WIN FOR WAIRARAPA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1939, Page 5

WIN FOR WAIRARAPA

SCHOOL RUGBY TOURNEY WANGANUI BEATEN BY PENALTY GOAL. HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY IN a£,L GAMES. Thrilling the crowd with loose forward rushes that would have done credit to any senior representative side, Wairarapa defeated Wanganui by three points to nil at Greytown yesterday to win the annual primary school Rugby tournament. Play was hard, fast and of an exceptionally high standard. Both sides were evenly matched. In the final stages of the game the fierce rucking tactics of the Wairarapa pack proved too much for the Wanganui side and during the last ten minutes Wairarapa were unlucky not to have scored at least one try. In the Wairarapa pack, O'Neal was the outstanding player. Next in order of merit came O’Keefe. Harris and Capes also did good work. All the rest toiled honestly. Of the Wairarapa rearguard Good Vin was again in the limelight. At the base of the scrum Davies’s stopping of forward rushes was a feature of the game. Baird, who had been moved out to second five-eighths, made several good runs. His tackling was very sound. Lee turned on a creditable display and was unlucky that his dashes were not rewarded with success. McKinley, at fullback, played his best game of the tournament. He was never bustled and his line kicking was of a high standard, while his tackling was all that is to be desired. Every member of the Wanganui pack played hard football. Perhaps the best were Head, Wakeling and Bebarfold. Takarangi was again a tower of strength in the backs. Of the rest Webby and Cavoge impressed most. It is worthy of note that Wanganui did not have their line crossed during the tournament.

From the kick-off Wairarapa attacked and Wanganui were kept busy defending. Two scrums under the Wanganui posts saw Wairarapa almost over but the defence of the Wanganui side was too strong. A 50-yard dash by Lee carried play to the Wanganui line, but again the defence was solid. Good play on the part of McGovern and McKinley kept Wanganui in their own territory. Wanganui drove Wairarapa back but fierce rucking by the Green forwards took play deep into Wanganui territory and half-time sounded with Wairarapa right on the Wanganui goal-line. On resuming Wairarapa were soon on the attack and a “pot” by Goodwin fell short. Wairarapa were now on top and the pace was terrific. A hot attack by the Wairarapa pack took play over the Wanganui line but Wanganui forced in time. For a time Wanganui attacked, but the Wairarapa tackling was deadly. Fielding a high Wanganui clearing kick Lee was almost over, being grassed inches short. A few moments later, Skews, Capes and Gill led an attack to the Wanganui line, a force saving. Wairarapa kept up the pressure and Baird was forced into touch right on the Wanganui line. Wairarapa were at last rewarded when from a penalty in front, O’Keefe goaled. Wairarapa 3, Wanganui 0. For the remaining three minutes play hung in midfield. Mr E. Grantham was the referee.

MANAWATU BEAT WELLINGTON. FORWARDS CARRY THE DAY. Packing much better, than they did against Wanganui on Monday, Manawatu scored a win over Wellington, in a game that was hard and fast. There was very little between the'teams and a draw would have been a true indication of the run of play. Although Wellington gained the majority of the ball from the set scrums they were unable to get their rear division properly ander way as the Manawatu forwards, breaking fast, smothered the inside backs before they started to move. The i defence of both sides was excellent. Kelly was again the outstanding forward in the Manawatu pack. He was closely followed by O’Connor, Vallender and Mitchell. Of the Manawatu backs, Hill, Wilson, and A. Hill caught the eye-. Of the'Wellington forwards, Gunn. Lewis and Withers appeared the best. Of the rearguard, Hart, Page and Manion played good sound football. Play had been in progress about seven minutes when the Manawatu forwards launched a hot attack on the Wellington goal-line. They kicked the ball over the line and in the race for the touchdown Wellington obstructed the referee awarding a penalty try under the posts. Kelly converted and Manawatu led 5-0. Manawatu continued to attack and Wellington were penned down. Wellington were twice penalised, Kelly missing the kicks. Obtaining the ball from the scrums Wellington gradually worked their way into Manawatu's territory, but rucking hard Manawatu cleared, and Wellington were forced to defend desperately. Two bold bids by the Wellington rearguard failed. Half-time sounded with no alteration in the score. In the second spell the game developed into a forward struggle, there being no alteration to the score. Manawatu 5. Wellington 0. Mr C. Kendall was the referee.