RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 133, 6 May 1940, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

EASY WIN FOR MAN 6 A TAINOK A. Manga tain oka’s easy win by 30 points to nil over Woodville ill the first of the Bush Rugby Union’s fixtures of the season at the Recreiv tion Ground on Saturday came as a surprise, as Woodville had previously beaten Mangatainoka in a practice game and.drawn with them in a match for a cup. The visitors’ advantage of weight in the forwards and greatly improved combination among the backs, together with .Woodvilie’s failure to reproduce the form shown on the two previous Saturdays, weighed the Scales in Miingiitaiuoka's favour. The teams were:— Mangatainoka.: Tait, Rose, AlcDougall, Bickneil, Hunt, Staples, Lett, Reioiienbach, Fergus, Upston, Sinclair, Ross, Sharplin, Woodill, Compton. Woodville.—Bolton McGregor, Skittrup, W. Burlace, Rossi ter, McNeil, Eddy, Giles, Miller, Ansin, J. Burlace, McKinley, Court, Collins, Rosyth. Tile game opened at a willing pace, Rossister sending his side to the attack several times with well-placed line kicks. However, the home team, though they frequently attacked with determination at this stage and later in, the game, seemed to lack the thrust necessary to press home their efforts. Tlie visitors’ first points came when, from a scrum at midfield, Lett cut through smartly, but was brought down just short of the line ; McDoug-a.il,. following-up fast, gained possession and touched down in a handy position for .Tait to convert. Though slow in striking form, the Mangatainoka hacks at tliis stage were going wo*!, the combination and resourcefulness of Lett (half) and the inside backs (Staples and Hunt) frequently paving the way to attack. The second try resulted from a sweeping movement by those three players, Lett giving the hall to. Staples who handed it on to Hunt, whose speed did the rest. Tait failed at goal from wide out. In the second half Lett, Staples and Hunt swung into line to cleave the home) defence, the last-named plaver scoring between ■ the posts. Tait failed to convert, llpssiter, who so, far had been the mainstay of the Woodville defence and a. tower of strength in attack, retired hurt and was replaced by G. Burlace. Woodville never really recovered from this setback and from then on the visitors piled up the points quickly. Their forwards stormed the Woodville line and lieclcd back, Lett sending Staples over for a try. Tait raised the flags with a. neat kick. Two further tries resulted from forward rushes, Sinclair and Sharplin touching down. Both of Tait’s kicks, failed the second one striking the upright. The Mangatainoka backs were functioning well and always dangerous in the closing stages and a sweeping movement saw MeDougall run right round behind the posts' for a try which Tait found no trouble in converting. A few minutes from time the visitors brought the total to 30—0 with a try scored bv Reichenbach from a forward rush. The referee was Mr AY. Lawry. THIRD GRADE MATCH. The third grade match between Pahiatua and Woodville, played- as a curtain-raiser to the senior game, marked Woodvilie’s first appearance of tlie season in this grade. Pnhiatua won by 11 points to 8. All, of the visitors’ points were scored in tlie first half and comprised a penalty goal by Sowery, who also scored and converted a try. and an unconverted try by Cavanagh. Both tries came from forward rushes. Woodville gained all their points in the second spell. \ Bui lot kicked through and Walker, clapping on the pace, gathered in the hall and dived over for a . good trv which. Gilmour failed to convert. Gilmour, who proved himself a resourceful half-back, scored ‘Woodvilie’s second try when he cut in smartlv and dived over near the posts for G. Burlace to convert. Mr J. Sandman refereed.