SATURDAY'S GAMES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 July 1911, Page 2

SATURDAY'S GAMES.

LEVIN (()) v. SHANNON (0)

This match was played at Levin on Saturday in the presence of a moderate attendance. The ground was in good condition, but tho match proved one of the most disappointing .senior exhibitions of football witnessed on the ground tin's season. b\ Rout, who donned the jersey for Levin after an absence of two years from active service, proved a useful substitute at full-back. Shannon kicked off in the. face of the sun, and a free-kick against them was taken by Nepia which went fairly close. Levin continued to press, keeping Shannon well in thoir 25. Another f roe - kick to Sh-an.iion was taken by Xepia, a scrum being formed in front of the Shannon goal. A kick by Cootes relieved the. pressure, and Shannon bore down on the home, defence. Another free-kick fell to Levin. Shannon returned the ball, but Rout was equal to all emergencies, and returned the leather with a. powerful punt, the ball eventually going into touch in Shannon 25. A nice bo.ut of passing by the Yellows gave Levin an anxious time for a while. A free-kick to Shannon between half-way a.nd the homo 25 proved unproductive, and play was removed to Shannon's 25, where Close put in a tactful kick. Offside, against Shannon gave a. freekick to Levin, Nepia making a good shot at goal. Play was transferred to the home end, Coote kicking forward, but Rout relieved with a good kick. Shortly afterwards Rout again 'brought off a good save, and was cheered by the spectators. Desultory play followed, but Shannon were having quite as much of the game as the Blacks. The Yellows were playing a bettor game in the forwards, their passing, though by no means accurate, contrasting more than favourably with that of Levin. Up till this period, too, they were the better in the scrum. Matters weve livened up by Lewer nearly scoring at the corner, and a. moment later Xepia kicked hard, followed up the ball, and beating the full-back, scored a fine try. Lester took the kick and missed by an inch. —Levin 3. Shannon 0. ' Play gravitated towards tho Levin end, and Hopa playing the ball on tho ground. Shannon got an abortive free-kick. Shannon were shewing up well in the rushes, and after some pressure in the home 25 Shannon had another free-kick, but the ball rebounded on to one of the homo players. Marton Winiata was playing a groat game, but he was badly supported by his men, who played with little vim or cohesion. Halftime arrived with tho scores: - Levin", 3; Shannon. 0. On the resumption Shannon had the bettor of matters, and pressed severely. They got a free-kick in front of the goal, but this proved ineffective. Then Levin broke away, and Hopa. made a good run downlielil and passed to Hcta, who scored. The resulting kick taken by Lester proved a failure.—Levin, (5; Shannon, 0. Nepia mulled in the home 25. but redeemed his honour immediately afterwards by punting well down field. Off-side for Shannon brought relief, and Gobo put in some nice work. The ball travelled to the other wing, and subsequently play drifted to the Shannon end. Here Levin experienced hard lines in not scoring; the visitors' defece, .however, proved sound. A smart spurt 'by the visitors' forwards, in which Ripi, O.sborno and MeClellan were oonspjcuoiis, was neutralised by Nepia Winiata. Play degenerated into a scramble, the boot being too frequently resorted to. The game generally was a poor exhibition of senior football, and was relieved only by some good rushes by the Shannon forwards, who, had' they been supported by'their backs, .might have effected a different result. As it was they failed to score, and retired defeated by (5 points to nil. Mr T. Pa rata rc-f creed.

IKT.I MAI (14) v. TAINUI (8). A fast and interesting game took place at Manakau between tho above teams, interest being maintained right up to the call of time. The Tainni forwards worked like Trojans and packed and scrummaged like clockwork, and showed out to a greater advantage than then- opponents. The back division of the visitors was. 'however, weak in places, and to this must be attributed a measure of their defeat. Tho fullback was painfully feeble, and let his side dawn repeatedly.. Tho Hui Mai backs were safe, and played with surenoss, if without brilliance. Kroin the kick-off the pace sot was a cracker. The visiting scriuninagers wvro out-classing their opponents, and repeatedly rushed the ball down the field. Eventually their efforts wcv& rewarded, MeCall getting over, the result of a fast dribbling rush. Hen are Bawiri converted. Attack a,nd counter attack followed in rapid succession. Hui .Mai carried the ball within striking distance, .but the visiting pack rallied nnmd and- cleared in great style. Piny remained in midfield for some time, and eventually the Hui Mai forwards, led bv George and Bevan, rushed the ball over the line. A visiting hack failed to toucb down and the ball wna immediately pounced upon by two of the Blue pack. The effort at goal proved fruitless. Even play ensued. The Hui Mai half repeatedly set liis backs in motion, but no material advantage was realised. From a scrum near b'alf-way the ball shot out to the visiting half, who immediately passed 'on" to his backs. A pretty bout of passing followed, which culminated in Aston sewing a. try near the corner. This was the finest piece of concerted nlay of the da v. The kick at goal failed. Hui Mai lv-id a strenuous time in defending their line, but the defence was not pierced, and at ih'alf time the game was in favour of Tsinini by 8 points to 3. In the second spell play was even more interesting than In the first. Certainly Hui Mai bad the better of matters, but at times thev were defending strenuously. No score eventuated till some 25 minutes' play. Hui Mai \ve.v& pressing their opponents bard and a visitor was penalised, for tripping in front of bis own goal. Ned Bevan took the kick and piloted the hail I over tho bar. Hui Mai now' pi r aved with. iSfreat dash, but the visiting, pack more than b'elcl its own, and had it not been for weakness in tackling would probnbly bave still maintained the lead. Boh George secured the 'ball from a line-out" hear halfway, and ran .through the- wfliole "bf

the opposing backs, who matte practically no attempt to collar him. Ned Bevan added the extra points. With the game standing in favour of the home side the visitors again made determined efforts to increase their lead. They were, however, unsuccessful. Shortly l>efor© the call of time Hui Mai notched; another try, which put the issue of of doubt. Mr Burge refereed. WT3R AR 0 A "vT'TOXTOX. Tho Weraroa playws wore lulled to meet the Foxton fifteen on the \Veraroa gmund, hut the visitors failed to put in am appearance and the lioino team won by default. KOPtTTAROA(7f7) v. HUT MAI (3). A good deal of interest was centred' in this match at Koputawa as the two .teams are considered to bo the strongest in the junior competition. During the game two members of the Koputaim team and one of the Hui Mai team were ordered off the field. The liui Mai player, Diamond, was ordered off for striking an opponent, while Pnu and Poara were similarly dealt with for Other breaches. After a keen gam;' the Koputaroa boys ran out winners by four tries, two of which were converted, to a penalty goal. Mr. J. Smith refereed.