RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 14 July 1925, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY'S RESULTS. SENIOR County 12, Otaki 3. .Shannon 6, Weraroa- 0. f The Foxton v. Hui Mai match was not played owing to the hoods. JUNIOR. Foxton 6, Tokomaru 0. Mautoa 5, Miranui 0. ( Weraroa 6, Otaki 0. Hui Mai forfeited to Wanderers; Awahou v. Shannon: match was not played. THIRDS. Weraroa 3, Foxton 0. FOURTHS. Weraroa 16, L.D.H.S. 3. SHANNON' 6 v. WERAROA NIL. On the" Recreation Grounds on Saturday the above teams met and after a very ragged exhibition the visiting team went tinder to Shannon by t points (a penalty goal and a goal | from a mark) to nil.. After the re- j cent spell of wet weather the ground was heavy, which no doubt was largely responsible for the poor display. I Un the play there was very little to choose between the two teams, but Weraroa certainly had the ibest. of the latter stages of the game, and were unlucky not to score. As in their previous matches the Shannon forwards excelled in the loose, Sands, Johansen, Moynihan and Matthews being most conspicuous, while the outstanding forwards in the Weraroa packs were Skilton and McGill. The back division of the visitors was very weak and lacked combination., Pink and Hakaraia being the best. Of the local 'backs Hunt at full back, was the outstanding player, saving his side repeatedly and hey was also responsible for the two goals/ Williams and Ransfleld also showed up well. The game opened with Weraroa , playing with the sijivi in their faces and from the kick off Reds rushed play to the Weraroa territory, where Skilton intercepted a pass and after a short sprint, kicked the leather 'to Reds 25; but play soon returned to mid field, where Skelton again broke away at the head iaf a loose rush,' but Hunt saved by kicking to the. line. Not to be denied Weraroa again returned to the attack, .but their effort was'frustrated by Ropata finding the line well down. Shortly after Reds were penalised and Pink by a fine kick found the line at the corner flag. From the line out Moynihan broke away and the Reds gradually worked their way to the half way flag where an exchange iotf kicks among the backs followed, which ended in Reds being awarded a free kick for off-side play. Ropata took the kick at goal, which went wide. On the ball going into play Shannon attacked, but Pink gained possession from a cross kick and raced away, closely followed by four others, 'but a low pass spoilt a good opening to score. Reds, with a loose rush, headed by Sands, again returned to their opponents' territory, where shortly after they were awarded a free kick, Hunt, by a fine kick, registering the first score. Shannon again had their opponents on the defensive, hut relief came from a free kick, and following up Weraroa carried the ball over Reds' line, Hunt forcing. After" this came a series of •rushes by both teams, during which both were penalised for off-s,ide play. The spell ended with Weraroa. forcing the Reds in the latter's 25. I Soon after resuming, Weraroa made strenuous efforts to even the score, but Reds were equal to the occasion, Ransfleld from a mark relieving their position, the outcome of which was a loose rush which returned play to the other end of the field, but it was only momentarily as Hakaraia intercepting by a good kick, found the line at centre; where play hovered for some time, Shannon finally working into their .opponents territory where Hunt from a mark in front of the goal posts added' his second goal. Give and take play followed and .lroiu a line-out Moynihan sent the ball out among the hacks, and spectators witnessed ihe best piece of passing oi the day; the ball travelling from the five-eighths to the three-quarter line. The Whites now put up a solid fight and had the Reds hard pressed and it looked as if they would score, but eventually Sands and Johansen broke away with the ball at their toe and tins loose rush cleared their line. During, the remainder of the spell play was travelling up and down the field, neither team gaining an advantage. Mr McDonald ably controlled the game.