RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3813, 3 July 1928, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AUSTIN BANNER COMPETITION

On Saturday at Shannon the Foxton Primary school played their first game in the second round of the above competition, and tbe Foxton team which has, up to date, won all its games,- was outclassed by their opponents to the extent of 9 points to 3. For the first twenty minutes both teams battled in even play; a new ball proved deceiving to both sides. The Shannon backs gave good exhibitions of passing rushes and once or twice threatened the Foxton goal line which was invariably cleared. Only twice did Foxton force Shannon behind their own line. The monotony of the even play was broken when B. Coley took the ball from a Shannon back at half way and scored. The try was not converted. Foxton 3 Shannon nil.

The last ten minutes of the first half brought no further points for either side.

■Shortly after the play commenced in the - serornl half, Mason (Shannon) made an exciting rush but was taken by R. Coley who thus saved the line being crossed. From a scrum that followed Kura cleared with a line kick. -From the line out Shannon backs came to the fore-front and Picard after having taken the ball at his toe for a considerable distance, scored a try which was not converted. Foxton 3—• Shannon 3.

From the kick off Shannon continued to press Foxton’s goal lino until Kura cleared, only to have Shannon battling near the line after a very short time. A penalty kick was given against Foxton for playing the ball on the ground. This was converted by Tremewin. Shannon 6 —Foxton 3.

Shortly after the kick olf Shannon were once more continuing their play in the Foxton half and the latter forced. The paly was decidedly exciting as the scrummages round the Foxton goal line were dangerous. It was from a scrum here in the last five minutes of the game the Shannon "team once more crossed the Foxton line, but failed to convert. Shannon 9 —Foxton 3.

.The game was one in which Foxton for some unknown reason lost their usual skill in handling the ball. The second half found Foxton constantly on defence and Shannon always in possession of the "ball. The Shannon backs gave very good exhibitions of passing rushes and Roach and McEwan arc deserving of praise. After the match the Foxton team was entertained at morning tea provided by the girls and teachers of Shannon school.

Mr. Procter congratulated the Shannon team on the deserving win. The best team he stated had.won, and it would he a lesson to our boys to practice more. Mr. Wjhyte on behalf of the Shannon boys replied. He stated that he did not know which of the teams was surprised the more when the numbers went up and that it could not be denied, as all agreed, that on the play the better team had won. The reception was concluded with ' cheers of gratefulness for those who had provided the refreshments.

JUNIOR MATCH.

FOXTON (11) v. SHANNON (7)

The junior match Foxton v. Shannon took place at Shannon on Saturday afternoon before a fair crowd of spectators. The ground, which is much heavier than Foxton, was in good order. Shannon iielded a much heavier team than Foxton and in close work had no difficulty in pushing their lighter opponents. The visitors however, got possession of the ball from the scrum more often than their opponents, Mason took the held again for Shannon and played a sterling game throughout, being ably backed up by Birchall, Pi'att and Satherley. Shannon opened brightly w T ith some good forward thrusts, but in the second spell failed badly to cope with the fast open , play of the Foxton backs. Foxton were without the services of Ross and Chipper in the forwards, their places being filled by Reg lieta and Couch, the latter playing a sterling game. Thompson, who had not recovered from an indisposition, took his place and played with his usual dash, “Boy ’ Stevenson, received particular attention from his opponents, but was always prominent. Huff more than compensated for his earlier failings and his later spectacular cut-ins and dummying were a feature of the game. Jeff Williams made no mistakes. H. Ross, the heady skipper, sent out some low passes which spoilt one or two fine attacking movements, but his heady foilings and clever strategy compensated. The forwards did not let up throughout. Procter showed to better advantage in the second half. Foxton played up-hill during the first half and set the ball in motion. Huff failed to handle the ball and let Shannon through and a force resulted. Shannon again attacked in Foxton’s 25. Stevenson shot out a pass to Ross, who transferred low to Williams, who failed-to gather it and Gray and Mason handled, the latter racing over. Mason failed with the kick. Shannon 3—Foxton nil. Shannon again attacked and Foxton’s tackling was faulty and play for a time was ragged. A free kick set Foxton going and Shannon were busy defending. Stevenson, Ross and Thompson handled but a return kick which Huff failed to gather was rushed down and Mason made no mistake with a shot

at goal. Shannon 7—Foxton nil. Foxton now livened up and rushed play to Shannon’s 25 where Thompson failed to gather a low pass for a certain try. Foxton returned to attack in Shannon’s 25. Ross, Thompson, Hartley and Stevenson carried play right on to Shannon’s line, where from a serum Shannon forced. Again yellows tried to cross but Shannon were showing them points in tackling. Again reds were compelled to force. Faulty passing by the Foxton backs were off-setting the forwards attacking movements.

