GOING STRONG

NZ Truth, Issue 1181, 19 July 1928, Page 14

GOING STRONG

Will Wairarapa Give Cantabs. Heartburn ? (From "N.Z. Truth's" Palmerston North Rep.) Ever since the memorable drawn game with the Springboks m 1921, Manawhenua has, been regarded as an uncertain quantity, liable to provide many a surprise, and the result of several games m later years has driven this fact home. IASIT week the Manawhenua fans were; , treated to as sparkling and fast a display as has been, seen locally for some considerable time, when Wairarapa defeated Manawhenua m a high-scoring game. With the score 25-20 against them, Manawhenua were presented with a golden opportunity of snatching the game out of the fire with two penalty kicks awarded' inside Wairarapa's quarter-line, but as neither Tatana nor Akuira was able to make full use of the two kicks, Manawhenua's chance \yas. lost, and they were required to leave the field a beaten, though by no means disgraced, team. VA COSTLY CHANGE The substitution of Cormack for Roach, who was unable to make the trip, prbved a costly one for the Visitors, the former player being vjery unreliable, throughout the major : portion of the game, though towards the end, when he found the opposition, less keen, he improved considerably.' '■ He was, also ready to assist- on defence and Cqrmack's weakness m this respect gave him plenty to do. ' Quentin Donald and . McCalmont were more successful on the front row of the' scrum than wer^ Crawford and McDonald, who acted m a like capacity for Manawhenua, , . " . ■ Both the Wairarapa hookers played strongly and were ably assisted by Pairbrother m the line-outs. •' ; j Williamson, Manawhenua's full-back, was slightly off color and failed to reproduce his usual form. The .backs adapted the' "kick and follow up" method of attacking which, though very effective, -was a trifle overdone. . ' ■ ... \ ' , Westwood, who had; just, won his spurs, gave a. satisfactory exhibition m the early stages, but was. not seen • much m the second 'spell.' Roberts, wing, brought off some good tackles— and some very bad ones. v The two five-eighths, Akuira and T. Parata lost no time m pouncing on to Cundy and Cooke when they had. possession, their determined tackling being very pleasing to watch, and equally annoying to the two players who were so consistently dumped. " The Manawhenua forwards enjoyed the advantage m the (dose, but they "were dominated m the ■..•tight./---'.; ■;.;;_; : ■■ ■„-■•. .; :.■.'-.■ Where all gave 'bf their best it would be invidious to discriminate, put Galpin, Tatana and Crawford were ever hard on the ball, Miles, Parsons and McDonald battling hard m the tight. With; four successive victories, Wairarapa should commence their southern t6uv, iwith ' every Confidence, and their aggregate of SO v points for with 32 ; against should ■ £ive Canterbury ieartburm ; ; .