Horowhenua Lose Rugged Rugby Game

Chronicle (Levin), 8 September 1947, Page 4

Horowhenua Lose Rugged Rugby Game

In a very willing but ragged enconntCr at Levin on Saturday, the Manawatu senfor Rugby rep;resentatiyes; aeorecL their seconct win, of tke seasQn by nacrowly defeating Horowhenua 22 points to 18, G-round- and weather eonditions were good, and, there wa^s a fairatt^ndance of the publie. It was a .gruelling^ test for the for-. wajds, and when the tension was on in the seeond half, with the issue wide op§n, there' were. some heated exchanges in th.e rucks and serummages; Althongli the standard of h,andlmg amQng the Manawatu backs was below scratch, they performed with g^at^r eohesion and penetration than previously. Th§ same defeet apparent in past games this season .again prevented the team from operating.to the best of its ability. Manawatu 's points came from three converted tries, an unconvertea try and a field goal, while for Horowhenua two tries, one eonversion, a field goal and two penalties made np th§ points. Ihe teams were as under: —

Manawatu: B. Ryan, J. Butt, E. MeQueen, C. Webb, K. Gudsell, K. Graham, D. Williamson, E. Bresnehan, M. McCullum, H. Riehardson, W. A. Nichols, Garlick, D. Simmonds, Mcl'arlapd, K. Elliott. Horowhenua: H. D. Aitchison, C. GrEvans, W. Galloway, S. Chester, G. Seiascia, A. Hakaraia, T. Winiata, J. Wlnterburn, T. Gray, W. Winiata, G. Ramsbotham, W. Lincoln, S. Barthoiomew, D. Cole, J. Granger. Trouble in Sctums. N Manawatu again had great difiieulty in gettkig down in the serums the majority of which were unsatisfactory. Richardson, in particular, experieneed tronble in getting down. The cause was hard to define, but the Manawatu hooker eannot be expeeted to cfo justiee to his job under such eircumstances. For Horowhenua T. Gray was the best of the forwards, and on the day he probably was the best forward on the field. Ramsbotham marred an otherwise good performance by eonstantly waiting offgide in the serums. Winterburn, who retired hurt in the seeond half and was replaeed by Robinson, also played an outstanding game. W. Galloway, the captain, at centre, was the best of the backs. Both wingers, Evans and Chester, were very well marked and had few opportunities to show their paces. Aitchison, at fullback, played a sound but unspectaeular game. Run of the Play, Horowhenua got away to a good start when after four ' minutes ' Gray, Winterburn and Bai'tholomew broke through a period of tight play with the ball at their toes, Ryan went down On the ball but failed to stem the rush and Cole came through to pounce on tne ball for a try which Galloway eonver.ted. Manawatu came baek strongly and. from loose play in the Horowhenua 25 yard area Elliott seooped up the ball and sent out a long pass to Butt, who sent it infield to Williamson. The half gained ground and passed, back to 1 Elliott who went aeross in grand styie for a try which McQueen converted to equalise the scores. The visitors went into the lead when the backs developed a rush from a scrum a few yards inside the Horowhenua half. Webb toolc the ball at speed, fended off Evans and kicked ahead to beat Aitchison. In a race for the ball Webb and Galloway c-ollided but Graham was in close support of his team-mate and got his hand to the ball. McQueen converted. Horowhenua narrowed the gap when Galloway goaled a penalty from 15 yards ont in a handy position, and" crept into the lead when, shortly afterward Lincoln led a loose forward rush to the Manawatu line. Ryan failed to get on to the ball which tri.ekled over the line. McQueen came through fast and appeared to force, but he felJ away from the ball and Winterburn dropped 011 it and was awarded a try wkich .Galloway failed to eonvert. » - Galloway missed a lopg, . shot at a penalty goal, and Manawatu forgea into the lead. when ..Gudsell kicked a well judged field goal when Williamson shot the ball to him from a set scrum 15 yards out in front of the Horowhenua posts. There waS a bright movemeiit when from a scrum inside the Horowhenua 25, Butt came in-fiqld to take a pass from Williamson. The ball went out to McQueen who attempted to go, alone and was taekled short of the line while Webb was ready aua unopposed on his outside. Nichols maue a grand opening for a try but Elliott knocked on in front of the posts. Just before half time Webb and Williamson took part in a movement which resulted with Williamson cutting through >for a fine try which McQueen failed to eonvert. The Second Half. In the sec'ond half Horowhenua again narrowed the gap when Galloway goaied a penalty lcick from 30 yards out, then regained the lead with a field goal kicked by Galloway while the Horowhenua backs were making a determined bid for the Manawatu line. The ball came out of the blue and eaused considerable astonishment when it was seen to sail through the posts. The game beionged to anyone aua there were some torrid exchanges among the forwards in the rueks anu serummages, while even some of the backs were betjoming a,_ bit heated. Horowhenua sfcrived dsperately- to hoid their slender lead, but Manawatu were playing with as much vigoux as wh?n they started. The visitors took the. ld'ad when from a' well-timed back mbvement McQueen sent -the ball on to Butt who beat the opposipg wingex aua fullbaek to scQre a great try which McQueen converted. ' . Althougli both sides attacked witti renewed energy, the game ended shortly afterwards with, (he scQre Manawatu 22, Horowhenua 18.