SHANNON AND MUI MAI DRAW IN MUD SCRAMBLE

Chronicle (Levin), 4 July 1949, Page 4

SHANNON AND MUI MAI DRAW IN MUD SCRAMBLE

The condition of the Shannon Domain was eonsidered to be Its worst for over ten years and the ground was a sea of mud when the oeams took the field for the Shahnon-Hui Mai senior fixture. Handling of the ball was impos■sible and th'e three-all draw was consrdered by the few who saw the match to be a fair indication of the merits of the teams on the da.y. Either side would have been unlucky if the restilt had been anything but a draw. Rucking forward play dominated the match from the opening whistle and it was not lohg- before the Hui Mai pack was pressing to the Shannon line, but the bah went td\touch in goal and Shannon returned play to half -way foilowing the drop-out. The home team were on the attack and from a lineout on the visitors' .wenty-five, Mortimer sent the ball

co touch on the Hui Mai five-yard ine. Hui Mai cleared and p ay returned to half -way. Off side play oy ihe visitors gave the home team a free kick, but Fuller's kick down field was too strong and went over che goal line for Hui Mai to force. From the drop-out the visitors at- • tacked and returned play to Shannon ground, with the ball going to touch ten yards short of the Shannon line. Rabinson cleared by taking the ball at his toe to near the half-way flag. From the ruck which followed the ball went to Fuller, at fullback, who found the line just short of Hui Mai's 25. The home forwards pressed to the Hui Mai line and it ooked as if Rahui would score, but a scrum was ordered five yards out. Play returned to half-way, but Shannon were on the atcack and again pressed to the Hui Mai line. A free kick was awarded against Shannon for holding the ball and Hui Mai cleared to the 25, but a •mart kick bv iNortimer sent play to the visitor's line and in a flash Rowlands went aeross to dfaw 'the first points of the match. Fuller's effort with the wet and heavy ball did not allow the extra two points to be added. Shannon 3, Hui Mai 0. From the kick-oii p'ay again cencred in the visitors' ground with a series of scrums and lineouts. It was from one of the latter that the Shannon forwards erossed the line, but the ball slipped from under and aliowed Hui Mai to save by forcing. From the drop-out Hui Mai pressed to the Shannon line and after a lineout on the Shannon ten-yard ine L^yd wentacross near the corner to eveii the score. Faulty placing of the ball lost the visitors the" opportunicy of eonverting their try. Rucking forward play in the centre of the field foPowed until half-time. Rain continued to fall after the opening of the second half and the ground became worse as play went on. Hui Mai dominated play and the home team were compelled to force twice within a f-ew minutes. A knock-on by Mortimer on his ten-yard line resulted in a scrum going down, and it was from this' that Shannon .were awarded & free kick 'which aliowed them to clear. Hui Mai Were having the better of the game for the greater part of the second spell, although there were. times When the home team looked as if they might score. - Play moved up and. down the field with scrums and 'lineouts giving the forwards the opportun-ity to keep the ball on the ground. Whenever the backs got the ball . there was little that could be done to advantage. The final whistle went with play centering round the haff-way flags. •» ^ Mr. J. A. Zuppicich very ably controlled the game.