MAROONS TOO GOOD.

Shannon News, 14 August 1925, Page 3

MAROONS TOO GOOD.

SOUTHLAND (28)—MANAWATU (12). Aided by good hooking and scientific nursing Kilby, Soutli- * land’s half, the smallest man on the field, was parodically the giant of Wednesday Rugby match at Palmerston North. Manawhenua led 9—s in the first spell hut Procter, as Substitute for Kansileld, was no match for the very useful Preston and the game was practically decided on Southland’s right wing. There was hardly lfi points difference between the teams and at critical stages of the game (second spel ) Akuira, Wilson and Reid lost tries by sheer misfortune alone. Southland had the combination ana that’s all there is to say—the greens may do better and wi when the hooking department and three-quarter line are reconstructed. MANWHENUA POINT UP AT INTERVAL. BROPHY SHAPES WELL. BUT PASSING BREAKS DOWN. RED FORWARDS COMBINE AND HALF SHINES. Richardson kicked-off against a strong northerly, Ottrey and Murray nearly piercing the’ defence at ' the outset. Richardson put the reds back after Manawatu cleared but Cowie with a beautiful kick found touch past half-way. From the lineout Akuira dummied the first couple of defenders and Brophy with a pretty cut-in beat Southland badly and left Ransfield with a nice try on. He did his part but Jacob’s kick was short: <

Manawhcnua s Southland 9 Jacobs and Brophy made the next opening, the latter’s pass ,to Wilson breaking down a promising attack. The forwards were next to stand out and paved the way for Akuira and Brophy, who hung on with Ransfield unmarked. Wilson relieved Southland’s first big onslaught but their opening score came immediately. Ottrey sold dummies to a ccupls of Manawatu centres and Preston ran home, chased by Ransfield. Kilby’s kick was an eye-opener: Southland 5 Manawhenua 3 Southland soon gave evidence of match-winning superiority in the scrum an'l from one opening Bel (New Zealand rep.) was away-when Jacob raised the crowd to enthusiasm by swooping' down on him like an eagle. This enabled Manawatu to turn defence into attack and Jacob hirm self made one of the finest openings for the day for Corby, the light ■hooker, to score after good anticipation and taking his pass like a back, Jacob missed an easy kick:

Manawhenua ■* Southland 5 Ransfield had got a knock in the preliminaries and had to retire in favour of Procter —the change was to prove disastrous for Manawhenua Akuira broke through at once; Southland stopped the movement by an intercepted pass and Manawhenua was getting the worse of the deal until Cowie came to the rescue. Rangi had a chance to work ,his backs. He elected to kick, Southland having the better of the exchange. Brophy speculated and following- fast bustled Clelland who was forced to kick out and Brophy’s effort gained twentyyards for the throw-in down-field. The Mana/whenuas were being penalised unmercifully (a bit of coaching in the rules would appear to be a necessity) and penalties either saved the \ r eds or got ■ them back to the attack. Jacob made one splendid save and had the bounce of the cross-kick not beaten Bailey, Southland, were in for a heap of trouble. Corby led the green forwards on and opened the way for

the backs and a good chance was lost When Wilson kicked .in-field. Red forwards shifted, play to Manawhenua’s last line of trenches, when Brophy, under the goal, picked up and booted past half-way—the best save of the day. Akuira gav e the backs-a fly, a good opening going begging as Winiata’s pass dropped behind Brophy. This was happening repeatedly, too, and somebody will have to cure it (even if it means Winiata changing places with Akuira —the latter can work Brophy better). Winiata recovered and kicking high Brophy forced Clelland to touch down. Next Brophy made the finest opening of the day, and running up to Clelland spoilt it by trying the impossible with both Wilson and Bailey alongside and unmarked. Three men to one and no score with the line twenty yards away! After Jacob had shone in some defensive work the crowd stood to arms while Bailey beat MacDonald (the New Zealand ’Varsity winger) in a race that ended in Manawhentia’s home territory. From the line-out Alley the young and hefty 151 stone forward simply took the ball and planted it over the line for a gift try it would be hard to see the like of anywhere. . The greens were caught napping, luckily it was not a five-pointer: . Southland 8 Manawhenua ® Manawhenua got their rags out at this give-away and the forwards rushed play to Southland’s Quarters and Moynihan was seen to cross the line. The whistle had, however, gone \ for a penalty which Jacob turned to good account: Manawhenua " Southland s Features of the play for the mainder of the spell were Winiata s fine work and Bailey’s shepherding or Mac Donald —the duel between thes three-quarters being renewed at irequent intervals, Bailey more than holding his own to applause from the fans.

