Manawatu Account For Horowhenua

Chronicle (Levin), 27 June 1949, Page 4

Manawatu Account For Horowhenua

targe Crowd Witnesses Grand Game . One of the largest crowds ever seen at a football match in Levin witnessed a grand game between Manawatu and. Horowhenua at the Park Doniain on Saturday. Manawatu emerged the victors by 13 points to six andvon the day were definitely the better team. •Vefy noticeable qmong. Horowhenua was the dack of combination, more especially in the back line. Tbp* visitors, however, turned on % very bright type of football, with the ball travehing freely ' among che forwards and backs. Generally the forwards of both teams were fairly evdnly matched, but the inability of Horowhenua to pack in the rucks proved an advantage to the Manawatu team. The Horowhenua** team, however, piayed exceptionally well in consideration of the ampunt of practiee they have had, 'and every man In the team piayed the game ex-r pected of him. . There is no doubt that Manatwatu possesses some very fine taleht and three who impressed most were Heavey, Harkness and Colquhoun. These three are players of high quality aiid should do well for Manawatu this year. Galloway In Top Form. Horowhenua stalwart, Galloway, was in top form and piayed one of the best games of his career. Others who impressed were'Moynihan, who piayed really fine football and ap-

p'ears to be improving as the season progresses; "V^allis, who has a good burst of speed but had to mark a hard man in Colquhoun, and consequently was given few opportunities; and Tritt, who distinguished himself in.his passing .and is a most improved player. Mortimer was reliable, but his line kicking was not his best. Fuller was fine in defence, as also was Pouteitu, who was given few opportunities. Outstanding among the 'forwards were Lincoln, Bryant, Ray and Ian Robinson and Milroy. Milroy, who went on when Ray Robinson was taken off, piayed a really fine game-. On the whole a better team could not have represented Horowhenua, but more intensiye practice is needed. . . From Manawatu's kick off it looked as if Horowhenua were going to be in trouble, for they could not stop the attack of the vigorous Manawatu forwards. From a scrum Graham got t'he ball out to McNae, but Wallis, playing shallow, intercepte'd and kicked for touch. Horowhenua slowly regained lost ground and from a lineout on the half-way mark Graham again set his backs in motion and it cou'd be seen that Manawatu possessed some speedy players. Colquhoun Was grassed on the Horowhenua 25 and Galloway relieved the situation by sending a good kick into touch

about the half-way mark. Momentarily . the home team took the initiative/ but Morgan, on getting the ball, raced for the corner. Moynihan took the ball from him and looked a trifle milucky not to score when he ran out. An infringement in the scrum gave - Horowhenua a penalty in which Galloway kicke'd his team into the lead. Horowhenua 3, Manawatu 0. Noticeable at this stage was the humber of p.enalties. given to Horowhenua as a result of an infringement by the Manawatu hooker.' The first. try was secured by Manawatu and combination .was the instrument. ' The 'ball traveped in the air among: the visitors' forwards and ^they had their oppon- ' ents. completely bafEled, Heavey crossing. Horowhenua 3, Manawatu 3. . Horowhenua piayed more determinedly,.but Manawatu were also settling down to solid football. Horowhenua pressbd into Manawatu's territory, but the visitors' fast backline came out on top and only good work by Mor- , timer saved the situation for Horowhenua. . Manawatu- again forced hard on their opponents and Colquhoun, speeding through the Horowhenua defence scored most impressively. Harkness converted. Manawatu 8, Horowhenua 3. ' Horawhenua tried hard to break the defence, but could not make . any impression and half-time came With no alteration in the scores.

Bid By Horowhenua. On the resumption Manawatu forced play into the Horowhenua „25, where some very solid rucks took place. Doyle and Winterburn, playing loose, took the ball at their feet into the Manawatu 25. Brilliant combination by Manawatu saw the position reversed * and " Meads ma'de a great' bid for the line, but Poututu grassed him. Rucking hard, Horowhenua again forced their way into foreign territory. Another break,' this time with Noonan, Doyle and Lincoln at the head of the pack. looked promlsing. But for Harkness it would definitely have added an--other three points. , Then Harkness, making an extra man in the back line, scored in a great back movement by the Manawatu team in which in-passing and side-stepping was seen at its best. Morgan converted. Manawatu 13, Horowhenua 3. Manawatu pressed hard and almost scored again, but Poututu and Mortimer were tackling well. After» a series of dribbling rushes Gallowav showed his ski1! and experience when he ran round the scrum to score in 'the corner. Manawatu 13, Horowhenua 6. It was not long before the final whistle blew with Manawatu in Horowhenua's territory. Mr. D. McMillan; was the referee. Scrums: .Horowhenua 10, Mana- . watu 14, indecisive 1.