MANAWHENUA HOLD SHIELD.

Shannon News, 2 September 1927, Page 4

MANAWHENUA HOLD SHIELD.

AFTER STRENUOUS BATTLE IN MUD AND RAIN. TARANAKI GO DOWN BY 9 POINTS ' TO 3. In one of the most severe thunderstorms which has visited Palmerston North for a number of years, and on a ground which as a result became in a few minutes worse than did Athletic Park on the occasion of the historical All Blacks-Springbok test match in 1921, Manawhenua retained the Ranfurly Shield by nine points (two unconverted tries and a penalty goal) to 3 (one unconverted try) against Taranaki yesterday. The crowd which Witnessed the match and which must have been near the six thousand mark, was keyed up to a high pitch of enthusiasm, so great was the interest taken in the result of the first match Manawhenua had in defence of the coveted trophy, and emblem 01 football supremacy in the Dominion.

The game was essentially a forward one, and the scrummagers made the most of their many opportunities. Any attempt to pick the ball up by ether side invariably met with disaster, and to throw the ball about was an almost equally impossible feat, far as th e vanguards were concerned they were fairly evenly matched. From the sound of the whistle signalising the beginning of play Taranaki went on an attacking expedition and Manawhenua were called upon for strenuous defensive efforts for a fairly lengthy period. The Manawhenua vanguard, however, gradually wore down the opposition and were instrumental in drawing first blood.

By tlvs time, play having been in force about half an hour, the ground was a sheet of water. Both sides had to adopt different tactics and from then on until the end .of the game, the ball was kept at the feet. On the day’s play it was a case of the survival of the fittest, and the Manawhenua forwards lasting out the distance better, were able to carry the day.

Taranaki were at times a trifle unlucky. Having Manawhenua hemmed in for what seemed to the supporters of the “blues” interminable periods, they were not able to cross the line more than once. Towards th e end, their forwards appeared to tire, and they in turn were hemmed in for a long spell, only breaking through about twice during the last twenty minutes and then for only a short time. Their try, which was the culmination of a supreme effort, was a fitting reward for a patient hammering away at a solid defence. It was a final effort on their part, however, for from then on, Manawhenua dominated the game, and the issue was never in doubt.

The final ten minutes were as exciting as any period of the ,match Manawhenua putting on two tries in about five minutes, the last one just on the call of time.

Taking the weather into consideration it was an excellent match, and one which will live long in the memory of those who witnessed it. When the teams left the field they were greeted with unbounded enthusiasm. Prior to the game the Shield was presented to Harry Jacob, the captain of th e Manawhenua team by Mr. A. M. Ongley, the president of the Combined Union, who, in a brief speech, wished th e team success and congratulated them in winning it from Wairarapa.

THE TEAMS. . Tho teams lined out as folows: —• MANAWHENUA. Brophy (1) Roberts (2) Hunt (3) McDonald (4) Goldfinch (5) Mullins (6) W. Parato. 7) Jacob (8) Anderson (9) Temewa n (10) Galpin (12) Payn c (11) Crawford (13) «: Heatlcy (14) Miles (15) TARANAKI Collins Hohaia Brown Dinnis (2) Johnson (1) Owen Morey Dean Robinson Young , O’Keefe Ward Walter Kivell Wills Tho Game Favoured by th e spin of the coin, Jacob gave Taranaki the opening kick. Hard on the leather, the yellow and blacks swept to the home line but Jacob and Tremewan sent the challengers racing back to hold their own defences. The blue pack got well down to matters and had the yellow and blacks hard at work keeping them out. A long kick however,. relieved and the Taranaki forAelwar ds ..burst down field Hohaia racing

ball to Roberts who took a badly needed mark and temporarily relieved the pressure. Taranaki piled back again however, and only a free kick to Manawhenua relieved. Rain Sets In At this stage heavy rain set in and the ground, which had been in splendid condition during the opening minutes, rapidly became a quagmire. Under these conditions it was impossible for either side to play anything but a forward game and the two opposing packs settled down to the gruelling battle with a will. Play moved evenly between the posts for a period until McDonald dashed down the line with the ball at his toe only to be smothered, and play came across field again. Sheets of water were rapidly appearing on tho field and amid showers of spray, the battle raged. Taranaki -were pressng but McDonald found th e line with a splendid kick and following on an exchange of kicks between Uropliy and Owen, Dinnis raced down the line only to be firmly dsalt with and thrown out. Brophy was proving somewhat uncertain and Collins, dashing up fast, kept Taranaki on the attack, shortly afterwards Manawhenua being compelled to force. Jacob kicked well up field and rue. big skipper looked dangerous but Collins proved veiy safe and relieved.

