FAST AND EXCITING RUGBY

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1946, Page 7

FAST AND EXCITING RUGBY

MANAWATU SNATCH VICTORY GAME WITH HOROWHENUA I11 a game so crammed with exciting mcideiit that little more could have oeen expected even if the Ranfurly Snield itself were at stake, the Manawatu Senior A Rugby representatives snatched a one-point victory from Horowhenua in a match played at the snowgrounds, Palmerston North, on saturday. The final score was 15 — 14. Manawatu crossed the visitors' line tfiree times, one try was converted and lour points came ^rom a field goal. Horowhenua broached the Manawatu line only once their other points coming from two field goals and a penalty goal. The weather was fine with a orisk down-field wind, and there was a iarge crowd present. Credit for the victory, narrow as i't was, belongs to the Manawatu backlino which gave a brilliant display of pert'eetly co-ordinat.ed ■ and beautifully timed movcmenls. • Their deeply peneirating tlirusts slaslied gaping holcs 3n the Horowhenua defences in the early stages. With connnendable adaptabiiity, the visiting forwards quickly learned their lesson and developed the slratugem of fast-breaking, smothering tactics, tlius placing an effective brake un rhe Manawatu backs. However, by that tinie the liome side had conipiled 12 points, witliout Horowhenua scoring and were able to hang 011 against determined attacks by the visitors. Manawatu were unlucky after 35 minutes of play to lose winger D.- -McNae after he had scored two notable tries. He was replaeed by popular J.- Butt, wlio had previously played- in . the Marfawatti Senior B team against Oroua in - the curtain-raiser. Pull credit niust go to this sturdy plaver t'or holding up his end in a strenuous game, half-an-hour al'ter having played through the eSrlier match. The full-back, M. Denner, after an exliilarating performanee in the first half, appeared to snffer a reeurfcnec of his old ril) troublo, but continued a safe, if not spectacular, custodian. Outstandiug among the backs was K. Hanna, at iirst five-eighths. C'lever and enterprising on the attack, he was ,also brilliantly safe 011 the defence, an 1 to his speed and sureness "Manawatu on manv occnsions owod the integrity of its line. Brosnan played his best game to date at half, Harkness was quite sound at second five-eighths, and Fitt proved his worth at centre. Apart from the obvious inerit of the Horowhenua team, there must be a vcry good reason whv, witli' such an exeellent combination of baeks, Manawatu did not score more freely, The forwards are by no means an unprepossessing pack, but they wero outplayed by their opposite numbers 011 Saturday. Hooking appeared to be Manawatu 's major weakness, because Horowhenua consistently won the ball from the scrums and riicks. T11 addition the visitors tooh the ball from Manawatu, like candy from a cliild, in the line-outs and the loose. It is not the fault of just onc man — the hooker — but. of all the forwards with the exception of two — ffichardson and Morgan — who made •genuine at.tempts .tonge.t.ithe- ball and shoot- it out to the baeks. ■ Manawatu 's first points came early . as a result of an error by Pederson. j Horowhenua 's fullback, who took too i-asilv the job of collecting in a loose ! ball in his own 25 vard area. Tfo I missed the ball and overran it. McNae I came through fas', moofed the' leather over the visitors' line -\\here he wa* able to toucli down witliout opposition. Dermer failed to eonverf. The fast Forward Morgan blazed through in a thriiling dash following an opening made by Dermer and Fitt. Aitcheson, the fleet-footed Horowhenua winger set off in pursuit and, with the crowd 011 its feet in an upToar. the groat duel ended in a victory for Aitcheson who collared Morgan five yards shot of the goal line. A few secomls later Haritness potted a field goal from well out. Horowhenua showcd the speed of its backline when the half-back, Blenklioni, sent the ball out to Fuller. The iatter. an extremely promising youjig player, together with Galloway and Aitcheson participated in a rush which covered two thirds of the field before the winger was taekled by Harkness. As quickly as play went to Manawatu 's territory it reversed to the other end of the field with Fitt carving a passage 1h rough the defence. He missed a try by inches, but a scrum at 5 yards saw l-rosuan |>a.ss to Tlanna who made an opening for MeXae to go through for 'u:- second toucli down. This tinie Dertnei converted from a difiicult position. Se\ cral penaltjes were given against dannwatu for picking the ball out of the set scrums, and when Cook narrowly missed kicking a goal from six yards out. side the half. and had a valiant try at another, it could be seen that thc giviiig away of penalties might have • lisastrous results. Tn the first half Cook kicked u penalty goal from well out and into the brisk wind. The ball strnck the cross-bar and rolled over. They took their total to six with a well-deserved try bv Blenkhorn, and the pressure was on when Fuller added j auotlier four points with a field goal. | Manawata drew ahead with a try by j Brosnan from an opening propared by | Hanna after ten minutes of solid aiiacking near the Horowhenua line. : Dermer failed to convert. Then Manawatu spen t an anxious period on defence, with the backs badly fumbling the ball. The earlier precision disappeared and was replaeed by a clurnsiness whicli Ihreatened to become catfestrophic. Aitcheson potted a field goal and took the scores to Manawatu 15, Horowhenua 14, before Manawatu recovered their wits. In the closing stages tlie home team was on top and with an attack in progress before tlio visitors' p'osts the stage appeared to be set for Hanna to attempt a field goal which Avouhl have inade the decision more conclusive, but the opportunity passed and the game elosed with Manawatu one point ahead. Mr. 0. Eglinton was the referee.