Wanganui Walk Over Bush by 48 Points to 3

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6668, 23 July 1928, Page 8

Wanganui Walk Over Bush by 48 Points to 3

v " Times Special. After winning all their hpme matches the Bush Union representatives on Saturday suffered ithcir second defeat in their second game away from home when at Wanganui they were defeated by 48 points .to 3. It is hard to account for such a debacle, but the total is a true indication of the trend of play throughout the afternoon. 'All the Wanganui scores' came as the actual results of passing movements, in the main gained by the back division. Individually and;,,collectively the Wanganui fifteen .was a faster side than the visitors, the''difference being very marked in the back divisions.. The Bush forwards in the loose, held their own, biit were not as good in the .tight. The only patch of solid graft, put in by them was in the last fifteen minutes, of the first, half when they effectively kept Wanganui pinned up. ; In the twenty-two ordered scrums in the; game, Wanganui hooked from 13, iuid:Bush 6, while three were indecisive Having gained the ball so often it was not: suprising that the backs were able to imake . their spectacular showing. ;Thpir handling too, was very sure, inefficient passes being scooped up with the same rapidity as' orthodox ones were. In the line-outs Bush had a decided advantage in height and divided honours with the opposing forwards. But when the ball was thrown along the back line the speedy Wanganui rearguard effortlessly’came through and smothered the rushes. The fact that several backs—Tait in particular—insisted on going down with the ball and refusing to pass on accentuated the weakness. Trend of Events. The weather was fine, with the sky overcast. There was no wind. With the town’s half-holiday falling on a Saturday there was an excellent attendance., Wanganui won the toss and Bush kicked off defending the southern goal. For perhaps seven minutes play hovered round the half-way line, till the Bush forwards broke through with the ball at toe. It went out on A’anganui’s 23 lino. Then Tait was downed in possession in the ensuing back rush. Shanley and Darby combined to run swiftly downfield eluding Udy and going over near the corner. No goal resulted. Wanganui 3 —o. ■¥;Two ..Bush free kicks enabled the visitors to boot well up-field. The latter was lined and Blyth sent off Stiver, who passed to M’Lennon, the last-named crossing and Leahy converting. Wanganui B—o.

Bush attempted an attack from the kick-off. Woolland being nearly in before being grassed. Shanlcv marked his kick and then punted high. Ralfc and Mahonev came back in a dribbling rush, but hi ’Lean robbed them of the ball, short punting on reaching TTdv. The defending forwards rusned back to hold the opposition, two Bush scrums on their line then beino- ordered. rf Task burst through but Tilley took up the ball, passed to M’Lonnan who went over, but a five yards scrum was ordered Wanganui hooked and Tillov, on receiving drop-kicked a goal. Wanganui 12—0. Prom a Wanvanui line-out near the Bush 25 flag a back rush was started which. was broken up when near the posts. Stiver picked up, found an opening and crossed the line, Ealfe

charged the kick down. Wanganui 15—U.

, Bush agaiu managed to get well upheld, but were soon driven back with two good line-kicks by Darby.! Bush next trfed to start a back rush in their own twenty-five. Tait .was downed and Stone picked up and dashed in. Leahy converted. Wanganui 20—0., Prom now on the Bush forwards took a new lease of life, having an effective counter for every Wanganui thrust. Ealfe, Mahoney, Bowering.and M’Kay were always in the thick while Donovan was always onto opponents in the open. Three free kicks at goal—two by M’Kay and one by Tidy—were taken, but although all close, none crossed the bar. A mixed forward and back rush brought play up to the Wanganui line. Moynahan crossed, but a syds scrum was ordered, Ealfe finally diving across, half-time sounding soon alter with the scores—Wanganui 20. Bush 3. In’the second half H. Woolland was brought into centre, and Harris pushed out on the wing, but the rc-arrange-meut made no difference. In this half as time blew by, Bush wilted more and more while the opposition seemed to pioportionately increase their dash. The game developed into a monotonous succession of Wanganui back rushes, practically each ouc eventuating in a converted try, the following being the scorers: Coulston, Carlson, M’Lcnnan, Pine, Stiver and Blyth. Leahy converted in each instance, making the ffinal scores — Wanganui 48 Busk 3