SHANNON SENIORS' DEFEAT OF ATHLETIC

Chronicle (Levin), 14 June 1948, Page 4

SHANNON SENIORS' DEFEAT OF ATHLETIC

Shannon seniors had a surprise win on Saturday when they beat Athletic by nine points to six in their rriatch at Levin. The game was one of the fastest seen in the district for a long time., Certainly the best member of the visiting team was the halfback, K. Tritt. For some time he was a member ofthe Wellington City Mission team, and he is proving better with every game. At flrst Athletic made the game wiiling, scoring a try shortly after the eommeneement, when P. Pederson, the Shannon fullfoack, fumbled the ball and W. Batten gathered it in and dived over in ihe corner. W. Gailoway failed to convert. Athletic 3, Shannon 0. Shortly af'terwards Shannon begap to make themselves felt and were soon pressing hard on the Athletic twenty-five. Then out of a ruck T. Newton found an opening and' slid over. Pederson failed to convert. Shannon 3, Athletic 3. . .T. Cameron, who was .playihg an excellent game as Athietic's half, suffered an injurv to : "his right haha af this stage arid- had to leaye the field. He was. replaped by H. Hudson. This seemed to be thebeginning of the end for Athletic, wh'ose play became disorganised and wild. They made several half-> hearted attempts to break' the Shannon defences and any bright play by individuals failed through .lack Of Supp.ort. . Time andi again they had opportunities with penv alty kicks, but both Phillipson and Galloway, usuallv excellent at this wprx, luiied to collect edsy shots. Shol'tly before the end of the flrst spell, Shannon were awarded a penalty, and Pederson took " the shot at goal. The ball bounced on the bar of the posts and feJIfQver the side. Shannon 6, Atnletic 3. The flrst few minutes of the second half gave no indication of how play would go. Then another penaltv was awarded to Shannon close to the posts. Pederson was again I successful, to make the score 1 Shannon 9, Athletic 3. Athletic seemed to revive a great deal of i their spirit at this stage and several times looked dangerous. Galloway missed an easy penalty kick and shortly afterwards Phillipson did the same. Play remained statip for a time until, from a determined ruck near the posts, A. Fletcher, the Athletic fullback, snatched up the ball and dived over the line1. Phillipson failed to convert. Shannon 9, Athjetic 6, No further points were added before the game ended. The referee was Mr. C. E. Wiseley.