POWNALL TROPHY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 170, 20 July 1936, Page 4

POWNALL TROPHY

RETAINED BY WANGANUI TAIHAPE TEAM DEFEATED ' ONE SIDED CHALLENGE MATCH i (By “Cross-bar.”) Superiority hack and forward enabled the Wanganui Metropolitan Rugby representatives to defeat Taihapc on Spriggens Park on Saturday, the winners retailing the Pownall Trophy by 31 points to 14, thus staving oft a challenge which was expected to produce a far keener tussle than t did. If anything, Wanganui looked even more superior than the 20-niargin indicated. The Taihape team, beaten for the ball, found itself with weaknesses in the inside backs. Wanganui, on the other hand, had a back lino which showed both speed and determination, the star performer being D. G. Barton (Old Boys), who, playing at centre, characterised his play with exceptionally strong running, and a happy knack of straightening up attacks to give his wings the sympathy the best of them need to make good over the last few yards of typical Rugby rearguard thrusts. It was encouraging to see Barton play, for, even with allowances made for the weak opposition, he showed that Wanganui has material to strongly hold the vital centre position. Jack Morgan’s Defect on. Jack Morgan, as was hinted during the week, did not play, his defection being a challenge to the selectors in passing him over as a reserve for the match against Manawatu. Instead of upsetting the inside combination for Saturday by a removal of Knox Welsh to full-back and the introduction of a new second live-eighths or centre, selector H. Whiting sought Sharp (Old Boys) and played him at full-back, Taihape was expected to show better form in the forwards, but it was obvious from the start, that the home team held far too many guns there. Taihape can take consolation from the fact, that it encountered one of (he best, packs the city clubs have been able to held for years—Hutchinson, hard and fast in the loose, Lockett battling consistently in tight and loose. Davidson, Moffett. McGregor, Firmin and Reynolds on their game all the time, and Jones, of Technical Old Boys, when called on to fill a gap left by W. Glenn, who was injured early in the match, was as game and as fit as any of them. Taihapc can take heart from the fact. that, that pack, except for two players, was the representative pack of the union. And as for the backs, only two changes in personnel have taken place and it has become the representative line for tomorrow against Waikato. R. Chase has gone into D. Thompson’s position at first five-eighth, and K. Welsh has moved back to Sharp’s position on the last line of defence. And it is a moot point whether Thompson really deserved the fate of being stood on the line for to-morrow. Taihape, can at least take heart that perhaps Chase would have been easier to play against than the man the selectors have considered should be removed. Speed Too Great For Losers. The Taihape backs were far too slow. Chase was undoubtedly the best. In fact he was the only back showing representative form. The others, perhaps schooled on a much slower ground, heaved into action rather than flashed. All round them they were handicapped by speed and combination. Once only did a note of speed enter into the picture, and that was when Hutchinson, that hunched demon of knees, arms and legs, plus headgear, broke away and set sail for the line with nobody to stop him. Dickson, lhe Taihape winger, almost delayed his chase after him till it. was too late, but he made a spectacular overhauling run and the tackle from behind brought “Hutch” and the ball down right in the goal mouth. Chase made several tricky openings for Taihape, but lack of support of the right type brought most of them to failure. In the pack “Wally” Thompson was Taihape's best, and probably H. Henery, D. Derbidge and Barrell,* in that order, were his most effective supports. The whole pack, however, was a beaten force. Scoring a Point a Minute. Wanganui opened the scoring al the rate of a point a minute, and at halftime the total had grown to 21 to nil. Taihape showed better form in the second spell. Did the Press gallery hear a whisper suspiciously characteristic of Gay Lockett: “Ease up boys and let them have a go at us,” or was it just imagination? It suffices to say that Wanganui, at all stages of the game, held complete mastery. The teams were: - Wanganui Metropolitan. - A. Shaip, G A. Bullock-Douglas, D. G. Barton, L.' Burgess; K. Welsh, D. Thompson; H. Brogden; G. Lockett (capt.); C. Hutchinson, A. Davidson, W. Firmin, W. Moffett; M. McGregor, C. Reynolds. W. Glenn. (Jones, a Technical Old Boys front rank forward, replaced Glenn in the first spell). Taihapc.-J. Bradley; L. Johansen, J. Marshall, I. Dickson: C. Vawless, R. Chase; V/. Noble; N. Barrell; D. Derbidge, C. Derbidge, H. Smith. C. Dickson: W. McMahon, W. Thompson (capt.), H. Henery. Burgess passed to Thompson. The Wanganui five-eighth quickly changed direction and sent Barton on to score a good try. Welsh goaled. Wanganui 5, Taihape 0. Brogden passed to Thompson, who cut in in typical five-eighth fashion and scored. Welsh failed to goal. Wanganui 8, Taihape 0. Davidson broke clear with the ball, short, punted, regained nicely and outpaced the defence to the goal for Wanganui’s third try. Welsh goaled from well out.—Wanganui 13, Taihape 0. Play had been in progress 13 minutes. Brogden, Thompson, Welsh and Barton handled, the centre showing pace and resource in a beautiful of the following members: Messrs. T. E. Jeafcoate, D. McFarlane, J. J. Taylor (life member), W. R. Tuck (life member), R. S. Thomson, J. Valentine, T. Wilberfoss, J. A. Glenn and H. Hooker, to the relatives of whom we also extend our sincere sympathy.

