NASH CUP SEMI-FINAL.

Shannon News, 21 August 1923, Page 3

NASH CUP SEMI-FINAL.

HUI MAI DEFEATS WERAROA

Hui Mai advanced a further step towards the winning of the Nash Cup, 'by decisively defeating Weraroa on Saturday by 19 points to 5. The game was a triumph of combination ov«r undirected effort. The forwards of both packß were piietty evenly matched, and it is. an indicar tion of the strides Weraroa has made , during 'the season,, ;that thieir forwards right through the game were capable of standing up against the brawn of tho wfeightiest pack in the Union. Weraroa in the first spell did most of ijhe attacking and despite the fact that Hui Mai finished the spell with titie score 6—o in their favour, still looked as if they ihad a chance. In tlie second spell, however, Hui Mai, as is usual with that, team, decided to take the -game seriously, and start r •d to throw the ball about among the. backs. Weraroa, time after time, made, forward rushes which had then opponents on the defensive, but once the first line lost control of the ball, the -movement ended. The backs, taken as a whole, wer t t hopeless, Marslin played a good game in the first spell, but got no support and faded out towards the end of the game. Wells, who can generally be looked for to do more than his sharo, was inconspicuous, and there was not a single combined back movement! on the part of the team during the garni?. Hui Mai, on the other hand, was well supported in the back division. Starting with Moki, a junior taken in for the occasion, and who may be expected to show up prominently among tftie seniors next year, all played a sound game. Meta Johnson at full-back was always in the picture, his kicking being particularly good at times. The game opened with a smart rally by Weraroa, who were playing with the disadvantage of the sun in their eyes, and for the first quarter of an hour they kept the opposing side busv. Hui Mai appeared to be content to hold them,, but woke up and getting to the 25 came down solidly behind t ll6 leather, Hopa only saving in time by kicking out at the corner. From the throw in a scramble took place on the li n€ , Ros e 'saving by finding the line at the 25. Almost immediately after, Gardner took a mark in front of +he posts and drew first blood for Hui Mai with an useful kick. 3—o.

Whraroa for some time kept tjhe . game in Hui Mai's territory, but could not do anything with the ball, and Hui Mai broke Vhirough their forwards and meeting neither science nor comibination among the backs, carried the ball down to within ten yards of the line, where Marslin stopped the rush with a fine kick to the 25. Play immediately returned to Weraroa.'s line, and 10yds out Moki picked otut 'of the scramble, and working the blind side of the field, added a fu|rth©r three pointfc, the kick at goal failing. The sptell ended without further incident. On going off the field it was found that Gibbs, who was hooking for Weraroa, had broken a rib, and his place was taken by Grace. Hui Mai took charge from the open-ing-Of the second spell, and within a few minutes of tihe cornmtencement, : Wallace picked upi and got ever, the kick again failing. A long spell of uninteresting play which followed was broken by Rangi Brought on breaking through and taking the ball over the line at his feet. A scrum was givfen five yards out, followed by a line out at the sam<?i distance, and Grace Heremaia getting the ban rushed through and drew blood for Weraroa. Hopa. converted. 9—5. Weraroa's hopes, raised by this first success, weite permanently dashed by Wallace scoring his second try. which was converted, making the score 14—5. The remaining points were added bv Waka towards the end/ >f the game,' D. Gardner converting the Score 19—5.

JUNIOR SEMI FINAL

KOPUTAROA 19 y. TOKOMARU 3

This matclh. was. played on the Shannon Recreation Grounds on Saturday and was the final junior game for the season as regards the northern end of the Horowhenua Rugby Union, thle winners playing off with the winners of the southern end. Unfortunately Tokomaru were unable to get their full team together owing fo several of their members being indisposed haying to fill up with substitutes 'which robbed the final of a lot of interest, it being almost a foregone conclusion Koputaroa would win under the circumstances. Tokomaru opened up well and for the first quarter of an hour it looked as if they would put up a good fight, but as the gamie proceeded they gradually faded out of the, picture and in the second half Koputaroai ran all over them. Nevertheless Tokomaru stuck to. their guns but they lacked the form and combination of their opponents. The game was clean and played in a most friendly spirit. During the second half Kopera (Koputaroa) had the misfortune to put his knee out and had to retiite. The game opened with an exchange .of kicks with splashes here and there of forward play; after a few minutes of this the Tokomaru forwards finally broke through the defence of Koputaroa backs and Dalziell by fast following up beat his opponents and scored. He took the kick himself, but made a poor attempt. Soon after the ball went into play Tokomaru forced play hy a series of rushes, which Koputaroa. Were hard up against to check, relief coming to them by being awarded a free kick. Tokomaru sttortr, ly after aaain returned to the attack, i but Koputaroa by hard kicking returned plav to Tokomaru territory where they'were awarded a tee kick. The attempt to even the soot* failed. •On the ball going'into-play lokomarn forwards broke away with theball at the toe, but kicking too hard were forced. Koputaroa now got going and turned defence into attack and after having Tokomaru pinned m lheir ?5 for some time McDonald scored from a scrum near tlho lino. Play now travelled up and down the field, the outcome of which P. Royal scored for Koputaroa from a. scramble