J Organised Play Impossible. The ball was practically impossible handle and the terrible state of the ground rendered any sort of organised play impossible. Dean was proving enterprising and broke up an attack by the home backs. Play remained fairly stationary for a space until Dinhis put Taranaki well up with a good kick 'but Crawford and Jacob burst back and Manawhenua were fighting right on the yellow due Things wer e looking very biack for the challengers until a welcome free kick relieved. Parata was prov'ng very useful behind th e scrum but any attempt at back play inevitably resulted in lost ground. A series of fiercely contested line outs and scrums set in, the rival packs battling up to their boot-tops practically, in water. Dea n kicked hard and got well after the ball but Brophy secured and raced up only to be borne down by weight of numbers. Anything Possible.

A free kick gained ground for the yellows but the blue pack drove then, back, Tremewan, Galpin and Anderson smashing through. From a centreing kick by Brophy, Brown and Dinnis in combination looked very dang'erous, but Roberts saved with a good mark. A splendid kick by Brophy put Manavvhenua well up again. Play was extremely uncertain, almost anything being possible amid churned up mud and spray. First Blood. Once aga ! n Jacob found a weak spot, and burst away but obstruction tactics gave Manawhenua a free kick well out. Despite the sodden ball, however, amid tiemendous excitement, Jacob kicked a splendid penalty. Manawhenua 3—Taranaki nil. Three points behind, Taranaki gathered fiercely to tho attack but the defence held and Mullins put Manawhenua well up again with a powerful kick. O’Keefe and Wills were proving a formidable pair of forwards- and Manawhenua were lighting with their backs to the wall until Jacob broke the attack and relieved. The ground did not seem to be affecting the fighting spirit of the packs and Taranaki forced the blues to the home line for a force down. Any attempts at handling were worse than useless and a savage series of scrummages set in until Mullins took a good mark and, as th e half time whistle sounded, found the line.

Manawhenua ? —Taranaki nil Second Half.

Manawhenua opened well and drove the yellow and blacks back to their line compelling them to force. Roberts was proving very troublesome to the opposition, his kicking being very well judged. Jacob led a slashing attack that gained valuable ground. The Manawhenua forwards weie dominating the play at this stage and Taranaki were fully extended to hold their line. Tremewan charged upfield with the ball at his toe. Otbl Manawrunua maintained the pressure and Taranaki, with blinding rain in their faces and the sweeping onslaughts of the blue vanguard penning them in, were in a bad position. Even the roar of the rain could not drown the clamorous exntuncnt of the crowd as the Manawhenua attacks swept the yellows back. A good mark by Brown provided a merely temporary relief until O’Keefe and Dean stemmed the tide and burst back to half way. The Manawhenua forwards were dominating the play at this stage and Jacob -worked his way through the press only to lose the ball in the mud and water.

The condition of tho ground was now terrible. It had become almost impossible to distinguish either players or ball amid the sweeping rain and muddy spray. The Scores Even.

Taranaki, led by Hohaia and Dean,

swept back and the struggle was

wavering very near the home line till Mullins put tho leather out of harm’s way with a strong kick. Excitement grew as Taranaki continued to hammer at the blue line and amid a wild -roar from the visitors’ supporters O’Keefe secured from a ruck and following a short kick, beat Roberts and equalised the scores.

Manawhenua 3—Taranaki 3

Combined Forwards Irresistible.

With the honours even the battle grew fiercer and the forwards were almost lost amid the churning water. Taranaki wer e fighting with the torrential rain beating in their faces. Amid a wild,-, continuous roar from the crowd Jacob led his shock battalion to the charge and hammered at the Taranaki defence. Miles and Anderso n were working splendidly and the burly form of Jacobs broke through, amid wild excitement, almost to' tho line but his dummy failed and a dangerous'* moment fo r Taranaki passed.

The Manawhenua forwards were gradually assuming control and time and again Taranaki narrowly averted a score. The cheering crowd was continuously on its feet roaring its acclaim but Manawhenua could not penetrate and Walters burst through to half way, Brophy, however, proving safe. Taranaki asserted themselves strenuously and Manawhenua were compelled to force. The blue attacks, however, could not be denied and Brown just managed to clear before a fierce rush led by Miles. Rush after rush kept Tara-> nalci solidly on the defence and Jacob smashed through only to be recalled by the whistle. Amid wild excitement Manawhenua swept back again, Taranaki just managing to hold them and no more. The pack had all the elan of victory, however, and amid a perfect tumult of cheering Tremewan secured and fell over. The kick failed. Manawhenua G —Taranaki 3. Slogging Attacks Bear Fruit

Manawhenua were having much th e better of matters now, and the crowd were every moment expecting another try as the blues battered the defence. Back from a momentory relief raced JMranaki as a sweeping rush led by Crawford, Miles, and Mullins, drove them to their line. Scrummaging right on the line the blues appeared to be demoralising the opposition but Taranaki fought on grimly. They could obtain no respite however, and the slogging attack held them with their backs to the wall. Scrum followed scrum and the whole gi-andstand rose to a man as the battling red, white and blues swept over, Anderson falling on the ball to secure a splendid forward’s try just as the final whistle sounded. The kick failed but the wildly cheering crowd was not interested in that; Manawhenua still held the shield. The game ended: — Manawhenua 9 —Taranaki 3.

Mr. Sutherland, of Auckland, controlled the game.