First Loss of the Season

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 212, 8 September 1938, Page 5

First Loss of the Season

Auckland Defeated by Manawatu

SPOILING TACTICS WIN THE DAY The Auckland representative Rugby football team did not open their southern tour in a very auspicious manner when they were defeated at the Palmerston North Showgrounds yesterday, this being their first reverse of the season. That Manawatu led by 12 points to three at half-time and ran out winners by 22 points to 11, does slot augur well for Auckland’s match against Wellington on Saturday. Auckland had the better of the set scrums and the line-outs and gained possession more often in the tight, but the spoiling tactics of the Manawatu forwards and their covering up allowed Auckland few possibilities of getting away, although Pearman. made full use of what opportunities came his way. There was not much between the two sets of forwards in the loose, both being hard-working and enthusiastic Whilliaras, McLean and Popper were often prominent, but no rhore so than Beard, Whyte, Thorne, Powell and Fleming, who formed part of an even and compact pack, not one member of which stood out above the others, although all were brilliant. The Manawatu inside backs halted all the Auckland movements from the half-back, Edlin and Finlay in particular being responsible for this, so that the Auckland three-quarters had ta initiate their own attacks. When they got away, however, they were really dangerous, Grant and Martin penetrating deep time and again. The Auckland back lino lacked the understand xng and combination of their opponents. Edliu far excelled Cooney at half-back, his nimbleness being a commendable feature. The Teams. The teams were as under:— Auckland (blue and white): Clark, Martin, Prentice, Fiett, Brady, Pearuian, Cooney, Brown, Bond, Pepper, McLean, Hull, Lange, Whilliams, Knight. Alanawatu (green and white): Richards, Stewart, Hehir, Buicli, Finlay, Dermer, Edlin, Whyte, Fleming, Powell, Terry, K. Beard, Sullivan, Thorne, Hunt. The Game. Finlay broke through rrorn the kick-off, but knocked on. A moment later Manawatu were awarded a penalty und Jack Finlay goaled, to put Manawatu three points ahead after two minutes' play. Richards had to force down and play hovered in the Alanawatu territory before Thorne sent the ball into touch a few yards past half-way. Whyte led Manawatu close to the line, but Whiliiams broke away, to be halted for an infringement. The Alanawatu pack went well and Auckland had to force down. With a penalty close to his own twenty-five, McLean found touch on the Manawatu twenty-five. Things looked dangerous -when Brady cut through and sent on to Prentice, but he dropped it. From the scrum, however, Auckland went round the blind side and Pearman sent a high pass to Whilliams, who dived over to score. McLean missed the kick, and the score was: Auckland 3, Alanawatu 3. Finlay picked up and sent Hehir away very fast, but he sent a forward pass to Stcw’art. Auckland wero penalised m the scrum, but Finlay missed with his kick. The teams lined out in the Auckland twenty-iivc and then from a ruck Whyte accepted and ran away with practically a clean field for 20 yards und scored. Finlay’s kick missed and the score was: Manawatu 6, Auckland 3. Thorne broke through from a ruck and Stewart had a chance,\ut he knocked on. The better supply of. the ball from the scrums kept Alanawatu on the defensive, but Edlin and Richards covered up well. Finlay, Hehir and Stewart took Manawatu deep into the Auckland twenty-fivo and from a scrum Dernier

shot away to score right in the corner. Kicking a yard from the side-line, Finlay just missed and tlie score was: j Manawatu 9, Auckland 3. } Prentice was injured and was replaced by Grant. Manawatu’s Nine-point Lead, Thorne got away, sent on to Hunt, and K. Beard passed the ball out to Finlay, who transferred to Stewart, and ho went within a yard or two of the line before, in being tackled, ho passed out to Hehir, who scored in the corner. 1 Finlay failed to convert and the score was: Manawatu 12, Auckland 3. McLean broke clean through from a ruck near half-way, but Richards halted him in the Alanawatu twenty-five, and Edlin cleared to find touch at half-way. Auckland sent the ball from a scrum mid-field out to Alartin, on the left wing. Pearman came up in support and then Knight handled close to the Manawatu line, where a scrum was formed. Auckland infringed and Alanawatu were awarded a penalty, but Auckland was still in the Manawatu twenty-five at • half-time. The Second Spell. Galloway replaced Pepper. Grant cut through very smartly and was very fast, but tripped. Pearman and Brown carried the attack on for Knight to score in tho corner. Clark missed tlic kick and the score was: Alanawatu 12, Auckland 6. Auckland continued to bo on the aggressive, but Ilehir accepted nimbly and cleared to touch near mid-way. Beard, Edlin, Hehir and Buick handled xu a sally close to tho Auckland twenty-five after the Manawatu forwards Had broken through and caught Clark in possession. Edlin put the ball out fivo yards from tlio corner. Auckland infringed in a live-yard scrum, but Jack Finlay’s kick passed a yard outside. Fleming ruins the Attack. Grant was the spearhead of an attack that went to the Alanawatu 25, but he was collared hard. Fleming picked up and passed to Hunt, who kicked. There was a raco to tho line and the ball was stopped a yard or two short, but Fleming again picked up and dived across. Powell converted, making the score: Alanawatu 17, Auckland 6. Martin Waltzes Through, Then Auckland took a hand. Pearman went close to the corner and the leather was transferred in mid-field to Alartin, who waltzed his way through the Manawatu team to score behind the posts. McLean converted, making th tally: Alanawatu 17, Auckland 11. Terry and Thorne broke through fro. a line-out and dribbled to the coruci, but the Auckland backs got away. Then Powell and Beard took a hand. Auckland were penalised, but Powell missed with the penalty kick. The Auckland pack went very close to tho Alanawatu line and brought Richards down in possession, but Thorne j was there and cleared to touch near half-way. Dermer and Stewart tried to thrust through from close on the Auck(land line, but they were unsupported, j Brady and Alartin looked dangerous, j but Finlay found touch with a speculator kick. Finlay intercepted am! 'cleared beautifully. Auckland Go Clo3C. J Auckland w r ere very close when i Richards and Finlay were brought down fin possession, but Manawatu completely turned the tables when Finlay and I Edlin sent Buick away on his own to I score m the corner. Finlay converted, ‘making the total: Alanawatu 22, Auck land 11. Air. C. Eglinton was the referee. SOUTH CANTERBURY BEAT TARANAKI IN POOR DISPLAY TIMARU, Last Night. South Canterbury defeated the touring Taranaki team by live points to threo to-day in tho presence of a gooc crowd. The standard of play was very poor, neither side rising to represent ,ative standard. Play among the i’or|wards was very willing and some were lucky not to be ordered off. ! In the second half the visitors saw plenty of the ball and Aleuli made a number of good openings but threw chances away by being selfish when he had men in support. Had the visitors made the most of their chances they should have won comfortably. Greyburn scored for tho winners, Morrison converting, while Meuli scored for Tara naki.