near the line. McDonald took the kick but missed. This score was quickly followed by Hakaria snapping up the leather at half way and kicking lightly; following up, he again goi possession and sprinting for the line, scored near the posts. He took the kick himself, but failed to put it ov e r. Immediately after the whistle scunded half time and t"c score stood Koputaroa 9, Tokomaru 3. Shortly after resuming Koputaroa forced play into Tokomaru territory where it remained for some time, C. Lig-gins relieving with a good kick well up the field. A lot of uninteresting play followed with exchange kicks and series of scrums. Finally Word (Koputaroa) headed a dribjiing rush, the ball being carried over the dead line mark. Koputaroa again returned to the attack but Tokomf.m were equal to the occasion and <.rad-ut-Uy worked the leather back id 'heir opponents' 25, where they were awarded a free kick, but failed to increase their score. .From-now i r.til the finish Koputaroa had the upper hand, the Tokomaru team going to r:eces; failing to stem the r.ishes from-which a dribbling rush t:<.-:.d-d by Pent, closely attended by Hindi, saw the latter 'and Parr (Tokomaru) race over the line together, Hindi reaching the ball first and scoring. Stickles added the major points. This was quickly followed by Moody registering another try from a dribbling! rush, which Napier converted. Shortly after Stickles put in a fine , run down the line and got over and I many thought he had scored, but the j lteferee ruled against, it. Directly after time was called. Mr E. Bevan eon-1 trolled thel game.

MANAWATU v. TARANAKI.

TARANAKI WINS 13—5. The Taranaki touring' team which plays Horowheniia at Levin on Wednesday next, met and defeated Manawatu on Saturday by lihe comfortable margin of thirteen points to five, after a hard but patchy game. Willi the exception of Galpin and Carroll, who weve absent, the Manawatu team was practically the same as that which defeated Horowhenua. in Palmersfon North a week before, which is fair evidence of the strength of the visiting team. The game opened with a strong attack by Manawatu, who kept the. leather in" Taranaki territory lor a considerable spell, until the visitors after the first quarter hour's plav invaded the home team's territory for the first time and taking advantage of an injudicious pass by their opponents—Caulton coming up at top speed—gathered up the ball and going on gained the first honour. StiarrocK" easily.converted, leaving the score s—o.

From ii spell of even play, with the leather travelling up and down the field in open play, Musie burst through and scored near the comer Akuira pint over a. magnificent kick and levelled up the scores. Quick and lively play followed, with the visitors on the aggressive. From a line oul a series of scrums took place in -mid-field each side gaining and losing in rapid succession. The ball eventually came to Murphy, who made a fine opening and, Sheehah, keeping close.- to his heels, got over at the"corner. Tuki failed with' the kick and the score stood at B—s. The spell ended without alteration in the score.

At the resuaiiption of play, Mauawatu played with the disadvantage of the sun in their eyes, but pu t up a plucky attempt, to corner iheir opponents. Akuira made a. good attempt to score with a pot at goal and missed by inches, and Taranaki retaliating carried the play to the opposite end where steady play centred on the other side.

Manawatu retaliated but were kicking too hard and Taranaki eased with a nmfk, and play went to the opposite 25. Here the forwards again clashed, and the green forwards hurled all their weight into the fray and again the struggle was on the Taranaki 25. Yellow hit back and Briggs endeavoured to lift over a penalty goal, but missed. Manawatu carried on and made their last gallant effort to score, but were 'unsuccessful. From a forward scramble in green's 25, Sharrack cut in and scored a nice try. He easily converted —Taranaki 13, Ma-nawatu i>. Hardly had the ball come to the ground when the bell tolled and the game ended with Taranaki easily the winner Mr .]. B. Proud .acted as referee.