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“Brave defence not enough”

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Description: This image was taken by Mark Lapwood for the Evening Standard, and was published on the 20th of June 1988 with the caption: “Manawatu centre Paul Dilley nearly breaks through the tackles of Taranaki's Peter Ngatai (ground) and Gary Kitto. Mike Morgan backs up during yesterday's representative rugby league game at Feilding's Johnston Park.”

Mike Behrens’ short article read: “BRAVE defence wasn't enough for Manawatu when it lost a rugby league clash 12-4 to Taranaki in the rain and mud at Feilding's Johnston Park yesterday.

A 4-all halftime score looked ominous for the home side with Taranaki to have the wind in the second half, and so it proved when Taranaki wore Manawatu down by playing most of the second spell deep in its opponent's half.

After 10 minutes of the game Taranaki second rower Gary Kitto broke through the centre to score after Manawatu, although tackling well, allowed the big men in the yellows' pack too much room to play the ball.

Manawatu's answer was to put the ball out wide where winger Aaron Allan bad Taranaki stretched. But there was no way through.

With nowhere to go on a sixth tackle, a Manawatu kick for the corner went over the Taranaki line and Manawatu fullback Chris Morgan made a try out of nothing when his opposite Tony White hesitated. Morgan dived underneath him to score

One of the game's highlights was the running or Morgan and White and their marking of each other as they made light of the conditions.

With the wind in the second half, Taranaki kicked deep into Manawatu territory and challenged the greens to play out of danger. But for some reason Manawatu ignored the kick and efforts to run the ball ended in lost possession from tackles.

The pressure finally told when Taranaki went ahead from a Roger Pokere try. With about 15 minutes to go the game was sealed when Taranaki sent the ball wide and White was on the end of the chain to score after some great handling.

For Manawatu, Darryl Te Amo shone with some good runs early on and he was still tackling hard at the final whistle.

Coach Mike Isaacs had Bunny Gripp his man of the match and he featured in the Manawatu defensive effort, but it was left to the backs, particularly Allan, Morgan and centre Peter Edwards to give the home team the scoring chances.”