WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE

NZ Truth, Issue 1136, 8 September 1927, Page 12

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE

Manawhenua Slides Home Against Taranaki Challengers (From "N.Z. Truth's" Palmerston North Representative.) DLAYED under the most adverse conditions, the Manawhenuar Taranaki Ranfurly Shield match at Palmerston North last week was more a sterling forward battle than a tip-top exhibition. '

AS m the Manawhenua- Wairarapa game early last month, Manawhenua owe their victory to the excellent play of their forwards, who eclipsed even their display against the Springboks m 1921. It has been freely said that Manawhenua are not a really first-class combination, but after this match not even the hypercritical will deny that the Manawhenua forwards are worthy to be classed as one — if not the best — of this season's provincial representative packs. They are brilliant, m combination rather than individually, and m most cases it is combination that tells. The deluge commenced- soon after activities began and it was' not until they had ceased that the rain abated. Honors wore easy for the first 35 minutes of the game, Manawhenua gaining a half-time lead of three points from a penalty awarded to Jacob, who was obstructed by Collins. The skipper kicked a really fine goal from beyond the quarter- line. The second spell opened with Taranaki attacking strenuously, but for a time the defence held. ■O'Keefe eventually dived over m possession near the corner-flag to even the score. Terrific Onslaughts Their deficiency wiped out, Taranaki's hopes rose sky-high and the home players were called upon to stand up to some terrific onslaughts to keep their line intact. Manawhenua then asserted themselves and. from then on the visiting pack were completely outclassed by Jacob and his men, who played as if inspired* They were not immediately successful m scoring, however, several penalties against them for offside play enabling Taranaki to relieve the pressure, - if only for a short time. Ten minutes before the end of the game Galpin's efforts m the line- out were rewarded when he jumped for the ball to send Tremewan, his club-mate, away. Tremewan was quickly pounced up- : on by the defenders, but he made full ■ •use of his weight, in reaching his ob- , jective and Manawhenua had the lead again. Jacob found the ball too heavy. . Taranaki seemed to have spent ; themselves, and In the last minute of , the game Galpin was again instrumen- : tal m initiating a movement which wa.l3 capped by Anderson. Time was called immediately after Jacob had failed with the kick, Manawhenua winning 9-3. : Penalties were numerous throughout the game, Manawhenua being the chief • offenders m this respect, thus en.- , abling Ward to turn defence into attack: with his kicks. . Brophy and Ward earned welldeserved applause with their excel-lently-directed "kicks, which were specially meritorious when the weight of the ball was taken into consideration. The Manawhenua forwards kept together like eight brothers. With Jacob to lead them and the greasy ball to hinder the Taranaki backs, they, often had Collins m difficulties. They will, however, have to learn to

keep onside when nearing their objective.' Their over-eagerness nullified their good work to a great extent and enabled Taranaki to relieve the pressure. With all the Manawhenua forr wards playing so well, it would be invidious to single out the best, but the three Palmerston North Old Boys players — Tremewan, Anderson and Galpin, who by the way, occupy the first three positions m the scrum — all gave finished displays and were tireless m their efforts. Tremewan and Anderson were at their best m the tight stuff, while Galpin was as happy as a sand-boy m the line-outs. H. -Jacob went all out to lead his men to victory and it was m no small measure due to his capable leadership that the Shield did not leave Palmerston North. Payne and Heatley showed up m the loose but the latter is beginning to shirk the hard work and imitate his wing-forward. He would be better advised to get his head into the pack and not worry so much' about getting offside. He must have been penalised for being offside on at least seven occasions. Parata 's Plucky Game Miles is improving with every game, and with a bit more experience should be well' worth bearing m mind for the trials which will soon eventuate. The wings, Roberts and McDonald, were starved for the ball and save on defence their labors were not lengthy. Both were very useful m assisting Brophy to. quell the invasions of the Taranaki pack. Brophy the last line of defence, was —on the whole— safe, his kicking being of a very high order, but his tackling leaves much to be desired. W. Parata, at the base of the scrum, played a plucky game and times out of number did he throw himself at the feet of the opposing pack. Goldfinch and Mullins, the inside pair, found the ball too greasy for passing and were content to boot down-field and leave the rest to the forwards. Collins, who played m Petty's usual place at full-back for Taranaki, was a worthy substitute and it would not be flattering to call him the best back on the field. His handling of the ball was enough to break the heart of any forward pack. . „ Brown, the captain, was too well marked by Hunt to become really dangerous, but he was sound oh defence. Hohaia and Dinniss were likewise kept quiet by the Manawhenua wings. Morey, at half, failed to impress. His chief failing was his disinclination to go down on the ball; Johnston and Owen were often called m to fill the breach. ' Ward and Walters were a pair of hard workers for Taranaki, but the rest of the forwards were not equal to the hammering tactics adopted by the home pack. Jacob carried far too many guns for Dean.