RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 220, 17 August 1937, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SHIELD HOLDERS DEFEATED. MATCH WITH MANAWATU. Playing tho second match of their tour, the Southland ltugby representatives (holders of the Ranfurly Shield) had to strike their colours to Manawatu yesterday afternoon, the local side securing the victory by 22 points to 20. At times tho game rose to spectacular heights, but it was not up to shield standard. Certainly only seven of the shield team took the field for the tourists, but Manawatu also were without several of their best players and it can he said that the better side on tho day won. The first spell was a rather drab affair, both teams lacking that “sting” which should be expected in firstclass provincial football, but in the second session Manawatu rose to the occasion and at one stage led by 22 points to 11. Southland then livened up and put on nine points, and towards the end were battling hard for a winning try. The visiting backs, on the whole, were disappointing, and while there was nothing really brilliant in the Manawatu rearguard they played the more solid game.

The teams were: SOUTHLAND

Fully-back.—J. Purdue. Three-quarters. —G. Baird, A. Wesney, R. Henderson. Five-eighths.—G. Thomas (captain), J. Miles. Half-back. —T. Mackie. Back row.—J. Dunstan. Middle row. —L. Naylor, L. George, S. Purdue, C. Graham. Front row. —V. George, J. Wattingly, C. Soper. MANAWATU. Full-back.—Waldin. Three-quarters.—R. Gillespie, G. Wasley (centre), D. Buick. Five-eighths.—J. Finlay (first), J. Nicol (second). Half-back. —Irvine (captain). Back row. — L- Findlay. Middle row.—Fleming, W. Powell, Williams, Newman. Front row.-—L. Beard, Ewart, Sullivan. MANAWATU SCORE FIRST. Southland won the toss, electing to play with the sun behind them. Manaw r atu maintained their advantage from the kick-off, but the visitors secured the ball from two successive scrums and the backs swung into action. Dunstan put in a dazzling run and Manawatu were in danger until Irvine broke away and passed to Buick, who put iii a great run down tho sideline. He was successfully tackled by tho full-back. For a time Manawatu had the upper hand. From a scrum the ball passed along the line of backs, Finlay handling twice to baffle the opposition. He passed to Gillespie who went over unopposed. Findlay failed to convert:

Manawatu 3, Southland 0

Southland attacked, Mackie and Thomas combining well, but the latter failed with an attempt to drop-kick a goal and the situation rvas eased. From a scrum Mackie passed to Thomas, who mulled badly and the Manawatu forwards were down on the ball. "Wasley secured and w,as nearly over. C. George and Wattingly led a foot rush for Southland and a scrum saw the backs in action, but Wesney was too slow and was caught in possession. Manawatu were being bustled and when they cleared Purdue set them back with two punishing line kicks. VISITORS GAIN LEAD.

. Southland continued to secure from the scrums, but while Thomas gained ground Miles could not handle surely. The ball went back to Waldin, who ran up fast and put his backs into position, Wasley and Buick handling. The local side were the aggressors for a time, but Miles made a good run and there was trouble in store for Manawatu until Irvine cleared. Henderson secured near the sideline and put in a good run, throwing off Waldin’s tackle to go over in a handy position. Wesney added the major points: Southland 5, Manawatu 3. Southland kept un the pressure, Wesney being prominent. Wasley broke away for Manawatu and passed to Gillespie, who was pushed out; then Buick broke away and centred nicely, but the forwards kicked too hard and a force down followed. From almost half-way Wesney tried to goal from a penalty, the ball missing the post by inches. Wesney displayed a deceptive swerve in a run up the field, passing to Henderson, who was pushed out. Manawatu repelled the attack, but Purdue, the Southland custodian, broke through with a tricky run, his grubber kick going out at the corner. Wesney continued to be prominent, and C. George and S. Purdue were toiling in the forwards. IrvLne was saving the Manawatu team, but Southland could not be kept out and from a melee near the line Mackie dived over. Wesney failed to convert: Southland 8, Manawatu 3. Southland were continuing to have the better of things until Buick broke away. He passed to Wasley, who beat the opposition, passing to J. Finlay, who scored under the posts. He converted his own try and half-time was called with the score: Manawatu 8, Southland 8. THE SECOND SPELL.

From a scrum right at the start of the second spell Mackie secured cleverly and sent Thomas away. He passed to Wesney, to Miles, who scored a fine try. Wesney failed to convert: Southland 11. Manawatu 8. Manawatu were bustling the opposition, and from si scrum Irvine sent to Nico'l who “sold a dummy” beautifully to go over. Powell failed with the kick: Manawatu 11, Southland 11. The visitors were on the offensive when Finlay broke away with the ball at toe. The full-back cleared, but within a minute Nicol secured and passed to Finlay, who dummied well to transfer to Fleming, who scored. Finlay converted:

Manawatu 16, Southland 11

Manawatu attacked yet again. Buick put in a great run, passing infield to

Findlay, to Finlay, to Buick again, who scored. Finlay failed to convert: Manawatu 19, Southland 11. Tho visitors had a chance when a free kick was awarded them in a handy position, but Wattingly failed to turn it to good account. Manaivatu were back at it, and Fleming and Powell led a' forward rush, over-eagerness sending the ball “dead.” They came again, Wasley putting in a snappy run to pass to Finlay, who raced across. His kick failed: Manawatu 22, Southland 11. VISITORS RALLY. The handling of the Southland backs was disappointing; nearly every time they were sent away a knock-on resulted and opportunities went by the board. Manawatu pressed solidly, but the defence held good and Mackie put the visitors within scoring distance with a good run from the base of the scrum. He was taken off hurt, but insisted on returning to the field, and within a minute drop-kicked a splendid goal: Manawatu 22, Southland 15. Southland were spurred on by this turn of good fortune, and the Manawatu players refused to go down to a 6olid foot rush, V. George going over for Wesney to convert: Manawatu 22, Southland 20. The visitors were attacking with determination now', and were nearly over twice, a force-down saving. Southland were back at it again, but Wasley repulsed them with a good line-kick. Excitement ran high with Southland all out for a winning try, but tho game ended w'ithout further score: Manawatu 22 Southland 20. Mr A. Ward refereed.