RUGBY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 242, 11 September 1929, Page 10

RUGBY NOTES

MANAWHENUA IMPROVING. FAST OPEN DISPLAY AT LEVIN. By “Cross Bar,” With successive victories wgainst Southland and Wanganui, Manaivhenna appeared to have turned the corner. Three losses marked the opening of Mnnawhenua’s 1929 activities. In those first three clashes Manawhenua contributed 45 points towards their aggregate, whereas the opposition ran up a total of 81 a deficit of 36. Against Southland, Manawlienua proved capable of reducing their deficit by 10 points and Saturday saw them emerge with an advantage of 16 points over Wanganui. Although there have been quite a number of potted goals recorded in tho Dominion football this season, a Manawlienua player has still to successfully emulate Bennie Osier. One field goal has been debited .against Manawlienua to date this season, Holden, the diminutive Southland half-back, having been the successful kicker from the open field. Apart from that one goal, tho method of scoring by Manawlienua and their opponents has been closely similar. tho local representatives having annexed 24 tries, three penalty goals and 13 goals from tries as against 25, 4 and 13 respectively by opponents. A rather remarkable feature of Manwhenua’s activities this season is the fact that they have proved capable of scoring freely even when defeated. In their opening match they placed 10 points to their credit .and tlieir succeeding totals have been 16, 19, 27 and 35 a steady increase. Prior to-day no less than 26 players have worn tlie blue, red and white barred jersey this season, Tatiana, Conrad and Miles being the only members to have played through all five matches. Johnston and Strange have taken the field on every occasion, but both have had to retire with injuries once. *■ Dalzell, Crawford. Summers and T. Parata, of the frontal division, and Riddell, of the rearguard, have all participated in four of tho five games, which illustrates the difficulty which has confronted the selectors in arriving at the right members in the rearguard. Peculiarly enough, two of the late inclusions, Walker and Akuira, stepped from club games right into tll% combined team, their services not having been required by the Manawatu selectors. A goal kicker invariably has the opportunity of going a long way towards heading the scoring contributions and such a state of affairs is evidenced in the case of Tatana, who has registered 17 of the 20 points credited to him by his kicking ability. His tally reads seven goals from tries, a try and one penalty goal. T. Parata and Strange, however, are on terms with 12 points, tall having been from crossings, but Fletcher, who follows, has secured seven of the 10 points standing to his credit by virtue of his kicking powers. SCINTILLATING PLAY. After facing a stiffisk breeze in the opening spell at Levin on Saturday, Manawlienua looked certain winners when the interval found them with 13 points to their credit whereas Wanganui had still a blank account. However, the scoring at this stage of the proceedings was by no means a criterion of the play for there were several occasions when • Manawlienua were somewhat lucky to escape from ticklish situations. Peculiarly enough, it was Wanganui who were the first to gain a crossing in the second half, and then each side secured further points in turn, Manawhenua’s being a converted try to Wanganui’s penalty goal. The homesters then rattled on 14 additional points before Wanganui’s next contribution came. At 35 Manawlienua stopped, but in the closing moments Wanganui finished strongly to carry their total to 19. Wanganui appeared to be set an impossible task at the interval and with Manawhenua adding try after try in the second half it is a wonder that Wanganui did not crumble. However, their spirit was unbroken to the end and they finished much stronger than .their opponents. While the game appeared patchy in tho early stages owing to mishandling, it was nevertheless fast and the members improved as they advanced. Some very simple tries were recorded as the result of defence being turned into attack in a flash, but it furnished spectators with that bright uncertainty which is invariably attractive. Two full-backs with all the nimbleness of youth —although both have have been playing football for many years past —in Johnston and Darby furnished onlookers with some electrical dashes. Repeatedly the Manawhenua custodian accepted the leather when running at top to dance his way through tho opposing forwards in a miraculous manner. He took many risks, but it was seldom that he was cauglit in possession. Darby, the Wanganui full-back was not over certain in his acceptances at timos, but that he still retains much of his dazzling