RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 5 August 1927, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

MANAWHENUA BEATEN, BUT NOT DISGRACED.

Although defeated by sixteen points to nil, Manawhenua have nothing whatever to be .ashamed" K>f after thenmatch with Hawkes Bay last Saturday, played under the worst conditions imaginable, and it is no exaggeration to sav that the Blues went down with colours flying. From reports to hand, the Hawkes Bay team gave their best displav yet. seen on their home territory this season, and more than pleased even their most ardent admirers. In this respect Manawhenua may be considered unlucky, at least unfortunate, in striking the 'redoubtable Hawkes Bay fifteen when they played a game, referred to by one football writer up that way as, "one out of the box." To Manawhenua supporters, the meagre reports of the match received in Monday's papers in this district, were most disappointing and in no way served to appease the curiosity of local fans, therefore the fdilowiing observations gleaned from the "Hawkes Bay Herald" may prove of interest. After commenting generally on the splendid game that was unexpectedly served up to the spectators under the appalling conditions, the writer goes on t 0 Bav: _««it would be carrying criticism to absurd lengths to comment unfavourably on any member of the Bay team, for'there was not a fault to find that was not probably attributable to the ball and the ground, and to those causes alone, and the magnificent and surprising success with which those disadvantages were overcome, would make all fault-finding capricious and ridicu-

lous. Among those outstandingly good on the home side were Blake, Te Ngaio, Grenside, Edwards, Swain and C. Brownlie. Te Ngaio and Swain were at the very peak of their form and the others were little below them. THE MANAWHENUA MEN.

On the other side, Williamson, the full-back for Manawhenua, was, perhaps, the best man among the visitors. He did some clever and at times almost miraculous saving and handled with consistent sureness.

Hunt, McDonald, and Brophy were also prominent amongst the visiting backs and, especially in the first half, made some lively play. They in particular, were, men of good quality and T. Parata now and again earned mention with them.

Jacob, that old campaigner and cute, hard working and tireless wing-for-ward, played a splendid game and did enough for any two men. Parsons, Payne and Galpin also worked well, both singly and in company and Galpin's play was especially effective in the loose. CHANGE OF TACTICS.

Manawhenua set themselves a tactical programme at the beginning and stuck to the letter, of it, absolutely, whereas the Bay were bringing in the element of surprise constantly in many forms. Manawhenua failed mostly because they could not adapt themselves to the ne\£ character that Hawkes Bay's plav assumed in the second spell. A. FEW STATISTICS.

There were 39 scrums of which Manawhenua took 13, Hawkes Bay 20, six being neutral. There were 60 line-outs, of which Manawhenua took 12 and Hawkes Bay 17, the other 31 being neutral. Out of 14' penalties Manawhenua Avere aAvarded six and HaAA r kes - Bay eight. The writer continues: —It was-really first rate football and the Avriter for one, cannot remember ever having previously seen such an all round, excellent display on a Avet ground. HaAvkes Bay's substantial victory Avas simply a case of a superlatively fine team beating a thoroughly good one, and on a dry day no doubt a memorable game would have resulted.

The visitors had the greatest misfortune in not scoring a try or tAvo at least, and were robbed of a perfectly inevitable score per medium of J. McDonald, just before half-time by Avhat was, to my mind, a most flagrant act of obstruction. THE SENIOR COMPETITION.

The club games Avere resumed on Saturday and although bad Aveather Avas reported from many outside centres, local conditions Avere of the best..

The results of the senior games leave no alteration in the championship ladder. By easily defeating Shannon County retain their position at the head of affairs, Avhile Hui Mai, similarly disposing of Weraroa, still occupy second place. County are three clear points ahead of the latter, but are a game to the good and the final outcome lies betAveen these tAvo teams.