Southland Soon Ahead. Cowie turned the first red attack but the reds were soon at it again. Then the home skipper was penalised. If Jacob were on side when the bal

.was thrown in from a line-out the subsequent penalty was not c as the-Southland forwards always had the ball and Kilby was passing it om when Jacob grabbed him. The mark was 35 yards out and Kilby shot humming three-pointer: Southland “ Manawhenua " A clever bit of work by Murray , completely fooled the greens and { a try was lost only by a poor pass to Preston (playing a game out-of-the box) on the right wing. A reds • passing rush was stopped just in time )by Brophy and the greens wcr e clear- ) iii’g' when Kilby took a champion 1 mark. Contrary to expectations, he l missed the goal 25 yards out in front. ) This was a let-off for Manawhenua but catastrophe ' soon followed. A high kick went deep to the, goal-line. As Cowie was judging it the wind caught the ball and in endeavouring to take it on full he over-balanced and fell into touch-in-goal. The ball re-bounded in-goal. Kilby had nothing to do but walk in to score: Southland 14 Manawhenua 9

In the ensuing play Akuira narrowly missed barging his way across and Bailey was just pushed into touch after a fine passing bout by Manawhenua backs. Murray and Preston then beat the field and the winger after running in was sailing for home when McDonald (playing better than on ’ Saturday) came on the Southlander like an avalanche. It was a wonderful save and made the welkin ring. Again off-side play spoilt the next green offensive, Bailey and MacDonald having a couple of encounters to vary proceedings in-field where play was becoming fast and furious, all hands being run to a standstill. Southland’s combination was not more marked than in control of the forward rushes one of which Cowie just stopped by masterly defence. This resulted in a throw-in from which Kilby secured. A long pass back to Preston saw the winger cross in the corner after the weakest of tackles by Procter. Richardson missed his second kick: Southland 17 Manawhenua 9 Preston showed up again after Procter’s wing had been over-run despite a great effort by Brophy to stem the rush . Clelland kicked to front of the goal, Cowie temporarily clearing. MacDonald made two desperate attempts to break away on Bailey’s wing but there was nothing doing until a lucky five-yards serum saved Manawhenua a ’ter the Southlands had appeared to cross. From this scrum, however, the reds got square with' a clever individual score by Bell: Southland 20 Manawhenua 9

Akuira and Brophy raised hopes that were doomed to disappointment, Jacob finding touch yith a penalty in the opposite corner. From throw-in back after back went like a catapult at the Tine (by individual efforts); a long pass-out to Bailey looked like ending in a score but MacDonald put his shouder down and ran the Feildingite yards into the field of play. Daisy Clipper by Brophy. Strenuous efforts by the greens continued to raise the spectators to enthusiasm and at last passing to Aku-ria-Winiata-Brophy saw Manawhe-nua-’s crack run In with a beauty, staving off two tacklers and carrying them across: Manawhenua 12 Southland 20 The green forwards were going well hereabouts. Bailey stopped MacDonald again and taking the ball ran strongly up the right wing. On kicking across McLean and Reid had Clelland bustled, for once only, and the red’s custodian was beaten. Both the green forwards over-ran the dribble, Reid being visibly affected. The counter-attack by Southland omphosised the . weakness of Manawhenua’s left wing and Preston-Kilby-Rice fin- ■ ished off a neat bit of passing with a try -by the winger. Rice took the kick himself but missed. Southland 23 Manawhenua 12

Akuira followed with hard luck. He charged down a kick and five yards from home the bounce beat him. He made a great recovery and was in the act of diving to plant the ball across when li e was hauled back and had to touch down feet sliorti of the line. From the throw-in McDonald was in the act of dribbling across unopposed when he was obstructed, the appeal being answered by a scrummage from which Southland cleared. Procter fumbled and Kilby ran past, supported by Preston Cowie was in sore straits when Kilby unexpectedly short punted and beat the full-back. A try was a moral when Reid arrived and putting his shoulder into Kjlby touched down. He was lucky a try wasn’t awarded. He made amends immediately with the best dribble of the match and over-ran five yards from the line. Still with nobody to beat Moynihan did likewise. Southland could have spared the few points well-earned by these two opponents, but it was not to be, as .MacDonald saved.

Time. was fast ebbing when MacDonald at last got his reward, passing from a scrum, Kilby to Ottrey letting the big winger in with a dash that would have made him feel like a battering ram to an attacker. Richardson’s goal was a beauty: Southland 28 Manawhenua I 3 Kxcept for a couple of very “booky” decisions Mr. H. Hands did well in the difticutl circumstance r in which he was placed by Southland’s altitude over the appointment of a referee.