RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 12 August 1927, Page 1

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

MANAWHENUA'S VICTORY

' MANAGER AND SELECTORS i GRATIFIED.

Complimentary remarks' were made at the Horowhenua Eugby District Council meeting on Tuesday evening in regard to Mr. M. Winiata (Horowhenua selector) and the combined team that beat Wairarapa on the preceding Saturday with the possibility of becoming holders of the Eanfurly Shield.

Mr. J. W. Procter said that the good services of Mr. Winiata, in conjunction with his co-selector, Mr. Eyan, of Manawatu, had brought out a team that hac) proved itself fit to laiid the most coveted trophy in New Zealand. Mr. Procter also acknowledged the capable way in which Mr F. Eobinson, of Foxton, lookod after the team in Wairarapa, as manager. Mr. S. Austin supported Mr. Procter's remarks.

Mr. Eobinson said he must acquaint the meeting with the high standard of football exhibited by the men i'rom this end of the combined district. With the exception of Jacob, they were all very young players, and they gave one of the finest" exhibitions of football he had seen. As manager of the team, he congratulated Mr. Winiata on the fine selection he had made from the players in this district. He had changed the team about in the ways necessary for a selector to do; he had tried them out, and they now represented practically the cream of the district. Mr. Eobinson also wished to congratulate Mr. Eyan on his selection' of the Manawatu portion of the team. He did not think it would be possible for any man in New Zealand to select a better side from each union than was selected for the Shield match. On the return of the team to Palmerston, the Manawhenua president, Mr. M. Ongley, spoke in the highest terms of Mr. Winiata's services to that body as a selector. Mr. Ongley also saici that Mr. Eyan was one of the finest coaches in New Zealand at the present time, and there was not a better judge of a footballer in the Southern Hemisphere than Mr. Winiata. Mr. Eobinson believed that every supporter of football was of this opinion. He did not think it would be possible in New Zealand at present to get two keener judges offootball or better coaches of the game. ' It was through the coaching that the team had during their two davs in 2aino at Palmerston that they achieved the" success they did in Wailarapa. Mr. Eobinson praised the demeanour of the men both on and off the field. From the day they left this district, both the Manawatu and the Hoiowbenua men "played the game" as gentlemen, and he was veiy proud to have managed such a team. Mr. Winiata feelingly thanked the speakers for their compliments. Ho stated that when he and his colleague met to select the first combined team this season, he told Mr. Eyan that he wished to select the best team, and if it was necessary for nine or ten men from either end of the district to go into the team to ensure that result, he was prepared to constitute the team on that basis. Mr. Eyan took the same view. After the first match against Wairarapa they saw the team's weakness and tried to amend it. There was a little improvement when the team played against the Maoris, and after ihe Hawke'd Bay match the selectors were satisfied that they had a pretty good team.