MANAWHENUA STILL HOLD RANFURLY SHIELD.

Shannon News, 6 September 1927, Page 3

MANAWHENUA STILL HOLD RANFURLY SHIELD.

DECISIVE VICTORY OVER WANGANUI. GREAT DISPLAY BY VICTORIOUS VANGUARD. HAWKE’S BAY DEFEAT CANTERBURY. In their second Shield challenge match within four days Manawhenua defeated Wanganui bv the substantial margin of 25 points to 6. The conditions were ideal, the ground having practically recoveied from the inundation of Wednesday. Manawhenua forwards were, again the 'deciding factor, their fast and solid game disorganising and wearing down the defence. Wanganui also.fielded a fine set of forwards who gave Manawhenua many anxious moments during the first spell, but condition told, and towards the end of the. game the challengers were overwhelmed by the dashing Manawhenua forward line. The play was fast and exciting' liom start to finish the- roar of applause i and encouragement scarcely dying down during the whole course of the

game. A large number of Wanganui supporters were present and they considerably stimulate d the barracking. It is estimated that notwithstanding the counter-attraction of the Marton races the crowd was almost equal to that which watched Wednesday’s game against Taranaki. Although Manawhenua emerged the victors by a margin of nineteen points the game provided the crowd with plenty of thrills. The greater part of the exchanges were between the forwards although the backs on a number of-occasions treated the crowd to some exciting play. Both sides were unlucky on one or two occasions in not getting across.

Beilis, the veteran "All Black ’’ caused a lot of trouble to Manawhenua in the first spell, his experience plainly proving very useful to his side. He gave fiis backs many opportunities from the scrum and on the whole played one of the best games on the field, but faded away badly in the second spell. Leahy, Johnston and Jackson also played very sound games in the Wanganui frontal division. Jacob again was everywhere and where the fight was thickest, Galpin Parsons, and Tremewan were generally in the van of. a splendid pack for the champions.

As a back display, considering the state of the ground, the match was disappointing. Although there were frequent flashes of bright open play and many exciting moments thap brought the crowd to its feet with a roar the general standard in both rear - divisions showed considerable room for improvement. Both sides demonstrated that they possessed backs of undoubted individual ability but there appeared to be a lack o+ co-operation which in too many instances spelt disaster. The methods of the rearguards appeared to be somewhat haphazard and on few occasions did the bal. travel right out without some break down. Manawhenua undoubtedly feb the loss of Brophy. There were fro quent good movements in which two or three, backs were associated but on the whole there appeared to be too much individualism and too little co-

operation. The work of Darby, the Wanganui

full-back, delighted the crowd. H< gave a splendid display, his kicking and anticipation being very fine. H< saved his side on many occasions. Yangioni also gave the crowd a loi of thrills and is a player who should go far. Tilythe, Ball, Wakeling arm Jones also played good games for the blues.

Among the Manawhenua backs Mullins, Parata and McDonald wer, very sound. Williamson, at full-back, was not often tested and was rathei shaky on occasion, while Roberts ami

Mete were decidedly disappointing. The concluding stages of the game showed a distinct improvement in th« Manawhenua rearguard and the last twenty minutes were full of exciting and spectacular bursts of play. The Game. For the second- time within fom days thunderous applause greeted the wearers of the red, white and blue as they filed out first on to the field. Skipper Jacob carrying “Teddy,” the mascot of the team, who has already more than justified his inclusion. The Wanganui team, who met with full? as hearty a reception followed immediately, in their uniform of blue jersey and black shorts.

Jacob kicked off with the sun slightly behind him and in a moment the home pack was hard on the leather, driving the blues to their line until Beilis cleared with a powerful kick. Still Manawhenua continued the offensive, Parata transferring to Mete who hung on too long and. was smothered. Play remained in Wanganui territory, the home pack making things willing until offside play by Leahy ; gave Manawhenua a penalty. Amid tense silence Jacob took the kick and a wild roar from the crowd announced that Manawhenua had

opened their account within the first minutes of the game:

