WEEK-END FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 30 May 1922, Page 3

WEEK-END FOOTBALL.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE.

Hui Mai 20, Weraroa 0. Foxton. defeated Old Boys. Wanderers won Jt>y default from Shannon.

JUNIOR. Wanderers 11, Rovers 0. Weraroa forfeited to Tokomaru.

THIRDS. Rovers 4, Foxton 0. Weraroa won by default from Shannon. Old Boys 9, Hui Mai 6.

FOURTHS. Levin D.H. School 14, Foxton 6.

EASY WIN FOR HUI MAI. Hui Mai visited Levin on Saturday and had an easy win from Weraroa by 20 to nil. Weraroa had the assistance of a strong wind in the opening spell, and endeavoured to make most of it, but although they invaded the visitors’ ground several times, and got right to the gal-line, they were unable to. add the finishing touch. Reid touched down on what he considered was the right .side of the line, only to find that he had been confused with another line, and Was short of the real line by a few feet. Hui Mai made a few good forward rushes in this spell, which the Jmcks improved by some effective passing play. Taken right through, however, the game was not up n the standard set by Foxton and the Wanderers a week earlier. Weraroa showed little combination among their backs, and collaring was not as effective as it should be, owing to the tackling being high. Wakefield was, perhaps, an exception, and he was the only man who could stop Pot ter. Weraroa was also lacking in weight in the scrum, and the heavy Hui Mai forwards had things their own way in the tight work, though matters were more even in the loose. The first score of the match came iiom Ransfleld, the Hui Mai wing threequarter. One or two passing attacks failed, but at length the ball travelled along the three-quarter line and Ransfield ran in without opposition. The attempt at goal was successful, and Hui Mai led s—o. A little later, Porter, who, by the way, was playing a sterling game, made a fine opening, and the passing again reached Ransfleld, who touched down on, the right side of the line. The interval followed soon alter with Hui Mai leading, B—o. With the wind in their favour, Hui Mai put more ginger into their work, and attacked immediately on resuming. Their backs were quickly in motion, and Martin crossed the Weraroa line a few minutes after the siart— Hui Mai 11, Weraroa 0. Only on three occasions did the home 1 team get |.ast half way, the remainder being taken up by Hui Mai offensive's, particularly by the backs. Further tries were scored by K. Ransfleld, Juhnson and Gardner, but none were converted, making the total 20. Mr J. Smith was the referee. THE JUNIORS.

The junior game; Rovers v. Wanderers on No. 2 ground at the Domain, proved much more entertain-, ing from the spectators’ point f f viewl than the senior match. Although nmch| lighter than their opponents, the ftwj vers stuck to their guns, and made; the play fast and open. The Wander-; ers also adopted this style of play, and; lively play continued to the last whistle. Wanderers flnaly won by 11 to 6 after one of the best junior games seen this season.

ASSALILTING A REFEREE.

SHANNON-LEVIN MATCH

Regarding the recent assau.t on a referee in the Shannon-Levin Rugby match, Arthur E. Grimstone, junior coach, Shannon Football Club, writes "to the N.Z. Times as under:—

“Would you kindly allow me to right .a grievous wrong inflicted on the .Shannon spectators by the much garbled account of the unfortunate •affair in connection with the Levin .Rovers and Shannon Juniors match Hast Saturday. Mind, 1 hold no brief for the players who struck the referee, but in fairness to the spectators I must attempt to rectify your correspondent’s shortcomings. . What actually happened was this: Owiug to the /alleged unfair rmiings during the course of the game, some of Hie play-1 ers became so enraged that they J started to argue with the referee. I Eventually someone was ordered off and he quickly went, but he bad just reached the line when somebody .else was ordered off, and before going lie smacked the referee. He was, however, promptly grabbed .from behind by his fellow-players. When another player was walking up the referee made a smack at him and hit him on the face. Of course they got into holts, and both fell on the ground. At the first sign of trouble I rushed across to try and steady the players’ bust it was all over before I .got there. Now I was the first specta-

tor to arrive on the scene, and there was no more hitting or attempting to hamper the referee. As soon as things steadied down the game f proceeded under the control of the same referee (Mr Claridge), so the kind person that said the spectators knocked ihe man unconscious is not speaking the truth. The two players (and no one else) are responsible for what happened. I might mention that Mr Claridge is coach for the Levin Rovers, so you can imagine wh®t sort of u spin Shannon were getting. I am not trying to exonerate the players or cond*me their but just trying to give you - true account nf what happened.*'