FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 24 June 1921, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

POSITIONS OF TEAMS. Following are the positions Of the semor teams and the Northern Junior teams up till Saturday last:— SENIORS.

NOTES wd COMMENT. Rep. match, Manawatu v. llotowhenua, at Shannon on Saturday. owing to the rep. match, all Union fixtures have been postponed on Saturday. Mr T. Parata has been selected as reiy.ov; tor the rep. match. \, iiiist it was generally expected that ilia Mai would extenu Shannon la.-i Saturday, the win of Kuku over lie Wanderers was something of a urprise to those outside Kuku. . uku's win was a lucky one. Nepia ~ .uiutd was in the right place at the right tone, and cutting off a pass, ~ui right through and scored.

i lie Kuku forwards did not play nearly so well together as on the precious Saturday against Shannon. It a’us only in the last part of the second spell that they were showing heir form.

Though the Wanderer’s backs banned the ball a good deal, their wing men found then-selves’solidly opposed by the time the ball reached them, and were unable to get far. If the inner players had beaten their men more often it -would have given the wings a better chance. The Wanderers’ forwards put up a better game on Saturday than they have done for two or three weeks. The welcome presence of Jacob, no doubt, had something to do with it, The Hui Mai backs played a dashing game against Shannon, particularly in the first spell, P. Tahiwi and Porter being in great form, and with Jacob Uliku and Johnston, turned a strong combination. After his' enforced absence from the field for some three weeks, ti. Jacob did not show' his usual form on Saturday, but a game or two should see him right. r t , lv. Dalzell, R. George and T. Gardner were the pick of the Hui Mai forwards on Saturday, and played with great dash. The Shannon backs made a better show than they did. the previous Saturday against Kuku. Marshall, T. Moynihun and Wakefield were a solid trio. The selection of the rep. team has ueen ihe subject of plenty of discussum among footballers, but after all is said and done, it is agreed that the side is a pretty solid one. It there are any faults to find, the exclusion of T. Campion from the forwards is one. Right through the season Campion has performed brilliantly. Rangi Broughton is another forward oi the same type. The claims of this pair should be considered when the next rep. team is chosen. Whilst admitting Stratford is a good man wueit in form, it is doubtful it ne has reached his best with only two matches to his credit this season. Kuku has two representatives among the forwards, Bevan and Tana, who are fulty entitled to recognition. The former is a capable hooker, and like his club mate is a regular Trojan in the open. With Sands, of Shannon, Bevan should do well in the front row' against Manawatu Tana will lock the scrum, and It. Moynihan and Stratford are the supports, and Dalzell and Gardner the hack row. There is plenty of weight here, and the majority have pace. With Jacob on tiie wing, the forwards should more than hold their own. Marshall,' of Shannon, is the right man at lull hack. L. McDonald could not be improved upon much at centre ilnee-iiuurter, and T, Moynihan on the wing has plenty of pace and dash. Ferguson, on the other wing, however, has to prove himself. Of the five-eighths, P. Tahiwi and T. Mcr Donald are playing well, and Baker, the crack Foxton and Horowhenua junior rep. of last year, has the chance of qualifying himself in senior rep. football. He is lucky to be given preference to “Pinclier” Page, cf Kuku. The play of the Weraroa full back, R. Ryder, last Saturday, was a feature of ihe match, lie played the best •back game for bis side, liis fielding, handling and kicking being up to senior grade. “Hon” seems like following in the footsteps of his cousin, Gharife Ryder, who played some great games ns full hack for the old Levin Club. If he has one fault it is that of speculating, which is bound to end

disastrously some time if persisted in.

The Weraroa backs have little idea of scoring. On two or three, occasions they could have added to their total but faulty work spoiled their chances. Their passing was ill-timed, and the players don’t back up one another as they should. Unfortunately some rough play de veloped in the Wanderers-Weraroa junior match on Saturday, and one Weraroa player was laid out for about five minutes through being charged by an opponent. Referee E. Bevan discovered the culprit and stood him on the line at once, and the match after that settled down into a goo r game. It is hoped that the referee? will keep a look-out for rough play and deal with it in the same way. Port and Collier were the best of Ihe Weraroa forwards, the first-named having a good idea of the neglected art of dribbling. The best passing rush of the day was by the Wanderers’ backs. Practically all the backs handled the ball, ’hut Rangi Williams was prevented from scoring by being held up on the line.

* E. Pink, of the Wanderers’ juniors, •is the makings of a good back, and it is a pity ho has not more opportunity of donning the jersey.

L. Melville was the best forward on 11 ip ground. ITis booking and following up were good. The other forwards could follow bis example with advantage to their side. He kicked a good goal during the match.

Hui Mai P. ... 7 W. 5 L. o D. 0 Pts. 10 Shannon ... 7 4 2 1 9 Levin ... 7 4 o 1 9 -Kukri ... 7 4 3 0 8 Foxton ... 7 3 4 0 6 Tokoinaru 7 0 7 0 0 JUNIOR (Northern). Foxton ... 7 5 .0 0 12 Shannon ... 6 3 0 3 9 Weraroa ... 7 4 g 1 9 Levin ... 6 3 3 0 6 Otauru ... 6 0 6 0 0