RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1938, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL

A SURPRISE WIN. MANAWATU BEAT AUCKLAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., September 7. Auckland suffered the first Rugby defeat of the present season at Palmerston North this afternoon, when Manawatu won an exciting match in convincing manner by 22 points to 11. The score accurately represented the winners’ advantage. Playing conditions were excellent, but a hard ground necessitated frequent stoppages for attention to minor injuries. Manawatu’s win was directly attributed to the superiority of the forwards in the loose, and to exceptionally efficient backing up of the back line on defence. The Auckland forwards were definitely superior in set scrums, with honours equal in line-outs. Manawatu, however, quickly ascertained Auckland’s strength, and by quick breaking the home forwards kept the Auckland backs in subjection, so much so that practically throughout the second half the Auckland forwards had to hold the ball at the back of the scrum instead of letting it out to Cooney. Whenever Auckland’s backs did get into motion, their work was both effective and attractive, but though both five-eighths and centre often eluded four or even more tacklers, others sprang up from apparently nowhere to stem the attack. The match was contested at an unusually fast pace, play changing from goal-line to goal-line with amazing rapidity. The Manawatu representatives have played first-class football throughout the season, but this afternoon their form surprised even their most ardent supporters, and Auckland, although always in the picture, were never given any opportunity to establish supremacy. Whereas in previous matches the Manawatu backs were lacking in combination, today they showed fine understanding of each other’s play, and supported each other well in orthodox play. The whole of the Auckland back line functioned well individually under strictly limited scope. For Manawatu tries were scored by Hehir, Whyte, Dermer, Fleming (Powell converted) and Buick (Finlay converted), while Finlay kicked a penalty goal. Tries for Auckland were scored by Williams, Knight and Martin (McLean converted). TARANAKI DEFEATED. POOR STANDARD OF PLAY. TIMARU, September 7. South Canterbury beat the touring Taranaki team 5 —3 today in the presence of a good crowd. The standard of play was very poor, neither side rising to representative standard. Play among the forwards was very willing, and some were lucky not to be ordered off. Greyburn scored for the winner, Morrison converting. Meuli scored for Taranaki.