Manawhenua 3, Wanganui 0

Stirred by this early reverse. Wanganui came hard down field but good forward work on the part of Manawhenua broke up their back attack, (he ball going out. From the resulting lino out Parata got the leathei away and Mullins kicked well up field with the home forwards coming up well under the ball. The Manawhenua backs, however, proved less enterprising, being very slow in getting off the mark. The ball wont out to Roberts who failed to collect the pass and Wanganui took the leather with them through the homo rearguard. A penalty to Wanganui within good range saw Leahy miss a lifficult kick and Hunt found the lino Manawhenua drove back the invasion n a series of tight rucks in which Galpin did some very solid work until Blythe from a mark put the ball out if harm’s way. 1 Wanganui gained a slight territorial advantage, by screwng the scrum and an exchange of iieks followed between the backs. •Villiamson and Mullins both seemed ■o be unable to find the line at a ime when the ball should have been nit out of play and Manawhenua lost ground. The home backs were giving i very indifferent display, the inside men standing while taking the bail tnd, in' consequence, losing ground ■very time it came out.

Taking the ball from halfway, Ball (Wanganui) . dashed down field but was effectually dealt with, Beilis howver gaining ground with a good kick kill was again prominent in a loose 'ush but McDonald, Anderson and facob secured and brought the leaker well back again. The home pack were having slightly the better of natters in the tight and pressed Wan ■;anui back, but Beilis was restricting .'•arata’s activities and the backs did ‘\o|- sec much of the ball. An exchange of marks saw Manawhenua ?ain ground until Yangioni, who was •ver a dangerous back, cut through :he homo defence amid wild oxcitenent from the Wanganui supporters ind raced almost to the line, only to ose the ball to Hunt. A scramble resulted, and a free kick to Wangami for offside play saw Leahy equalse the scores with a good penalty foal:

Manawhenua S, Wanganui 3

Back swept the Manawhenua pack mly to have Darby snap the ball ’rom their tors and clear with a fine cick. Manawhenua returned to the •.barge, but bad tackling on their part ■aw Heatley get in his kick and gain ’.round. A period of forward rallies ollowed until Darby stemmed a ’■•lanawhenua rush with a good mark. Hie red, white, and blues returned vith a high kick and Darby, with the am in his eyes, waited for the bounce riving Jacob, who was close on the ball, a good opportunity but Wanganui juS{- managed to clear.

Following a fine attempt to drop a Tfoal from a free kick, Jacob led the ttack again but Ball ch ared. The Tanawhenua backs gave their first xhibition as a combined, force, gainng ground with a fast rush in which “’arata was prominent. Blythe attempted to work the blind but Jacob and Parsons dealt firmly -ith the outbreak. Wanganui coninued to attack, slovenly handling however marring an attempted passing bout. Vangioni carried on the good vork and had the crowd on its feet but just at the critical moment the fast five-eighth tripped and a promising chance. The Manawhenua rearguard was not utilising its opportunities at this stage and in both frontal and rear divisions Wanganui ,vere having the better of matters. .The home pack, however, soon asserted themselves and in a stern battle 'rove Wanganui (o tlieir defences .vhcrc McDonald, breaking through v’eak Wanganui tackling, fell over .vilh a man clinging round his ankles facob’s kick was a “poster.”

Manawhenua f>, Wanganui 8

Wanganui made a determined effort o pull up and Jones broke through only to be pulled down. Beaky attempted to kick a penalty; but his ;hot fell short. Wanganui forwards however, continued to hammer at the defence and their backs got going in a dangerous movement, the ball travelling right out to the wing, only for Jone-s to be thrown out. Wanganui were fighting right on the Manawhenua lino and drove the ball over whore Williamson elected to find the lino instead of forcing. Still the battle raged in the Manawhenua twenty-five, the blues testing every lino of the defence until, with a slashing rush, the Manawhenua pack broke the siege and harried Wanganui to their line Where the struggle continued with unabated energy. The home pack were fighting hard for that last ten yards of territory but Wanganui relieved with a free kick. The Manawhenua backs essayed an attack, but once again faulty handling broke it up. Wanganui in their turn attempted to open things up but here again a lack of co-operation spoilt their chances. Breaking up a weak Wanganui passing rush Hunt snapped up and transferring to Mullins to Jacob who took the ball well into Wanganui territory.

The home pack were getting among the defence and Jacob, leading a fierce

loose rush, picked up and dashed over shortly afterwards converting his own try. The whistle sounded almost immediately afterwards: Manawhenua 11, Wanganui 3. Second Half.

