RAHUI THIRDS SCORE CVER SHANNON

Chronicle (Levin), 5 July 1948, Page 7

RAHUI THIRDS SCORE CVER SHANNON

Tfce third grade game at Otaki saw Rahui,., Considered extremely .unlucky in haviiig to siiffer defeat the previous wetk, emerge victorious over a visiting team from Shannon, by the decisive margin of 16 — 0. The whole of the poinis were amassed in the second half. The game commenced with steady rain falling, and this state of affairs had a truly dampening effect on the players, who- were unable ' to finish off their movements. Both sides showed up in dribbling rushes, and in a short ^pace of time players were very mud-bespattered, ,and all found the i ball difficult to''hg,ndl'e. Th.e result was a decided " tendency ,to either 'punt or find the line, and halftime . sounded with no score, ••and ' i with neither side- appearing,to have any adv'antage. •*.' . 't The rain •lif'ted > for , -the , . second half and almost as though this was what they had been waiting for. Rahui set to work to pile on the points. A fprward . rush saw D. Walker cross,- W.^D.ayis missing the kick, In - a -similar movement T. Hohipuha got. his pass out to I. Mudge, when the .Shannon fullback marred his way, -W. Koya" having stab kicked to centre Mudge scored an easy try,» which W. Cook converted. Rahui 8, Shannon 0. Th'e home - sidei kept up the attack and R. Bevan narrowly missed scoring. . A 1 fiveLyard ' scrum resulted and the Rahui full-back. Cook, came rigHt in, took a pass -and nearly" • croSsed, only ;to be forced O'ut'at the corner flag. The lineout saw T. Hohipuha top off a solid exhibition by scoring a well deserved try, which the full-back, W. Cook, converted. Shannon retaliated with a succession of dribbling rushes, which time and again looked dangerous: but the Rahui backs proved equa' to the occasion. In a lineout W 'Royal gained possession, sold twc good dummies and passed to A '-Cook, for the latter to go over by the corner flag. Davis had nc luck with the kick 'and the game ended with the score Rahui 16Shannon 0. For Shannon Peach Sherman and Rauhihi were at the head of everything. Mr. T. Henry held Ihe whistle.

Otaki-Rahui p. Otaki-Rahui , nar- | rowly missed- scbririg soon arter ■ when M. Hakara'ia was forced out right on . the corner flag. This player made two further desperate atte'mpts to dive over and did cross, but w'as tackled the 'flrst time and the greasy ball was lost bn the second occasion. A further effort by the same man saw'hiih forced out at the corner flag. A spectacuiar tackle by Edmonds, for the home 'team followed, but it ended disastrously,.,as .he knockqd' himself out and retired .hurt, ; Higgott and Nehu "wefe ' seen to advantage "for " ^Otaki-Rahui ' -with some " fine • line -kicks, and . when " Athletic a-gain ;; .lopked dangerous, Johnson . pro.yed safe. Another opportupity' soon .came the Viisitors' way, however, and a nice back-line movement, in which 'five players all

handled .in • turn- saw. Galloway send. Ross Smith over, the latter having Only one man to'beat. Galloway' failed to convert. Athletic 11, Otaki-Rahui 0:r •' Some really good back-line work was seen here, both teams givmg heartening displays. Each side' raised the hopes of their supporters before the final whistle, firstly \yhen Henry, for the home team, was all but over, and, secondly, when the visiting pack started a dribbling rush, which certainly would have siicceeded had not Stackhouse, who had played a reliable game throughout, threw himself on the ball to force and save for Otaki-Rahui. A final effort by the visitors broke down, being marred by offside play. ' A penalty awarded Otaki-Rahui saw them in the 1 visitors twenty-five in the closing stages. 6 ,Mr/ 'C. E. Wiseley controlled the game. ; " , • •