running powers was evidenced on occasions, one of his runs in the second spell carrying him from his own twenty-five right to the other end of the field. He and Jolmston were a great pair of fullbacks, the Manawlienua member, however, being the outstanding figure on the day. Wanganui, while they were without a good scoring man in Ball, had two very useful wingers in Tilley and McLennan. Both were prepared to give everything a go, while Tilley was very useful to his side in the role of goal kicljer, his penalty goal effort being a particularly good one. Strange was not seen very favourably as the result of his failing to anticipate the play and get up on to his man quickly. W. Parata fed him on the blind side of the scrum on two or threo occasions, but the winger was never able to got moving and in McLennan he encountered a stumbling block. One cannot help but think that Strange has lost form to some extent and it would not be surprising if such a state of affairs was due to staleness. Walker, while he employed the stab punt all too much, was dangerous on the attack, but he marred his play by an indifference to defence, allowing Tilley to go over on occasion when lie should never have gone five yards. With his repeated use of the stab punt, Darby, the Wanganui full-back, was invariably waiting for it, and it was only pure luck which enabled two of Walker’s efforts to be turned to profit. On one occasion Walker gave it a go and “hipped” Darby off only to bo halted by a prior infringement, yet' while it should have encouraged him to try it again, he failed to do so. With his pace and hands, "Walker has only to stir himself on the defence to attain great heights. Bramwell, who replaced Strange on the right wing at the interval, lacked the former’s pace, although ho gave of his best. He camo back to Johnston’s assistance on one occasion when • tho defence was hopelessly beaten to kick back upfield, and although a try was forthcoming it saved a certain two points for, instead of the crossing

being effected by tho posts, the later movement terminated wide out at the corner.

Of splendid build, Carlson, the Wanganui centre, did not reach the standard expected, and in all round play Fletcher overshadowed him throughout. The local player brought off some sensational thrusts and that more of them were not brought to a successful issue was only due to faulty work after the centre had supplied the opening. While Carter and Ambrose, tho Wanganui rive-eighths, were very fair throughout, they did not handle so well as Akuira and Riddell, the latter pair showing to advantage on attack when a movement was launched from the base of the scrum. However, it was due to break-downs in the centre of the line that breakaways by the opposition came, for more than once when a movement was developing something would go wrong and a dropped pass would find the opposition away hot foot for the opposite end. However, such incidents were not restricted to the Manawhenua inners only. Both half-backs gave splendid displays, W. Parata coming back following a compulsorv spell as the result of his injury at Wairarapa full of dash and vim. His hookers furnished him with plenty of ball and ho made full use of it. Naturally, big things had been looked for from Kilby, and he fully lived up to such, the manner in which he whipped the leather out from iine-outs and what scrums tho visitors did win being a revelation. Unfortunately for him, his outsides were seldom able to do much with it. Fromont, tho rover for Wanganui, showed himself to be a very useful sort and on the day he was probably preferable to T. Parata, who did not display his usual activity, although he was nevertheless very useful. Fromont revelled in the open work and he broke clear on more than one occasion, although he lost a certain try in the opening spell when lie failed to accept a pass right on tho home line. Beaten for tho ball in the scrums, Wanganui were consequently kept in greater restraint than they might well have been. Tho position of affairs was directly attributable to the good work of Crawford and Summers in tho front row for Manawhenua. Apart from their value in, this department, both hookers went well in the tight throughout. Ward and Oxley, the opposing pair, were likewise hard workers, but the latter hardly played as well as he had done on the Showgrounds a season or two back. Conrad was probably the most prominent member of the Manawhenua scrummagers, ho breaking away in great style on several occasions. It was not till Saturday that he opened his scoring account, but ho made up some of trie leeway by making two crossings. It was an opportune centre along the ground by Dalziell which brought him his first try, but on the other occasion he burst through from some