RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 2 June 1925, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS,

SENIOR. Shannon 13 v. Otaki 9. County 9, v. Foxton 3. Wanderers 9 v. Hui Mai 6. JUNIOR. Shannon 12 .v. Awahou nil. Miranui 9 .v. Mqutoa 3. Hui Mai 6 v. Wanderers 3. Weraroa 8 v. Otaki 6. THIRDS. Shannon 42 v. Moutoa nil. * Otaki College 12, Waikanae 3, FOURTHS. Foxton 7, Levin D.H.S. 3. Shannon 3 v. Weraroa nil.

SENIORS. SHANNON 12, OTAKI 9. These two teams met on the Re creation Ground on .Saturday and a hard tussle ensued. Playing with a strong wind in their favour in the first half Shannon had the best of the spell and compiled 13 points (three tries, tw;o of which were converted by Hunt) to a try scored by the visitors. In the second half the wind had dropped a lot and Gtaki put up a big fight to increase their score. The spectators witnessed some fine passing bouts among their backs, who in the first spell were very patchy. On the day, the Shannon backs, as a whole, were the superior. The visiting forwards with their weight held an advantage in the scrums and tight work. Soon after the game had started McDonald (Shannon) at five-eightns securing the leather started a passing rush, the ball being intercepted by Tahiwi, who kicked. Runa and Kao, following up fast, dribbled the leather to near the Red’s 25, where play hovered for a while and from a scrum near the '2s’s, Otaki were awarded a free kick. Tuna had a shot at goal but failed. From the kick out the wind carried the ball over the line and ithe Green forced. R,eds now seemed to pull themselves together and in a great rush carried play to their opponents end, where from a scrum the forwards carried the ball to the line, and Johansen scored, Hunt kicking a splendid goal. They returned to the attack and from a scrum Lenihan got possession and whipped it on to McDonald, who in turn transferred to luaka and Marshy The latter fotund the line well down? From the line-out Reds kept up the pressure, being eventually forced. Another passing bout between Hunt, Williams and Sheehan in front of the goal saw the latter take a pot at goal which missed, badly. Otaki were now all out defending their line 'from a series of forward rushes. Finally the ball was kicked across the field and Matthews gathering it up scored. Hunt failed at the kick at goal. On the bail going into play again Marino started a Green dribbling rush, eventually scoring. Tahiwi took the kick, but missed owing tq a charge on the part of a Red player. An appeal was allowed, but a second attempt did no better. Greens were soon back again, Runa and Tahiwi breaking away, but Lenihan saved. Jgeds once again swarmed down on their opponents, hut Clark at full back saved by finding the line well down. Play was soon transferred to Greens’ territory where Lenihan, securing the ball, sent it on tQ Williams, who. crossed the line, but the score was not allowed. Not to be denied, they kept up the pressure and from the ruck Johansen forced his way through and scored, Hunt converting his second goal. The spell ended—Shannon 13, Otaki 3. On changing sides Otaki backs got going and a* fine passing bout by the Tahiwi Bros., which had every appearance of a score was frustrated by Hunt collaring his man in good style. Play was then transferred to midfield by a Red dribbling rush, headed by Mloynihan and Caldwell. A free kick to Otaki relieved' their position, but it was only momentarily as Reds again broke away with Marsh at their head, Clark eventually marking. At this point Tolii (Reds) who had been playing a good for-* ward game was injured and had to retire Shannon playing the remainder o’f the game with fourteen men. At tiiis stage Otaki made desperate efforts to score and had the Reds hard put to it keeping them back. Finally B. Tahiwi snapped up the ball and quickly sent it on to P. Tahiwi and he had a clear run in. Tiupa failed to add the extra points. Warmed up by this- success Greens were now confining the play to their backs and a pretty passing rush, m which Marino, P. uahiwi, Puna_ and N alikeville took part, saw the latter register a good try. Tuna again failed to increase the score Play was now very strenuous, Otaki hammering away at the Red defence which held out, relief coming by the lorwiards breaking through the attacking forces and carrying the play up the field where Caldwell who had been following up fast, kicked hard, sending the leather to the Green 25 s. Here Otaki forwards by a good dribbling rush carried the bail back again, but Shannon returned it to midfield where they were holding Otaki when time was. called. Mr Smith who controlled the game gave every satisfaction. WANDERERS v. HUI MAI.

