MANAWATU v. HOROWHENUA.

Shannon News, 31 July 1928, Page 3

MANAWATU v. HOROWHENUA.

WIN FOR NORTHERNERS BY 26 TO 17 AFTER WELL-PLAYED GAME.

A thoroughly interesting match was provided by the junior representatives of Horowhenua and Manawatu, on the Park Domain, Levin, on Saturday afternoon. Although the result ivas a win for the northern team by a margin of nine points, the Horowhenua men had quite a large share of the ball. The visiting forwards, however, were exceptionally speedy, and the combination among their backs was superior to that shown in the local division. Generally speaking the standard of play was high, and it would put more than one senior dub in the shade. It is quite evident that both districts have some very promising players coming on to fill future vacancies in the higher ranks. The weather was perfect., and there was a good attendance. The teams took the field as under; — Manawatu (green)—Full back, Bennett; three-quarters, Smith, Benge, Seymour; five-eighths. Page, Rose; half, Waugh; forwards, Flowers (wing), Thomas, Hurston, Johnson, ,Argyll?, Cope, Guard, Hepburn. Horowhenua (black) —Full back. Picard; three-quarters, Croon, Atkins. Thompson; five-eighths, Ross, Pou; half, Hartley; forwards, Gray (wing), Farrell, Anderson, Piatt, Vertongcn, ■ McKenzie, Trotter, Taylor. Manawatu kicked off towards the sun, but the breeze that had been blowing from the south-west died down. Immediately it was noticeable that .both teams were as fit as fiddles. The ball was quickly taken -among the Horowhenua forwards, who did some slick passing. Considerable speed was shown in the front ranks on- both sides, and a temporary incursion by the

blacks was repulsed by a dribbling movement that took the leather wen up towards their line. Punting enabled them to renew their attack. The opposing full back saved his line with a punt to the side at quarter-way, after which the visiting forwards earned tTjlay into the blacks’ territory, wheie Pou stopped the rush with a mark. Picard shifted play upfield, the ball travelling to neutral ground. Manawatu had a shot at goal from near the side line, but missed; the ball was marked and. play went to midfield. Croon, getting possession, made a good long run, but was collared a few yards from the line. Soon after this, Atkins, who was playing an alert game, made a sprint to the scoring area, but lost the ball, and Manawatu forced. A spell of midfield play followed, and then a pretty piece of passing was seen, from Halt* ley to Ross to Croon, who got over at the corner with a couple of Manawatu men hanging on to him. Picard's kick missed its objective. Horowhenua 3, Manawatu 0. In a charge down the field, some effective handling of the ball was exhibited by Manawatu. A ' penalty being awarded in their favour, Rose had a shot and put the ball over from abou! 30 yards in front of the goal. Manawatu 3, Horowhenua 3. ■ Several infringements on both sides, with resultant free kicks, caused play to sway to and fro, Ross essayed a goal from a penalty, but the ball fell short, and the greens’ backs wqre quickly on it. Horowhenua were kept busy defending until some successful passing by the backs removed the scene of operations to half-way, where play of an ooen character ensued. After a brief invasion by .the greens, the ball wa-s punted back, and from the advantage thus gained Croon made for the line, but wa 3 pushed out when a few yards from it. Manawatu were now on the defence for a time, and from a scramble near the line Farrell crossed ’over and scored. Pole’s kick was unsuccessful. Horowhenua 6, Manawatu 3. The visiting*baeks were playing well together. A dribbling rush was set going, and, the balj travelling over the Horowhenua line, Smith followed el.ose a:ul touched it down in a handy position. The kick was taken by Rose and the extra points secured. Manawatu 8, Horowhenua 6. With five minutes of the spell left, Horowhenua repelled an attack and invaded. Croon got possession and passed to Ross; the latter reached.the corner and appeared as though he would score, but met two opponents and the ball went out of his arms. The greens swept down shortly after this,, and in the loose Benge secured and sprinting well ahead of .the field scored without opposition, behind the posts. Rose’s kick was a certainty. Manawatu' 13, Horowhenua 6.

Early in the second spell the greens were on the attack, but the local backs put on a great passing rush, which w’as the means of getting the team well into action. Several times the Manawatu line was in danger, and eventually, from a scramble, McKenzie scored at the corner. Pou made a fine attempt at the goal, but failed to increase the points. Manawatu 13, Horowhenua 9.

, A little later Manawatu broke through the local defence, and Coperaced round behind the posts with the leather and touched down. Benge addr cd the goal. Manawatu 18, Horowhenua 9.

With the ball at the toe, Manawatu soon had the blacks in an awkward position, but Atkins kicked to safety. Later, with Horowhenua on> the attack, a promising movement was started by Pou, but the pass was mulled. The blacks presently had a chance at the goal, but Picard miaseid. , Half-way through the spell a mark by a Manawatu player stopped a rush that was threatening the line. The greens were insistent, but at last the Manawatu forwards managed to open the game up, and the ball travelled about freely. They continued to encroach until they had a fairly clear run to the corner, where Waugh put on a try. Rose missed the goal by a narrorv margin. Manawatu 21, Horowhenua 9. From this stage there was a display of increased energy on the part of the home. team. They combined in a great rush up the field,, and a try resulted, Farrell ,'being the scorer. Pickard’s kic-k just missed the goal. Manawatu 21, Horowhenua 12. A few minutes later the blacks gained another try, this time per medium of Pratt, who got round the goal, and, against two opponents who had hold of him, grounded the ball. .Picard had no trouble in converting. Manawatu 21, Horowhenua 17. The crowd became excited as there seemed a chance of the local men securing the lead. This was not to be, as it. turned out; but Horowhenua put up a strong attack, and it was mainly the sound work of the visitors’ backs that kept the lino from being encroached upon. Tho blacks lost a couple of possible scoring manoeuvres through fumbling of the leather among their backs. Thompson should have scored but he uas too near the side line, and ran over it. Manawatu rallied, and, reaching the corner, obtained their last try, Benge was the scorer, and he also successfully took the kick—an infrequent goal from such an angle. The game ended a few minutes later, with Horowhenua attacking, and the scores: Manawatu 2G, Horowhenua 17. Mr R. Sands-was referee.

SQHOOL REPS’ TRIAL,

NORTH 5 v. SOUTH 3

The primary sehool boys representing Horowhenua, nor.th and south, gave a creditable exhibition of Rugby in their trial match for the selection of the district schools ’ rep. team. The game was played 83 a “curtain-raiser” to the junior rep. match, and quite a number of people turned out to enjoy it. TheNorth team consisted of boys from the Shannon and Foxton - schools, and the South team of representatives of the

Levitt, Manukau and Otaki schools. South were early on the attack, and Kingsbeor scored a try within the first five minutes. In the same spell Sath erley was successful in crossing the line, and K. Matthews converted. The northerners had mueh the better of the first half of the game, but in the second spell play was fairly equal and there was uo further score. Mr E. Bevan refereed.