SATURDAY’S RUGBY.

Shannon News, 25 May 1926, Page 3

SATURDAY’S RUGBY.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE. Winning teams on Saturday, throughout .Horowhenua, were as follow: SENIORS. Wanderers 22., Otaki 5. County 14, S. United 0. Ilui Mai 8, Foxton 6. JUNIORS. Awahou 6, Foxton of.0 f . Shannon 14, Otaki 0. Hui Mai 6, Tokomaru 3. Miranui 9, Wanderers 7. THIRDS. Shannon 8, Miranui o. Weraroa 6, Foxton 3. Kuku 19, S. United 5. FOURTHS. Foxton 6, Foxton D.H.S. 0.. Shannon (won by default from Weraroa. CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE. Owing to Weraroa’s withdrawal it has been, necessary to further alter the table , for the first round. The following teams, who have not yet played Weraroa, are credited with a win:—Hui Mai., Shannon, and Foxton.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. OTAKI WELL BEATEN BY 1 WANDERERS., After a desultory game, Wanderers ‘ had l rather an easy win against Otaki at Levin on Saturday, by 28 points to 5. A pleasant diversion to the general run of the play, was the loose.rushes put up by the Wanderers’ forwards. The Otaki backs showed a ■ decided disinclination to go down to these rushes, with the result that the Black vanguard practically dominated the game and, with the exception of a few spasmodic efforts, Otaki were seldom in the picture. A couple of heavy, downpours before the match made the ground slippery, .and 'the hall became very greasy, whichi probably accounted for the uncertain handling by both sets of backs. During the second spell a heavy mist settled down over the playing area., and at times, it became rather difficult to distinguish the players. Jacob set play in motion, and from a line-out in the Greens’ territory, sent his- backs away with a neat pass to Winiata. Williams’ transfer . to Graham went astray, and Otaki swept through the gap. The Black rearguard retaliated, but a knock-on held them up. Rhodes and Harvey shot away from, the resultant serum, with the ball at their feet, and T. McDonald, in stemming the rush, was penalised. The penalty kick saw Williams, caught in possession, but Ryder came to his assistance, and found touch at midfield. A cross kick by Phillips was nullified by Einoka, who punted high down the centre, but Graham, taking well, returned to . the Greens’ 25, and the Blacks, following through quickly, had Otaki in trouble.Tatana, H. McDonald, and Poad dribbled across from- a scramble in l'roiit of the Green goal, but Tahivvi raced .them to the ball, and touched down. Graham accepted the kick out, and, instead of booting, dodged a couple of Greens, and sent Phillips away: This player -penetrated well into Otaki’s area before being forced into touch. Play swung across field and from* a scrum, T. McDonald worked the blind side, neatly, and Short was nearly over' being held up on the line, but from the ensuing scramble Jacob snapped up and shot across, in a handy position. Tatana’s kick fell short. _ j : ; ' Wanderers 3, Otaki 0. Play had hardly restarted, when Jacob again picked up at midfield, neatly dummied a bunch of Green forwards, and flew down the centre. Anticipating the move, H. McDonald raced into position for his pass, and, cutting a couple of tucklers out, returned to Jacob who galloped over for a brilliant try, Tatana made no mistake with the kick. Wanderers 8 Otaki 0. The game was rather onesided at this - stage, find another sweeping rush by 11. McDonald, Bond and Go. compelled Lima to force down. The Otaki forwards managed to work downfield, and a penalty gave Gleeson a chance to open Otaki’s account but he missed an easy kick. Fumbling by the Wanderers backline let Sevan and S. Merino through \ and they drove play on to Wanderers’ line. Otaki now looked dangerous for‘the first time, and fcdm a, scrum the Greens hooked smartly, but Tatana smothered Taipua, Otaki’s half, and cleared to the 25. A movement between Edginton, Jacob, Tatana and Short placed the Blacks on the offensive again. H .McDonald > /dribbled down to Otaki’s line, but Merino found touch 30 yards out. Jacob was feeding his hacks like clockwork, -but Williams’ passes were badly directed, and several movements failed. Harvey, Rhodes, and Larson heacla rush out to midfield, but the Blacks refused* to* be. kept out, and

returned to the attack. From a lineout Tatana received, and, with one of hi,s characteristic dashes, dodged his way across. Jacob’s kick missed. Wanderers 11, Otaki 0. After Phillips had been laid out through a hard tackle, the Otaki fori wards came up field with a fine rush, but failed to drive their advantage home, and Jacob relieved. Rhodes land Hakaraia broke away from the line-out, but.Winiata held them up until his forwards worked into position, and Williams eventually clearled as half-time was called. After the resumption, Otaki put ’more dash into their play, and gave ) Wanderers a hot time of it for some minutes. The effect was not sustained, however, and from a scrum, T. McDonald ran well down the blind side, and put his team on the offensive. .Another line-out near the Greens’ line, and Tatana-had scared his second try in a. similar manner to his first effort. Jacob piloted the ball safely over the bar, bringing Wanderers’ score up to 16. Wanderers 16, Otaki nil.

