THE RUGBY GAME.

Shannon News, 10 July 1923, Page 3

THE RUGBY GAME.

SATURDAY’S. SCORES. SENIORS. Wanderers 26, Foxton 6. Hui. Mai 6, Shannon 3. Weraroa defaulted to Otaki. JUNIORS (Southern).. Weraroa 6, Paraparaumu 6. Otaki 11, Rovers 0. Hui Mai 3. Te .Haro Q. NORTHERN. ' Foxton 6, Shannon 3. Koputaroa 8, Tokoma.ru 3. THIRDS (Northern). Weraroa'6, Shannon 3. SENIOR MATCH. HUI MAI 6 y. SHANNON! 3. This game drew a good attendance at the Recreation Grounds on Saturday. The teams were known to be well matched and a good game was anticipated, and in this, respect the spectators were not - disappointed, as despite the heavy state of the ground, the game at times 'was very fast, the ball going up and down, the field in quick succession, on two or three occasions both teams appearing to run themselves to a standstill. Not only were the teams well matched, but the handling of the ball and- passing were well up to the average, the back division of both showing combination. In the loose the Shannon forwards were superior to their opponents, but in the scrum work Hui Mai secured the ball more often. Shannon, if anything, had the best of the first half, several occasions keeping Hui Mai hard at it defending their line. Play was more even during the second half but Hui' Mai were lucky in securing their winning try owihg to Prain (full back) making a bad miss, and no Shannon players being handy M. Johnson had no difficulty in dribbling over the line and scoring. Play opened with Shannon defending the northern goal. After the ball had been carried up and down the field, ithe, Hui Mai backs secured possession; in their 25 and by a fine passing rush carried play to mid-field where Rowlands intercepted and by a fine run returned play close to Hui Mai line momentarily. Hui Mai, by a forward rush, returned play, Shannon saving by finding the line. Shannon now made several determined attacks on Hui Mai’s defence McKenzie finally attempting a pot at goal and missing, Shannon being forced. On the ball going into play an exchange of kicks took place, Greens’ eventually forcing play into Red territory, T. Moynihan relieving by finding the line well down the field. Not to be denied Hui Mai came again and looked like scoring, relief coming to Shannon in being awarded a free kick and following up fast, enabled RMoynihan and Tohi to carry the ball at their feet down the field to Hui, Mai’s 25. Shortly- after from a scramble Lenihan obtained a mark. His kick at goal failed. Play now went up and down the field in quick succession where from one of the dribbling rushes Johansen and Rowlands carried the ball over Hui Mai’s line, Johaitson drawing first blood. Kelly failed to add the extra points. The spell ende; with Greens pressing. Play re-opened with Shannon attacking by a series of dribbling rushes. but the defence of Hub Mai was too sound, and a little later they turned defence into attack and gradually forced the play into the Red 25 where from a line out Hui Mai got the ball, which ended in M. Johnsph scoring near the corner flag. The. kick at goal failed. The game now became very fast both striving hard to again score. Play remained for some time in Hui Mai territory, but Reds failed to break through the defence, eventually- from a scramble H. Wallace and M. Johnson broke away with the ball at their feet and following up, the former just saved the ball from going out by dribbling into the field, Prain, the full back, thinking it had gone out missed badly and Wallace and M. Johnston, having no further opposition, the latter scored an easy try. The kick failed. Play now centred about half way for some time to be followed up with a free inter-change of rushes by both sides. The defence of each side, however, was solid and the 25 line at either end was about the limit of the advance. Finally Shannon, when near the 25 line of their opponents were awarded a free kick. Kelly had a shot at goal, the ! attempt, being a good one ,th ball just going outside the posts. Soon after T. Moynihan, by kicking from mid-field enabled Shannon to again invade their opponents’ line,

