REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

Shannon News, 8 July 1921, Page 4

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY.

HOROWHENUA BEATS BUSH UNION. The first rep. match, to be played in Levin this season took place on Wednesday between Bush and Horowhenua Unions, the latter winning by 5 points to 3. The match, was played on a heavy ground, rain setting in early in the morning and continuing throughout the day, so that the game was mostly a forwards one. Horowhenua had somewhat the 'best of the first half, in which their score was registered, but Bush made matters very, interesting in the second bout, in which they dominated the play. Although the visitors only got across once, they were unfortunate in not registering a larger score,. and the final totals do not accurately indicate the merit of the Bush team’s performance. ' The first quarter of an hour was uneventful, with play in mid-field, until Jacob threw out' to T. McDonald, and Ford, Nepia Winiata and T. Moynihan handled. The latter was downed in the Bush (white) twenty-five, where Page took a shot from an infringement, without success. . Horowhenua (red) pressed the defenders until Matey and Smith headed a good forward rush that removed the play to halfway. The Whites carried on until Horowhenua came back with a strong attack, which Tait, the Bush full back, stopped in good style. Passing by the Horowhenua backs was assisted by Jacob securing and cross-kicking, and the ball coming back to T. Moynihan, the latter sent out in the White’s twenty-five. Another, penalty to Horowhenua saw Jacob make an unsuccessful effort at goal, and immediately after N. Winiata drop kicked powerfully, but the ball flew wide. R. Moynihan, Bevan, Broughton and Wilson headed a Red forward rush thalt. swarmed) over itltfe defenders’ line, rind the last-named touched down. Page was given the kick, and goaled. Horowhenua 5, Bush 0. The White forwards livened up the game, and were showing great dash. A free to the visitors, and go.od work by P. Galvin found operations at the Red twenty-five, where the visiting backs improved and pressed their advantage to the home goal line. Play continued here for some time, and Horowhenua eventually forced down. Halftime was then called. On resuming, fhte White forwards, headed by Smith, Mabey arid Morrison, broke throught the. Horowhenua front line and pushed their advantage to the Red twenty-five. The White vanguard was now very active, and Hopa only kept them back by marking. Sands repeated the performance shortly after, but the Bush backs, initiated by Matson, got. going in front of the home goal, and sent the ball along the three-quarter line, a good chance being missed through a Player hanging on too long. T’he White forwards continued aggressive, an'd a penalty gave P. Galvin a good opportunity, which. he missed. The Red forwards, with Frame, Wilson an'd Moynihan in the lead, headed a rush they relieved the pressure and Ford improved by lining well dT-wn field. Here the Red backs opened up the play, which centred in midfield. O’Connell, of the Bush backs, made a great break away, and was well supported by J. Galvin, but Jacob blocked the movement, and Wilson , kicked powerfully into White territory. The latter were not long in setting up another attack, which Wilson again stopped, .and R. Moynihan, Bevan, Sands and Frame came with a fine forward rush. Tait was again prominent on the defence, and the Bush turned defence into attack, M. and J. Galvin and O’Connell' setting up a fine passing movement which reached the home line. T. McDonald, who was playing a solid game, saved finely. The attack was pressed again and Hopa only saved in time. The game was now fast and interesting, and the White backs got their opportunity well inside the Horowhenua twenty-five, where Galvin brothers handled safely and sent along to Hunt on the wing. -The latter took the bal] at top, and galloped over at the comer. The kick failed, leaving the score 5—3. The whistle went immediately after, with Horowhenua winning by a narrow margin. Mr W. Thomson was an impartial referee.

VISITORS ENTERTAINED. In the evening the visiting team was entertained at dinner at Stuart’s tearooms, when a numerous company participated.' 5 Afterwards a social hour was spent, and numerous toasts were honoured. Mr V. Higgins occupied the chair. f After the patriotic toast, Mr F. Whibley proposed the “Bush Union,” and paid a tribute to the officials of that body, seeing they had sent their team to Hawke’s Bay, Masterton and Horowhenua without any assistance from

gate receipts. He thought the Bush Union had shown fine sportsmanship, and was to be congratulated.. Mr Bentley replied, and said they considered their team was a little bit unlucky that day, but if they came back next year he hoped they would reverse the position. (Applause.) He considered tnat the match was a good one, and thought that the ''Horowhenua team had put up a clean •game.

