RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 14 May 1926, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NOTES AT RANDOM. Unfavourable weather prevailed for the various games on Saturday, and the heavy westerly gale accompanied by a driving rain made things anything but congenial for the players. The County-Wanderers clash on the Domain provided a keen struggle i'Otween the opposing forwards, v-'itli occasional flashes by the backs, Lui passing rushes were v few and far 'between. However, the game provide! plenty of thrills and w T as full of interest up to the last miiiute. The outstanding feature .off ithe .contest was the remarkable defence put up by botli sides when playing agauist the wind, and the manner in whi.-.h both teams stuck to their task wagood to watch. In the first spell, with the advantage of the wind, County failed i" score, and this cost them the game. [ Tire Blues badly need a leader in ibe back line, for on Saturday, in the first spell, they should have scored at least two tries in a handy position. It must have been very disherrteniii:? to the County forwards to present their, back division with glorious opportunities right on the line, only i-.> see them thrown away. T. Parata,- in toe five-eighth . j i11e; although he played a fine gam; ( throughout,' does not seem to be able i to send out a decent pass, and his transfers to Rophia were simply h> art- j breaking. Warren, who appears to be County's utility man, was easily the best back on the ground and gave a fine display. He is one of the most promising players in the district, and, with with a little more experience, should develop into a top-notcher. < The Blues undoubtedly have a fin; 1 Oven pack. A noticeable improvement was in their scrummaging for,* although up against a good pair of hookers, they obtained a fair =hare of the ball.

Palmer, Beremaia, R. McDonald, and Tuna, .were outstanding with tie otsers not far besind. T. McDonald was Wanderers' star•, performer among-the'hacks, more so on defence, where he gave a great display, and sent the Blue forwards back time after time, ''is tr\* in the last minute of the game wa? an example of grit and dele rim aa'uoa. Ryder, at full for ihe B acks, also performed heroically. Only of small ; physique, he is going to prove worth his weight in gold to the Wanderers. Bond, Wanderers' new lock, prow-d himself a forward of quality who knows'all the tricks of the position, and how to exploit li.em. His work on the line-out was very impressive, ,and taken all round he should ne hard to keep out of the rep. team. Jacob reecived a knock on an old injury, early in the game, and was not as effective as usual. ■ Tatana, Poad, ami tl. McDonald, were perhaps the pick oi the remainder o'f Wande;e-s' vanguard Taking everything into consideration County were decidedly unfortunate in having to accep', defeat for, on their display, they .-.t least deserved a draw. Contrary to expectations Hui Mai , had rather a hollow win over Shannon, and had twelve points 10 spare at the finish. Meta Johnson gave a remarkabh display in his position at full-back for the Greens. Hie handling and kicking of the ball was, at all times, of a most polished nature and he is evidently at the top of his form. His goal from practically on the touchline at halfway, was an eye-opener, and brought forth roars of approval frorii the spectators. Tana, Hui Mai's burly lock, is also in great form, and was constantly in •the thick of the play. Robinson also performed ably, for the Greens. Rewi Moynihan and Sands were the pick of the Shannon forwards, who were outplayed by their oppoents.

Roberts, Shannon's wing, threequarter and Captain, proved himself a strong and tricky runner, and was quite the pick of the Red backs. Although perhaps somewhat overshadowed by Meta Johnson's display, Hunt, Shannons fullback was nevertheless as safe and reliable as ever. Both Wanderers and County failed to make full use of the wind when they had it in their favour. Neither teams •exploited the high punt, ' and follow up down the centre of the field. This is hard to understand as these tactics are match-winning factors when a strong wind is blowing, i The Oiaki-Foxton game resolved itself into a duel between the Otaki forwards and the Foxton backs and the Green vanguard prevailed. Tho < Yellow and Blacks wore considerably .weakened, owing to the'absence of Moses, Reid and Taylor, three of their star performers in the back division. The Green vanguard, headed by Bevan and Rhodes, played with plenty of dash, their loose 'rushes being most effective. Tn McDonald, Foxton possess a verv fine breakaway, and on Saturday be stood out prominently, par-, ticulnrlv in the loose. The Foxton backs at times gave glimpses of good combinations, Fuller being their shinSportsmen—and the referee, ' Throuo-hout the Horowhenua Rugby District Ihere is a certain small percentage of so-called "sports"-hang-preon who desultorily follow the .rrandest game of all-who. contrary To "all the dictates of sportsmanship nnd despite the canons laid down by Z unwritten laws of fair treathP referee with abuse when the ieluVof a match is noHust what Ihey h "Z one of the men who helps c.ontrrl the games stated, at the meeting

of the management, committee, a referee's life is a misery. Nor are these cases isolated to one particular town or match for, on Saturday last, there were disagreeable incidents in no les* than three different matches, due for the most part to the hooligan instincts in some spectators being released from the leash, and resulting in a torrent of unmanly invective being hurled at the referee. In the past much lias been said of the fine, spirit which animates the Re ferees' Association and how, without reward or thanks, these men "carry on." Saturday, for example, every man with the whistle was soaked through by the drenching rain, but, after doing their duty and giving what they considered were fair decisions, they were subjected to pinpricking, carping criticisms and illfound remarks, from, people vt'fa have ?tbe temerity to call themselves spv's.