WIN FOR WELLINGTON.

Shannon News, 30 August 1927, Page 3

WIN FOR WELLINGTON.

MANAWHENUA BACKS BEATEN COMBINED REPS. SUPERIOR IN FORWARD DIVISION. The Manawhenua representatives, weakened hy the absence of Jacob and McDonald, and an injury to Hunt, were beaten by Wellington on Saturday by 23 to 14, in the presence of a large* crowd. The Shield-holders gave a disappointing exhibition of back play, but the forwards were always among, the opposing backs and played their usual fast, open game. The opinion is given that, as a result of this game, Manawhenua’s chances against Taranaki are considerably improved. WELLINGTON. Last' Night. The ground and conditions wenexcellent for the big fixture on Athletic Park yesterday afternoon. A steady southerly had dried the giound during the forenoon, and everything was offering for a good display of tlu code. There was no mud, though the turf was soft, and the wind though steady blew from end to end and was not sufficiently strong to interfere seriously with the kicking, passing or tactics. The teams were: (Wellington (black). Full-back: Malcolm. Three-quarters: Elvy, South and Svenson. Five-eighths: Johnson and Nicholls Half: Kilby. Wing: lVfcHardy. Forwards: Oliver, Claridge, Emerson., ’J. Shearer, Taylor, Pringle,. Edgar. Manawhenua (Red, white and blue). Full-back: Hunt. Three-quarters: Darragh, Broph> and Roberts. Five-eighths: Mullins and T. Pnratn Half: Goldfinch. Wing: Dalziell. Forwards: Tremewan, Anderson Galpin, Crawford, Payne, Heatley and Miles. Shield-holdex*s Open Badly.

Manawhenua, opening with the advantage of the wind, did not settle down early, missing badly in tackling and taking the ball. Svenson made a good run through but-passed forward when dangerous. Johnson next mulled for Wellington. A kick by Brophy put Manawhenua on the attack but Nicholls relieved. Hunt, stopped a likely Wellington try, col larlng Elvy' on the line. South received immediately afterwards, running between Mullins and. Parata to score. An easy kick missed. Shortly afterwards Johnson, who a; this stage, was making some good runs, ran through and passed t, Pringle who scored, Malcolm goaling, Wellington 8, Manawhenua 0. Brophy centred well, • following tin kick-off, and in a scrum under th( posts Wellington were penalised foi not putting the ball cleanly into th scrum. Brophy kicked an easy penalty: , Wellington 8 Manawhenua 3 Receiving from the kick-off Roberts-side-stepped nicely, but play soon came back to Manawhenua territory when South drew the backs. Black: were awarded-a penalty for obstruc lion, Malcolm’s kick hitting the post At this stage the Manawhenua for wards were playing better football Mullins followed up well, threatening the Wellington line. Miles received from tile loose to score in the corner Brophy’s kick failed: Wellington 8 Manawhenua 6 Parata was not going for the ball well banging back. Nicholls made an opening and passed to Svenson, who held out in a race with Roberts score. .Malcolm’# attempt failed. ■ • 11 Manawhenua ® Give and take play followed till hall time, Wellington backs having a little the better of it. though tlie Manawhenua forwards were often danger OUS. The Wellington forwards were Jhe equal of th e red, white and blue pack in the tight, though Manawhenua got its share of the ball from th< scrum. The black forwards led particularly by Shearer and Oliver, were dangerous in the loose as well, but were not so fast as the visitors. Blades On The Attack. In the second half Wellington did most of the attacking. Manawhenua launched few offensives. The Wellington backs were opening up the game, and the ball was many times going across the whole chain of the backs. Kilby was playing brilliantly at half, and Nicholls proved a difficult man to collar. South was nyt playing so well as in the first half, and Johnson was holding on too much. Elvy and Svenson put in many excellent runs on the wings, the latter being jthe more certain. Elvy missed at least three scoring chances. The blacks added tries by Kilby, Elvy, South and Svenson, none of which were converted. For Manawhenua Mullins scored after a clever followup of a centre kick by Brophy, missing his own attempt to goal, and in the flnal stages Heatley beat Malcolm