Mr Hankins proposed “The Horowhenua Rugby Union,” and said as an ex-president of the Horowhenua Union, he had great pleasure in proposing the toast. He referred to the previous matches between the two Unions, and the good feeling between them. He stated that the Bush Union had produced such players as Morry Woods and “Bumper” Wright, and regretted that the country Unions were not given greater opportunities, because they had the players, and should receive greater consideration at the hands of the New Zealand selectors. He thanked* the local Union for the kind way in which they had received the visitors, and the good sportsmanship that had been shown in the game. Messrs. T. Rowland, J. W. Procter and M. Winiata replied, and referred to the splendid hospitality received at the hands of the Bush Union on the occasion of the Horowhenua team’s trisit last year. Mr J. Smith replied and proposed the toast of the “Referee.” Referees, he said, were a big factor in helping the game along. The visitors were quite satisfied with the decisions given that day. Mr W. Thomson was well .known to Bush players, who recognised him as a good sportsman. Mr W. Thomson said in reply that in 1901 he represented the Bush Union against Wairarapa and Horowhenua Unions, and it was a pleasure to referee that day for that reasqn. He considered Rugby was up against League, and it was up to the supporters of the good old game to do all they can to improve Rugby so that it may hold its own against whatever game was put up against it. He congratulated Bush on the game they had put up, and the sporting spirit they had shown. As long as teams went on the ground and played the game as they had done that day, the spectators would have nothing to complain about. & The* reinaining toasts were "The Press,” “The Caterer,” "Success to the All Blacks,” "The Chairman,” and the vistors added a complimentary toast to Mr Ruihi Wehipeihana. During the evening musical and elocutionary items were given by Messrs. Hankins, Thomson, Bevan, Morgan, Tana, and concerted numbers by the Bush and Horowhenua teams.

FOXTON 14, SHANNON 0. The above senior match was. played at Foxton on Saturday, and resulted in a win. for the home team by 14 points to nil.. Although Shannon were without some of their picked men, they made it willing from the start. Foxton forwards, however, soon got the upper hand, and, by fast following up, pulled the match their way. The first score resulted from a run by Taylor, full-back, which finally resulted in Baker crossing the line. Taylor converted. The next score was the result of a passing run resulting in Burgess getting over the line; the try was not converted. Towards the end of the ‘second spell Bryant scored, and Stan. Barber added another try, which brought the total up to 14. -

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION. MEETING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Management Committee of the Horowhenua Rugby Union was held on Tuesday, Mr J. W. ( Procter presiding. The secretary reported in connection with the combined match against the Springboks, that the Manawatu Union intimated that they desired - to play Horowhenua on Saturday, August 6, then the combined team to play Wanganui on the 13th and the Springboks on the 17th. It was pointed out that this would mean cutting out two consecutive Saturdays .for club matches, and it was decided to agree to the three matches only if the first were played on Wednesday the 10th. the second on Saturday the 13th,. and the big match on the following Wednesday. Otaki Old Boys asked that Arthur Bevan, Puna Taipua and Hearne be reinstated as juniors.— Request declined. It. was decided to procure art extra half-dozen jerseys for team, and to have them numbered for future matches! Shannon fourth grade team withdrew from the competition. Foxton juniors wrote, protesting

against Wanderers’ win on the ground that one -Normal! was a league senior piayer; that Wanderers' rust .try snoulti he disallowed on the ground that it was first forced down uy the Foxton lull-back, then it struck a spectator and rebounded into play before being touched down by one, oi the Wanderers.—The referee's decision concerning the try was upheld, and final decision on the other point was held over pending inquiry concerning Norman’s status.

It was pointed out that Foxton played a man whose name was not on the list of players handed in three days before the match. Considerable discussion ensued on the matter, the Foxton deputation stoutly protesting that it was Baker who played centre three-quarter, while two or three members of the Union who saw the match were equally confident another man occupied that position. The point was not cleared Up, and it was held over pending further inquiry.

HUI MAI-KUKU MATCH TO BE REPLAYED. .• ' A protest was received from Hui Mai demanding that®the match with Kuku be awarded them on the ground that the referee made a wrong decision concerning the penalty kick which Page converted for Kuku. Mr R. George (Kuku captain) pointed out that Mr Rhodes admitted making an error, and he claimed that the game should be awarded to them. Mr T. Rowland (Kuku) replied that it would be unfair to penalise Kuku for the referee’s mistake. / Considerable discussion ensued, and it was eventually decided to replay the match at the end of the season. The Hui Mai delegate, entered a-very strong protest against this decision. Mr Randall (referee in the Shan-non-Kuku match still under dispute) forwarded his statement of his decision on the disputed try for reference to the New Zealand Union.' Mr Rowland contended that Mr Randall’s statement, was at variance with his evidence before the Union on a vital point, and it was decided to refer the letter back to the referee for confirmation before sending it on. HOROWHENUA V. RANGITIKEI. - A match between the above Unions Is to take place at Bulls on Wednesday next. Horowhenua will be represented by the following team:— Full back, Marshall (Shannon); three-quarters, Burgess (Foxton), N. Winiata (Kuku) and Johnson (Hui Mai); five-eighths, Ford and .T. McDonald (Wanderers); half, Baker (Foxton); wing forward, R. George (Hui Mai); hookers, Sands (Shannon) and Bevan (Kuku); lock, W. Winiata .(Wanderers); supports, R. Moynihan (Shannon) an da K. Dalzell (Hui Mai); back row, Wilson (Hui Mai) and M. Robinson (Foxton). Emergencies: Forwards, Tana, Frame and H. Robinson; backs, Kelly, T. Moynihan and Moses.