FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2435, 30 May 1922, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

Concluded from page 1

successful in piloting the ball between the uprights, making the score read, Rangitikei 3; Horowhenua 3. A good deal of the intervening play was monopolised by the forwards; for the visiting pack, Cameron, Blair, and W. Kane were most conspicuous-and for the local, Jacobs, Monynihan, Wilson, Bevan Broughton and Tana showed to advantage. From a good dribblingrush headed by Bevan and Tana, N. Kane was instrumental in thwarting it by a timely kick to touch. The latter’s display in fielding the ball and kicking was a singular feature of the match. Mention must also be made of the manner in which Porter located himself on the field of play. Little would be wanting if every player knew as much as he where to place himself in order to relieve pressure. In this connection Porter stood out on his own. Play at this stage hovered in no man’s ob brilliantly took another mark and in the place-kick which followed he was unfortunate in not being able to- convert; Rangitikei kicked off from their 25 and the local rearguard immediately set up an attack with a good passing-rush in which all the backs, save Moses and Bryant took part and in which M. Johnson just failed to reach Nepia’s pass to him. A certain try would doubtless eventuated if Nepia, after seeling brought about by the visitors place, cut- inwards. Horowhenua backs eneoui’aged by the manner in which their vanguard constantly secured the ball for them again started other passing-rushes but the tack--ing brought about by the visitors was so deadly that any chance of crossing the coveted line appeared hopeless. Towards the close of the spell, the visitors set up a great attack which was headed by McGregor, Hartley and Paranihi and which carried play into the home 25 where a- loose rush was undertaken by Cameron and it was only averted by Porter's fine solo effort. Nippy work by McKay, Hartley and Potaka moved play into Horowhenua’s territory, where Pointer saved and moved operations into no man’s land.

On resuming, Broughton, R. Moynihan and Tong Bevan immediately headed a-forward rush which was thwarted by N. Kane who found touch by* a gx-eat kick. From a scrum in midfield 5 the- Greens broke away with a good passing rash in which Paranihi scored a spectacular ti\y. His attempt at converting failed. Rangitikei 6; Horowhenua 3. Ten minutes later Rangitikei again broke away from their own territory with a good loose-rush and although Nepia recovered momentarily yet Rangitikei had no bother iix snatching the ball away and went on to seoi’e under the goals. Paranihi converted. Rangitikei 11; Hoi’owhenua 3.

From this out, Moses, who displayed much discomfort at fullback, took M. Johnson’s place at wing-three-quarter and was not there many minutes when lie made his pi’esence felt. With the local forwards playing .well the Greens were called upon to defend and twice they wei’e compelled to force. The Blacks delivered many attacks Tana, Moynihan, Wilson and Jacob being responsible. The ball went to the visitors’ line several times, and the greatest excitement prevailed, but danger was averted by the visiting vanguard getting in saving kicks to touch. For an infringement Jacob had another attempt to convert, which pi’oved fruitless. Not to be denied, Horowhenua secured the ball from a scram in no man’s land, which was transferred to Utiku, to T. Winiata, Nepia and Moses, who, in the midst of great excitement, sprinted along the line and scored a merited try near the cornel’. The attempt to convert failed. Rangitikei 11; Horowhenua 6.

Another passing-rush shortly followed between Nepia and Moses who just failed to reach the line by inches. Horowhenua continued to press and from a serum within 5 yards of the visitors’ line the ball came out to Porter Avho, instead of passing to Moses, attempted to get over and failed. Porter was unfortunate to undertake this as it proved to be the only mistake he had made throughout the day. In the loose, Bevan snapped up the ball and after beating an opponent passed to Jacob who could have run in unopposed, but unfortunately he missed the pass and lost what appeared to be a certain try. Shortly after this the whistle went with the local vanguard still on the attack.

Mr W. Boon, of Palmerson North, acted as referee and gave entire satisfaction.

