TEE SEASON CLOSING

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 248, 18 September 1929, Page 10

TEE SEASON CLOSING

MANAWHENUA’S APPEARANCES

UNCERTAIN FORM. (By “Cross Bar.”) Tho representative Rugby season, so far as Man a when n a is concerned, was brought to a conclusion on Saturday when tho blues secured an eleventh hour victory over Wellington at Athletic Park. At their first appearance this season, Munawhenua made a promising showing wiioii they ran Wairarapa to within two points at tho Showgrounds, but the all important Ranfurly Shield fixture which followed later saw tho disparity extended to 21. A fortnight after their severe reverse at Masterton Manawhenua journeyed to Napier to engage in a trial of strength with Hawke’s Bay, the latter province having waged a great battlo with Wairarapa previously. Unfortunately, tho local representatives had to submit to their third successive defeat by 32—It)! With a prograrnmo of seven interprovincial matches to contest during tho courso of tho season, Manawlienua’s prospects of emerging with a credit balance did not appear very bright wliun tlioir succeeding opponents were the new Ranfurly Shield holders, Southland. However, the locals —as has been witnessed before on more than one occasion—rose to tho occasion to account for Southland by 27—17. Then followed tbroo days later Manawhenua’s no uncertain victory over Wanganui at Levin by 35 —19, which seemed to indicato that another success would follow against Taranaki who had been beaten by Wanganui at their second meeting, particularly as the amber and blacks would fiejd a weak side. However, with four of thoir members engaged iri. the Prince of Wales Cup, Manawhenua failed to come' up to expectations. Whether tho strain of playing three matches within eight days told its tnlo on Manawhenua and was accountable for their exhibition ngainst Taranak is problematical, but it was early apparent in the game that they were sluggish and devoid of fire, for tho faults could not altogether be held to be attributable to the substitutes who had replaced the Horowhenua quartette of absentees. It was a dreary affair and proved a big disappointment to homo enthusiasts. It is possible that Manawhenua took Taranaki all too cheaply, but due allowance must be made for the upsetting influence of tho determined tackling of tho visitors who made sure of their man at practically every opportunity. The reverse was unfortunately, all too frequently the case with tho homesters, Owen repeatedly bursting through the weak attempts to halt him. Reports prior to tho game between Taranaki and Manawhenua had indicated that “Tubby” Owen was a spent force. The incorrectness of such was proved all too well on tho day for the five-eighth made tho opposition look silly repeatedly. An old familiar face in Hunt was likewise prominent in the ranks of Taranaki, tho ex-Mana-wlienua representative playing no small role towards the victory of tho visitors for, apart from furnishing a field goal and a try, he was a tiger on defence. Hunt had originally played fullback for Taranaki 15, but in tho game versus Wanganui B tho critics had commented freely on his presence in the lower ranks, it being.their opinion that he was of too good a calibre for that. Ho duly rose, to the A team, but, instead of fulling tho full-back position against Manawhenua, he was moved up to centre, Collins again occupying the last line of defence. It proved a good move for both were a tower of strength to the side. Walter and McLean proved an excellent pair in the frontal division of tho Taranaki team, tho former standing head and shoulders above any other forward on the ground. Grant, who had opened at five-eighth, was moved up to rover when an injury necessitated a re-adjustment of the visitors’ ranks and it was apparent that the position was not new to him for he went equally as well as he had done in the back line. Wasley, who camo into the Manawhenua team in tho absence of Johnston, tho regular full-back, played manfully to avert defeat, but his fellow backs were seldom happy, dropped passes and indifferent tackles being tho order of the day. Wliilo the forwards secured a fair percentage of the ball, it all too frequently hung in the back row of the scrum. Further, Bull’s passes were too often badly directed and this was in some measure the cause of the home rearguard being kept inactive. It was an exhibition which would bo better forgotten. Since Manawatu and Horowhenua combined for representative purposes, Taranaki and Manawhenua have met on six occasions since 1925, Manawhenua having gone through to New Plymouth last season following upon Taranaki making an unsuccessful bid for the honours at Palmerston North. The record of the matches is as under: 1925 — Taranaki won 9—7. 1926 Manawhenua won B—6.8 —6. 1927 — Manawhenua won 9 —3. 1928 — Manawhenua won 20 —16. 1928 Taranaki won 13 —12. 1929 Taranaki won 15 —3. Matches played, 6; Taranaki, won 3; scoring points 62; Manawhenua, won 3; scoring points, 59. THE FINAL GAME. With Wellington fielding a B team against Manawhenua on Saturday, tliero was reason to expect that the blues would regain their lost prestige by inflicting' a severe defeat on Wellington, • despite the fact that they have seldom played good football at Athletic Park, but the day itself saw them only win out right on the call of time —a lucky escape. Although “Cross Bar” did not have the pleasure of witnessing Manawhenua in action against against Wellington, it would appear from the nature of tho scoring that the team did not settle down till the second spell by which time Wellington had secured what had appeared to be a winning lead of 14 points. Thereafter the blues asserted themselves and from all accounts the onlookers were treated to an exciting finish, those who lined the banks being very sporting in the way tliev encouraged Manawhenua in their closing efforts. The meetings of Wellington and Manawhenua liavo invariably furnished free scoring exhibitions, each side having attained double figures on each occasion. Saturday’s engagement marked the fifth occasion on which tlieso teams have tried conclusions. and, although 'Wellington have won three as compared with two by Manawhenua, an aggregate of 125 points to 93 does not make bad reading considering that Manawhenua showed a deficit of 26 points in their first game in 1925. The records of the meetings to date since the amalgamation are as under : 1925 — Wellington won 38 —12. 1926 — Manawhenua won 17—16. 1927 — Wellington won 23—14. 1928 — Wellington won 28 —26. 1929 Manawhenua won 24 —20. Matches played, 5; Wellington, won 3, points scored 125; Manawhenua, won 2, points for 93«

