MANAWHENUA PREPARING FOR SOUTHERN TOUR.

Shannon News, 31 July 1928, Page 3

MANAWHENUA PREPARING FOR SOUTHERN TOUR.

TRIAL MATCHES ON SATURDAY. HOROWHENUA ‘A’ DEFEATS MANAWATU ‘A’, 9—S. SECOND SPELL DISAPPOINTS. The game between Manawatu ‘A’ and Horowhenua ‘A’ promised to he a most attractive one. In the first five minutes Dais scored for Manawatu after a good run. Then Horowhenua dominated the play, 1 scoring three tries, the hacks showing distinct promise of better things to come. Unfortunately, in the second spell, especially toward the end, the game developed into.. a series of mistakes and infringements, too many altogether for first class football. A bright opening was marked by a drab finish. The teams were as follows; — Horowhenua (blue and red); Taylor, Warren, Westwood, Roberts, M'Kcnzie, T. .-Parata, W. Parata, Glccson, Hakajaia, Moody, Ward, M‘ Donald, Dalzell. Manawatu (green and white)Was ley, Dais, Williamson, Strange, Robb, Akuiya (captain), Shapleski, M. Waldin, Bowler, Crawford, Conrad, Parsons, Payne, Miles, 'Galpin. Mr. F. S. Hewitt- carried the whistle. A Good Start. Horowhenua, set the ball in motion and Galpin immediately headed a green forward rush. Robb opened up the play - but Strange’s pass went astray. Keep ing up the pressure, Dais secured from Galpin, and' after a good run went ovei in the corner though tackled by Taylor. Akuira’s kick failed and with five minutes gone, Manawatu led 3- —0. ; A good Horowhenua rush spelt trouble, but Wasley cleared. Off-side play gave Manawatu temporary respite. The red and blues swarmed back to the at 'tack, an attractive, passing bout ending in Warren being pushea out. Stih attacking, Tatana picked up in the ruck and dived over. M‘Donald’s kick was charged down—3 —3. Horowhenua Take Charge. Dalzell was prominent in a strong Horowhenua attack. Manawatu were penalised and Taylor turned the error to account. Horowhenua lead, 6—3. At this stage, Horowhenua were getting most of the ball from the scrums. . An attractive bout iu which the bah was handled by the two Paratas, M'Kenzie, Westwood, and Roberts, saw the latter pass infield to Westwood to cap a pretty movement with a try.' Taylor’s lack missed. Horowhenaa 9, Manawatu 3. A little later a promising movement on the blind side by W. Parata ano Warren was spoilt by the latter’s pass to M‘Donald being forward. Again ano again the Horowhenua backs handled swell' but were pulled up for minor in fringements. 'A determined counter-al tack by Manawatu earned the ball to the red twenty-five where Waldin was caught off-sii]After even play, Con rad headed a loose rush ti Horowhenua’s line, where Gleeson w T as penalised. Rangi’s shot at goal wem just outside the posts. Several onslaughts by the red and blues were w r ell stopped by Wasley, Asuira and Shap leski in turn, and half-time found Horo whenua still six points up. Scoreless Second Spell. Conrad >vas in front when Mana watu kicked off in the second spell From the resultant scrum Shaplesk sent his backs away only to find Strange pushed out. Manawatu kept up the initiative, but a timely mark by. West wood relieved the pressure. Tatana anu Satherly were next prominent in a loose forward rush for the reds, Akpira prov ing the main stumbling block in the do fence. Horowhenua swept to the al tack again, Ward, Satherly and Tatana going over only to lose possession, Was ley forcing. A further invasion also held up by the same player. A , long kick by Wasley was misfieldcd b> Warren, the ball going out in the roe twenty-five. Off-side by Roberts gavi Rangi a shot at goal, but the wind wa; too strong. A high kick by Strange was well marked by Taylor, who sen the leather out in neutral territory From mid-field Akuira sent out to Robb who transferred to Williamson but thi effort faded out. Both sides now flunj. the ball about, a dangerous movemen' by Horowhenua being spoilt by a for ward pass. Warren shone in a tricky run which gained ground, but Wasley relieved. Play now livened.up, but mis takes and infringements by both sides were all too frequent. Misfielding by Roberts gave Manawatu a chance but T. Parata broke through, and play drifted back to neutral territory. Horo whenua again attempted to open out. but Westwood knocked on. Off-side play by Horowhenua gave Rangi another shot, but the wind took the ball wide. The latter portion of the game ■» was very ragged for senior ioi.tball, wild passes, glaring infringements and the consequent continual whistle spoiling what had promised to be a very attractive game. Neither side could press home any advantage, though Manawatu seemed to have slightly the better of the play, the game ending without further score. Horowhenua 9, Manawatu 3. MANAWATU ‘B’ WIN. As in the ‘B’ game at Shannon last month the teams which took the field were distinctly different from those listed on the programme, Manawatu beAng the chief sufferers from the formidable list of defections. The game itself, while fast and exciting at times, was very ragged on both sides. There was an almost complete absence of co-operation’ in both sets of backs, while during much of the game, the forwards also did not hunt together. Horowhenua had the advantage of avoirdupois in this latter department, but were beaten in the loose ■work in the second half, when they played with the sun and wind in their faces. The game finally ended 15—6 in Manawatu’s favour after an un-inspir-ing contest. The teams lined out as follows: — - , Horowhenua (red and blue): Robinson, Graham, Wallace, Bryant, Stevepk ,«ri i ■-

