the opposing five-eighths, and passed smartly to Darragh, who finished off the run by planting the bail neatly between the posts. Tyree added the extra two. —Manawatu s—o.5 —0. A number of speculation kicks gained a little ground for Te Kawau,

and Simeon, talcing: the ball from Scott, essayed a drop unsuccessfully. Play oscillated between the two goals with rcnra.Tkablc rapidity, and Te Kawau were forced twice in quick succession, after which Scott took a penalty from well out and crossed the bar, opening l the score for Tc Kawau.—Manawatu 5—3. Tho Te ICawau back line was at this stage showing some good form, and tho combination' of Wi Ncera, McKelvie, Pomaro and Sanson, was instrumental in effecting a determined attack on the Manawatu goal line. McKelvie broke through in his own territory, and was backed up by Moffatt and Stake, the last-named picking the ball up in the Manawatu premises and racing across. Scoftt failed to add the major points.—Te ICawau 6—5. Almost . immediately Te Kawau again attacked. Hancox recovered a miss by McKelvie, and with the aid of Wi Ncera, pierced the opposing defence and added another three points, the kick at goal failing.—Te Kawau 9—5. The concluding stages of the first, spell revealed a vigorous recovery on the part of Manawatu. Feeder and Tyree heading a forward rush to th opposing twenty-five, where Aitchison crossed the line, but was rcallod. Scott Inter had a, penalty shot for Te ICawau, and, although the umpire raised the flag for a goal, no score was allowed by the referee. Upon the resumption of the game, Te ICawau set viP a dogged defence to resist an attack by the Manawatu vanguard. Bryce (who came on at the spell) making gallant attempts to get across. The opposing forces were too strong - , however, and all efforts to cross were millflied by Pomare, Wi Ncera and McKelvie, who threw back the best endeavours of Manawatu. An interesting period of loose play was finished off by a. really magnificent try for Te Kawau. Scott secured possession of the leather and set the whole back lino moving. The ball passed from Scott to Cook, McKelvie and Wi Neera, the latter evading every attempt to down him, and streaked across the line as his Manawatu pursuer dragged him to earth. Staite missed with the kick. — To Kawau 12—5. Although matters did not look too healthy for the Manawatu team, the defenders livened up after a succession of reverses. The forwards ■were ■showing exceptional spirit, find Te ICawau were forced several times to retreat to the S’oal lino in defence. Forcing the Te ICawau men back, Manawatu packed solidly near /the lino, and when the crucial moment arrived. Erarawcll gathered up the hall and dodged around, planting a creditable try to the Manawatu score. Tyree again had hard luck with the kick. —Manawatu B—l2. Shortly after this Feeder made no mistake with a penalty shot from a good position, this planting the Manawatu only one point to the rear—l 2 11. They kept up a constant pressure, and the game was in the dying stages and the time-keeper had his hand on tho bell when, from a. hard scrum on the line, Wasley took a neat pass, and dashing through the opposition placed a, beautiful try under tho posts'. Tyree again missed witli the kick, and the whistle was blown with Manawatu leading by 14—12.

WAIRAK APA -11AAVJvE ’ S BAY DRAW.

STUBBORN STRUGGLE AT | MASTERTON. [For Press Association.] MASTERTON. Last Night. AVairarapa and Hawke's Bay met yesterday before an attendance of 2500, and after an interpseting- game, which produced brilliant flashes, tire honours were easy, each side scoring 13 points. The weather was beautifully fine, but the ground was sticky in patches, which affected the visitors’ play. The Bay men opened with terrific pace, their forwards playing a magnificent game and the backs handling fairly well. Their combined play was too sound for the homo team, who Were fortunate in keeping tho half-time score at ten to five. Falwasscr scored first for Bay by evading all ladders and hurdling the full-back. Tates converted. Wairarapa replied five minutes later with a back rush, which terminated in a scramble on the line, from where O’Dowd scored. F. Booth converted. Hawke’s Bay hold the advantage with the sun behind them till the end of the spell. Barclay, who paying the penalty for tho great made a great run and passed to Walker, who scored under the posts, Yates converted. The second spoil saw the visitors paying tho penally for their great pace they had.set in the early stages and Wairarapa, who worked with jnore freedom and certainty, brilliantly rose to the occasion. Early in the spell, Gemmell scored for the visitors, making their lead 13 —5. Half way through the spell, two magnificent tries, in which the whole defence ■was outmanoeuvred came to the home team. F. Booth, with successive "dummies,” slipped through the Hawke’s Bay backs and handed to M. Willoughby, who bad a clear field before him and grounded under the posts, F. Booth again converted. In five minutes, Wairarapa had evened the score, through Gundy making a splendid opening, which Bob Booth, after passing and ropassing, topped off with a perfect try in a handy position. Winning points from the goal looked easy, but F. Booth piloted the ball just outside the posts. In an exciting finish, Hawke’s Bay tired and the Wairarapa men’s condition prevailed. Hawke’s Bay would have been unlucky to have lost on the run of play, but Wairarapa asserted themselves at the finish and only the time boll saved the visitors. WIN FOR HAWKE’S RAY JUNIORS. WAIRARAPA PUTS ON A SPURT [Per Press Association.] NAPIER, Last Night. Tho Hawke’s Bay Rugby Juniors defeated tlie Wairarapa Juniors yesterday by 22 points to 1 3 after a bright and open exhibition. At one

stage the home team led by l.i to nil, then the visitors put on a spurt and scored 13 before tho Bay again started adding to their account. Wanganui Technical School defeated Napier Technical School by 33 to 4. SEDDON SHIELD. GOLDEN BAY DEFEATS WEST COAST. [Per Press Association.] NELSON, July 2(1. A match for the Seddon Shield. Golden Bay-Motueka against West Coast (the challengers) was played at Motueka this afternoon in perfect weather, before a record attendance. Golden Bay retained the shield by 13 points to 3. The game was fast and open, the first spell ending 3 all. In the second half, the local team | held the upper hand. The forwards | matched, but tho Bay j backs were superior. For the winners, ] Holyoake and Thompson scored | tries ne.ther being converted, and | Bowers kicked a penalty and polled I another. O’Regan scored the only Coast try.