straighten up which carried him over for a try. Welsh goaled.—Wanganui 18, Taihape 0. Play had been in progress 19 minutes. Taihape Livened. Taihape livened in response to repeated barracking. Chase made an opening and a centering kick sent Dickson racing up to Sharp. The home team was penalised, but Dickson failed to goal from easy range. Chase made a further opening and Sharp was again bustled by the oncoming pack. Chase gave Dickson possession away out in the open, but Bullock-Douglas tackled the winger low and a try was frustrated. Welsh, after receiving the ball through the hands of the two men closer to the scrum, Brogden and Thompson, cut in to score. The scorer’s kick at goal failed and the board, at half-time, read.—Wanganui 21, Taihapc 0. Out the ball travelled to Burgess, who transferred infield to Barton, who scored. Welsh’s kick missed.— Wanganui 24, Taihape 0. Away came the blue backs again, Brogden sending them off. Barton, showing that determination and swerve which stamped him as the best back on the field, made a nice opening for Burgess, who carried on to score. Welsh goaled from in front of the posts.—Wanganui 29, Taihape 0. It was time Taihape had a turn and Chase scored as the result of a quick stab-kick and a clever gather in. Dickson goaled.—Taihape 5, Wanganui 29. It wfts still Taihape’s moment, and Chase was again in the picture. He slowed perceptibly, then punted. Barton got back in time to kick behind the line. In the resultant scrum Wanganui was penalised and Dickson goaled. -Taihape 8, Wanganui 29. Taihapc remained aggressive and Wanganui had to force twice. Dickson had another shot at goal and failed. Wanganui, offside in the lineout gave him a further opportunity and this time he was successful.— Taihape 11, Wanganui 29. Wanganui travelled the full length of the field to score the next try, coming away from a defensive position. Naturally, Barton figured in it prominently, and he sent Burgess over to run round behind the posts and touch down. Barton goaled.— Wanganui 34, Taihape 11. Hutchinson set sail for a try, but was overhauled and penalised. Don Derbidge came behind a rolling ball and challenged Sharp. Before the blue defence could rally, the Taihape pack gave a glimpse of truer Pownall Trophy form, and Thompson scored beside the posts. Dickson missed a ridiculously easy kick, the game ending shortly after with the scores:— Wanganui 34 Taihapc 14 Mr. W, Molan was the referee. SCHOOLS’ CURTAIN-RAISER W IN FOR COLLEGIATE. The second fifteens of the Wanganui Collegiate School and Wanganui Technical College made their appearance on Spriggens Park on Saturday in a curtain-raiser to the Pownall Trophy match. It was a happy gesture on the part of the two schools, and was highly appreciated by the public. Collegiate School won by nine to six, in a game which held interest to the very end. The winners had the best of things in the first spell, and it really looked as though the issue would be onesided, but after the change round, which gave the other side the benelit of the wind, fortunes were very nearly reversed. School had a feast of the ball in the early stages. Kahlenberg goaled from a penalty—School 3, College 0. School continued to attack and Carrel snapped up to run through the defence and score. The kick at goal failed—School 6, College 0. School was a definitely better team at this stage and from a well-sup-ported back movement Gylliss was sent over for a try. Another kick failed—School 9, College 0. Technical College then livened and took complete charge of the game. Grant, from well out, kicked a great goal and hopes began to rise—College 3, School 9. Packing in well College held the opposition in their own twenty-five. Twice School had to force. Gylliss made a strong run and put Schoo", out of danger for a time, but College, headed by Mcßreaty and Chappell, challenged solidly. A fumble by School was followed by a back going down on the ball. He was penalised and from out near the side line Grant kicked another great goal—College 6, School 9. College continued to battle for the three points needed to draw level, and both packs waged a stern duel in School’s twenty-five, but the game ended without further score. Mr. D. Philipson was the referee. JUNIOR MATCH ANGAMI AND TAIHAPE DRAW. The Wanganui junior representatives journeyed to Taihape on Satur day, and a drawn match resulted six all. Taihape, having won the toss, Wanganui were forced to kick off into a very strong wind. The blue forwards carried the ball up-field and Workman (centre), secured and short kicked over the Taihape full-back’s head. The