Saturday's Football

Shannon News, 23 June 1925, Page 4

Saturday's Football

RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIOR. Shannon 6, County 0. Wanderers 16, Otaki 9. Weraroa 9, Foxton 6. JUNIOR. Miranui 8, Shannon .3, Foxton 17, Moutoa 11. Hui Mai 3, Otaki 0. Paraparaumu 12, Wanderers Q. THIRDS. Waikanae 6, Maori College 6. FOURTHS. Foxton 4, Shannon 3. Levin D.H.S. 3, Weraroa 3. SENIORS. WANDERERS 16 v. OTAKI 9. JACOB'S DAY OUT. OTAKI FULL BACK ORDERED OFF. Wanderers still maintained their unbeaten record by defeating Otaki at Otaki on Saturday. The conditions were ideal and a goodly muster of spectators were treated to an exhilarating exhibition, both teams exploiting the fast open passing game to its ' fullest extent. The outstanding feature of , the game was the play of Jacob, Wanderers' skipper, who scored the whole sixteen points for his side, and his play from start to finish was 'reminiscent of this p]ayer at the top of his form when he was always certain of a place in the New Zealand teams. Play opened at a great pace, both teams entering into the fray in the best of spirits. Otaki were the first to show up, their forwards invading Wanderers' territory with a sweeping rush but Nicholson returned play to midfield with a nice line kick. From the lineout play hovered around the centre of the field for some time until Jacob picked up, but, when trying to evade a couple of tacklers, Tuna coolly robbed him of the ball and, with a clear field ahead of him, ran nicely into position, and potted a neat goal, it all happened so suddenly that the Black, backs were caught napping.

From the kick out play was still of the fast order and a good passingrush by Wanderers saw the ball go over the Greens' line. A five yards scrum was ordered from which an Otaki forward was penalised for offside play. The position was an easy one and Jacob goaied. Otaki now had a spell on the defence, the Wanderers' back line treating the onlookers to some nice passing rushes, but over-eagerness spoilt things. The Greens were quick to re taliate, however, and P. Tahiwi combining well with his brother, B. Tahiwi, in some clever reverse passing ' shifted play back to the centre. More ground was gained by Utaki with penalties and eventually Wanderers were compelled to force. " The Green pack were breaking through very quickly, and Wanderers had to exert themselves to keep them out. Play travelled up and down field, at a tremendous rate, the players on both sides showing no signs whatever of slackening up. Corby was the next to show out. From a line-out in Blacks 25 he broke away with the ball at his ,toe and closely attended by Tataua took play well into the Green's territory where Jacob sent Wilson away. A nice movement saw Wilson send pn to Nicholson and Jacob to handle 101 the second time in the rush and pass again to Phillips, who unfortunately knocked on when near the line. Uie ball came out to Lang from the ensuing scrum and he fed S. Winiata to see that player dummy three uppon- | euts and send on to Wilson who was inst hold up 011 the line. Otaki now evidently decided that it was quite time thev had a turn on attack, foi both forwards and backs came away with a great rush in which P. laliiwi figured prominently, and Graham was called on to save twice m quick succession. In the face of one of these rushes Wanderers' full-back picked up nicely and after dodging a couple of green men, punted high down field. The ball bounced awkwardly toi I ima and 'Jacoib who was following „p at full speed took the leather in his stride and went across withi two Greens hanging to him. He failed to

convert his own try just as the whisI tie blew far half-time. Play was quiet for a period after resumption, Tuna causing Otaki supporters some disappointement through missing an easy shot from a, tyIt was just after tins that Lima the Otaki full-back was ordered off for striking an opponent. Nankivelle, who had been playing a good game as five-eighth being shifted back. This incident seemed to spur the Greens on for they attacked immediately. From a scrum just past halfway the ball was hooked cleanly to Kelly who threw out a long pass to P. Tahiwi, who set off in his characteristic manner and beating his man sent on to P. Tahiwi, who cut in past three Blacks and scored under the post. P. Tahiwi converted easily. It was the prettiest try of the match and gave Otaki a lead of three points. After the kick-off Wanderers set out determinedly to make up the leeway and for the next twenty minutes kept Otaki penned in their own territory. A scrum was ordered in front of the southern men's goal from which Kuiti broke away smartly and dribbled over for Jacob to dive on the ball before 'any defenders could get their hands on to it.

