RAHUI PROVED TOO FIT FOR SHANNON

Chronicle (Levin), 5 September 1949, Page 4

RAHUI PROVED TOO FIT FOR SHANNON

The inevhabie happened on urday when Rahui defeated Shannon at Levin Park Domain by 17 points . to six. Once Rahui gained the lead Shannon never looked dke catching up the arrears. Fitness proved the deciding factor in the concluding stages of the gahie. Rahui fielded a young and fast team and it should develop into a good eombination next year. Their back's performed well on defence and often cut the Shannon defence to ribbons through their trieky movements. Although Shannon had a definite a'dvantage in the scrums, the efforts were often wasted by Tritt's . erratic passing, with the result that the Rahui bapks were intercepting the ball before it reached Newton. Hglf way through tRe second spell, when it appeared that Shannon were making no impression in their attacking' movements, some very vigorous play reteulted hut as the final whistle sounded the Shannon team sportingiy rushed to congratulate the Rahui team on their meritorious win. A. Winterburn was the most outstanding player on the day, scoring two praticularly fine tries. His folldwing up was the key to his aehievements. Mortimer again playe-d his usual sound game at full-back, his kicking being well directed. Woods, Southee and Callesen were the most prominent of the Shannon forwards. The Winterburn brothers . were the backbone pf the Rahui forwards, while Walker, Phillips and Watt were prominent in the . rucks. Davis, McLeod and Waaka showed good eombination and were always looking f-or openings. Early Points. Play had not settled 'down before Rahui were awarded a penalty, which A. Hakaraia turned to points. Rahui gained the advantage in a forward ruck and forced play inside the Shannon 25, but Mortimer rushed to the scene, gained the baU and kicked it out on the half-way mark. Shannon got the ball from the lineout, bul Davis intercented and sped for the line to be grassed by Peach ten yards short. Shannon forwards reiieved the position with a geries of rushes and Peach got the ball out to Newton, who passed to Poutu. He cross kicked and a ruck took place from which Sduthee broke through to'go over ih the corner. Shannon 3, Rahui 3Rahui retaliated hard, but the Shannon defence held good until J. Winterburn broke through wfih t-he ball at his feet. Mortimer fell on it, but A. Winterburn, foliowing up, gathered in the ball and * dived over two players to score. Rahui 6, Shamion 3. Pla-y slackened slightly for ten minqtes or more, but the Rahui forwards, breaking * through a scrum, carried play to the Shannon 25, where Matthews speculated and kicked hard. In the r.ace for the ball A. Winterburn scored his second try and Davis converted. Rahui 11, Shannon 3. That was the half-time score. Advantage Held. Rahui kicked off on Tesuming p^ay and Waaka, fo.llowing up fast, got the ball and ran a good 20 yards to be brought down with about five yards to go. A scrum went down and Shannon, put up a determined bid.and reversed the position, but Rahui.'s defence proved too solid and hard play centred around the Rahui 25. It was some time # before Rahui actually took the initiatiye however and Shannon were now showing signs of tiring. An infringement gave Rahui- a penalty' which Davis ably kicked making the score 14 — 3. Aiter a series of forward rucks, which gave neither side the advantage, Rahui backs gained con-

trol of the ball, but their efforts were short lived when McLeod was tackled by Poutu. Rahui were awarded another penalty, with Davis again doing the honours An all out effort by the Shannon forwards drovs Rahui on the defence. Shannon secured their next three points when they were awarded a penalty, callesen being successful. Ra.hui were pressing hard on Shamion ag the final whistle blew to make Rahui the winners by 17 — 6. ML D. Aitcheson cpntrolled the game.

Police To Population. New Zealand has one policeman (of all ranks) to every 1202 of population, the cost-p.el inhabitanr for maintenance of police being 11s Ofd for the- year ended Marcb 31, 1949, stated the annual reporfc of the Police Department, t-abled in the House of Representativeg. Those figures were compared with Australian SLates, the nearest in botli respects being Victoria (one to 851 inhabitants, costing 14s 9d . a head) and the most remote I being New South "Wales (one to » j 275, costing £1 2s 5d) . . * Mr. Bukola's Letter. A Lagps merehant, Mr. H. Bukalo, has sent to a Gisborne firm of drapers the following quaintiy worded letter: — "Dear Manager, — Limited: Thank for esteem named, pass to ug as exporters of * local prodiet, do, we / xake this chance to introduce "our firm as impofter- of the following viz., anykind of etoth— damask, velvets, silk, hat, cap, jewellery and provision, etc. — porcelain, hardware, enamel— glassware, etc., and, we earneptiy sampie with the lowest quotation ihoihding prices c.i.f., f.o.b., Lagps, sundries ar icles, terms, our- rriode of payment are base under "sjght drgf payment, pardon urgent for your samp e by air mail, quick. Yours trully, H Olomu St., Lages." The letter has been filed. I . • ' ' ■ ,i