little distance out. Miles revelled in the hard stuff, but he showed a tendency to kick too hard when close to the line. Whether the cares of skipper tell upon him is problematical, but it is very evident that Tatana is not displaying quite the same form as of old. However, he has played a lot of football and it is not improbable that he is growing slightly stale. Satlierley and Dalziell are both fairly fast and they kept up with the play in good style. Satlierley should have figured on the scoring list, but he lost a certain try when he failed io retain a hand-on from his back row partner right on the line, a nice piece of work by Riddell" having carried them into that position,' _ i Both of Saturday’s rival combinations contained a percenatge of native members for, in the ranks of tho visitors, Tohu, McCarthy and Oxley were other than pakelias. However, whereas tho first-named pair are Maoris, Oxley claims Negro parentage. The trio proved worthy of their places, one and all waging battle right to the final bell. Wanganui lost a useful typo forward in Stewart when he was compelled to retire at tho interval. With the quartette of Maori members in the Manawhenua fifteen engaged in tho Prince of Wales contest at Wellington, Horowlienua’s quota in to-day’s team versus Taranaki would be reduced to three. Bull came into tho side to replace a fellow Maori in W. Parata as donkeyman, while of the old contingent only Dalziell and Satlierley remain. To-day’s team at tho Showgrounds would thus amount to practically a Manawatu side, although it was expected that the replacements would prove well worthy of the honour accorded tlune. THE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. KIA TOA ANNEX HONOURS. The fortunes of war have been strikingly illustrated in tho junior competition this season for, after Old Boys had appeared to hold a winning position, their luck failed to hold and a play-off became necessary. In the game at the Showgrounds on Saturday Kia Toa carried the day and thus won through to championship honours for the second year in succession. Kia Toa showed that they had a wealth of junior playing talent at the opening of the season when they entered two teams in that grade. During the course of the season there were occasions when members had to step up to the assistance of their seniors, and it was on one of those occasions when they had to take the field with depleted ranks that Feilding brought off an unexpected victory over them at a highly critical stage. It was early apparent in the season that tho issue would lie between last year’s champions and Old Boys, but the early advantage went to the latter club when a converted try to an unconverted try enabled Old Boys to securo a two points lead over the double blues. However, Old Boys received their first check when they had to be content with a draw against High School, and then at their second meeting with Kia Toa the blues turned the tables on the blacks by winning in no uncertain manner to the tune of 19 points to nil. That success over Old Boys in the second round gave Kia Toa a one point lead, but a fortnight later disaster Overtook them when Feilding brought off their surprise by defeating the blues by eight points to nil. On the same afternoon Old Boys likewise went down to Massey College A, but, owing to the Collegians not observing the rule governing tho transfer of players, they lost out on a protest. That escape apparently signalled the waning fortunes of Old Boys for, with their ranks weakened by injuries and illnesses, they, had to submit to yet another draw at the hands and feet of Kia Toa B. Although also at short strength on that occasion, Kia Toa B’s found the muddy conditions which prevailed that day to their liking and the check to Old Boys was fated to prove distinctly helpful to the Kia Toa A team for it enabled the latter to again meet Old Boys and, by the registering of another defeat — narrow though it was —Kia Toa proved tlieir right to the season’s honours. It is possible that High School might well have made things interesting in the closing stages as they had to meet both Kia Toa and Old Boys, but, with the school vacation intervening, forfeits were compulsorily made. THE BROOME SHIELD. The records in connection with' the Broome Shield—the trophy competed

for in the junior inter-club series—disclose that the trophy has been won by the following clubs since it first camo into existeneo in 1903 : Awahuri. —1903. Kia T0a.—1904, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1928, 1929. Feilding.—l9os, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914. Palmerston. —1908, 1910. Jackeytown.—l9l9, 1920. High School.—l92l, 1922, 1923, 1927. OlcT 80y5.—1924, 1925. Feilding Old 80y5.—1926." (War Period—l9ls-1918.)

