Horowhenua And Bush Play Fine Rugby

Chronicle (Levin), 25 August 1947, Page 4

Horowhenua And Bush Play Fine Rugby

Representatjve foptball pf a standard rarely seen in provincial towns was witnessed by over 500 spectators at Pahiatua 9H Satuiv day, nvhen ihe Horowhenua seniors d|cew with Bush six all in the contest for the Bebbington Shield, held by Bush. The game was fast and open, with both sideg evenly matchefl, although Horowffenua had the effge on their opponents during the last quarter of pn houy. In the first half Bush played with the-wind and made full use of their advantage. , From the kick off their forwards were quick to f ollow up the ball and rucking took place on the Horowhenua twenty-five, The , home team's defence, however, could not be penetrated, but from a' scrum Gordon Sciascia got the ball out to Hakaraia, and the game moved to the other end of the field with a scrum on the Bush twenty-five. Again Gordon Sciascia gained control of the ball, but the defenders were quick to intercept and play was then centred about the halfway mark. Breakmg through tfre scrum, Smith and Thomas took the ball to the Horowhenua twenty-five, where it rolled into touch. From a line out, Geoff. Sciascia got the ball and with a good line kick gained much ground for Horowhenua. Again from a line out the Horowhenua forwards gained the ball, bqt a penalty was given against them. Humphrey's kick missed. From a scrum shortly after Nola got the ball out smartly to his backs and Humphrey strided for the corner to secure the first points of the game. His kick failed. Bush 3, Horowhenua 0. It looked as though Bush would gain another try when their backs got the ball from the scrum shortly after the kick off, but Galloway saved with a nice line kick. After ten minutes of play both sides were rucking for the ball on the half-way mark, and Bush, screwing the scrum, took the ball with them and it looked like trouble, but Galloway again saved

the day by kicking for touch. • Horowhenua forwards were on the attack with good work being done by • Winiata and ' Ramsbottom. Getting the ball to his backs Sciascia passed to Hakaraia, who sent it through Hudson's hands to Galloway. Horowhenua was awarded a penalty kick at this stage and Granger took it, but it went wide. Bush attacked very strongly and Horowhenua was kept very bustled, but the defence was too strong. Knight and Smith did good work for Bush in the scrums. The Horowhenua forwards slowly drove Bush back, with Taylor and McCashin breaking through . and taking the ball to the half-way mark. It was noticeable at this stage that the Horowhenua backs werie improving in their passing. With 35 minutes of play gone Nola set his backs going again, bqt Kight had received the ball off side. Gordon Sciascia got possessibn from the scrum this time and passed to Hakaraia, who kicked into touch as the half -time whistle sounded with the score Bush 3, Horowhenua 0. The Horowhenua backs were the first to receive the ball in the second half and a passing rush took them to the defenders' twentyfive. Nola tried the blind side. but was smartly grassed by Hudson. Rucking took place again and Nola got his backs moving. O'Kane passed to Roadell, who dropj>ed the ball. Bush was then awarded a penalty and Humphrey successfully put the ball over the posts. Bush 6, Horowhenua 0. Horowhenua forwards attacked vigorously and carried the game Into the Bush twenty-five. The visitors were then awarded a penalty, which Galloway sent between fche bars. Bush 6, Horowhenua 3. Rucking" on the Bush twentyfive, . Thomas, Kight and Smith broke through the pack, but a penalty was given the visitors. Galloway's kick failed. Play then moved into Bush territory and the Horowhenua forwards were showing a slight advantage in the scrums, The snappy passing of Gordon Sciascia was proving his value as half-back. Rucking after a line-out Gordon Sciascia tried the blind side, passing to his brother, Geoff. These two combined well and gained much groqnd opfore the ball was kicked into touch, just inside the Bush twentyfive. Attacking well, Horowhenua were almost on their opponents' goal line when Higgot forced down. With thirty-five minutes of the second spell gone, Sciascia once more got his backs in motion, with Hudson proving very elusive in his side-stepping runs. " Play moved to the Bush twenty-five, where from a scrum the Bush forwards looked like breaking through, but Gordon Sciascia got the ball out to Hakaraia, who passed out to Hudson and he kicked upfield. • Horowhenua forwards followed up- well and nearly went over theTine. , Bush. tried vainly - to regain the lost ground but the visitors' defehce was. too strong. Nola got the ball ■from the scrum, but his pass to O'Kane was intercepted by Geoff. Sciascia, who, with. Taylor., got within five yards of the Bush line. Rucking hard, Horowhenua forwards forced Bush over their line and Lincoln, failing on the ball, scored. Galloway's kick *;aled. Bush 6, Horowhenua 6.