where they were awarded another free kick, but 'their efforts was unsuccessful. Soon after a spectacular passing ■rush from midfield by Holden, Kelly and Rowlands, took play well down the ground, but Hui Mai backs were up to their work. Shannon were now taxing the defence of Hui Mai in their attempt to level matters, but failed to penetrate it. The call for time ended the game with nlay near Hui Mai’s 25. Mr. Burroughs had control of the game. WANDERERS v. FOXTON. EASY WIN FOR THE LOCAL TEAM. Wanderers win over Foxton by 26 to 6 pretty well indicated the relative strength of the two teams. Foxton played one man short, and were, as weil, considerably out-weighed in the pack, so that in the scrums they were at no time alble to hold tfheir weightier opponents, nor able to make any headway against them, in forward movements. In the backs they were better served, Moses on the three-quarter line. Lamberg at half, and Bryant as full-back, all playing sterling games. Foxton opened with a strong forward movement, iriVading Wanderers territory in. dangerous style. Percy McLeavey_gajved by finding the line,' From the throw in, the referee awarded a. free kicksajo Foxtoii, a'splendid kick resulting rii a poster. Strong rushes by both sides looked like scoring, McLeavey again saving for Wanderers, and Bryiailt for Foxton. A passing rush by the Wanderers resulted in Howell getting the ball over, but Foxton forced. Wanderers continued to

force and a fine passing bout which originated with T. McDonald, through Winiata., enabled Wilson to get over. Tat an a .added the extra points. s—o. Shannon retaliated and pressing down to the Wanderers 25, a free kick gave Moses a chance at goal, which he made no mistake about. 5—3. A free kick to Wanderers a few minutes later resulted in a poster, but they now had the measure of their opponents and were throwing the ball about freely among the backs, an effort from Winiata to. Utiku, to Wilson, to Tauera, enabling the latter to add another three points, to the score, the kick failing, the spell ending 11—3 in Wanderers’ favour. A spell ot-open, play, without any special brilliancy on either side, kept the ball moving up and down the field at the beginning of the second half, several nasty rushes into Foxton’s territory being staved off by Bryant’s good kicking. A free kick a few minutes later enabled Tatana to kick an easy goal, andl shortly after from a scrum five yards out W. Winiata picked up arid making the most of his weight, scored, no goal resulting. 11—3. Foxton made a strong attack at this point, Moses taking the ball right through at his feet, but Howell forced. Howell and Campion led an attack in return but the-Foxtoni backs by .a bit of smart play returned the leather to the 25 where Moses from a free kick added another 3 points for Foxton, making the score 14—6.

From this point the play was all in Wanderers’ favour, despite some good work by Lamberg' and Moses, who certainly prevented the. score from being even heavier. Nepia Winiata, Kerione, Campion and Howell, added scores in quick succession, none of which were converted, and the game ended 26 —6. Mr Horo Karauti was referee. OTAKI y. ROVERS, After putting up such a good fight against Hui Mai, it was thought that, the Rovers would give the leaders of the Southern Division a hard tussle for victory, but after holding Otaki back till well on in the second spell, their condition ran out, and Otaki won easily at the finish.

When play opened, the Rovers forwards at once ran the ball into Otaki quarters, where, good defensive work by King and Mclntyre saved the situation. A short dash for the line by Weal wa s well tackled on the line and Otaki forced. Long kicking by King and Teirna gave some relief, and getting the ball among the backs they tried passing but faulty handling and ill-timed passes spoiled’ their chances of scoring. A very evenly matched spell ended without a, score.

The second spell started at a great pace, both sides making every effort to score. Gradually Otaki wore down their opponents and from a loose scramble on the line, Freeman scored ; the kick at goal failing. From the kick-off Teima by a powerful kick, took the ball to the Rovers’ line enabling Robinsom to scramble over. Mclntyre added the extra points. S—o.

Mclntyre was now conspicuous with some nice tricky runs, but the passing of the other backs was faulty and nothing came of them.. A forward rush led by Tantrum returned play into Otaki’s territory, Wright saving by kicking into touch. This was the last effort, of the Rovers. Just before time Wedderburn scored the third try for Otaki, Tuna failing with the kick-, the game ending 11—0 in favour of Otaki.