Wanganui’s kick went out, and following the halfway scrum,' Darby gained a lot of ground with a powerful free kick. Wanganui backs opened things up. but Yangioni showed too great a tendency to cut in and was severely dealt with. Darby brought a roar of acclaim from the crowd with a spectacular run from full-back, tricking the home defence and gaining a lot of ground. Mullins, with the hall at hi s toe, led Manawhenua back past halfway. Jackson and Johnston proved formidable in the line-outs and led Wanganui to the charge. Mullins and Jacob back and Darby cleared brilliantly with Mullins almost on top of him. Manawhenua’s shock battalion led by Parsons broke the defence but once again the übiquitous Darby snatched the ball out of danger and cleared. The relief was merely temporary, however, and Manawhenua penned Wanganui to their line fight’ ing to keep i t intact. From a scrum in the corner, Parata worked the blind and McDonald punted short to follow i t fast and beat the opposition to score in the corner. Jacob was successful with a fine kick: Manawhenua 16, Wanganui S. Nothing deterred by. the reverse, Wanganui brought all their forces into action, and with a fast passing rush came right upficld led by Watt. Vangioni beat Moses for the ball and sent it out to Hartley for Johnston to secure a long pass from Beilis and score a well-earned try. The kick failed:

Manawhenua 16, Wanganui 6 The Game Opens Up.

From an exchange of high kicks Yangioni put the ball out and from the resulting lino-out Parata snapped the ball out to Mullins who, amid wild excitement cut in beautifully almost to the line. McDonald was hard on his heels and carried on only to be grassed when a few yards short. Led by Parsons and Galpin the pack crumpled up the opposition, but Darby as usual was where be was wanted and cleared with a fine kick. Johnston secured from the line-out and burst upheld, hut Parata intercepted liis pass beautifully and put Manawh-.nua on the attack again, Wakeling however clearing well down the line. Home Forwards Dominate. The home forwards were now playing a slashing game which disorganised the Wanganui ba,cks and opened up many opportunities. Jacob and Galpin fought through almost to the Wanganui line but as always, Darby ■vas amongst thos e present, and put the ball well out. Play was quickly changing and Beilis, intercepting a pass from Parata, gained considerable ground. The home pack retaliated sharply and from a loose rush Parsons secured and dashed over. Jacobs kick failed: >

Manawhenua 19, Wanganui 0

Both teams were working hard, but the tireless Manawhenua forwards had not broken the back of the opposition. Parata and Jacob were getting imongst-the Wanganui backs to some purpose. Following a high kick from Jacob Hartley was nearly caught in possession but Watt put in some solid work and Parata was hard put to it to clear. At this stage. Mete who had received an injury to his knee, had to go off and was replaced by T. Parata.

Crawford put in a good solo effort down the line, but was effectually dealt with by Hartley. Parsons and Jacob led back a storming party and, following a good clearing kick by Darby, the ball went out to Mullins who transferred to Hunt who was pulled down, but McDonald was close in attendance and snapping up the ball crossed to score his third try near the posts. Jacob’s kick struck the upright:

Manawhenua 22, Wanganui <S

Manawhc-nua forwards wcr c hammering the opposition mercilessly at this stage, bu t Yangioni cut through with a tricky run and gained a lot of ground. Crawford gave Wanganui some strenuous work but he was pushed out. Right on the line, Manawhenua worked like men possessed and Parata tried to bullock through only to be smothered in the press. Wanganui fought clear, following a ball badly missed by Roberts. Williamson just managed to clear. Excitement In Closing Stages. McDonald secured and with a fine solo run came right down the line, beat Darby, and in a long pass to Hunt, who went over to touch down under the posts, only to be called back for a knock-on. The Manawhenua backs displayed improved combination in a fasj. passing bout which gained ground. A free kick gave Wanganui a respite but good kicking by Roberts put Manawhenua up again. Roberts cut through nicely and Jacob carried on but Darby came to the aid of the party with a nice kick. Still Mana-

whenua bartered the hard-pressed blues and Parata, selling the dummy to a couple of bidders, cut through

prettily with Jacob close in attendance, but the ball went out at the

corner. From the line-out .almost on the enemy line Tremewan secured and bullocked over. Jacob missed as the whistle sounded: Manawhenua 25 Wanganui • 6 Mr. E. G. Clark, of Canterbury, controlled the game.