SATURDAY’S GAMES.

Shannon News, 21 July 1925, Page 3

SATURDAY’S GAMES.

SENIOR. Hui Mai (6) v. County (3). Wanderers (14) v. Weraroa (3). Otaki defaulted tu Fox ton. FOURTH'S. Shannon (13) v. Weraroa (3). WANDERERS 17 v. WERAROA 0. The two local teams, Wanderers and Weraroa, tried conclusions at the Domain on Saturday. The conditions were as near perfect as possible and a fast open game was anticipated. The spectators were disappointed, however, lor the game provided was probably one of the poorest witnessed nere this, season. Weraroa in the first spell, despite being six points down at the interval, had an equal share of the play, but in the second half they laded away to such an extent, that Wanderers had matters practically all their own way, and many people left the ground before the game finished. A feature of the game was the fine relereeing of Mr K. Davis, who was quo to spot any infringements, and showed excellent judgment in his interpretation of the advantage rule. The Blacks kicked off, and almost immediately their backs swung along with a nice passing rush, but th, Weraroa men, tackling well, quickly put an end to the movement. Pink with a nicely judged line kick, put his side on the offensive, and Robinson, the White winger, gained the leather, and sprinted into Black territory, but booted when tackled, and a farce-down was the result. , 1 The Weraroa scrummagers were , gaining the bail, but their backs could not get going at all well. The Wanderers were superior in the line out work, and through this advantage gradually worked into Weraroa’s 25. Jacob sent his backs away, but a knock on ended- the movement, and from the following scrum. Lang was penalised, and Pink relieved with a good kick. The Black backs now started to open up play, but the Whiles adopted spoiling tactics, which served to keep play around midfield. The Weraroa pack were giving away a lot of penalties at this stage, and Jacob bad two unsuccessful shots from near half way. Pink next misjudged a high punt, the bounce beating.him badly, and Kuiti following up quickly gained possession, and was just held up on line. The ensuing play saw Weraroa hemmed on their line for sonic time, until Phillips was pulled up for a lorward pass, and Pink, with a hefty punt, transferred play to midfield. Up to this moment the Weraroa pack were more than holding their own,' but the pace of their opponents started to have its effect, and they were constantly compelled to give ground; their backs defended well, however, and Pink, who was always conspicuous on defence, intercepted a pass, and raced away to find the line well down field. Graham and T. McDonald were prominent in the ensuing play,■ and the last-hentioned player cleverly celared his line, and the forwards carrying on, rushed play toi the oilier end. From a scrum Werarua were penalised right under their own goal, and Jacob caused a lot of amusement by missing with the simplest of kicks. Then came the first try. Receiving the kick out, Graham punted high down field, and three Weraroa men foolishly stood around waiting for each other to take the leather, with the result that the Black forwards bore down, and, dribbling over the line, Edginton scored. Jacob did not apparently have his kicking boot, with him for he. again failed to. convert. The, Weraroa team were now constantly on the defence, : and first, Kuiti and H. McDonald, headed movements that- looked dangerous, and were just checked in time, -iaeob then increased the lead. Gaining from the scrum on the blind side, lie beat three tacklers, and scored in a handy position, but once again 1 ailed to convert. The - Weraroa back division now made play more open, and endeavoured to throw the leather about. Hukaraia initiated a couple of movements, but infringements spoilt tilings just at a critical moment. T. McDonald turned -defenqe into attack and half time sounded just as McGill cleared. On the resumption of play Ward and St. Clair iieaded a white rush ' into Wanderers 2b, where Edginton got offside, and Pink, owing to the Black markers charging, was given ' two kicks, hut failed with each attempt. McGill, who had played through the first spell in the five-eighth line, was now shifted to wing-forward, Ross taking his place and St. Clair going into the pack. The change did not cause any improvement in Weraroa s back play, and I’iepia, snapping up a stray pass, raced away with a, cleui field ahead, hotiy pursued by Pink. Short, who was m attendance, called for a pass, but when given, failed to bold the ball and Crotty kicked to touch. Had Nepia gone on a score was a certainty. Weraroa now caused a diversion by taking the offensive, and their forwards attacked solidly, hut the sun which had been obscured by some clouds, now broke through and prov-ed a serious handicap- lor them. y The Black rearguard set up a rush in their own quarter, and the lorwards. Headed -by “/! Short, carried on and H. Mellon did tried to battle over, but was held up. Jacob then dummied past two defenders, and transferred to T. Men on aid, who sent O’Donnell over Ux third try. Still Jacob fmlu the prove the score. Wilson kick out and Ward carried play to Wanderers- line, but tiro movement tailed for lack of support. Weraroa’s hack line, then swun„ into action, until a forward pass by Pink allowed the Blacks t 0 and H. McDonald, Kuiti and McA - thur came away with ; until Pink held them up. Wilson gained more ground for his side with - a heady kick that found touch a few yards from the White’s line. y At the ensuing line out tho Wwa-

roa pack politely left Jacob standing unmarked, and Phillips, sizing up the situation, threw well out to him, and the big fellow crossed without a hand touching him. This time he converted.

Weraroa now seemed to lose heart, and the Blacks gained the ascendancy, Wilson being prominent in several attacking movements. From a line out in the White territory, Jacob passed to T. McDonald, the latter passing to Winiata, who, cut in past a couple of men, but his transfer to Wilson went astray'. It was not the end of the movement, however, for Phillips shot up on the outside, and, picking up smartly, scored a good t-rv. The kick failed.

Weraroa rallied in the dying stages, and, from a scrum in Wanderers’ quarter, Bishop cleverly worked the niind side, and sent Perry away, but what looked like a score failed to eventuate, through a forward pass. Time was called as the Blacks worked out to midfield.