FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2595, 19 June 1923, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL. RESULTS OF MATCHES. SENIOR. Wanderers .3 v. Weraroa nil. Shannon 23 v. Foxton 3. Hui’ Mai 11 v. Otaki 8. t > i * .JUNIORS. Rovers 19 v. Weraroa 3. Hui Mai 11 y. Otaki 6. Te Horo va Paraparaumu, not played. Tokomaru 17 v. Mangore 8. Koputaroa 7 v. Shannon 5. THIRDS. Shannon 9 v. Rovers 3. Hui Mai 6. v. Kuku 3. Te Horo 27 v. Otaki nil. On. Saturday afternoon the Foxton Seniors journeyed to Shannon, where they unsuccessfully played a lively and at times, an exciting game. As usual the contest with Shannon was noteworthy- for the friendly spirit of rivalry, and one does not hesitate to assert that the Shannon men are chivalrous knights of the leather. The field being greasy, and the home team possessing the advantage of weight, the Foxton team were uncomfortably at a disadvantage. From the. commencement there was no doubt about the issue of the struggle in which the visitors, although outclassed, fought valiantly for every inch of ground. Often frantic efforts to score were made, but the agility of the'Shannon backs well accustomed to playing on treacherous ground, foiled every attempt.

Shannon, winning' the toss, elec--1 ted to play with the sun at their backs, while the visitors played with a glaring light shining in their faces throughout the whole of the first spell. Rewi Moynihan, an old campaigner, and a deep thinking player, mustered his forces well, so that as soon as the ball emerged from the scrum, :t was iminediatelv transferred to the living column who always took the ball at the full and sprinted for the line. Ever alert in detecting, a vulnerable point in the visitors’ defence, they had the happy knack of kicking the ball to whatever quarter resistance was least and herein lay the success of their enterprise. It is regrettable that this is the, first serious set-back the Foxton team has experienced this season, but “forewarned is forearmed” and therefore' it is hoped that the team will take seriously to training before it is too late. The forward pack was sadly lacking in concerted action which was a noticeable feature of Shannon’s play. However, they did their best, to compensate for the loss of players which they have of late sustained. Unity of action can be obtained only by long continued practice to ensure that each man is fully conversant with his responsibilities, and Rt the same time knows what his partners are doing. While -the backs always placed themselves nicely, there appeared to be a good deal of hesitation when a good chance of scoring was presented to them. The first spell ended with the scores as follows: Shannon 14, Foxlon nil. During the second ( spell, from a passing rush following a scrum, Taylor crossed the line; hut failed to convert while Shannon added a further 9 points to their total. The game ended: Shannon 23, Foxton 3. Mr Seiascia ahly controlled the whistle. HOROWHENUA REP. TEAM. TO PLAY PALMERSTON NEXT SATURDAY. Mr J. J. O’Connor, sole selector of the Horowhenua Rugby Union, has chosen the following team to play Manawatu at Levin next. Saturday : _ . Full back: Metu Johnston (Hm Mai); three-quarters: Udy (Otaki), Kelly (Shannon), Wells (Weraroa); five-eighths: Batchelor (Otaki), Reid (Foxton) ;,hnlf: R. .McDonald (Wanderers); wing forward,: H. Jacob (Wanderers); hookers: Sands (Shannon), Howell (Wanderers): lock: Tana (Hui Mai); supports: Broughton (Weraroa), Moynihan (Shannon) back row: Rhodes (Otaki), T. Gardner (Hui Mai): "^emergencies: half, Lenihan (Shannon); hack, Baker (Foxton): forwards (hooker) Haknrnin (Otaki), Campion (Wanderers), Marsh (Foxton)'.