SHANNON TOO STRONG FOR WANDERERS

Chronicle (Levin), 29 August 1949, Page 4

SHANNON TOO STRONG FOR WANDERERS

Shannon, ' thO winners of the senior competition, continued on cheir winning way by. defeating Wanderers 16-6. But for, the lack of fitness of the Wanderers team the task of Shannon may have been harder, for in the last ten minutes of the game the visitors scored 10 points. Both sides gave good displays a'nd . the spectators witnessed a most entertaining game. On the day Mortimer was the most outstanding player on the field and if he repeats his performance in the All Black game next Thursday he should prove; a worthy representative of Horowhenua. Milroy's hooking was as good a& any ever seen on the .Park Domain. He did not have it all his own way in' the first half, but in the second half he decisively dominated the scrums. . Tritt played his usual sound game, while Peach, a comparatively youhg player, was reliable at first five-eighths. It was unfortunate for Wanderers that Gwynn was hurt in the first few minutes of the game, as he is probably the backoone of the Wanderers back line. Poutu was always dangerous but was well marked by Stevenson, who played his best game to date. Heremaia -appeared to be greedy whenever he received the ball and was usually caught in possession. Woods was prominent in .most of the rucks and is still playing good football, while Callesen's kicking was most creditable. - The First Spell. Play had only been in progress a few minutes when Wanderers were awardea a penalty, Heremaia doing the honours to draw -first blood for his team. From a ruck on the Wanderers' twenty-five the defenders momentarily gained the advantage and forced play to the half-way mark. Peach, however, intercepted a pass, made a good run, and then sent to Rauhihi, who scored. Again Wanderers made thc attack and were pressing Shannon on the ten-yard mark, but Poutu, playing well, relieved the position and sped upfield only to be tackled by Heremaia.' Rucking hard on the halfway mark, Shannon forwards, with Chester, Sayer and Woods prominent, got the ball to Tritt. It went from Peach to Moynihan to Poutou, who was grassed with 10 yards to go. Milroy, Lincoln - and Heinmarsh .broke through from the lineout and forced Shannon on the defebce. Shannon were in trouble and Milroy, following up well, was uniucky not to go over, the ball finally being kicked into touch on the Shannon 10-yard mark. Sciascia received the ball from his forwards and raced away, but could not get through and the ball went out on the other side. of the field. Wanderers, playing very determinedly, finally gained a well-merited try when their forwards broke through and Marshall scored under the posts. The kick, which appeared a particularly easy one, failed, and the score at half-time was Wanderers 6, Shannon 3. Pace Livens tJp. On resuming, the pace was livened up on both sides and Shannon were all out to even the scores, which they eventually did when Callesen kicked a penalty. With a lineout on the half-way line, Woods broke away. But for the solid defence of the Wanderers' back-line they may have scored." Time and time again the Wanderers'' defence was tested and proved a trifl© too solid: The game was -really entertaining from this poiiit, a# both, ftides were grasping

all the opehings possible. Shannon, however, had thd better eomoination, while Wanderers- appeared to be tiring. The Wanderers backs looked like being in trouble when Poutu intercepted and raced away to put- his*. team in the lead. Callesen added the extras to make the score 11-6. Shannon were definitely dominating play" from this point, and B. * Moynihan, kicking through, scored a hiost impressive try. Again Callesen converted. As the full-time whiistle blew, ^tiannon were pressing Wanderers in the latter's territory. The final score was Shannon 16, Wanderers 6. Mr. F. Dr Cha'iney controlled the game.