to the bull under the posts, Brophy converting.- The game ended. Wellington 23 Manawhenua *4 About The Players. Hunt, at full-back, was usually safe taking the ball well. He had a lot of work to do till he was injured half way through the second spell, being relieved by Williamson. The latter was a trifle slow in getting to the ball on occasions, but saved well many times when Wellington were persisting in their attack.

Of the wings Roberts played a much better game than Darragh who had a day off. The Feilding player passed in bady to Mullins on one occasion when the latter had what looked a certain try. He took his own passes badly, and let Elvy past a lot. Towards th e end, however, lie seemed to have got Elvy’s strength. Roberts played an excellent game, getting his side out of many difficulties and putting in many fine solo runs. H 0 marked Svenson well, and was always in his place. He was one of the best backs on the side.

Brophy played his usual' heady

game, and was safe. He opened up well when the ball came his way, and did a lot of useful hard collaring. He was playing' better football than his vis-a-vis, South and was always dangerous. He was well marked. Mullins played the most surprising

game of the side, being strong in

, attack and defence. He collared well and took well, and was getting in a lbt ,of hard work. He made few mistakes, and ran through the Wellington Inside backs on several occasions. The red, white and blues would have been a, weaker side without him. Parata at first five-eighth was too slow. He several times let the black backs through, and was not going for the ball. In the second half he played a better game, and when passing was to be done handled the bail well. Goldfinch got the ball out when it

was needed but sometimes was » trifle slow. IT e should improve in the

position. Dalziell was not prominent as rover but he was always with the forwards

and played a hard game. It is difficult to individualise amongst the others, but Miles was always at it,

md Tremewan and Anderson wore iteady battlers. Both these wore often

rrominent in the loose. Galpin played :olidly. All the forwards were con-

itantly on the ball, and often endangered the black line in -their loose ‘■ushes. Heatley.ls try was a fine pb'ee if follow-up work: Crawford and Payne were always there, and got l.mongst Wellington’s backs consistently.

Wellington bad much the better of ■he second half, and although Manavhenua scored 8 points to the bjacks ’ 2 the difference was greater, as

Wellington were laying - almost contant siege to the visitors' line. Mann '.hernia's tA\o tries came from hill iant breakaway efforts, and they vere immediately on the defensive •gain. i ‘ The Manawhenua forwards war*' imong the Wellington backs oil the ,ime. and were a more destructive -lenient to Nicholls. Svenson and Co. ban the hacks. The collaring oi ManaAvhemia backs Avas not always rood, though, the team was so fosi hat a third or fourth man usually rot the quarry. It must, however, b< •einembered that Nicholls Elvy and h'enson could run through the best hacks in the world, and for Manavhenua to have kept the score down •o well when • Wellington were con•tantly passing and attacking, and .vhen their turn came also to have icaten Wellington’s own crack player* ind to have ,run through the back line, must be considered a creditabb performance. Manawlientta’s chances tgainst Taranaki on Wednesday ar> greatly enhanced by their display yes ♦erday. and if condition is to be a factor in deciding the issue Mana whentia should not lose on that score.

