ATHLETIC BEAT SHANNON

Chronicle (Levin), 20 May 1946, Page 4

ATHLETIC BEAT SHANNON

The senior game at Shannon between Athletic and Shannon resulted in a win for Athletic by 11

points to three. Athletic forwards jtoiled well throughout and hooked the ball quickly from the lQOse rucks. The Shannon forwards conceded weight in the scrums, but they were never a beaten pack. The 'Athletic backs handled excellejitly and Henson, at first five-eights, played a model game. The Shannon backs incluaing Fuller, MQrtimer and Aitchison, last year's representatives, were starved chiefly due to bad handling by their inside men. The teams which took the field were as follows:^ — ' /- Athletic : Gordon, Morris, Lomas, Bartholomew, Denton (captain)", Carkeek, O'Donnell, Corbisftiey, Blenkhorn, Galloway, Henson, Stevens, Batten, Galpin and Hudson. Shannon: Pedersen, Kahihi, Aitchison, Fuller, Mortimer, Cole, Gadsley, S. Chester, E. Chestor, Campbell, Rolston, Pratt, Woods. Athletic kicked off on a hgavy ground and hard rucking play fol- ' lowed, with both sides endeavpur- : ing to give their rearguards a run. ;A beautiful line kick by Pedersen, the Shannon full-back, gained a handy 40 yards. For an infringe- ; ment in Athletic's twenty-five, I Mortimer had an unsuccessful j attejnpt at goal. Exciting play fol- | lowed, with the ball see-sawing the ; length of the field. Athletic backs jwere handling the greasy ball well i and from a set scrum, they hooked lcleanly and Blenkhorn set his back | line in motion with a beautiful i.pass, the ball travelling through to Stevens on the wing, who made a good run and then in passed to Hudson, who flashed over in the corner. Galloway 's kick went wide. Athletic 3, Shannon 0. From the kick-off, Shannon backs endeavoured to get going, but faulty handling and bad passing vere starving their speedy three•marters. A good forward rush by the Shannon pack,' with Pratt at the head, ended in an infringe- ; ment. Mortimer was unsuccessful j with the kick. Shortly afterw^tos | Shannon were again awarded a j penalty and Pedersen made no mis- : take with a good. kick. This made j the score 3 — 3. Athletic continued j to attack, but good tackling kept ; them from scoring until half -time : blew. i From the kick, D'Donnell brought the ball through at his toe and Stevens, racing ahead, was just beaten to the touch-down by Fuller. The blue backs made repeated attempts to score and from a punt through by Henson, Galloway kicked up and dived over. Galloway add.ed the extra two points. Athletic 8, Shannon 3. Shortly after, Athletic backs all handled the ball to send Stevens racing over in tne corner. The kick failed. Athletic 11, Shannon 3. Shannon attacked hard and for a period gave Athletic a torrid tosae. From a penalty fast follo'win^rup by Mortimer and Aitchison saw Shannon nearly over, but a good line kick by Blenkhorn relieved the pressure. Both sides were still endeavouring to open up the play. The game ended shortly afterwards 'with Athletic the winners by 11 points to 3 and still with Athletic's line to be crossed.