RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3786, 1 May 1928, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS. SENIOR. Hui Mai 3 v. Weraroa nil. Wanderers 19 v. 'Shannon 8. JUNIOR. Miranui 15 v: Foxton nil. Shannon won by default from Wanderers. Maungatuku 8 v. Paraparaumu 3 Hui Mai 15 v. Weraroa 3. THIRD GRADE. Foxton 32 v. Tokomaru 0. Wanderers 3. v. Weraroa 0. Hautere 8 v. Otaki 0. MIRANUI (15) v. FOXTON NIL. The teams in Saturday’s game were as follows: Foxton. —H. Taylor, Williams, Newton, N. Huff, Hirini, Stevenson, Royal, 'Chipper, Findlayson,! Anderson, (Hartley, Broad, Rankin, Thompson, Wright. Miranui. —Picard, Croon, Crawford, Young, Humphries, McEwen, Goodwin, Farrell, Vertongen, Polglase, G. Batt, Mason, Mabey and Harrison.

Miranui opened with an attacking movement which was checked •by Stevenson, who transferred to Hirini but faulty handling enabled Miranui to swoop down into yellow territory. Williams checked and transferred play to centre. Miranui again broke through and faulty handling spoilt their effort. Foxton with a loose rush carried the play to Miranui’s teri ritory ' where Thompson, Hirini, Williams and Stevenson looked dangerous, but Huff missed a difficult pass and Miranui cleared and attacked, a free kick relieving Foxton. Thompson broke away *but his pass to Stevenson, who was handy, was forward. Pickard sent the yellows back with well judged line kicks. Play went up and down and then Miranui charged / Foxton’s line and a free kick saved the yellows. Again Miranui charged down and McEwen transferred to Vertongen who crossed. Pickard failed to add the major points. Miranui 3, Foxton nib Yellows were attacking when half time come. Foxton rallied at the opening and a good opportunity to score was spoilt by faulty handling. Time and again Picard foiled yellows attacking movements. Broad took a one-handed pass /from Huff and streaked for the line and got within a few feet of crossing, but got pushed out at the icorner. Miranui got away with a loose rush right down the field. Picard handled a return kick and potted a goal. Miranui 7, Foxton nil. Another loose scramble saw Crawford over. Miranui 10, Foxton nil. Foxton rallied and kept up - an attack on the green line and two good chances to cross were spoilt by faulty handling. Both Thompson and Anderson, had bad luck in this connection. Greens again rushed play to yellow territory, and the ball was kicked towards the dead ball line and Polglase followed and dropped on it. Picard added the major points, Miranui 15 Foxton nil. Mr. Hopa controlled the game.

•Miranui juniors, who defeated Foxton on Saturday, are a welldisciplined team, and are capably coached by T. Watson. On the field their conduct is exemplary, and they play clean football. Saturday’s game was their second match, having defeated Shannon, the Saturday previous. Last year they carried off junior honours, and this year they should give a good account of themselves. They are a well-balanced team, perhaps a bit heavier than any of the other competitors. Picard, their full-back, is a tower of strength, and his well-judged line-kicking is a source of trouble to opponents. Foxton on Saturday, time and again played into Picard’s hands and with the result that their attacking movements were mullified. Other members of the team are all grafters, and as the season advances their combination is bound to improve. The popularity of this team was exemplified on Saturday when, their efforts met with welldeserved appreciation from the onlookers.

The Wleraroa Football Club wrote to the Shannon Club, at its last meeting’ regarding the action of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council in regard to the use of the ground controlled by the Foxton Club, having in response to the Foxton Club’s request granted 10 per cent, on all gates on theis grounds at the racecourse. Weraroa regarded such action with great dissatisfaction and desired the opinion of other clubs. Mr. Richards explained that the racing authorities had given the Foxton Club permission to use their ground and the Council had decided on this action provided the money was spent on the ground. It was decided to take no action, the meeting expressing the opinion that it was a good idea.

The Foxton Thirds met a very different team to what they encountered the previous Saturday. They met Tokomaru on No. 2 ground and cake-walked over them to the tune of 32 points to nil. The visitors stuck gamely to their task of attempting to stem the attacks of a much superior opposition. The Thirds were represented by the following: —Huff, Newson, Newth, N. Easton, Hartley ' (captain), Dunn, Chrystall, Mathers, Anderson, Marshall, Taylor, Hoffmann, Smith, Baird and Aldridge.

Foxton seniors will play Shannon at Shannon next Saturday. Foxton juniors will play Shannon at Shannon and the Thirds have a bye.

The Wednesday team to play Palmerston North on. the local racecourse at 2.30 p.m. to-mor-row will be selected from the following:—R. Desjardines, R. Small, Honour, McCarthy, W- Williams, D. Ball, R. Ball, R. Hornblow, J. Francis, C. Anderson, L. Anderson, B. Wright, W. Williams, G. Rankin, Royal, F. Desmond, R. Hetta, J. Christie, E. Stevenson, Reader, Barrett, R, Heath, W. E. Bullard, H. Hutchins.

The outstanding back in Saturday’si junior match, Foxton-Mir-anui, was Stevenson. Time and again he opened up the game and turned defence into attack, but faulty handling and lack of combination spoilt his efforts. He missed Ross to further his openings. A mistake was made in putting Broad in the forwards in the first half. His place is wing threequarter. His gathering of a pass while travelling at top was one of the.features of the game. He has speed, kicks with judgment and can be relied upon to bring his man down. Hirini is not yet in his form, but will prove a tower of strength to the juniors this year. Royal has quite recovered from his indisposition and was prominent in the forward division with Thompson and Findlay. The team will need to develop more concerted action. Saturday’s game displayed a lack of combination.