FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 28 June 1921, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

MANAWATU (3) V. HOROWHENUA (0)

! The first rep. match of the season 1 was played at Shannon on Saturday between the Mauawatu and Horowhenua teams, me first-named wim

ning by. 3 points to nil. The Horowhenua \eam did not line out as picked owing to players being unable to keep the engagement. L. McDonald and Ferguson (of the threequarter line) and Talnwi (five-eighth) were absent, their places being filled by Johnson and Burgess (three-quar-ters) and Kelly (five-eighth). H. Jacob, the Horowhenaa wing forward, was also absent as the result of a recent injury. Stratford took his place as wing, and Campion filled the vacancy in the scrum.

Horo whenua gave only a moderate exhibition in the first hall, though tney played witii a strong wind m their lavour. The backs played without any enterprise, and where they should have been making full use of the wind, they hugged the touch-line with monotonous regularity. The forwards failed to get going as well as was expected, and were beaten repeatedly in the scrums. Manawatu had much the best of the spell, and ended by scoring. At the halfway stage it looked as if Manawatu was going to pile up a big score when they got the wind, but Horowhenua pulled themselves together in surprising fashion, and gave a greatly improved display. The hookers got a full share of the ball, and the pack worked well in the loose. The back division set up numerous attacks and threw the ball about' but their efi. forts largely went astray, owing to some of the players running straight across the field, whilst faulty handling spoilt a lot. of passing work. In neither spell was there any enterprise shown by the backs, with the exception of T. McDonald, in attempting to cut in and break through" the opposing defence, and a player of the Ford type would have been a valuable asset to Horowhenua.

Tne game opened with the Horowlieiiua (red) forwards making an excursion into Manawatu (green; ground, and the ball' went over tlis mm and a force resulted. Once fit their stride, the Greens began ' u iorce matters, and shitted play to beyond the half-way, where Cairo Dustin and Harkness carried on to tbo Horowhenua twenty-five. The game was principally among the forwards, of which the Greens had the best. Tin Red backs at this stage were kicking to the touch-line instead of using the wind and giving their support to their forwards. A solo effort by Glendinning shifted play further into Red ground, where Burgess got in a lucky kick and saved. The Green forward.-: maintained the offensive, and swept up the ground again, and trouble nearly occurred through one of the, backs missing but T. McDonald got in and saved. A penalty kick a; goal by Manawatu had no result. Sands smartly stayed another onslaught on the Red line. The Greens could not be held off. and Harkness and Sly broke through and the latter scored. No good resulted, and the spell ended withdVTapawatu leading by 3—o. On resuming, the Greens forced the play, but this time the Reds earned the play to the opposition and made the pace throughout the spell. TV Moynihan led a fin a forward rush

which nearly ended in a score, and the Green? forced. B -rgess and March?!l w°re prominent among the Red hack?, and McDonaM was ending the hall out in good style, hut the hacks generally ran straight across the field. T. Movnihan made a good break-away and was only pushed out in the Manawatu corner. A free to Reds gave .Kelly a shot at goal without result. Bevan and Campion were conspicuous in good forward" work, which, however, was nullified by Dustin, who relieved to the Red'quarter flag. The best passing of the day among fhe Horowhenua hacks now took place, Baker, McDonald. Johnson and Burgess handling. Towards the end of fhe game, the Greens took the offensive, and things looked dangerous for Horowhenua. Off-side play by the Greens relieved, and good forward work by the Reds moved play to the twenty-five flag, where final whistle sounded. Mr T. Parata refereed.

After the match the Manawatu and Horowhenua teams were entertained at dinner by the Rugby Union, the Mayor (Mr W. Murdoch.) presiding. The Mayor complimented Manawfatu on their win, and also the losers on the game they had put up. Mr J. Hardie, manager of the Manawatu team, replied, and thanked the Union for its fine treatmept. of the visitors. At Rugby on Saturday, the Springboks (South Africa) defeated New South Wales by 25 to 10. A meeting of the Rugby Union will take place in Levin this evening. The Horowhenua Rugby Union has arranged the rep. match with the Bush

Union to take place in JLevin on Wednesday next| July 6. J ; ,£\ t FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. ‘ 1 ;2 SENIOR. , r "" Shannon I. y. FoxtW I.» at Foxion; Mr Burrows;. Kuku I. v.; Hui Mai I. at Manakau. j'Mr Rhodes. J Levin I. v. Tokomaru at Levin, Mr l Karauti. . v i JUNIOR (Northern), j Shannon 11. v. Otauru 11. at Shan- , noh, at 2.45 p.m.; Mr Williamson. Levin 11. v. Foxton 11. at Levin, Mr Claridge. Weraroa a bye. Southern. Hui Mai 11. v. Paraparaurmull., at Manakau at 11.30 p.m.; Mr Arcus. Kuku 11. v. Old Boys 11., at Otaki, at 2.45 p.m.; Mr S. Parker. ‘ Waikanae 11. v. Otaki 11., at Otaki; Mr Freeman. FOURTH GRADE. Shannon IV. v. Rovers, at Levin; Mr ! J. Casey. • Otaki IV. v. Foxton, at Foxton, Mr j Reeve.