THE SEASON’S RECORD

Manawhenua’s record for tho season is as under: July 17 —v. Wairarapa, lost 10 —12. Aug. 17 —v. Wairarapa, lost 16 —37. Aug. 31 —v. Hawke’s Bay, lost 19 —32. Sep. 4—v. Southland, won 27—17. Sept. 7 —v. Wanganui, won 35 —19. Seu. 11 —v. Taranaki, lost 3 —15. Sep. 14 —v. Wellington, won 24—20. Matches played, 7; won, 3; lost, 4; points for, 134; against, 152. THE CONTRIBUTORS. Tho contributors to Manawhenua’s aggregate of 134 points for the season w’ero as follow :

No goals from the field were scored. NUMBER OF APPEARANCES. ' During the course of tho season no less than 29 players were called upon , by Manawhenua, the number oi ap- . pearanccs in representative matches be- • ing as under: — Six games.— Strange, Conrad, Miles, j Five games.—Johnston, Dalzioll, Tatana, Itiddell, Crawford, Summers. Four games.—Fletcher, • Satherlcy, , T. Parata, Walker, Akuira. Three games.—fievan, W. Parata, Parsons, N. "Brain well, Bull. Two games. —Boldt, Page. Hanna. ] One game.—Taylor, Ormond, Pratt, ( Graham, Wasley, Galpin, M. Waldin. , “SUDDEN DEATH” SERIES. , With several of their members in- i eluded in the Manawhenua ranks at J Wellington on Saturday, matters did 1 not appear at all promising for Kia J Toa and Old Boys seniors in the ] “sudden death” series on Saturday for i they had to call heavily on their lower i grade players. However, both emerged i from their games successfully, although 1 in tlic case of Old Boys it was a close call to say the least. ( The Athletic Club had entertained : big hopes of playing no mean role in 1 the “sudden death” competition this i season, but they were unlucky enough I to go down to Fcilding in the closing i moments by a bare point. Saturday 1 saw Feilding suffer the same fate in f turn for, after having the territorial i advantage for the major portion of the 1 game, they were knocked out by Old ( Boys within a minute of the call of 1 time. 1 Feilding, like Old Boys, had to fill ' gaps in their ranks on Saturday, but i the inclusion of L. Pike, Stevens and 1 Bowon in the reargaurd probably | < strengthened rather than weakened!; that division. However, the yellow i i and blacks Jiave scldome proved to be a c very well combined force and, although j: they were given plenty of ball in the '

set scrums, they could not make good use of it. Individually, Shapleski, G. Darragh and Bowen went quite well, while H. Darragh and Elliott endeavoured to make the fullest use of the leather whenever it came their way. The Feilding forwards played a hard game throughout, Bowler proving to be a great battler all the way. His try was worthy recompense for his efforts, it being sheer determination which carried him over. Tho Hight Bros, also gave him excellent support, while A. Waldin, in the role of rover, kept a watchful eye on Carrington and the opposition in general. Berquist, full-back for Old Boys, had played the greater portion of two spells against Wellington Athletic thirds prior to taking the arena in the senior game. This player has displayed good football and he should be heard of next season. It was pleasing to find Harry Palmer back in the game and, for a first time out, he went particularly well. Whenever the ball came his way the onlooker felt confident that something would come from it. Williamson, who filled the role of centre for Old Boys on Saturday, gave his best display lor a long time past, lie made tlio most of what opportunities came him way lor, whereas his inside supports almost invariably took tho ball lint footed and then immediately handed on, the centre did attempt to make some ground before parting with the leather; indeed, ho cut in brilliantly on one or two occasions. Waugh and Kilpatrick, two promoted juniors, both gave good displays, but such is usually expected irom the diminutive half-back. Carrington, rover for Old Boys, did not attain the heights of his display against Southern Hawke’s Bay, but he certainly showed some of the other members how to make sure of his man. His powerful kicking and pace were highly useful on occasions, while his converted try proved highly valuable to his side for it gave them the incentive to strive still further. The pack members wore opposing a virile set in Feilding and they had a busy day, but kept their end up surprisingly well. It was a heady piece of work on tho part of Galpin and Palmer when they worked the winning try, the forward taking the leather at his finger tips to immediately return it'to the winger for him to throw himself over. A remarkable feature of tho interclub games this season has been the ability of Old Boys to account for Fcilding and the latter club to lower the colours of Kia Toa—a task which has proved beyond Old Boys for many moons past. It was consequently all the more unfortunate for Feilding on Saturday that, when within sight of victory, they were fated to once again lose out against Old Boys right on tho call of time. In the final match in the club championship Old Bovs beat Feilding 12—11 at the eleventh hour, while Saturday’s margin saw it 11—9 under very similar circumstances. As Kia Toa accounted for Woodvillc in comfortable fashion, the double blues and Old Boys will now meet in the final next Saturday. History will consequently not repeat itself for last year Feilding proved to be the winners of the Goldfinch and Cousins Cup.

T. I\ M. C. Total Tatana 1 1 — 10 20 Strange (i — — — 18 Fletcher 1 2 — 13 T. Farata 4 — — — 12 Walker 3 — 1 — 12 Conrad 3 — — — 9 Akuira 1 — — 3 9 Dalziell 2 — — — (3 Miles 2 — — — 0 Fitzgerald 2 — — — (j Riddell 1 — — 1 "* 5 Boldt 1 — — — 3 Parsons 1 — — — 3 Bull 1 — — — 3 Satherley 1 — — — 3 30 3 1 16 134