WANGANUI DEFEATS MANAWATU

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1063, 21 July 1910, Page 12

WANGANUI DEFEATS MANAWATU

(From our own correspondent.) The Manawatu-Wanganui Representative Match played on Saturday last was won by the local team by ten points to five, after a hard struggle. The weather was fine and the attendance large, but spectators were not treated to a very exhilarating displayThe visitors were much heavier in the scrums, and quite outplayed the locals in that department, which was not to be wondered at, seeing that the Wanganui forwards had never played together, and had not even had a single bit of scrum practice- In the open the locals did better work than their opponents, particularly in the second half, during which they scored all their points. It is simply astounding that the local selector, or whoever is responsible; should not see to it that practices are arranged for. Until this is done Wanganui cannot hope to win against any 'of ’ the stronger Unions. It is not fair either to the players, who

are blamed for not doing better when the fault is not theirs. The material is here for a rattling good team, but better management is urgently required. For the visitors, McNae, a big burly formard, tipping the beam at 17.12, was in every sense of the word a tower of strength- He is a dashing player, with astonishing pace for one so heavy- He was well supported by Mullins, and by Carroll, a particularly smart wing-forward. Amongst Manawatu backs, Cootes, Ramsden and Briscoe were perhaps the best.' For Wanganui, Scuthcombe did the best work amongst the backs, his display being really brilliant, and quite the finest on the ground. Meuli, wing threequarter, was very dashy, and did all he had to do splendidly. Dowe had a rough time behind the scrum, but got in some good work, as did also Mitchell (five-eighth), who over-did the intercepting business, however. Had he gone for his man he would have saved Wanganui many anxious moments. Bignell, quite a youth, shaped well at full, his line-kicking being of a high class, but he is not smart enough in getting his kick in. Of the forwards, King and Dastin were the pick, the former doing an immense amount of work. He is very fast, and a capital kick, while his tackling is of the most deadly description, in marked contrast to that of several others, who never attempted to go lowSome alterations should be made in

the local team. Alex Takarangi will be back here next week, and should go in either as a back or a forward. Wing-forward would be a good place for him, and he would do better there than anyone else we have, while solid grafters like Martis and Schmidt should go in the pack, which badly needs strengthening.