HAWKE’S BAY BEATS MANAWHENUA, 17-9

Shannon News, 7 September 1928, Page 4

HAWKE’S BAY BEATS MANAWHENUA, 17-9

Backs Do Not Shine As Against Taranaki

MANAWHENUA BEATEN ' IN THE SET SCRUMS

Afser opening in promising fashion, Manawhenua Wednesday went down to Hawke's Bay by 17 points to 9, the Bay putting on 8 points in the last few minutes of the game. Manawhenua failed to reproduce

the improved form they showed against Taranaki a week ago al-

though their first try came as the

result of a nice piece of combined play which was t , reminiscent of the

rear-guard’s galloping against the

amher and blacks.

The forwards, as usual, played a solid grafting game but failed in that they were badly beaten for the ball by the opposing hookers. In the loose they held the Bay pack which was in itself an achievement, while they never allowed themselves to be penned for any length of time. It was only in the scrums that they were beaten but this deficiency put their backs at a decided disadvantage. The backs, after starting well found the clever Bay insi’do backs too much for them. The Bay backs as a combined force did not shine but they possessed some dangerous individualists who turned the scales in their favour. The Game.

The magpies set the ball in motion, a series of scrums and line outs seeing the visitors work down field only to be driven back by accurate line kicking on the part of Manawhenua. Parata gained ground with a break from a dine, out but Dalzell who received was sternly dealt with. The Bay were hooking from the scrums and shortly worked back to no man’s land where Huxtable smartly fielded a difficult ball and sent the black and whites to the attack. The tri-colours defence held sound, however, and Tatamv put the home side in a good attacking position with a fine penalty kick. Lining just inside the 25 Manawhenua's opportunity came. Anstis short punted for Akuira to snap up and send the home backs galloping for the line. The leather passed along without a<*- break to Strange who ran away from Huxtable to score in the corner. Taylor failed to allow for the wind. Manawhenua 3, Hawke's Bay nil. v The Bay Draws Level. The Bay made the pace from the half way, Huxtable chasing the leather right to the corner fiag. The black and white forwards hammered the defence but could not find a weak spot and Stevenson cleared to the 25 with a good kick.. The Bay were all out to draw even and from a scrum, Anstis whipped the leather to Botherway for the first five-eighths to cut in brilliantly and penetrate almost to the Manawhenua line. His pass went astray, however, and Taylor cleared in great style. Good forward play by the homesters saw Conrad lead the pack back to half way where the Manawhenua backs made strenuous efforts to break away. The Bay rear-guard were leaving nothing to chance, however, and quelled all outbreaks with a firm hand.

Good touch-finding by Wasley saw Manawhenua in Bay territory but a moment later Wasley gave McDonald an opportunity when lie slung a loose pass to Stevenson. Pearson and Setford were in support and took the bail well into home territory. A defending back came under the referee’s notice and McDonald was given an opportunity to open the magpie’s account. The ball sailed dead and true between the. posts as the centre evened the scores Manawhenua 3, Hawke’s Bay 3. Hawke’s Bay Lead. Back at half way the Bay forwards made the pace and a moment later McDonald cut through the ruck to leave the defence standing. Huxtable was in support and took the leather travelling at top. Strange came back, like a flash to overhaul the fast Bay winger a moment too late as he went o v ev in the corner. McDonald failed, Hawke s Bay 6, Manawhenua 3.

An analysis of the set scrums showed that the Bay held a very noticeable advantage in the hooking In the first spell the magpies secured the advantage' from 18 scrums, Manawhenua’s hookers gaining possession -only once. Three scrums had to be classed as indeterminate, as from them, no advantage could be said to accrue to either side. The tri-colours did better in the second spell but once again were well beaten by the Bay hookers who obtained possession 15 times as against 8 for Manawbenua.

the rear-guards achieve anything effective. Then good play on the wing by Strange saw the tri-colours well inside enemy territory. Taylor made a meritorious attempt to turn a penalty to account but could not judge his d*ircc* tion accurately. The half ended with play in neutral territory and the Bay backs doing their best to sliaso off the harrying Manawhenua forwards. Second Spell. , Manawhenua reopened well the backs galloping through Bay territory in . great style. The first movement came unstitched when Stevenson’s pass found Taylor too fur out but Parata, dummying a couple of Bay forwards, broke through almost on the line. From a scrum the magpies ■ secured and sue- . eeeded in touching down in the nick of time. McNeill and Wilson ■were in the fore-front of the Bay pack and they drove back the tide to half way where the play moved doggedly back and forth in no man’s land. Suddenly, Taylor booted well up field to send the tri-colours’ pack hot foot after the leather. Smith cleared back to half way with a good kick and once again the packs settled down to discuss' matters in midfield. Suddenly Setford broke into the picture as lie threaded 'his way through the ruck to sell a dummy and send S. Genimell racing down field. Smith was in support, the centre thrust catching j Manawhenua napping for the Bay winger to race over and score in a handy position. > McDonald failed. Hawke’s Bay 9, * Manawhenua 3.

Manawhenua Score Again. Stirred by these reverses the home pack attacked solidly, a succession of solid rucks severely testing the Bay defence. Two rear-guard attacks dashed ineffectually against the rock-like opposition before Parata took matters into his own hands and slipped through almost to the line. ; With a reverse pass, he gave. Roberts a chance and the winger, with an exhibition of sidestepping. scored at the corner. The line umpire raised his flag but the referee ruled otherwise and allowed a try. Akuira made a great attempt to convert from a difficult angle, but. could not raise the flags Hawke's Bay 9. Manawhenua 6.

Scores Again Leyel. r The Bay in their turn swept to the . charge Sctford,- McDonald and Huxtable. staging a pretty passing bout down the line but Strange again overhauled the Bay’s fast winger to bring him down. Iu a moment-'the tri-colours were sweeping the Bay to their defences, a black and white defender being caught off side to have a penalty given against him. Amid a breathless hush Tatana took the kick to raise the flags amid a roar of cheers. Hawke’s Bay 9, Manawhenua 9. The big Bay forwards led a savago counter attack to the lino but a welcome penalty enabled Tatana to .dear with a splendid kick. Crawford and Satherley led the home shock-battalion on a return foray back through no man’s land to the Bay 25. The visitors were still getting most of the leather and, from a scrum,. sent their backs' away.* McDonald kieked well up field to follow fast and harry Wasley badly. The home fnll-back effected a distinctly lucky clearance, however, and the forwards proceeded to mix it with no little vigour. The crowd rose to its feet as Strange secured on the far line to throw off all tacklers and penetrate right down to Huxtable. The Bay winger evened accounts, however, by grassing the Manawhenua man good and hard. A moment later Akuira tried long odds m attempting a penalty from well out but could not raise the flags. Last Minute Score. Back at half wav Manawhenua were working well when suddenly the scene changed as Huxtable exploited confusion among the heme backs to sngp up and race the length of the fieid. Wasley could not overtake the fast winger who went over unopposed to score under the posts. McDonald failed. Hawke’s Bay 12, Manawhenua 9. 1

, The Buy forwards were working like tigers and keeping the home sido hard at it to hold their fine intact. .Two penalties weftt astray. McDonald and Huxtable both proving unsuccessful in this department but this sop from the fickle goddess availed Manawhenua. little. From a scrum on the 25 lino, Botherway eluded the .opposition To whip the leather away to Smith, the winger scoring in the corner right on the call of time. Huxtable- converted as the final bell sounded with the score reading 17—9 in Hawke’s Bay’s favour. Mr. T. Parata refereed. .