RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 21 May 1926, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NOTES AT RANDOM. After an Indifferent- display against Hui Mai the previous week, Shannon rehabilitated themselves in the eyes of their supporters on Saturday by soundly beating Wanderers. last year’s champions, after a fast open game. The Red forwards were in great fettle and made no race of it with the opposing pack. Taking full advantage of the numerous mistakes made by the Wanderers back division they were ever on the alert-, and led by Rewi Moynihan, Marsh, Tohi. Hendricksen, and Johansen, their loose rushes were most effective.' The Wanderers’ backs were listless and gave a very poor exhibition throughout, and on the day, were not- up to junior grade. Ryder, however, was the exception, and although constantly up against it, being called upon to face a bunch of Red forwards. time and time again, he came through the ordeal with flying colours. There were some glaring mistakes made by the rest of the backline chiefly, the absence of , any cohesion whatever, and waiting i'o-r each other to take the ball, w-hic-h often let the Shannon forwards through. T. Winia.ta was badly missed out of his fftcustorned position at fiveeighth, as his rush-stopping, which is a feature -of his play, would have been very useful on Saturday. Roberts, Shannon's skipper this year, played in Wanganui last, season. As wing three-quarter for the Reds, he gave. a. brilliant exhibition and delighted the spectators with some rare dashes, disclosing an effective -sidestep and, at the same -time proving an adept -at selling the “dummy,” incidentally, finding many of the opposition -ready to accept- it. Shannon are fortunate in having a full-back of Hunt’s calibre and his display on .Saturday was equal to the best given by this player. His kicking to touch was full of judgment and must 1 have been heart-breaking to the Black forwards.

Dalzell, usually a, forward, was tried out in the Reds back line, playing in the five-eighth position. His gaame was one out of the box, his straight running always gaining plenty of ground and proving troublesome to the opposition. Spring, the youthful half back of the Shannon team, got the ball away very well. He shows every promise of being a good half when more seasoned.-

Graham, who shaped well in the opening games, was decidedly off colour on Saturday and the same may be applied to the remainder of Wanderers’ rearguard, who will have to do much better if they wish ,to maintain the position they occupied at the end of last season. Of the Wanderers forwards little can be. said. A pack is as good as its opponents will let it- be. and the least that can toe said .is that they .were up against a better pack. A word of praise is due to the referee, -Mr T. Para-ta, for the able manner in which he controlled the game; bis fine judgment and quick decision being a treat. The Horowhenua Union -can consider themselves fortunate in having such a capable referee. Foxton again turned -out with some of their star backs missing and fielded a string -of light-weights behind tlie scrum. 'Consequently, once the ball -came out in the -open, County’s advantage manifested. Little fault can be found with the Yellow and Black forwards. They are fast, and work well together, in fact, their rushes were more concentrated than County’s, and they compare favourably with any -other set of forwards in the district. They were unfortunate in not having a collection of hacks behind them to put the finishing touches to their work.

A pleasing feature of the CountyFoxton game was the vastly improved display given by the Blue rear division. Hiwi’s reappearance in his old position as second five-eighth was chiefly responsible for this. Has strong running stands him in good stead and apart from handling the hall cleanly, he runs his outside man nicely into position before sending on. Hoskings has been shifted up from the three-quarter line to breakaway in the Blue scrummage and "certainly seems to have found his proper “possy” as he gave a sparkling exhibition, being always in the thick of the fray. M. McDonald gave, a taste of lus qualiiy towards the end of the game lie appeared uncertain in the early stages hut alter half lime lie was going great, guns. Mis Dual try was a line effort after a misiaUe Ivy one of Ids own eel leagues. At differoui time:; dining die git me against Foxt-on, Cod.nl\ had in least three half-bucko. and th>Mv me ode or two Blue forwivido who should realise (hat I'uriilti hi sohyhkl to fulfil that roll, and Instead of standing around hindering him, ihev should be getting into the heavy shift, Grace Hereinuia. should lie worth trying out in the rent re fliroe-quarter position. Me is quick off the mark and handles cleanly and should .prove a good scoring unit. The Ilui Alai-Southern United game was remarkable for the fact that die Greens within eight minutes from Ene start, had piled up fifteen points. Meta Johnson once again gave a polished display. He certainly had his kicking boot with him. for he converted all the five tries registered by 11 ni Mai. ! Southern United, although not doing too well in their games are proving themselces great sports. Visiting teams are at all times as-

sured of a hearty welcome and are always provided with a hot drinlt to help them on their journey home ; wards. This thoughtful action bn the part of the Southern men is deeply appreciated. r Had ;it not been for IT. Walls and Fuller, -on Saturday, County’s score would have been more than it was. ’Fuller proved himself a fine little player and is game to the backbone. The Referees’ Association appears to toe a live body. It has made arrangements for Mr T. Fletcher, of Wellington, to visit Levin, in the course of a week or two-, to deliver a lecture on the laws of the game. Mr Fletcher is one of the foremost authorities on the game, and the Referees Association is to be commended upon its enterprise. WERAROA WITHDRAW-S. Weraroa wore in the unenviable position of not being able to collect a team to go to Ot-aki on Saturday, and have definitely decided to withdraw from the competition. This is a pity, as they have several good players in their ranks; however, places will soon be found for them in the other teams. — *

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY.

SENIORS. Wanderers v. Otaki, at Levin, 2.50 p.m., N. Emmett, S. United v. County, at Paraparaumu, 2.50 p.m., K. Davis. Hui Mai v. Foxton,'at Manakau, 2.50 p.m., E. Bevan. Shannon, a bye. JUNIORS. Awahou v. Foxton, at Foxton, 2,50 p.m., J. H. Rhodes. Shannon v. Otaki, at Otaki, 2.50 p.m., H, Karauti. Hui Mai v. Tokomaru, at Toko-maru, 2.50 p.m.in, H. Hemi. Wanderers v. Miranui, at Weraroa, 2.50 p.m., N. Kingi. THIRDS. Miranui v. Shannon, at Miranui, 2.50 p.m., J. Sadd. Weraroa v. Foxton, at Prouse s Paddock, 2,50 p.m., W. Peters. Kuku v. S. United, at Kuku, 2.50 p.m., H. Pane. FOURTHS. Foxton D.H.S. v. Foxton, at Foxton, I. p.m., J. 11, Rhodes, Weraroa v. Shannon, at Shannon, 1.30 p.m., J. Sadd.