Saturday's Friendly Rugby Fixtures

Chronicle (Levin), 6 April 1948, Page 3

Saturday's Friendly Rugby Fixtures

The Shannon ' Football Club had as its guests on Saturday afternoon two visiting football teams, a junior team from Turakina and a senior ' fifteen from' Dannevirke. The two | friendly games- proved a most ; enjoyable afternoon for both play- , ers*and followers alike, and were a fitting opening to the 1948 season. ' The games were played in brilliant ■ sunshine and' with a good following , of enthusiasts. . In the senior mat-ch the teams which took the field were as follows: — Shannon: D. Cole, C. Mortimer, H.' Sayer, J. Cole, T. Newton, A. Wood, K. P, Robinson, S. Clark, G. Third, -E. Gadsby, D. Campbell, N. Callesen (capt.), A. Tritt, T. Speranzo and T. Pratt. Dannevirke: W. Harold, Muholland, Mills, B. Colloty, Christensen, Bodley, T., Harold, J. Colloty, Timson, Breen, E. Bodley, D. -Fuller, Marriott, Bulwan and Taihu. Upon the commencement of play, Shannon brought the ball to the visitors' twenty-five, where a passing rush resulted in G. Third going •over to score the hrst. t.rv of the game some ten minutes after the opening whistle. Cole failed to add the extra points. Following the .kick-off, play remained around" the half-way line for Some time, but a movement by the- iocal forwards returned the ball to Dannevirke territory, where a series of.scrums allowe'd Shannon to get possession for Robinson to score. J. Cole again failed with the kick. Soon after play resumed, Dannevirke wero on the offensive, but a speculator movement by Sayer broke up a dangerous position for the- home feam. However, the visitors were not to be outdone. Play again went to home ground and D. Fuller went across the line to draw first points for the visitors. Bodley's kick at goal fell short. Half-time sounded soon after with the score still Shannon 6, Dannevirke 3. After the interval, the home team returned to the attack and play centre'd _ in the visitors' twenty-five for some time, ,'with the Shannon forwards pressing hard. An infringement in a scrum gave Shannon a free kick. -However, J. Cole's attempt at goal failed. Play then moved from one end of the field to the other, and some interesting and -fast football was witnessed. With the ball in the Dannevirke twenty-five, Mortimer broke away to run almost.the distance of the field and score a brilliant solo try. N. Callesen faile'd to add the two extra points: The home team held thp offensive and it was not lopg before furthef "points were addedj to/the total when Clark, who playi^d a very good , game for Shannon, wentz aCrdss !td! 'Scdre; D. Cole' converted Avith a good' kick; With the score kt Shannon 14, Dannevirke 3, and only a few minutes to play, both teams were beginning to feel the strain and play' hsgan to slacken • up. Dannevirke forced the pace and when a free kick was awarded them in Shannon's twenty-five, B. Coulty had no difficulty m placing- the ball between the uprights. Shortly after the kick-off and just before the final whistle sounded, Tritt kicked a splendid field goal for the home team, bringing the final score to Shannon 18, Dannevirke 6. For the home team, Tritt, Clark and Newton played well and the best Shannon forwards were Third Pratt, Cole and Wood. With one 01* two weeks' more practice the local senior fifteen should prove to be worthy representatives of the local club. Some interesting football was also witnessed in the junior game between Shannon and Turakina. Shannon opened the scoring when Hobbs went across the line for a good try, which Clough failed to convert. The visitors evened when a movement started by Hood allowed Carmichael to score in the corner. Lane's kick failed The visitors were on the attack and Dustm went across to bring his team into the lead. Lane again missed with the kick.' x Soon after half-time, Turakina wer.e on the Shannon line almost contmuously, and it was not long x before further points were added when Carmichael scored his secDnd try. _ Dustin failed to add the extra points. With the visitors six points in the lead, the home team took a new lease of life just before the final whistle, and a movement started by Harding resultd in L. Dick scoring. Hobbs failed with the ffick. Time was called a few minutes after with the final score reading, Turakina 9, Shannon 6,