RUGBY FOOTBALL

Chronicle (Levin), 28 April 1947, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SHANNON DEFEAT OTAKI-RAHUI The first senior game-played on the local ground this season took place on Saturday afternoon, when Shannon defeated Otaki - Rahui by six points to three. The game was only a fair exhibition of senior football, but both teams should improve as the season progresses. For the home team Aitchison and Higgott played well and Pedersen, at full back, was cairn and quite safe. For the visitors Ramsbottom was among the top players and Royal on the wing made several attempts to open up play, but was unsuccessful. The Shannon backs made a number of smart movements and, taking the game on the whole, Shannon had the advantage and kept their opponents on the defensive. However, it is hoped that a better standard of football will be seen, especially in the senior competition. The teams which took the field were as follows:— * Shannon: S. Chester, Callesen, Aitchison, Higgott, K. P. Robinson, W. Robinson, Cole, Rauhihi, Nepia, Sparanzo, Pigott, Moynihan, Gadsby, Keriona and Pedersen. Otaki-Rahui: Lrndsay, Enoka, Webster, O'Brien, Hakarona, Grey, Horn, Ramsbottom, Wilson, Bailey, Henry, Nicholls, L. Enoka, W. Hakarona, Taratoa. From the kick-off Otaki forced play into Shannon's twenty-five and a scrum went down almost on the home twenty-five line. An infringement in the scrum gave Otaki the opportunity of drawing first points. Webster took the kick but it went outside the posts and Shannon forced. From the dropout play returned to home ground and a scrum went down on the Shannon line. Pedersen cleared to' Chester, who brought the game to half-way. Following a series of line-outs at half-way, Gadsby carried play into the visitors' territory, but Lindsay kicked upfield to Pederson', who found the line just inside the half-way flag. At this stage W. Robinson was forced to leave the field and was replaced by Cameron. Play returned to Shannon ground and a knock-on sent a scrum down on the home line and Shannon forced. From the drop-out an infringement gave the home team. a free kick, which returned play to half-way. Play again went to home ground, where Pedersen, with a nice kick, found touch :j-ust' .over tch8 fa$8rWjP»y fiag-t »•- . A mark by Aitchison brought the ba.ll into Otaki territory and rucking play resulted in a; set scrum going dowh ■ almost in front of 'the posts and just inside Otaki's twenty-five. From the scrum Higgott attempted a drop-kick at goal, which failed, and Otaki forced. From the drop-out play returned ' to Shannon's . ground, ■but Aitchison returned the ball to (half -way. From a scrum, Ihe ball 'went back to Pedersen who kicked hard and Otaki again forced. A smart move by the local backs, led by Aitchison, sent Chester over for a try in the corner to draw the first points of the game. Pedersen 's kick failed. For the remainder of the first half, play continued in the visitors' territory with a series of line-outs and set scrums bringing the ball from half-way to the Otaki five-yard line. Otaki opened the pace with a move by Ramsbottom, but off-side play gave Shannon a chance to add further points, but Nepia's kick, which was taken almost on the touch line, fell short, Otaki forcing. Play then went into Shannon ground, but Gadsby came through fast and took the ball to halfway. With play in that portion of the ground half-time sounded with the score unchanged. Shannon 3, Otaki-Rahui 0.

When play resumed after the interval a series of line-outs kept the ball near the half-way flags until Cameron sent" the field up . to Otaki's twenty-five, but the ball was over kicked and went dead. Hhe game retufrned to hajlf-wiay when a long kick by Chester sent the ball into the visitors' ground again. Shortly after Chester was injured and was replaced by Campbell. Otaki forced play to Shannon's twenty-five and a set scrum went down on the Shannon line. Play lingered . here for some time and it looked as if Otaki would even the score, when Cameron saved with a line kick, finding touch near the home twenty-five flag. Play then worked its way to Otaki ground and an exchange of kicking by Lindsay and Pedersen developed. From a line-out it looked »as if Shannon might score, but the visitors forced. From the dropout play returned to the visitors' area and remained here for some time, eventually Aitchison went across to score in the corner. Nepia took the kick but failed to add the extra points. Otaki then made a last effort and play was centred in Shannon's twentyfive for some time. Webster had an attempt at goal from an off■'side movement by Shannon, but he failed to draw points. Play was kept at a smart pace and the visitors were forcing hard on the Shannon line. One or two set scrums went down on- the home five-yard line and it was an infringement in one of these that gave Grey the opportunity to

place a nice kick over the crossbar. Time sounded soon after with the score unchanged at Shannon 6, Otaki-Rahui 3. Mr. S. Graham was in charge of the game.