SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 3 July 1923, Page 3

SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL.

SENIOR. Shannon 11 y. Wanderers 11. Hui Mai .14 y. Weraroa; 9. Foxton won by default from Otakl. JUNIOR. Shannon .13 v. Moutoa 3. Hud Mai 6 y. Rovers 5. Koputaroa won by default from Mangahao. Otaki 3 ,v. Paraparaumu Q. Te Horo 11 v. Weratroia 6. THIRDS. Shannon 0 y. Foxton 0. Weiraroa 1 i y. Rovers 3. • Te Horo 21 y„ Paraparaumu 3. SHANNON DRAWS WITH WANDERERS. The Shannon-Wanderers match on Saturday provided one of those surprises which are responsible for the appeal which the game makes to us many devotees. Until a quarter of m hour before the final whistle Wanderers with the score at 11—nil had. Shannon apparently beaten to a standstill. That Shannon at that late stage wrn n by every rule of the game the J.i-ttle' wa& lost, had the courage to decide—like, a famous general in the same plight—that there was time to win another, reflects the greatest credit on that team. The last 15 minutes were the most interesting of the whole game which with the exception of ! a few bright patches, was inclined to drag, and! Shannon’s draw while perhaps not indicating the relative merits of the teams, wag thoroughly well deserved. Indeed had there been another ten minutes to go it is possible that the game would have ended in Shannon’s favour, as Wanderers’ defence, under the sustained and unexpected attack, had cracked up badly. Perhaps the unconventionality of the Shannon onslaught which outraged all the books of taictics, had something to do with it. On; both occasions, when T. MayC'iban, the wing three-quarter, scored, a .strong forward rush carried the ball over into the comer. Wanderers bunched on the defence, with Shannon’s backs strung right across the field, leaving an open get-away for Wanderers if they could break through the Shannon forivards. Then like lightning the ball was whipped up, flung in long passes right across the field to Moynihan on the wing, and the trick was done. It was risky, but with everything to win and nothing to lose by failure, it wlas good generalship. Play opened with Wanderers on the offensive, Kelly relieving with a long kick to half way. From the line out the ball went out among the forwards,, an uninteresting spell of kicking up and .down the field following until from a smiasrt bit of passing among the Shannon backs Kelly got the ball and carried it up to Wanderers’ 25. Shannon continued the offensive and what looked like a certain score, w&s lost by R. Moynihan over-running the ball, which went over the line, R. McDonald forcing. ' , A strong.rush by Wanderers carried play to half way where a smart passing bout in which Jacob, Wilson, and Johns figured, put Shannon on the defensive, until R. Moynihan led the Shannon forwards in a fast dribbling rush which carried them right through the opposing pack, Tobu Winiatai only saving by falling on the ball ‘a few yards from the line. Shannon were definitely out for first blood and only a free kick to Wanderers relieved. Jacob centred the ball, which came to Wilson who kicked ouf at the 25. From the throw in Wanderers, with iai fine effort.. carried the leather right down the field,./a useful piece of passing ending in a scrum. on. the line. For the next ten minutes play, which was lively and . open, remained ip Shannon’, s 25, a smart piece of passing from Utiku to Wilson to • Jacob to Johns, failing on the line. Again Shannon attacked and a loose spell of play found Wanderers defending in their 25 against a spirited attack. Five minutes 1 of exciting forward play ended in R. McDonald kicking well-up-fleld. Wanderers, following Up fast, Utiku picked up, and racing for the line, lost a certain try by hanging on too long,’'with Jacob "and Johns alongside waiting for';.the pass. Next mbment<:howeyeiiY from a dribbling rush, Campion got the ball at the 25 and ten yards ,out transferred to H. McDonald, who dived over, Nepia Wini9ta adding the major points from, a difficult angle. s—o.

An atta'ck by Shannon forwards broke against the Wanderers’ backs and play going balck to half-why a dull spell followed, relieved by some useful passing amongst the backs of both sides when the ball came their way. The whistle went without further score.

Shannon took the offensive at the opening of the second spell, but 'ailed to maintain it and Wanderers pressing, E. McLeavey kicked up-field, but with a chance of scoring, fell in the race for the ball. A series of loose rushes led by R. Moynihan followed, which, however, failed to relieve the pressure, and from a, fine piece of passing right across the field, Johns scored at the comer. The kick failed. Score B—o.

