MANAWATU’S SUPERIORITY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 213, 9 August 1937, Page 5

MANAWATU’S SUPERIORITY.

'VISITORS’ YOUNG TEAM. Wairarapa fielded a young team, markedly so in the backs. Manawatu seemed to have difficulty in swinging into their stride, but in the second half produced a more open type of game which brought good results. In the first spell Manawatu secured an unconverted try, all the other points being scored in the second half. The teams were:Manawatu.—Campbell, R. Gillespie, G. Wasley, Buick, Nicol, J. Finlay, Irvine, Powell, Newman, R. M. McKenzie (captain), Williams, Fleming, Sullivan, Ewart, E. Fell. Wairarapa.—J. Roach, Cross, Clark, Van Praagh, Hatton, J. Walker, Denbee, Tredray, Percy, McGregor, Connor, Sievers, J. Walker (captain), Hood, Varcoe. Wairarapa kicked off into the sun and Manawatu were early on the attack. On a drop-out Finlay swung a long pass across the field to Nicol, but Wairarapa came on to the attackers and a. line-out at half-way resulted. An infringement in a scrum gave the visitors an opportunity to clear to beyond half-way. Campbell swung the play to the visitors’ territory with a long kick, and Newman and Powell were together in an assault on the VYairapapa line. The defenders forced. A long, low pass from the scrum reached Gillespie and he set sail for the line, but was well tackled. With the play in the vicinity of the visitors’ twenty-five, Finlay cut in beautifully and a try seemed certain until the pass was intercepted by a Wairarapa player with an open field in front of the attackers and only about ten yards to go. The visitors won two scrums and, attacking from then., penetrated to the Manawatu twentyfive for the first time. Campbell found the line twice to gain a good deal of ground, but the Wairarapa forwards were working hard and pushed Manawatu back into their own half until Gillespie instituted a movement which returned play to Wairarapa territory. J. Walker, the Wairarapa back, tried) to goal from a penalty just inside the j Manawatu half, and a. minute or two | later Percy made another , attempt, from only a yard or two closer, but in

neither ease did the kick prove successful. Cross gave Manawatu a fright with a long hard kick and Campbell elected to force. With Manawatu on the attack the ball travelled to Finlay from ' Irvine, to Wasley, then back to Finlay, to Gillespie, but the last-named had little opportunity with a bad pass and a bright spot in the play ended there. Finlay was unsuccessful with a drop-kick at goal. Again Walker tried to goal from a penalty kick ten yards inside the Manawatu half, but his kick was weak. Irvine. Gillespie, Finlay and Buick handled in that order in the first passing bout which had a real flavour of penetration. The Wairarapa forwards attacked hard and bustled Nicol, Fleming’s relief of the position being applauded. Cross mace a fine 40 yardb’ run. Buick, his vis-a-vis, returned play to midfield. Finlay sent the ball to Fell, who made a lot of ground before passing to Wasley, to Gillespie, who scored. Powell’s kick failed and half-time followed: Manawatu 3, Wairarapa 0.

SCORING RATE IMPROVES. Wairarapa stormed the Manawatu twenty-five soon after the resumption and Buick went back to assist Campbell when the latter was caught in possession. From a scrum the ball was hurled into Walker’s hands with only a yard or two to go to the Manawatu line, ..but lie failed to realise the position and Manawatu broke out. Denbee picked up and kicked. Clark and Tredray joining him in the chase, which found a gap in the derence, Clark scored and Walker converted. Wairarapa 5, Manawatu 3. .Stung into action, Manawatn’s forwards settled down and took the hall to the opposition twenty-five. Finlay secured in the open with nothing in front of him but a defender came across and lie passed to Wasley oil the outside, the latter going the remaining few yards to touch down. I inlay converted. Manawatu 8. Wairarapa 5.

Nicol and then Gillespie handled, Fleming being also in the picture, but Wairarapa forced Finlay lo find the line from within his twenty-five soon after. Fleming led a sally well into the visitors’ half and the ball went out to Buick, who tried valiantly to cross, but failed. The play swung into mid-field again and McKenzie, though he had not followed it fast, found himself within scoring distance. He wasted no time in reaching the ball and rush mg across. Finlay converted. Manawatu 13, Wairarapa 5. McKenzie and Powell chased a kick into Wairarapa’s half, hut Roach lined. Irvine sent a long pass to Finlay and he made a useful contribution to the attack, then passing to Fleming, who sent the leather on to Newman, who scored. Finlay’s kick failed. Manawatu 16, Wairarapa 5. Finlay, Nicol and Newman handled in a passing bout soon after and Manawatu were awarded a penalty kick from a melee right in front of the posts and Finlay gcialed easily. Manawatu 19, Wairarapa 5. J. Walker (the visiting forward) led a rush to within striking distance of the line and Denbee and Clark handled, the latter sending on to Van Praagh when collared by Campbell, but the attack was stemmed. Fell had a rib injured in a 6crum and came off the field, Whytk going on. Hatton opened up a thrust and passed to Van Praagh, who hesitated in trying to find a supporter when menaced, and Percy received to score. J. Walker (back) failed with the kick. Wairarapa 8, Manawatu 19.

Campbell sent a fine bouncing kick across the ground for the line and Clark picked up for a good run. Soon afterwards McKenzie, Fleming and Wasley combined in a thrust which, however, did not quite reach its objective. The Manawatu forwards having worked close, another scrum was near the goal and a penalty kick to Manawatu right on timo saw Finlay make the final score : Manawatu 22, Wairarapa 8. The referee was Mr G. Eglinton.