Levin Wanderers met Hui Mai on Saturday at Manakau under ideal conditions, and after a fast and exciting gamie emerged victorious by nine points to six. It was the best game seen this season, always tun of incident, and both .players and spectators were kept at concert P L lc iHui Mai won the toss and elected to play uphill. Play 'opened m a sensational manner. Jacob kicked off and the Wanderers immediately took the aggressive, and working Well into Hui Mai’s territory initiated a passing movement. bumDling spoilt the effort however, and the Green backs broke through but Graham (Wanderers’ full back) checked them, and punting high d'own field allowed the Black .forwards Jo get up in time and to sweep all before them in an irresistible rush. Before the onlookers quite realised what had happened, McArthur was over the line, to put his side three

points up within three minutes ol the start of the game, Kuiti failed with an easy kick. From the kick out tile liui Mai forwards set up a hot attack, but were penalised for offside play, and Jacob put his team in a good position with a great line kick. The Black forwards now made things lively for some minutes. Headed by Kuiti and McArthur they kept tearing away in lightning rushes and the Greens were compelled to force. Meta Johnston was playing a v.ery safe game at full-back and saved his side time .and again, eventually sending play to half way with a nice kick. The Hui Mai players now seemed to pull themselves together and their heavy forwards exerted their weight and took the offensive. The Blacks had a lively time defending, .but Wilson took a brilliant mark, with four or five big Green forwards on top of him. Meta Johnston taking the relieving kick fooled file opposition by sprinting down the side line and centering to his waiting forwards, a hot attack being set up on the Wanderers’ line. A long spell of hard even play followed in which Jacob showed up prominently, with Winiata, at half, also well in the limelight. Hui Mai were dogged in their determination to succeed, and Tana at last headed a' rush right into Wanderers’ territory- where one of the Black defenders indiscriminately kicked across the goal mouth right info the hands of Enoka, who was waiting in a handy position and outpaced the opposition scoring a spectacular try. Johnston failed with the kick.

This success spurred the Greens on and immediately the ball was in play again they set up a great passing rush. The ball travelled from man to man, and D’Ath receiving on the wing, made a bold bid for the line, but was forced into touch in the neck of time. The same player was just stopped from getting across a few seconds later. Hui Mai now were in the ascendancy and made things very willing. Their efforts were at last rewarded for from a line 'Out on the Wanderers line Tana bullocked his way across to put his side three points in the lead. Johnston was again unsuccessful with the kick and half time came shortly after. Hui Mai opened the second spell with a series of good passing rushes Enoka especially doing soinp good work and from one of these rushes Graham just saved in time. After some desultory play in midfield the Wanderers pack, who were wisely playing am open game, broke away with the ball at their feet, and were only stemmed on Hui Mai’s line. From the ensuing scramble the ball came out to Winiata who quietly slipped over on the blind side for a nice try. Jacob's kick missed. This reverse caused Hui Mai some concern for up to this stage they had been willing to keep the play in the open. They now adopted different .methods and by close formation their heavy vanguard thrust their lighter opponents back tq their own goal line. The Blacks, however, defended stubbornly and tackling better than in the earlier stages' they gave no quarter. The Greens were also in deadly earnest, but their backs when getting possession of the mval, instead ol going down the centre of the -field, spread out towards the side lines, too much, with the result that their wings were crowded out. Time was now drawing near and just when a drawn game looked a possibility the Black forwards transferred play into 1 Hui Mai’s territory with a good rush. During an .exciting tussle near the Greens’ line Wanderers were awarded a free kick This time Jacob made no mistake and hoisted the ball over from a difficult angle. The Greens strove hard thereafter to avert defeat but it was only a matter of a few minutes now, and the Blacks were content to play safe. No time sounded with Hui Mai on the attack. Mr L. ftandall refereed.