| The same player easily added the j extra points and the Blacks were once more in the lead. The score now read 11 to 9 in Wanderers' favour, and they seemed to be standing up to the strain of the last pace set much better than Otaki. The Greens were carrying most of the scrums, but Kelly at half, although getting through a lot of hard work, was too slow in getting rid of the ball and the Blacks were allowed to smother any efforts, to remove play out Qf the danger zone. Ross, playing on the side o,f the scrum for Crtaki, wap also pausing his side trouble with offside play. From one of these breaches Jacob found touch near the Otaki line. A hot forward battle was set up at this spot from which Jacob emerged with the ball and ignoring all efforts, to tackle him scored right under the posts. He had no difficulty with the kick. Wanderers now had the game in hand and their line was. only seriously threatened once when, from, a forward rush Wilson saved by sending to touch witli a good kick and time was called without any further incident. Both teams are to be congratulated on the splendid game provided, the genera! opinion being that it was the best club game seen for some time. Mr J. Smith ably refereed.

SHANNON 6 v. COUNTY NIL. This game was nearly half an hour late in starting, owing to the referee continuing in charge of the third grade game, with the result that play was finished in the dark. The game does not call for much description, as throughout it was very ordinary and uninteresting and was not up to the standard of senior play. Both teams lacked finish to their work, the backs on both sides-being ragged in their passing. In scrum work the 'forwards were evenly matched, but in the loose the Shannon forwards got all over their opponents. During the second spell Henderson {County) who had been playing a j good game, received an injury to his J knee and had to leave the field, a sub- j stitute taking h:s place. The game I opened with an interchange of kicks and remained for the first ten minutes around midfield. Finally, the Shannon backs by a passing bout carried play well inside the Blue 25, but the Blues gradually worked them out. However, Ransfield got possession of the ball and made a bid for the line, but, after shaking off his man, dropped tile ball, and missed what looked like a chance to score. From a scrum ihe Reds were penalised for off-side play, and the kick gave relief. Warren (County) on the wing, who was playing a good game, by a fine kick from half way, found the line near the corner flag. The Red forwards, by a dribbling rush headed by Matthews, carried play over the half way line. Later they were awarded a freekick and Hunt by a fine kick just missed placing the ball between the posts. Blues now swept down on their opponents with a dribbling rush, but through over eagerness they were penalised. Soon after Sheehan and Ransfield in a j good passing rush took the play to I Blue territory, after which an exchange of kicks followed, the outcome of which was that from a miskick Matthews snapped up the ball at half-way and showing a clean pair of heels to his opponent raced to the line and drew first blood. In the run he was closely attended byMarsh. Hunt failed to add the extra points. Soon sifter .the ball was in play again, Ropala with the leather at his toe was responsible for returning play to the Blue territory, but it was only momentarily as the latter broke away with a ' fine dribbling rush, but when near their opponents line were penalised. Play went back to centre where Blues were awarded a free kick, half time being called with them attacking. On resuming, following an exchange of kicks, Williams by kicking across field enabled Mansfield and Marsh to take play into the Blue 25, where the Blues were kept busy defending their line. Relief came from a free kick. Play now hovered up and down the field, Eagle finally dribbling to the 25, where Shannon attacked vigorously. From a rush Johanson scored. The kick at goal failed to increase the score. It now became too dark to distinguish the play and the game ended soon alter with Shannon attacking. Mr Bevan ably refereed. CASUALTIES AT SHANNON. During the progress of the Junior football match on Saturday between Shannon and Miranui, Hendncksen, the star forward of the former team, had the misfortune to break his leg. Injuries were sustained by Hender son of Countv team, and also by a member of the Weraroa Thirds.