Wanderers retaining the initiative, pressed down into Shannon’s territory again, and a pot at goal by Nepia Winiata narrowly missed. A moment later Jacob got the ball at the 25 and bullocking his wiay through the massed opposition, carried the ball round and scored between the goal posts. Again the kick failed. Score 11—0. At this stage the game appeared to be over. Play Reclame desultory, neither side nutting 'any spice into it. A couple of free kicks to Wanderers gave chances at goal from the 25. but both failed. A series of loose passing rushes. which just stopped short of their objective livened up the play, aind suddenly R. Moynihan led a forward rush 'into'Wanderers territory, the ball going out at the comer. From the throwin Shannon.... hustled the ball over, Kelly converting. 11—5. Two minutes later, the ball was thrown out, from a scraJmble among the forwards on the

Wanderers’ line, and going right across the field, T. Moynihan carried it over at the corner, the kick failing. With ten minutes to go, Shannon saw ai chance of averting defeat or- with luck snatching an eleventh hour victory, and their attack on the opposing line became desperate. Jacob saved once with a kick to the 95, and again a free kick averted a score. Shannon however would not be denied and from a' line out at the 25 yards distance and a forward rush they adopted their former tactics and threw out to T. Moynihan, who again scored, no goal resulting. A few minutes later the game ended with play in favour of Shannon. Score 11—li.

SHANNON 13 v. MOUTOA 3

This gam© was played on the Recreation Grounds, on Saturday, but was not of a very high order, play being hampered by the sodden state of the ground. During the first spell both teams made a forward game of it. In the second half Shannon used their backs more which proved effective. Throughout the game Shannon had their optionents on the defensive. Soon 'after the .start Moutoa carried play to Reds’ territory, where they were awarded _a free kick in front of the posts, Green converting. After a series of exchange of kicks, Reds finally had Mouitoai defending their line and after several scrums R. Terry finally snapped up the ball and slipping and heating his man, scored. Napier added the major points. Reds again around on the blind side scored. . Nanier failed to add the major points. The spell ended three all. On resuming Reds began to force the pace and had Moutoa 1 hard’ pressed on several occasions, Reds eventually getting through their defence as the outcome of ai scrum neat the line, the ball com > ing out and Fisber whipping it up returned to the attack where from a passing rush Rope scored near the comer flag. Napier , was successful with the kick. From now on until call of time Moutoa were kept busy defending their line. Mr Neville had charge of the game.

HUI MAI v. ROVERS

The Rovers were very unlucky in their defeat' by Hui Mai after dominating the game from the start, especially in the second spell when Hui Mai never got past the - half way till Grey, owing -to a jniskick, scored at the corner flag. Yet Hui Mai backs are to be congratulated on their fine defence, saving their side time and again by their nippiness, in. stopping rushes by the Rovers’ forwards. Tantrum kicked off against the wind rand their forwards attacked strongly till a, long kick by Grey relieved the pressure. Hui Mai started a series of passing rushes in which Enoka, Bryant and Grey were prominent. From one of these rushes Bryant scored a good try, no goal resulting. The Rover forward now livened up. Frechtling, Wildsmith. Tantrum and Synott led ru «b after rush. Tantrum came awaiy with the ball at his toe, beating all opposition, and fell on the ball. He lost it, but Synott being handy scored. Tantrum, kicked a nice goal. The only other incident in the first spell was a nice run by Stoker and Short, the latter being thrown in touch-in-goal. The second spell saw the Rover forwards take charge of the game and give the Hui. Miai a merry time der fending. FjLrst one and then another would dive for the line, only tO' be called back for an infringement. Bishop, working the blind side of the scrum., gftve Shoct a Chance to dive over, but was brought back for. a forward pass. Redfem next made a dash and apparently scored, but the lines not being marked, got penalised for lying on the ball. Bryant and Enoka made repeated efforts to relieve ther side. A scrum near the line saw Bishop over, only to be penalised for lying on the ball. Still no relief came for Hui Mai till from a mis-kick by Phillips, Ehoka snapped up and eluding <al couple of his opponents transferred to Grey who just got in at the corner and won the match, no goal resulting. • THIRDS. SHANNON 0 v. FOXTON 0. This game ended in a> draw, there being no score, although both teams missed opportunities of scoring. During the progress of the game Shannon were awarded a free kick and McEwen’s attempt appeared to several of those present to be successful, bu(t the referee disallowed it. Mr Neville carried the whistle. One of our football contributors writes:—“lt is time the Rugby Union woke up to the fact that the playing fields are not property marked, it is causing much dissension among the players and is not giving the referee a fair chance to give a correct decision. He has enough worries without having to look where the line should be and he cannot get a correct line unless he looks over the comer flag to the goail post. I am told that protests have been sent, into the Union and still nothing Is done.”