THE BEBBINGTON SHIELD COMES HOME.

Shannon News, 16 July 1926, Page 2

THE BEBBINGTON SHIELD COMES HOME.

Horowhenua’s Narrow Victory GREAT GAME ON A HEAVY GROUND (By OUr Special Representative). After three previous attempts to wrest tlie Btehbington Shield from Bush, Horowhenua were successful yesterday at Pahiatua, by defeating tlie holders by eleven points to nine. The ground Was heavy and slippery, -but- despite this, the game was surprisingly fast, and those present witnessed a sterling struggle. Htorowlienua quickly established a lead, and at half time appeared to have a fairly easy task, but as the game progressed so did Bush’s score gradually creep up, and the atmosphere was tense with excitement as the Reds fought 'desperately to bold their advantage. Cracking on the pace, lorjwaemu piled on eight points in the first fifteen minutes before their opponents had settled down, and this is really where the game was won, for, ab though Bush, once they ;imp'd into their stride, displayed rare combination, they v uld not ma urge to make up the leeway. Many considered that Horowhenua were a trifle lucky. That may be so. but let it not be forgotten that the element of luck swung both ways as will always happen in a game of this description. Jacob, Horowhenua s skipper, was carried off shoulder high after the match. The teams lined out as follows: HOROWHENUA (Red and Blue). Backs.—Winiata, Roberts, Hunt, M. McDonald, M. Moses, Warren, and T. McDonald. Forwards. —H. McDonald, Maihi, Moynihan, Bond, Tatana, Palmer, Merino, and H. Jacob (Capt.) BUSH.—(Green and Red). Backs—Udy, Woolland, Fergusson, P. Galvin, Tail, Graham, and Clarke. Forwards.—Harvey (Capt.), Oliver, Whitehead, Sdevers, Moynihan, Hunt, Kerrison and J. Galvin. Mr H. J. McKenzie (Wairarapa) refereed. As will be noticed, Horowhenua weir© without the services of Tana and Dalzell in the forwards, while Meta Johnson was unable to take the full-back position owing to injuries. THE, GAME. Bush won tire toss, and when the teams lined ouit it was very evident that they were decidedly heavier forward, than Horowhenua were. Horowheniia- were the first to show out-, for from 4 scrum, at midfield, they gained control in a convincing manner, and T. McDonald sent his backs away. Warren short punted, and P. Galvin fumbled the hall, but Udy nipped in only to be well smothered. Tlie Red forwards swarmed down on to Bush’s line, and matters lookeil interesting, until Oliver cleared with a good dribble. H. McDonald and Tatana headed play back to Green territory, but from some loose play on the '2O line, Moses failed to field cleanly, ami Woolland and Clarke broke clean away with the ball at their feet in a rush Shat caught (Winiata out of position. Warren, however, appeared on the scene, and brilliantly put an end to the movement, and the Reds worked hack to hallway. Moses was using the short punt to good effect, and after M. McDonald had smothered Udy, the first namil, v til Wav ' m in-support, headed a rush to within striking distance, but P. Galvin shot across, and booted to touch.

From the line out, Bush ' swept downfleld, and from a scrum in a handy position, Clarke worked the blind side and sent on to Fergusson, who looked like scoring, but Winiuta brought off a great tackle, and 1. McDonald booted dead. Play had no sooner started when T. McDonald gained possession, and shot out to Hunt, who transferred to H. McDonald. The last-named player punted for the corner, and a race for the ball saw Roberts down Udy, and, from tbe scramble that followed, Hunt snapped up smartly, and shot, across amidst wild , excitement among the Reds’ supporters. The angle was too much for Jacob. Horowhenua 3, Bush 0. Maintaining the pressure, Horowhenua were soon hammering away at the defence once more, and not many moments elapsed before they had registered their second try. , T. McDonald gained frohi a line-out in Bush’s territory, and smartly sent out to Moses, who short-punted into a gap, Hunt flashed through with a lightning burst, and taking the ball in his stride, evaded a'tackier, and gave M. McDonald a clear run in under the posts. Jacob kicked an easy goal. Horowhenua 8, Bush 0. This seemed to have a steadying influence on the Greens, for they settled down in earnest.,' and several flue rushes in which both forwards and backs took part, tested Horowhenua’s defence, but Warren was conspicuous for some fine saves that kept them from opening their account. Eventually, the Greens reaped their reward, for, from a scrum at midfield, Clark gent his backs away, and each man handled the hall with ma.-chine-like regularity, pntil Woolland finished off a beautiful movement, by