HORWHENUA REP. TEAMS. JUNIORS UNSUCESSFUL, BUT THIRDS EASILY VICTORIOUS. Opposite results were obtained bv the two Horowhenua lower-grade rep. teams that played away on Saturday, the juniors being decisively beaten by Wanganui, while the thirds ran all over Rangitikei. Mr. J. W. Procter acted as manager of tho juniors and Mr. M. Ryder in a similar capacity for the thirds. JUNIORS v WANGANUI. VISITORS’ GREAT !RALLYING EFFORT. The above game was played on Spriggens Park, Wanganui, and its chief interest Avas in the second half, as the visitors failed to score in the first spell while Wanganui were running up 16 points. IloroAvhenua got to Avork in good style after the change-over,, scoring 15, whereas their opponents only put on another eight. The scores do not altogether indicate the relative merits of the teams, as the southerners were unlucky in not scoring on several occasions, and the blues’ win was mainly due to solid forward play. Shortly ’ after the kick-off, a Wanganui dribbling rush saw Grcnsule score. James converted with a good kick. —For a time the visitors held tho advantage. Wanganui SAvept back, however, and McGregor essayed a field goal successfully. The southern backs

were seen in some but their work lacked finish. 1,1 “ s instituted a strong rush ana Raym netted a goal from a good position. McLean** and Flutey were conspicuous in rushes for the visitors, and ioi a considerable period the blues were penhed up. Tasker, Dickson and Glasgow bustled play back, and from a scramble on Horowhenua’s line Kearns scored. McGregor’s kick went astrayThe blues again pressed, but bte\enson cleared with a jinky run and the half-time bell saw the scores: Wanganui lb _ Horowhenua u Both teams started with renew ed vigour in the second session. The Horowhenua backs, Avitli Picard and Flutey prominent, broke through, but, Lowe and James returned the-ball for the blues, Williams clearing. The visitors’ first score came when Picaid landed a goal from-a penalty. Dickson secured for the home side and punted to Graham, who mulled. James, following up quickly, picked up and scored. Rayner converted. Williams crossed for the visitors, but lost possession. Next Horowhenua were awarded.a penalty and Picard added the 'points. Stevenson broke through smartly and transferred to Picard, wlm potted a goal. Shortly after Dalziell scored a good try for the visitors and Picard converted. The blues livened up and a miskick by a visiting back saw' McGregor break away for a fine try. Dickson did not convert. This w'as the final score and time w r as calld with the points: Wanganui' 2 4 'Horowhenua • 4® Mr H. Thompson w T as referee. THIRDS v. RANGITIKEI.

The ground at Marton was very heavy, resembling a quagmire in parts, and the game between the Horowhenua and Rangitikei thirds was no't spectacular. The visiting team, wdio had the advantage in weight, outclassed Rangitikei both in the forward and back divisions. ~ Rangitikei (green) lacked oil', onside play by a green forward letting Horowhenua into Rangitikei’s territory. Rangitikei forced and the green forwards with Hannan in the lead attacked. Horowhenua forwards led a counter attack, but a free kick told against the visitors. The Rangitikei backs figured in a pretty passing bout, to Algie, who cut in smartly and on being confronted by Roe transferred to Smith, who u'as tackled from behind, inches off the line. From a scrum .near the Rangitikei line the green hookers werq penalised for lifting their feet too soon and Hurren kicked an easy goal. Berry, a Horowhenua forward, paved the way for his side’s first try, rushing play to the home team’s line, where Waite gained possession and went across. The points were not increased. Horowhenua opened the second spell with a series of passing bouts. Dobbs and Widlesburn placed Rangitikei m a good position. Kenzie secured, and put in a short sprint before transferring to K. Gibbons, whose weight carried him across, near the corner flag; ■ The same player made an unsuccessful attempt at, a conversion. Berry brought the play near the corner flag, where an attempt to clear by Hunt was snapped up by Hurren, who dived across and the referee ordered a five-yards scrum. Field and Batt heeled cleanly to Hartley 'who dashed round the blind side for a clever try under the posts. Hurren easily verted to give Horowhenua an eightpoint lead. A quarter of an hour, with the visitors still having the best of the game, followed, till the leather reached Broadhead, on the wing, who shook off weak attempts at tackling and went across for a good try, which was not converted. Time sounded shortly afterwards, bringing to a close a very ragged game, the scores being: — Horowhenua 14 Rangitikei 3 Mr R. Rivers was referee.