A GOOD MATCH.

Shannon News, 18 July 1922, Page 3

A GOOD MATCH.

PAKEHAS (12) BEAT MAORIS (9)

The football enthusiasts who witnessed the match Pakehas v. Maoris on the Levin Domain on Saturday have no reason to complain of the class oi football, for the game proved equal to any of the rep. matches seen during the last season or two. The idea of Union in promoting the contest was to try out the best material from all the district clubs in order to select the rep. team to meet Manawatu next Saturday at Palmerston. The matching of the Pakehas and Maoris had the best, results, for two strong teams took the field, and gave an ■ exhibition that was a credit to Horowhenua, but impressed the public as setting the- selectors a difficult -task in choosing the rep. team, so good was the class of play, whilst every man was as keen as the proverbial mustard. The game was very open, every few minutes witnessing some vigorous movement among the forwards or backs of either side, and the defence of both was fully extended.

The Maoris kicked off against the wind, and right from the start, the pace was fast. The Maori backs showed better combination than the Pakehas, but there was little to choose between the forwards. In this spell, Westwood, Kelly and T. Moynihan scored for the Pakehas ,all three being the result of good play. Moynihan’s try was a specially fine effort. He gathered the ball hear mid-field and streaked up the touchline. He beat two opponents and had a clear run in. Johnson registered two tries for the Maoris in this spell, the Pakehas leading 9—6 at the interval. With the assistance of the wind, the Maoris attacked right away in the second half, Tana and Koro leading a strong'rush that penetrated beyond the white’s twenty-five, where Porter stopped the offensive. The Maoris returned to the attack, and penned the fPakehas behind their twenty-five line. From a scrum the ball was sent out to , Moses, the latter tarnsferring to N. Winiata, who side-stepped through and scored The: kick failed, and, the score was 9 all. Baker and Westwood got the ball well away from a white scrum, and Porter, playing his usual fine game, improved the position. R. Moynihan, Sands and Robinson (Hui Mai) opened a forward attack, to be sent back by powerful kicking by Johnson. Play again moved 1o the white end, where good back work by Moses, N. Winiata and Johnson just stopped a score in the corner. The white forwards shifted operations to half-way after another bout of fast, work, and then occurred one- of those unexpected incidents that rouse the enthusiasm of the spectators. The Maori backs opened up another passing attack, which looked to have promising results, when Baker cut off a pass and made tracks for the Maoris’ goal. He outpaced his opponents and grounded the ball safely. The attempt at goal* failed,' and the Pakehas led 12—9. “The Maori forwards were immediately on the attack, George, Ransfield and Koro being in the van, and penetrated to the Pakehas twenty-live, T. Winiata and Martin carrying on to the corner, where Campion saved with a lucky kick to nearly half-way. The whistle went shortly afterwards without any further scoring, Mr W. Thomson refereed. THE REP. TEAM.

On Saturday evening the selectors picked the t following team to 1 represent the Union against Manawatu:— Full back: Johnson (Hui Mai).

Three-quarters: T. Moynihan (Shannon), N. Winiata (Wanderers), Wake'field" (Weraroa). Five-eighths: Porter (Hut Mai), Moses (Foxton). Half: Baker (Foxton). Wing forward: Campion (Wanderers). Hookers: Sands (Shannon), Robinson (Hui Mai). Forwards: Tana (Hui Mai), R. Moynihan (Shannon), Koro (Wanderers), Ransfield (Hui Mai), H. Robinson (Foxton).

Emergencies: Bp.ck, Waka (half), T. Winiata; forwards, R. George (hooker) f M. Robinson. The team is a strong one, and should do all that is expected of it. Johnson fully earned his place on Saturday’s play, and his kicking should be useful in the full-back position. Of the three-quarters selected, T. Moynihan and Nepia Winiata are in good form, but Wakefield was an absentee on Saturday., Porter is the' most resourceful back in the Union, and no member of the team is more worthy of his place. Moses, the other five-eighth, is playing well in this position, and should give a good account of himself on Saturday. This is Baker’s first rep. game this season. The Foxton half gave a creditable ox-, hibition on Saturday, and with a strong pack in front of him should

keep his backs busy against Manawatu. The backs are ail solid defensive players, and are about the best Jot that have been brought together this season. Gampion, th;e winger, was much in evidence on Saturday,' and got round the scrum and smothered the Maoris’ passing on several occasions. Sands, Robinson, Tana, R. Moynihan, Koro- and Ransfield could hardly be kept out of the .team, and have represented the Union previously this season. H. Robinson (Foxton) is the new forward, and makes his first appearance for Horowhenua. He did not appear to be as conspicuous as his brother Maurice or Boh George, the emergencies, but he will be able to" prove himself on Saturday.

LEVIN DEFEATS PALMERSTON HIGH SCHOOL, Oil Saturday morning the Palmerston North High School team visited Levin and played the local High School team. The boys gave a fine exhibition of combined play, the match being full of interest from start to finish. The class of foptbail would, in fact, do credit to higher grades. The match was closely contested, from start to finish, and ended in favour of the home team by 9 points to 8. Mr Rhodes was the referee.

JUNIOR REPS

Full-back: Wells (Te Horo)

Three-quarters: Johns (Ivuku), Westwood (Foxton),- Taha Gray (Hui Mai). Five - eighths: Subritsky (Otaki), BoTvden (Old Boys). Half-back: Mclntyre (Old Boys). Wing forward: G. Gray (Old Boys). Forwards: Myles (Hui Mai), Runa (Otaki), Gardiner (Hui Mai), Howell (Paraparaumu), Rowlands (Tokomar u), Emergencies: Backs, Keri (Foxton), Giddens (6ld Boys); forwards, Musgrove (Levin Wanderers), Robinson (Otaki).

Foxton defaulted to Shannon 11, Shannon defaulted to Rovers 111