racing across at tlie corner. Udy failed with a difficult kick. Horowhenua 8, Bush 3. Bush, for a period now appeared t.o get Horowhenua’s measure, fox play settled down in the Reds’ 25. The Greens were dominating the line outs and loose forward rushes, and on one or two occasions were within an ace of scoring, and dt was only their over-eagerness that, kept them out, for the Red tackling at this stage, was lamentably weak. The Horowhenua pack, playing well in the tight, gradually worked out, and T. McDonald sent Roberts away. ' This player was just breaking clear, when P. Galvin up-ended him. with a great tackle, mid Harvey, who was obviously off-side, returned play back , to Horowhenua’s line, but a penalty relieved the situation. Another fine rush by the Bush rearguard, this time ended with Woolland being forced into touch in the nick and some exciting Line-out play in close proximity to the Red line ended with T. McDonald farcing down. After the drop-out, Udy marked and with a good kick kept Horowhenua in their twenty-five. Faulty handling by the Red backs allowed Bush through, but J. Galvin was ruled offside, and half lime sounded as Jacob booted to toucli. Upon resumption, with the advan- ■ tage of a slightly downhill run, Horowhenua immediately swept to the attack, and for ten minutes or so had matters practically all their own way, and the Red supporters, were jubilant in the expectation of an easy win. Bush, however, quickly demonstrated that ’they were not to be so easily disposed of, and as ( the game progressed, the pendulum swung first one way then the other, and the spec tat ore became more and more excited. A splendid solo effort by Tatana saw that player just pulled down short of the line, and a scrum was ordered under Bush’s goal. Here the Greens were penalised, and Jacob increased Horowhenua’s score with an easy kick. Horowhenua 11, Bush 3. Play remained in Bush’s, quarter, until off-side play by Moynihan, lifted the siege as Tait found touch well upfield. From the line-out that followed, the Green backs swung into action, but Hunt smothering a pass, dribbled through and picking up initiated a passing rush that penetrated well into Bush’s territory. Jacob marked, but the heavy ball was too much for him, and Tait returned down the centre with a big punt. Winjata cross-kicked into a bunch of Green forwards, and away they came in one of their splendid rushes. A desperate struggle ensued oh Horowhenua’s line, and try as they would the Red forwards could' not drive the Greens back. Eventually a defender booted clear, but unfortunately for Horowhenua, right into the arms of Graham, who marked in a handy position, and he had no trouble m piloting the ball between tlie posts, much to the delight of the home team’s supporters. Horowhenua 11, Bush 6. Play had hardly re-started, when Moynihan (Rush) gaining possession in midfield, brushed off several feeble attempts to tackle and threw a long pass out to Fergusson, who drew the opposing backs, and sent on to P. Galvin, for that player to race over in tlie’ corner, amidst frantic yells from the crowd. Udy was not equal to the occasion, and failed from a bad angle. Horowhenua 11, Bush 9. As time was drawing near when play re-started, the onlookers rose to their feet and urged their respective favourites on. Good play by Jacob, was nulli tied by the Green forwards, and they rushed to the attack, but the Red pack, fighting grimly, drove them back, i ml’ working out past half way, Merino gathered in, pUnted, regained, and passed to T. McDonald, who raced down the line, and in turn sent, on to Moynihan, who was just forced.into touch in goal, by a great tackle bv Udy before he could ground. the hall. Many thought it a -good try, but he was six inches too wide, and a drop out was ordered. Excitement now raged, as Bush increased tlieir efforts to save the gain') and, forward and back, they hurled themselves at the Red defence, but Horowhenua also realising that timewas just about up, played like demons possessed to keep their fine clear for those last few moments. Winiata, with a great, tackle, averted what looked like a score, then Maihi, Moynihan and Bond battled their 1 way out, only to see the* Greens awarded a penalty for obstruction. Everyone held their breath ns Uu> placed the ball about 40 yards out in a straight line with the goal, but his kick .was wide and the tension was relieved, particularly for the Reds. Still Bush did not let up, and they came again in a dying effort, but Hunt marked in tire face -of a. forward rush, then Jacob did likewise, and finally Roberts, and as the last named found touch, time was called, and a memor able game, caine to- air end, With challengers in possession of the coveted Shield after four years’ siege. FOOTBALL. The following team will represent Shalmon Fourths against Foxton District. High .School at Foxton at 1.30 p.m. Bus leaves 12.30 sharp:—Birchell, A. McEwen, W. Holden, C. Hunt, Treweman. Mercer, Small, Curran. Jude, Hereinaia, V. McEwen, Spencer, F. Saxon, K. Woodmass, J. Jamieson. Emergency: E. Bowler.