bounce beat him and the maroon forwards quickly relieved. The blue inside backs again handled to let Workrr.an away in a spectacular dash, but he was tackled by the full-back, who hung on too long when he grabbed the ball, thus giving Kitney a chance to goal nicely from the penalty awarded—Wanganui 3; Taihape 0. A few minutes later Dunean sent his backs away and Moosman cut in, kicked through, but unfortunately knocked on at the critical moment. The maroons then took a turn at attacking but Morgan and Skilton relieved for Wanganui. Poole, who v as hooking well for Wanganui, had to be replaced by Godwin. From a scrum on the twenty-five the blue backs all handled but Jeffs was forced out on the corner. From a ruck the blues heeled and Moosman, Hague-Smith and Tumu all handled well to allow Jeffs to cut in and run round under the posts. Kitney failed with an easy kick. Wanganui 6; Taihape 0. After half-time Karatau replaced Moosman and shortly after Corrigan had to go on when Workman injured

a shoulder. The maroons set up a hot attack but Morgan broke it beautifully, gaining 60 yards. With so many alterations and a set of forwards who seemed to have lost their sting, Wanganui, except at intervals, were mostly defending. Duncan brought off two line tackles, saving certain tries, but Taihape were not to be denied and Do’yle crossed wide out. The blue backs made a brilliant dash up-field, Tumu being prominent, but his stab kick to beat the Taihape custodian, rolled out. From the lineout Godwin and Cairncross set up a farward passing rush, the former being grassed just inches off the line. The red forwards drove the now tiring blues downfield where, at halfway, Hague-Smith secured and put in a magnificent drop which sailed high, but just outside the uprights. With time almost up, from a forward sortie Maher secured and dived across. The kick failed.—Taihape 6; Wanganui 6. Time came just after KaratU had made a valiant effort to give blues the lead, when he made a fine solo run to be smothered in the Taihape twenty-live. The Wanganui team had morning tea at Hunterville, lunch, as the guests of the Taihape Union at the Gretna and following dinner were entertained. The trip was made by bus and Mr. J. C. Ward was the manager. B GRADE COMPETITION RATANA DEFEATS PIRATES The postponed senior B grade match between Ratana and Pirates was played at Ratana yesterday and resulted in a win for Ratana by 19 points to 11. Thus the positioning on the ladder in the B grade competition remains the same, Ratana entitling itself to the two points which were awarded the Saturday before last for a default. The natives won the position by rattling up a score in the first spell. IMr E. Crotty was the referee. THE SCORE BOARD WANGANUI RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Pownall Trophy. Metropolitan 34, Taihape 14. Senior B. Ratana 19, Pirates 11. Junior Representative. Metropolitan 6, Taihape 6. Fourth Grade. Collegiate 11. 9, Technical College 6. Technical 0.8. 17, Collegiate 111. 0. Kaierau 3, Ratana 14. Fifth Grade. Collegiate 111. 23, Intermediate 0. Pirates 14, Technical I. 5. Kaierau 6, Marist 6. FOR NEXT SATURDAY <'Ll 15 ITXTURES TO RESUME. Club fixtures are to, be resumed next Saturday in Wanganui, the fol- . lowing matches having been set down to be played. The senior rounds will . be continued under the Moge Scheme. . Kaierau and Waverley are to play on • Spriggens Park in the late game, and ! Marist and Pirates are to play at 1.30. For the first time in history the colourful Ratana team is to invade the fastness of Hunterville. Technical Old Boys are to be tried out . against Marton on Marton Park, and Old Boys are to ‘.ravel still farther ' afield, to Halcombe, to challenge “the boys from Berlin.” Senior A. Kaierau v. Waverley, on Spriggens ■ Park, at 3 p.m. T. 0.8. v. Marton 0.8., on Marton, ; at 3 p.m. (Leave Martin and Ver- I non’s at 1.15 p.m.). O. Boys v. Halcombe, at Halcombe, at 3 p.m. (Leave Martin and Vernon’s at 1 p.m.) Senior B. Marists v. Pirates, on Spriggons Park, at 1.30 p.m. Ratana v. Hunterville, at Huntnrville, at 3 p.m. Junior. Pirates v. R.atana, at Ratana, at 3 p.m. I Tech. v. O. Boys, Racecourse No. 4, at 1.30 p.m. Kaierau v. T. 0.8., on Racecourse No. 1 at 1.30 p.m. Marist v. Kaierau 111 on Racecourse. Fourth. Pirates v. Tech., Racecourse No. 2, < at 1.30 p.m. College I v. Ratana, on College No. 2, at 2 p.m. Fifth. Intermed v. Tech. I, Intermediate ground, at 3 p.m. College v. Marist on College No. 4, at 2 p.m. Sixth. Tech. I. v. Tech. 11, on Tech. ] ground, at 1.30 p.m. College v. Intermediate, at College No. 5,2 p.m.