The second spell opened with Foxton attacking. Huff transferred to Rankin to Anderson, who raced across. The kick failed — Foxton 3 —Shannon 7. Again Foxton attacked, forwards and backs combining and Shannon forced. The yellows were now playing with great dasli and Stevenson transferred to Thompson who got over, but a free kick was awarded Shannon for off-side play. Again Foxton were penning the reds in and a force resulted. Shannon charged down on to Foxton’s line and a free kick relieved and sent the yellows to the centre. Then followed a spectacular piece of play. Huff secured and shot to Williams to Huff who cut in and transferred to Ross who ran over. Stevenson’s kick failed —Foxton (I—Shannon 7. Foxton were now dominating the play and throwing the ball about. Thompson put in a strong run and short punted, but a knock on saved Shannon. % Foxton continued to attack and Ross sent Procter away and he raced across. Fluff added the major points—Foxton 11— Shannon 7. Shannon tried to equalise by an attack but the sting had gone out of their movements. Huff failed with a penalty kick and the game ended with Foxton attacking.

Mr. Sands controlled the game

ALL BLACKS DEFEATED,

IN FIRST TEST MATCH.

BY 17 POINTS TO NIL.

By two potted goals, two penalty goals, and a try the New Zealanders were defeated by South Africa in the first Test match at Durban on Saturday. The New Zealand forwards were overwhelmed in the scrums, while the backs were “disappointing.” " Lindsay, the fullback, gave a brilliant exhibition.

Fourteen of the points were scored by Bennie Osier, the crack fly-half, who is now regarded as a national hero. He potted both goals and kicked two penalties.

A few minutes before time when the Springboks had been attacking continuously De Villiers worked the blind side brilliantly, The ball went to Bennie Osier and then to Slater who cut .clean through the defence to score a great try the only one of the game. B. Osier just missed goaling. A report says: The game went •to the better balanced side and superior set of tacticians.

At the same time it must be stated that for the bigger part of the match New Zealand played with a three-quarter line of cro_cks. Grenside’s knee was injured in the last match and failed him early. Robilliard when downed hard by Slater rose limping badly and could hardly run for the rest of the day.

Carleton in the first few minutes had his thigh muscle badly damaged. Even as sore as they were, however, these men played a magnificent defensive game smashing Springbok attacks time and again. With a pack that was obtaining easily the larger share of the scrums South Africa’s dominance radiated to their fast elusive threequarter line where the two Osiers combined with fine precision cleverly drawing their men or varying play with the short punt or line kick.

De Villiers was a very clever half getting the ball away to his men without hesitation.

Taken altogether the New Zealand backs except for stubborn defence were disappointing. The forwards were overwhelmed in the serums but held the upper hand in line outs.

The most brilliant exhibition of full-back play seen on the tour was given by Lindsay to-day. He had a tremendous amount of work hut never failed being sound in every department. Dailey was wayward and uncertain and failed to get the New Zealand back machine on the move.

Johnson suffered as a result but at the same time lie too was not impressive. Strang was good in patches. The forwards battled hard and hopelessly with Hadley, Stewart, Swain and Brownlie the most prominent workers.

The South African forward front row —Mostert, Kruger, and Van Druten —formed a splendid trio who played a great game. Pretorious was another line forward who.pjayed centre three-quar-ter when Duffy was injured. There may have been more brilliant and scientillating exhibitions of the code in international matches but it is doubtful whether there has ever been a match more strenuously fought. There is only one epitaph to record—-New Zealand was beaten by a better team.

A meeting of all ladies interested in the Foxton Football Club will be held in gulls’ rooms at 7 o’clock to-morrow evening. This evening Mr. H. Reid will give a blackboard lecture to thq Juniors at the practice shed at 7 o’clock sharp. Full attendance requested.