son, Mete, Walls, Ransfield, Nahona, Andrew, M'Donell, Renata, K. Dalzell (captain), Knox, Skelton. Manawatu (green white): Powell, Field, Riddell, Griffen (captain), Evans, Goldfinch, Cochrane, Biel, Summers, M. Hight, Stratford, Lynch, C. Hight, Reid, Hcatley. The game opened patchily, until a dangerous movement by the Horowhenua backs, aided by snappy 3hort passing among the forwards, saw the reds attacking hard. Manawatu relieved but in a moment Horowhenua was back hammering the defence. Graham, following fast, caught Powell before the full-back could get his kick in, but fortunately for the greens the ball trickled out of play. Back at half-way neither side could do anything effective, -until Mete, collecting a high kick from Powell set the red backs in motion past the half-way mark. Another period of desultory play sot in, until Griffen following fast, nearly broke through on un; ~-it wing. Goldfinch picking up smartly, carried on the good work, but Wallace broke back up-fieid with the ball at his toe. Manawatu were soon on the attack again and from a rally in front of goal, Stratford caught in possession, got the ball away Griffen who raced over well out. Powell failed. Manawatu 3, Horowhenui nil. Scores Even. Both sides were missing many opportunities through infringements and slovenly handling, with the result that another period of ragged play set in. Suddenly the Horowhenua backs came to light with' a sparkling movement that took them well into Manawatu territory. Stevens, crowded for room on the wing, sent the ball in to Bryant, who transferred to Wallace for the centre to beat Powell across at the corner. Mete failed. Horowhenua 3, Manawatu 3. *■ Horowhenua continued to attack, their forwards forcing matters but their backs, losiag ground' w r ith' standing passes. Tho half-time bell found them attacking but with the score unaltered. Second Spell. With the W'ind behind them Manawatu opened well in the second spell. The backs, taking the offensive after some resultless play, Evans short-punt-ed to follow fast, and catch the red custodian napping. With the ball over the line, trickling amoffg thoir feet, none of the Horowhenua defenders seemed able to force it, and GoldfiuA seizing the opportunity fell on the elusive leather. Powell failed. Manawatu 6, Horowhenua 3. Scores Again Level. Horowhenua became aggressive in their turn, Bryant and Wallace particuuarly proving very troublesome to the greens. A penalty against Manawatu uearly proved costly, Stevenson going very close to the uprights with a good kick. Up and down play followed with no great results accruing to either side, until Horowhenua forced play down into Manawatu’s twenty-five. An unfortunate infringement by a green player, however, brought all Manawatu’s defence to nought, as Stevenson piloted the resulting penalty kick over the bar. Horowhenua 6, Manawatu (5.

Griffen provided a spectacular burst, as the teams settled dowii again in midfield, the winger bursting down field in.,-a great dash, that failed, however, to beat Horowhenua’s custodian. Manawatu wore, nevertheless, in a good position, and from a line-out right on the green line. Hutchins secured to fall over. C. Hig|it failed. Manawatu 9, Horowhenua 0.

Almost straight back came Manawatu, Evans dashing up the line to transfer in to Goldfinch. The latter failed to connect, however, but a couple of minutes later made amends, with, a tricky run that saw him score under Die posts after leaving the defenders standing . Evans missed an easy kick. Manawatu 12, Horowhenua 6. Manawatu Well Ahead.

Manawatu had not yet run their race, however, for following a loose forward rush, Reid broke away to carry the ball almost over the Horowhenua line. C. Hight, who was in support, carried on the good work to dive on the leather under a press of forwards. Hight could not convert his own try, the time bell sounding immediately afterwards. Manawatu 15, Horowhenua 6. ' Mr. A. Gordon controlled the game.