SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 7 August 1923, Page 3

SATURDAY’S FOOTBALL.

■ Weraroa 8, Wanderers 0. Otaki defaulted to Hui Mai. JUNIORS. Southern 17, Northern 8. HASH CUP COMPETITION. WERAROA DEFEATS WANDERERSIn the opening round of the knockout competition lor the Nash Gup, Weraroa jumped into the limelight hy defeating Wanderers easily hy eight points—a free, kick and a converted try—to nil.

The teams were, about evenly matched as far as Aveight went, although superior hooking gave Wanderers the hall in the scrums. The advantage so gained was a small one, however, as the hall was s.o greasy that it Was impossible to handle it effectively, and before it could be got going, Rangi Broughton, who played a slashing game, was round and smothered any movement that migrn oe attempted, The game, opened in the rain, with ' pools of water plentifully dotted about the ground through which players splashed .and slid. Good football was impossible, and the game was mostly confined to the forwards. Wanderei's made some attempts to handle the hall among the hacks, hut invariable suffered from doing so, even R. McDonald and Wilson, who can take a ball in almost any state of greasiness, being beaten hy the state ui the leather. Wanderers kicked off and vvith a useful passing rush took the hall to within ten yards of the objective, a free kick to Weraroa relieving the pressure. Weraroa followed up ahd iroin a, scrum at nail way Rangi Broughton dribbled upheld and kicked over, Wanderers lorcmg. From the 25 Weraroa got the ball and essayed practically tue.ir only piece oi passing during the game, the ball travelling right across the field, but without gaming them any ground, and Webs Kicked out. From tne throw m Wells got the ball and raced lor the ime. tie passed out to Henderson, who took it off-side and a free kick to Wanderers took play back to half way, where, it remained ior some tune in desultory, play. Roth teams opened again with tentative rushes, Weraroa playing thenforwards and keeping tlie ball down, Broughton, Cole anu. Henderson being prominent. Wanderers' backs were more to the fore, R. McDonald, T. Winiata and Winiata figuring in a couple of passing bouts, which, however, did not get them past the 25. Weraroa was livening up and pressed the play into Wanderers’ 25, where they kept it despite, a couple oi tree kicks to Wanderers, who were playing without spirit. A free kick lo Weraroa at the 25 drew first blood, Hopa putting the. ball over from a difficult angle in splendid style. 3—o. A long forward scramble in the mud and water chiefly remarkable for the amusement it afforded the spectators, was changed to attack by Weraroa,' when Broughton kicked up-fieid ■''and following up fast kicked through and fairly flung himself over the hue on , top of the ball scoring near the comer. Hopa converted perfectly. Weraroa 8, Wanderers 0. From the re-opening of play Broughton, Collier, and Cole took the ball right through the opposition, Wanderers forcing. Wanderers retaliated, Howell and Smith getting away in fine style with the ball at their feet brought play to Werarroa/s 25. Marslin broke the rush temporarily, but Wanderers. carrying on, an exciting scramble took place on the line. Weraroa’s defence, however, proved too solid for the attackers, and the spell ended with fast play .at Wanderers’ 25. The second, spell opened with a dangerous, rush by Wanderers. Gardiner punted the ball well up and Wilson dribbled to the line where a scramble' ended in a scrum. Weraroa got the ball and sent it to the 25, where a mark gave Toha Winiata a chance at goal, which just missed. A moment later Howell and Campion took the ball over, Marslin forcing. Wanderers continued to press and W. Winiata dribbled to the line, and kicked over, Marslin just beating Howell in the race for the. ball. Immediately after an open forward rush took the ball over again, Wells saving on this occasion.

Play from this on was fairly even, forward rushes by both sides, alternating. Weraraa was playing a hard game and over eagerness gave tree kicks to Wanderers, each time they got Into the opposing 25. Had there been, .a reliable place-kicker in the team they could have put up 20 points without difficulty, but although they got the distance, the direction was lacking. The spell ended without further score. . fdir E}. Bev a n refereed.

SHANNON V. FOXTON. The first round of the Nash Cup Was played at Foxton on Saturday, between Shannon seniors and Foxton. The ground was wet and conditions for good Rugby were out of the question. After a hard struggle Foxton were victorious 'by 8 . points to 3. As the Nash Culp conditions are sudden death this mean that the local fifteen have finished Rugby for the season.