FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2598, 26 June 1923, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

MANAWATU-HOR OWIHEXUA REP. MATCH. MANAWATU OUTCLASSED. Tlie above match was played at Levin on Saturday, before a large crowd of spectators. Horowhenua succeeded in soundly defeating Manawatu by 22 points to six. Horowhenua, with the sun at their backs, were soon on the aggressive. Play moved uncertainly about the field for a few minutes, and then Rose tossed the ball out to his backs, who got away nicely till Glendinning put on the finishing touch with a dashing try, which King failed to convert. Manawatu 3; Horowhenua nil. This advantage was only momentary. The Horowhenua pack was now beginning to warm up to its work and their backs swept downfield. Reid set them going and Jacob stepped into line, carried on the ball and tossed it out to Udy on the right wing who bounced through what remained of the defence, and shot over. Jacob converted from a difficult angle. Horowhenua 5; Manawatu 3.

There was something formidable in the big brown avalanche that hurled itself incessantly at the Manawatu defence, gradually reducing it to impotence. Jacob, Tana, Turn, Gardner and Rangi Broughton were a terrifying quartette, smashing through repeatedly and barring the defence badly. The backs, too, were beginning to handle the ball more confidently, and Wells was nearly over from a passing rush. A few minutes later, another rearguard assault went right through. Batchelor (Otaki) set them going, and Reid (the tricky Foxton fiveeighth) beat three or four opponents badly, and then shot the leather out ’to Wells, who scored a beautiful try. Jacob’s effort to add to two more points just fell short. Horowhenua 8; Manawatu 3. In play again, the ball once more showed a preference for the green end of the paddock, and Wells was again in the limelight. Had he gone on instead of passing lie would have got over. Oxenhara and Akuira made a dash down field, and then Rose got away cleverly from the scrum; but Batchelor, with a nippy mark, broke the rush. Manawatu here appeared to he holding their own at least in (lie forward division, where Carroll and Sly were heading loose rushes, which unfortunately frizzled out before getting anywhere. .Jacob’s genius for getting on to the leather at the business end caused a lot of trouble, and he now broke away, ball at toe. Kin*- was between him and the line, but the Manawatu skipper pawed feebly at the hall with one hand and the big brown rover swept past, picked up ten yards from home, and got over easily. Jacob converted and brought Horowheuun’s 'total to 13, Manawatu 3.

With ihe sun at their hacks, it was hoped the Manawatu combination would put up a better fight in the second half, but their supporters were grievously disappointed. Rose failed to stand up behind the serum, to the onslaught of Jacob, who beat Slv every time, with the result that the Manawatu attack rarely, if ever, got going. Johnson started the Horowhenua backs going again, and as usual, Jacob joined in. He was collared off-side, and from the resultant free kick, he once more sent the ball over the bar —Horowhenua 16; Manawatu 3. The home backs were now cracking on the pace, and the forwards were cracking up the opposing defence, which went all to pieces. There was a desperate struggle on the Manawatu line, which Brophy and Glendinning shifted momentarily, but Jacob broke away again. Brophy again saved a dangerous-look-ing onslaught, and later Cowie did likewise. From another passing movement, the ball then came out to Udy, who fought his way over. Jacob failed with the kick. Rose here had to retire and Maire came on in his place. One of the few Manawatu passing rushes came on now from a long toss by Sly to King, who had changed places with Brophy. The ball went on to Oxenham, but the W oodvillo man was grabbed before doing anything worth while, and Horowhenua were forced. Maire was getting the ball away better, but his backs were nearly always out of place, or else were dumped by the sudden opposition. From a scramble in the corner, Udy bolted for glory, but was pulled back —scrum on the line. Tie was out for business, however, and grabbed the leather again, this time diving through near the flag'. Jacob failed. Horowhenua 22; Manawatu 3. Maire made a clever opening and passed to Carroll, who went for the line, but dropped the ball just as he was going across. A fierce struggle occurred on the Horowhenua line, from which the defenders got relief in a free kick. Akuira broke away, but held on 100 long, thus spoiling an almost certain score. A few minutes, before the whistle, from a wild scramble, Anderson pushed through and scored a few feet from the posts. King failed with the kick and the game ended: — ■ Horowhenua •Manawatu ® Mr Burrows controlled the game.