RUGBY FOOTBALL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23858, 12 July 1939, Page 16

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SUB-UNIONS’ MATCHES

MANIOTOTO’S DOUBLE SUCCESS

There was a good attendance at the Domain ground, Ranfurly, when the annual Rugby football matches between Maniototo and Vincent were played. The weather remained fine till half time of the principal game, when heavy rain commended to fall. For the first time in a number of years Maniototo scored a double, win, winning the senior game by 21 pointis to 3 and the junior game by 12 points to 11. In the principal game Maniototo’s success was mainly due to the strong attacking play and solid defence of the backs, all of whom played good, sound football. Although Vincent fielded a heavier pack of forwards than their opponents, the only department of the game, where they held an advantage was. in the line outs. Any movements commenced from here, however, were smartly checked by th<» apposing backs. A feature of the game was the readiness of the Maniototo backs to start attacking movements from any part -of the field, with the result that good passing rushes were frequent. The Vincent backs lacked combination and dash, the only player to show up at all being Hamilton, the first five-eighth.- The best of the Maniototo backs, were J. P. Kearney, J; C., Kearney and W. Becker. In the forwards Jolly and Gregg played solid games for Vincent, and Armitage and Thurlow were always prominent for Maniototo. The teams were-as follows:

Maniototo (Red) .—Backs—Hanrahan, Forrester, W. Becker, J. Becker, J. C. Kearney. J. P. Kearney, Sweeney: forwards—Olsen, Homer, Thurlow, Antutage, McLaren, Brown, Bates and V" *'V>‘ r •' v •- Vincent' (Green).—Backs-TreVathan. Leask, Hesson, Kitto, Currie, Hamilton. Annan; forwards—Henderson, Webster, Ewing. Gregg, Jolly, Donnelly. Harvey, and Mack. ■ lii, Vincent kicked off from the southern end, Vincent started a rush which was stopped by Kearney, who was penalised, and Hamilton with a kick from right in front opened the scoring. Vincent 3, Maniototo nil. Shortly after the kick out Bates, Who was olaying well hi the loose, . broke .and passed to J. C. Kearney, to W. Becker, to Forrester, who scored an easy try. W. Becker’s kick failed. Vincent 3, Maniototo 3. Vincent-forwards at this stage had the better of the game. The Red backs, however, commenced a movement which ended in the best try of the day., IP. Kearney secured and passed- to W. Becker, who mark! a fine opening before passing to J. U Kearney. The ball went back to Becker, then to Forrester and,back in again to Becker, who scored. His kick at goal missed. Maniototo 5, Vincent 3. Vincent continued to press; but -the backs could not ■■ complete ,-their movements. The Red forwards, headed by Homer and McLaren, took play back to halfway, only to be driven back again by a good line jkick by Hamilton. Sweeney secured arid passed to J. C. Kearney, who broke ; through brilliantly. but slipped before passing to W. Becker, to J. Becker, who scored. W. Becker missed with ::; the ‘'kick. Maniototo 9, Vincent 3; From a scrum J. C. Kearney secured and,, potted si neat field goal, to make the . score 13 to 3 as half time was.sounded. When play'resumed, heavy, rain was falling. This did not seem to slow the game up, however, as both sets of backs made every,attempt to open up play, Vincent forwards, led by Jolly, fromt a line out carried play toManiototo’s territory, where - Brown was penalised. but Hamilton again missed with the-kick'at goal. Play surged /up and down the field for some time, the Red backs being very dangerous on several occasions, but each: time the Vincent forwards, assisted'by good line kicking by Hamilton, brought play back. From a loose scrum Sweeney passed to J. P. Kearrtey, to J. C. Kearney, who made a fine cut-in. beating the . opposition badlv to score a dry under the posts, Becker converted. Maniototo r 18, Vincent 3. From the kick off Vincent forwards, led by Donnelly. Webster, and Jolly, attacked! strongly, but Forrester saved with s. long line kick. The ,Reds then; attacked. and the backs received"the ball: from a loose ruck. After the ball had passed through the hands of all the backs J. Becker scored wide put. W. Becker failed to convert, Mariiototoi 21, Vincent 3. Maniototo kept up the attack till the final whistle went with, the score: ■ -V , / / Maniototo. ... .. 21 points, Vincent -.. 8 points. Mr W. F. Dowling was the referee. The junior match, which was played as a curtain-raiser, also provided interesting football. There Was very little between the two teams, the final scores being: Maniototo 12. Vincent 11.