THE BEBBINGTON SHIELD.

Shannon News, 27 August 1926, Page 3

THE BEBBINGTON SHIELD.

MATCH WITH D'ANNEVIRKE CANCELLED. Footballers and the public throughout the Horowhenua will he greatly disappointed to learn of there being no Betobington Shield match in Levin on Saturday. Shortly before midday to-day Mir J. Casey, secretary to the Horowhenua Rugby District Council received a wire from the Dannevirke Union, icanoe'lMng Saturday’s match. No reasons, were advanced for the action taken, buit, it is understood, the challengers are forwarding a written explanation by the next mail. For weeks past followers of football in this district have been looking forward to this match, and it is unfortunate that events should have taken such a turn. No doubt, however, Dannevirke will be able to advance good reasons for delaying the issue. The Cup final between County and Wanderers will now have to he decided at Levin on Saturday, as a curtain-raiser to which will be a| game between Foxton and Weraroa Thirds. FOOTBALL NOTES. THE WANGANUI MATCH. The Palmerston Times says: Takingthe field before a large crowd on a very bumpy ground, against Wanganui, Manawatu-Horowhenua look considerably the worse for wear. The team displayed in various parts of its anatomy an aggregate of about a square yard of sticking plaster, eloquent testimony of the, gruelling gam© a few days before in the “Cow province.” Toddy McDonald was suffering from a knock on the head, and Evans replaced him behind the scrum. Mati McDonald appeared in the last line of defence in , place of McLean, while O’Keefe yielded his position in the front row to- Don Stewart.

Jacob, who was put to bed by a paternal manager immediately after the Taranaki game, and was still a bit groggy from the effects of a mild attack of ’flu, led his braves on to the field at 2.15, followed by a smaller but stockier fifteen in the wake of “Moke” Beilis, veteran of a hundred Rugby battles. The spin o>f the coin went against Manawatu-Horowhenua, and they faced a dazzling sun and worrying breeze, both of which the wily “Moke” made good use of nearly to the undoing of the hitherto unbeaten warriors., The game was by no means a brilliant exposition of Rugby, but it was full of the unexpected from whistl-e •to whistle. It was always anybody’s game, and it must be said frankly that the victors were victors more by the mistakes of the vanquished than by any shining qualities Which they themselves might have possessed, tout did not show. Obviously Manawhenua were feeling the effects of their recent strenuous (battles, and they were also up against a team of determined fighters, who played with great spirit, if not with- overmludh science. Wanganui’s defence was sound and their tackling at times deadly. On the other hand, Manawhenua, gave a patchy display allowing many surprise sorties to go from end to end of the field with quite a few desperate struggles right on -their own line, where more than once a Wanganui score seemed imminent. To this was added the continuous breakdown of passing rushes, faulty handling spoiling at least a dozen opportunities of crossing the line. Against this again it must toe said that Hunt’s beautiful drop kick from a mark, which the umpire’s flag signalled a goal, was lost through an over-anxious forward getting himself in front of the ball. The green line was never crossed—another point to the victors’ credit—while three times Wanganui saw the defence beaten, in two cases the tries being finely spectacular.

Skipper Jacob, although, lacking the sparkle of his magnificent efforts against Hawkes Bay and Taranaki, gave a great display of offensive arid defensive football. The perfect rover, he wag .in almost every passing push, scored the first try brilliantly, and when the defence -broke down, was there to fill the breach. On three occasions he- bumped the flying Wanganui winger over the side-line a few yards from home and glory.