SATURDAY’S MATCIIES. FOXTON 6, V. OLD BOYS 3. oftl Boys kicked oif with the sun glaring in their faces and before many minutes were compelled to force down owing to a strong looserush by Foxton. The local combination continued to press (lie visitors and ease did not come their way until Clarke put in a line kick which found touch beyond halfway. From the line-out Foxton again broke away with a good forward .rush and as they were too anxon the ball while others booted it too severely, thus enabling the visitors to force down and relieve matters. From here, Joe Hakaraia displayed much coolness in taking marks and as a result the game marked time' and became very tame and uninteresting. Play moved about between no man’s land and the visitors’ territory for some considerable time until the ball found western touch about halfway. In the line-out that followed the visitors got the ball

which the backs endeavoured to centre and which struck a local forward who caused it to rebound towards the visitors’ goal-line and by fast following-up in which Barber and Thompson were conspicuous, the latter scored. Taylor’s attempt to convert failed. Foxton 3; Old Boys nil.

The visitors rallied and held Foxton on the defence for many minutes. For interfering with the ball in the loose-scrimmage Foxton was penalised and from an easy angle the kick failed to equalise the score. The kick from 25 saw Foxton carry play to the visitors’ territory, where Baker at half set his backs going with a good passing-rush which finally saw H. Robinson get over the line. Unfortunately he had both the ball and his toes up and the referee disallowed it and in lieu thereof a 5 yards scrum was given. This enabled the visitors to again bring relief. From a scrum in midfield Baker secured the oval and transferred it to Reid and then to Moses who cut inwards after shaking oil his opponent with ease and being endowed with se.nse of unselfishness transferred over the head- of others to Bryant on the wing, who, amidst great excitement, ran inwards and scored a spectacular try where Moses would have crossed the line if lie had attempted to do so. Taylor failed to effect conversion. Foxton (i; Old Boys nil.

Though play, from a spectator’s point of view, was tame and uninteresting at times yet both teams did not hold the same opinion. For (he visiting forwards Bevan and Hakaraias (2) outshone the other members of their pack. The local pack was conspicuously supported by S. Barbel’, Thompson, M. Robinson, Austin, Jewell and Batchelor. These players for the most part made the game very interesting in ihc-Vfm. To the end of the fix-st spell the game was more or less confined to them.

On resuming the visitors began to toss the ball about among tlieir backs and appeared to be conscious that they were starving their backs. Doubtless the visitors had a fine set of backs, which rarely got the ball throughout the match. Their doubling round and supporting one another was very fine. It reminded one of College combination.- Behind a pack such as that of Levin Wanderers Hapi Hakaraia, Utiku, Taipua, Udy and the full-back will always show to advantage. In one of the attempts made .by the visitors to initiate a passing-rush Moses for ilie “chosen” intercepted the pass and as he and Baker were always twin bi-others in such movements, they carried the oval well into the visitors’ 25 amidst great excitement; where a loose-scrimmage took place and where a Foxton player was penalised for passing the ball off tlnground. This, howevex’, brought Old Boys relief and forced play into Foxton’s territory. From a scrum the visitors secured the ball which passed through the hands of J. Hakaraia, Utiku, Hapi, ■ Taipua, Takerei and Hapi again, who scored the most sensational try of the day. Conversion failed. Foxton (i; Old Boys 3. The visitors, encouraged by tlieir good work, came again and just when things wei’e beginning to favour them, Barber initiated a forward rush which immediately put them oil defence once again. For an infringement Taylor was afforded another opportunity to convert but, as he was not in bis kicking mood, the attempt failed. Following Taylor’s attempt the visitors, by a good passing-rash, bi’ought the oval back to Foxton’s territory where the local combination retaliated with a similar rush which ended in Barber getting over the line and as he did not hold the ball sufficiently long enough to' warrant the refei’ee in awarding him the necessary recognition, the try was disallowed. To the end of this spell much smart work on either side greeted the game both sharing attack and defence alike.

Mr Seiacia gave entire satisfaction and under his control both the spectators and players behaved admirably.