HOROWHENUA SCORE OVER MANAWATU

Chronicle (Levin), 1 August 1949, Page 4

HOROWHENUA SCORE OVER MANAWATU

PALMERSTON N„ Aug. 1. Lack of drive in the h--wards cost Manawatu the verdict in' the senior second fifteen match with Horowhenua at the Showgrounds, Palmerston North, on Saturday, the visitors winning by six points (two penalty goals) to nil. The Manawatu team was: B. Ryan, D. Findlay, R. Wilde, I. Pike, J. Hutton, E. Roberts, G. New, Waddell, A. Rowlands, M. Kreft, H. Young, M. Puketapu, A. Fitch, G. Gordon, H. Ngatana. The Horowhenua team w.as: C. Mortimer,. M. Moynihan, B. Wallace, B. Lind, M. Merwood, B. Moynihan, -L. Robinson, R. Robinson, A. Fletcher, King, A. Woods, C. Bryant, I. Robinson, T. Noohan and G. Milroy. Play began at a fast clip and it early looked as thongh the Manawatu team would live up to expectations, Gordon, Kreft and Young featuring in some really bright forward work. But this phase passed and the forward passages settled down to a state of medioerity. The backs found themselves well and trulv marked by fast-moving,- cleverhandling "opponents. In p.vticuJar Roberts found his usual ehannels of penetration elosed to him. New made some of his usual prettily-exeeuted openings around the side of the scrum but no one went with him and he lost contact. Principal thrust again came -from Wilde who plaved another sound game. Both of the wingers and the fullbae'k played well within the restrictions placed on them by competent opposition. On attaek the main faetor mitigating against tries was a failure to pin back the ears and "give it a go. " The strong Horowhenua defence was materiallv aided by the hesitation of the Manawatu attackers who constantly looked for someone on whom to unload the ball when a little individual determination might have achieved results. The vigour of the Horowhenua forwards -and their pack work, partieularly at the lineouts, was a treat to watch and compensated for the disappointment, felt at the display of the Manawatu forwards. \ Horowhenua 's points came from two penalty goals kicked by B. Waliace who was injured during "the second half and replaced by T. Tritt.