SHANNON DEFEAT ATHLETIC, 11-3.

Chronicle (Levin), 22 August 1949, Page 4

SHANNON DEFEAT ATHLETIC, 11-3.

The - Shannon .slniors maintained their unbeaten record for this season by defeating Athletic — who We'rO two points behind — in a.ll departments of the game except for hooking in set scrums. Athletic, however, di'd. not. give up their chance' of winning the championship without putting up a good nght and the result Was that the large number of supporters for both teams were given one of the best displays of good, hard, fast rugby seen in the district for some years," the play being marked by ujtniost keenness from start to finish and there was many .a .thrill befOre the referee, Mr. McMillan, piped full-time. Shannon, with greater strength ih. the forwards, appeared to have the game in their hands throughoutr and many present must have wondered how Pigott and Robertson, two big ' non-stop , forwards have failed to catch the selector's eye, • •

The Shannon backs worked as a teapi and with good handliflg and strqng in def.ence would have been a hard line. to beat on the day. Poutu, the Maori winger, with his smart runs and incessant looking for work was very popular with the CroWd. For Athletic King, Powell, and Sciascia distinguished themselves in the forwards — what a good forward Sciascia would be with height and weight. Ross Smith carried Out the position of second fiveeighths with honours and it was surprising to see him shifted in the seqond half. Ryan and Lind drew attention and both these boys sho'uld go on to bigger football. The teams were: — Athletic: De Castro, Lind, Lancaster, Parsons, Smith, Galloway, Ryan, Gordon, King, Powell, Fleteher, G. Sciascia, Rippin, Taylor and Doyle. Shannon: Fuller, Rahihi,- Poutu, M; Mdxiiihfpv Bt/-jM:oyn|han,- Morti'-, mefjt^ittf WSayer, Ches'ter, Rotaertspn,"' Woods, Pigott, And.erson, Calleson and Rowlands. • Athletic won the toss and Shanhon kicked oif into a stiff wind. One of the Athletic forwards knocked on and from the Scrum Shannon secUred and the ball travelled the length of their backline to Rahihi who was forced out. A crooked throw-in saw another scrum go down for . Athletic to secure and break through to the half-way mark, but bustling play by the Shannon forwards took play back to the Athletic 25 where

one 01 tnem. players was caught off-side, Fiiller took the kick but the wind carried it outside the posts. Athletic forced down. From the drop-out Athletic went on the attack and frofh a scrum they secured possession and" took play up .to the Shannon 25 where Galloway had a pot but failed to make the - ball rise high enough. Shannon forced. Athletic were right on the game at this stage and took play to the Shannon line and once again the home team touched down. : "Good following up by Tritt and Rahihi took play back into Athletic territory and irom a ■free kick against one of the Athletic breakaways, Fuller gained another 20 yards. Two scrums in succession saw Shannon out-hook-ed and Galloway, who was concentrating on the line, took play back ■to half-way with two good kicks. Tbe Shannon forwards, with Woods, Rowlands and Robertson ;shaping particularly well, rushed iplay into the Athletic 25 where Smith came across very fast to ftlh the ball out. Shannon were notv playing like a team -and harassed Athletic right down to their . line where B. Moynihan secured and- dived over to open Shannon's account. Fuller had no trOttble in ad'd'ing the extra two points. Shannon 5, Athletic 0. . Shannon were right after more points and a good cut-in by MorUmor,.who passed-to M. Moynihan,

a; ■ j; . Ij* m 1 1 '.V saw p'ay once moj'e In the Athletic 25 where Smith saved with a line kick. From a. fuck thq ball came out to Mortimer, who had a pot but' the wind took the "ball off its course. Athletic touched down. FrOm the drop-out play went to half-way where a scrum went down. Athletic hooked but Mortimer, who was now playing up on Galloway, smothered the latter's kick. Mlsunderstanding of the line timpire by Fuller and Rahihi Saw Lancaster off for a try but he was ' bowled into touch by M. Moynihan . inside Shannon's 25. ETom the line-out the ball went to Ross Smith, who cut-in nicely- but was pulled down by Poutu just short of the line. A brilliant run by Poutu and M. -Moynihan gained 50 yards for Shannon. From a, scrum infringement Shannon were awarded a free kick and -Fuller goaled. Shannon 8, Athletic 0. Shannon were definitely on top at this stage and with the half-time whistle sounding went off the field with eiglit points up and the use of the wind to^ome. At the resumption. Athletic , took play inside Shannon's 25 but lost this advantage \ when Robertson and Pigott, who had both been working like trojans, took charge, the ball being taken back to halfway where Athletic Were aWarded a free kick. Galloway, kicking for the line, gained 30 yards and from the following- line-out Gordon and Sciascia broke through but Fuller eaimly took the ball from their loes, dummied his way past several players and kicked the ball back to De Castro who was playing safe and kicked the ball out ten yards in Shannon territory, A scrum

ior a not straight tnrow-m saw Athletic gain possession but Sayer and Mortimer bustled the Blue's inside backs and the Shannon forwards, with Woods and Anderson to the fore, took control and carried play into Athletic's ground. Several Shannon players handled and a kick to the Athletic line saw De Castro penalised but . unfortunately for Shannon the line umpire ruled that the ball had gone out earlier and play was taken back for a line-Out. Shannon were now after more points and with both sets of forwards playing great football the erowd were getting a real feast of Rugby as it should be played.

From a scrum Tritt secured, and with a typical Tritt run, cut around the scrum, Poutu called for -the ball, raced infield and passed to Rowlands who drew the full back and passed out to Chester, who expertly finished? off a grand movement to score ten yards from the goal posts. Fuller's kick missed. Shannon 11, Athletic 0. Athletic came hard from the kick off and just when it looked as though they wouM reduce the margin against therfi. ■ Rowlands secured and, putting his head down, made a ' spectacular 30 yard dash before being brought down. Lind looked dangerous when he received from a ruck, .eluding his man and cutting infield to gain a Iot of ground, but the defence was too solid. A free kick taken by Galloway failed to raise the touch judge's flags. From the drop out Tritt and Robertson liriked - up, the ball travelling to the Athletic line but once again Smith's speed saved a try. An intercept by Sciascia, who passed to Fletcher, looked like trouble for Shannon but B. Moynihan was there to hold up the attack, the ball ging out to Poutu who kicked over Lin'd's head, secured again and kicked over De Castro's head, only to slip over when a try looked certain. Smith secured to put the ball out 15 yards in Shannon territory. With full time approachirtg % pena!ty,'rwa,s -awarded. to Athletfe an4t|Gs||o.yray?|i^det no doiibt about 11, Athletic 3. The final whistle sounded with Shannon on the attack, the score. being Shannon 11, Athletic 3. Thus Shannon won the double , for the year, now hplding both cricket and rugby championships.