DULL FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 27 May 1924, Page 3

DULL FOOTBALL.

SHANNON 17 v. ROVERS ML. This match was played On the Recreation Ground, Shannon, qn Saturday in showery weather. There was a : lot of delay in making a start, Firstly the Rovers were late in arriving, Shannon being busy in the meantime getting a team together. teams took,'the field at 3.40 p.m. add' then it was discovered that there was no ball. A messenger was despatched to procure one, this causing a further delay ot ten minutes. Finally the game was started at 3.50 p.m. it ( being agreed to play 30 minute spells, both teams only being able to place. 13 men each on the field. Even then Shannon had to draw on their juniors lor a player, while Rovers also secured one or two substitutes.

The game needs little description,' as owing to the greasy state of the ground and it was practically a scramble from start to finish, in which Shannon proved tooi good for the visitors, the latter having to defend their territory practically throughout. Play commenced, with Shannon attacking, and eventually working p|ay Jijito Rovers’ 25, where .it remained for sonic time. Relief came by the Rover Rewards getting__a dribbling rush on in wiiicli they’took the hall the full tpugtli -of the field, hut kicking too hard the Reds forced. Shannon again forced play and Moynilian securing the leather dodged several opponents, being stopped from scoring within a few yards of the line.' Shortly after, from a. scrum, this player dribbled to the corner and drew first blood. His attempt at goal failed. For the vest of the spell Rovers were' oil the defensive, the Reds keeping up *a series oi dribbling rushes from- one of which Tohi scored. f

At half time owing to the late start, lihe teams •changed over find went ..straight on. Play in the second half was similar to the. first, Rovers again being on. the defensive. Inside the Rovers’ 25 Eagle snapped up the ball and beating several mien scored. He look the kick himself and added the major points. Rovers now seemed to liven up and carried play to Shannon territory and mt one time looked as though they were going to score, but it. was only - momentarily. Shannon by a. number of dribbling rushes worked it. back again, where from a scrum near the line Moynilian scored his second try. Engle took the kick, hut. missed. Soon after, from a passing rush outside the 25., Kiriona made a splendid' run, beating the opposing backs and scoring near the posts. The vylii.stla then went for time. Mr .T. 'Smith gave every .satisfaction as referee.

THIRDS, Shaun on 6 v. Weraroa fi. Mr H ; McDonald refereed. WERAROA 29 v. FOXTON 0. Tile Weraroa—Foxton game un Saturday played in the Levin Domain in heavy rain, was an uninspiring exhibition of football, th Weraroa team, as the score indicates, being so much better tfuiin their . as to make the game dull. The ball was heavy and greasy and neither side attempted to handle, except in rare instances. The game was won by the Weraroa forwards who beat their opponents in every department of the game and were ably assisted by the backs when the finishing touch was needed either in defence or attack. ' ‘ The scoring opened with a free kick taken by Hopa from nearly half way, a splendid shot carrying thei goal with plenty of room to spare. Ten minutes later he repeated the shot. A'forward rush led by Rang! Broughton shortly alter enabled Udy to get over, the kick failing, and the score standing at 9—o at half time.

As it was raining heavily it was decided to play on. Foxton made one or two good attempts on Weraroa’s goal line, which were frustrated by Marslin’s sound defence at full-back. The scores were piled on quickly after tin's. Hopa, Maekereth, O.oic, Udy and Rangi Broughton scoring. R. Kiugi was referee. OTAKf 9, v. HU 1 MAI 0. Tills game was played' at Ma.ua.kau in pouring rain which fell without cessation until JO minutes of the coinplot ion of the game. Otaki started a pressure- from the opening of the game keeping Manakau in their 25 for the first. 20 minutes but never being really dangerous. .Manakau then came away and in turn pressing Otaki for the reinaiinfer of the spell, the game being of a hard forward nature, back play being out of the question, owing to the condition of the ball. The spell ended without- score. The second spell opened with Manakau pressing hard, the, forwards on both sides being very fit and making the pa.ee very willing. Both sides attacked in turn and scores were narrowly averted time after time. only score of the day came well into the latter part of the spell,'Puna picking up from the loose and passing to Ta.hiwi, who cut, out both the opposing-five-eighths " in a brilliant run and threw out to D’Ath, who put the finishing'touches on a. brilliant, fry in excellent style. The Icicle failed, Otaki had the better, ot the re-

inamder of the game which ended shortly after.