RUGBY CONTROL. MANAWATU DISTRICT COUNCIL. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS. The weekly meeting of the management committee of the Manawatu Rugby District Council was held last evening when there were present: Messrs J. A. Colquhoun (in the chair), J. R. Hardie. H. Crawford, K. W. Eglinton, E. Clevely, H. Hands, N. I). Mackie, T. McHerron, T. Pagan, R. Hatch, P. D. Skoglund, A. J. Trevema. An apology for absence was received from Mr R. Bl.v. Tire Horowhenua Council wrote inviting a date for the Rowland Cup game, between the junior champions of the two councils. —The contestants, it was stated, would be Otaki and Kia Toa juniors, the match to be played at Levin. In view of the “sudden death” series about to be entered upon, it was decided to hold the mat-, ter over although the Horowhenua Council is to be advised that a date would not bo open before September 28 or October 5. The Associated Banks advised that they intended playing a team from the Wanganui Banks on the 23rd inst., and asked that they be allotted a ground and a set of jerseys for the occasion.—Tho necessary permission was granted; a set of jerseys is to be furnished while the appointing of a referee was left in the hands of the Referees’ Association. GENERAL. Kia Toa A were declared the winners of the junior competition for the 1929 season. Mr McHerron was appointed manager of the Manawhenua team to play Wellington on September 14. The Showgrounds were allotted to the Hockey Association on Wednesday, 18th inst., for the playing of tlie Winter Cup match with Wanganui. PLAYER STOOD DOWN. The referee of the Kia Toa-Old Boys junior match on Saturday reported having ordered L. Argvle, of the former fifteen, off the field for striking an opponent in a scrummage. The referee added that prior to tlie incident Argyle’s conduct had been exemplary. Mr Crawford mentioned that the player, who did not appear till later, had expressed regret at the incident. Argyle admitted the offence which had been committed in the heat of the moment. On the motion of Mr Hands, seconded by Mr Trevema, it was decided to stand Argyle down for one playing Saturday. ABRAHAM CUP WON BY KIA TOA. The points in the Abraham Cup competition, which is in the nature of a 'club championship covering tho first four grades, were declared last evening as under, Kia Toa gaining a clear cut victory, irrespective of the outstanding senior match, Old Boys v. Kia Toa. Kia Toa Old Boys Senior 60.7 75. UU Junior A ... ... 70.58 70.58 Junior B 40.00 No entry Thirds A 26XU 54. Thirds B No entry 16.C0 Fourths ... ... 25.00 No entry 222.28 215.58 Mr Crawford remarked that, in view of the position, it was hardly worth while proceeding with the outstanding Kia Toa-Old Boys senior fixture, he being supported by the chairman. Mr Pagan formally moved, seconded by Mr McHerron, that the senior competition be declared closed. When put to the meeting the motion was carried without dissent. SATURDAY’S FIXTURES. The draw for Saturday resulted: Senior “Sudden-death.”- —Old Boys v. Feilding, oval, Showgrounds, p.m., Mr A. Gordon; Kia Toa v. vVoodviile at Woodville 3 p.m., Mr L. G. Berry. Junior. —West End Old Boys v. Feilding, Feilding, 3 p.m., Mr F. S. Hewitt. Thirds. —Old Boys v. Athletic, intermediate, Wellington, oval, 1.30 p.m., Mr A. McKegg; St. Patrick’s v. West End Old Boys, No. 4 Showgrounds, 1.30 p.m., Mr F. H. Garner. SOUTHLAND TEAMS. WELCOMED HOME. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Sept. 10. The Southland Rugby football team, holders of tho Ranfurly Shield, and the Southland ladies’ hockey team, winners of the Cup at the Dominion tournament, were accorded a most enthusiastic reception by a large crowd on tlieir return this evening. Three bands were in attendance at the station and there was , a great demonstration when the train drew into the platform. The teams were taken through cheering crowds to the rotunda in Post Office Square, where they were officially welcomed by the Mayor (Mr J. D. Campbell) and officials of the Rugby Union, Ladies’ Hockey Association and Boxing Association.