A great rush by Rond and Tatana was repulsed by Lima, and a scrum in midfield saw Gleeson head an Otaki rush that found Ryder in difficulties, but T. McDonald popped up and saved well with a boot to touch. The Black forwards carried the lineout, and away swept H. McDonald, Tohu and Poad. Ignoring all efforts by the Otaki backs to frustrate them, they swept across the line, the firstnamed being robbed of the leather when about to touch 'down, the ball going dead. After a period of uninteresting loose work, Gleeson, who was playing an outstanding game for the Greens, came through the ruck, and, picking up smartly, passed out to Harvey who in turn sent on to S. Merino, the latter streaking across under the post. B. Tahiwi goaled from an easy position.

Wanderers 16, Otaki 5. This effort was the means of livening the Greens somewhat, and they put more vim into their play. Tahiwi initiated a movement but fumbling by Enoka allowed the Black forwards through and Tatana, H. McDonald, Short and Grajiam became associated in a bout of passing that penetrated well into the Greeds’ territory. The Blacks were temporarily, held up until Jacob gained possession, and, cutting out lvis five-eighths, sent out a long transfer to Graham, who, taking the ball in his stride, raced around the opposing backs for a good try. Jacob missed. Wanderers 19, Otaki 5.j With time obviously near at hand, Otaki’s position was now hopeless, and, to make matters worse for + he Greens, Williams added another three points to Wanderers, score. Gathering up in midfield he cleverly cut through the opposition, and, working up full speed, he showed a clean pair of heels to half tire Otaki team, scoring a spectacular try jupt on time. ■The kick missed, and 'the . game ended— Wanderers 22, Otaki 5. Mr N. Emmett controlled the game.

JUNIORS. HIUI MAI 6 v. TOKOMARU 3. ■This match was played an Saturday. Play commenced with a slight wind in Hui Mai’s favour, and from the kick off they carried the game over the Tokomaru fine for Silbury to score. The kick at .goal went wide. Hui Mai 3, Toko 0. , From the kick out, L. Simpson, who was playing a sterling game, dribbled the ball to- -the Hui /Mai line, but a sure try was lost through one of his 'forwards getting offside. Hui Mai cleared to the line about halfway and play surged up and down between 25’s foi' some time. -From a loose scrum L. Simpsdri secured and putting in a great run transferred to G. Simpson who sent on to Green who went over. Hui Mai word awarded a foirce. From -the kick-out Rowlands /returned play to- Hui Mai’s 25 with a good line kick. From the line-out a serum was awarded Hui Mai for a knock on. The ball went- to the Tokomaru half, who sent on to Green, then Rowlands, who beat his man, and then on to Williams, who terminated a pretty movement by going over at. the corner. Tire kick failed. Hui Mai 3, Tokoinairu 3. Half time was called soon after. { i From the whistle in the second spell it, looked us if Hui Mai were,, going to repeat their' performance in the .first spell. Merriman, the- Tokomaru full back, was caught 'in possession, but Rowlands coming back, effected a lucky save, finding the line at the twoty-five. From the line out Toltomaru forwards carried the ball to Hui Mai line where the ball dribbled over. Lambert 'pressed but in so doing knocked over the comer flag. (From the kick out play to Tokomaru’s 25, where Simpson was penalised for offside play. Bevan made no mistake with the kick. Hui Mai 6, Tokomaru 3. From now on the play became very ragged and the gome ended with Hui Mai mostly on the defenside. Mir Hemti controlled the game. The outstanding player on the field was Silbury (Hui Mai five-eighth), who, it is understood, played senior football in the Hauraki Plains Union prior to returning to Horowhenua. Bevan Was also very safe at full back, saving his side time- after time For Tokomaru, L. Simpson played a dashing game in the forwards. In Hie backs Rowlands and Or eon were outstanding. .. . A feature; of the game was the lax way in which it waff controlled. The referee continually haggled with

players and spectators after he had given his decision. The sooner he rectifies tlifis mistake the better it will he for the game in general.

FOOTBALL.

Hunt, Roberts, Puti, Marsh, Dalzell, Moynihan, and Johansen will represent Shannon Seniors in the seven-a-side tournament at- Palmerston North.

*So 'fl G3 fci) C$ 02 rt 1 'd O g -g o 0. 0 s a 1 o & .S' £ o J. 0 •o 6 Hui Mai 5 5 0 l) 57 i§ 12 County 5 4 1 0 65 17 ,10 Wanderers 5 4 1 0 59 27 10 Shannon 3 2 , 1 0 39 35 % 8 Ofaki 5 o 3 0 25 44 6 Foxtoil 5 r 4 0 79 57 4 Southern United 4 i 3 0 11 54 4