RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 24 September 1926, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S FINAL.

Tlie encounter between Wanderers and Shannon in the final for the Nash Cup on Saturday, lived up to expectations, and proved a ( great struggle. It was necessary to play an' extra twenty minutes, and con..sidering a number of the players on both sides have not been playing regularly of late (owing to Rep. games), they stood up to the gruelling struggle well. The game was of too hard a nature to be actually brilliant, nevertheless, it was interspersed with many sparkling incidents of combined and individual play, and ranks with some of the best seen locally for some time. Tlie ground was hard and fast and was ■ conducive to speedy football, but a heavy westerly wind made passing rather difficult, while the flight of the ball was somewhat hard to follow at times. Wanderers are to be congratulated on winning the double, and nobody will deny them their win on Saturday, for, they snatched victory at a time when the odds were all against them.

It was right in the last minute that they rose splendidly to. the occasion, for, with the wind against them, battled their way into Shannon’s territory, and tlie forwards, heeling cleanly, paved the way for Jacob and f, McDonald to become associated in a supreme effort that led up to the winning try. Both teams played hard football, tlie tackling right through beingdeadly, and there were no beg pardons asked or given. However, the game was played in the right spirit, there being no unnecessary rough stuff.

The Shannon forwards were conspicuous on the liue-outs and rucked it splendidly, but despite their efforts in this direction, owing to the sturdy .defence put up by their lighter opponents, they could not cross. the line.

Wanderers held a distinct advantage iii the scrums, but the Red backs nullified this to some extent by moving up to their men quickly, and upsetting several promising movements. Only once did the Blacks’ machinery behind the scrum get going properly, and that was in the first spell, when some snappy passing allowed Williams to finish off the movements in approved fashion by scoring a spectacular try. , Ryder was the outstanding back on the field, and played a remarkably fine game. Alert in his movements, he seldom gets hustled and he was responsible for many fine saves. On liis displays this season, he gives promise of going a long way in the game of Rugby football. ■ Boyes, Shannon’s full-back, was too Slow and caused his side many anxious moments. His kicking is very weak.

Williams is improving in every game, and is taking his passes much better than he did earlier in the season. He needs plenty of room to work in. Nicholson shone more on defence than attack, and brought off several- fine tackles. Shannon were unfortunate m losing L. Dalzell from their five-eighths line owing to an injury 7, early in the game, 7 for the simple .reason filial Roberts was compelled to come in from the wing position. Although playing well, and frequently proving dangerous with tricky runs, this player would have been ol more service in his accustomed position, ..as he is the type who goes_ on his own a lot, which style of play is not suited to a five-eighth. Graham has played better games, and although fudging the flight of the ball well in the air, hi.y handling in the passing rushes was not up to his usual. Shannon can feel thankful they have a centre of Hunt’s calibre, for, apart from bis attacking qualities, several times when the Black forwards were breaking through, lig showed excellent anticipation and sent them back 1o their own territory. Winiata and Hakaraia understand each other’s play, and combined well in the Black five-eighths line. They' put plenty of life into their game, running straight when the occasion demanded. Walls, who partnered R( her.s played "a useful game, his tackling being an outstanding feature, .bpring, Shannon’s diminutive half, is a much improved player, Iris display behind the scrurh being the best, seen from him in Levin this season. Has ’ vis-a-vis,, T. McDonald, played his usual sound game, particularly in the way of rush-stopping, while he was largely responsible lor the winning try. Both packs worked bard, and some splendid loose rushes were witnessed on either side. Tlie ’extra spell proved a hit too much for the Reds, and they tired badly towards the finish, allowing their lighter opponents to \ have much of their own way. Hirst and Moynihan grafted hard in the heavy stuff, while Hi ndi icksen, Matthews and Maihi put some splendid loose rushes. K. Da - zell spoilt an otherwise good display by drifting out among the backs too frequently. Jacob was into every thug, and - wards the finish of the t made several superhuman efforts to give bis 'side the lead b s persistency only being rewarde right the"last, minute. The Black hookers were '' P erif !^' the day, and got more Iban then share of the hall.

The Wanderers’ forward' -did not combine too well in the drst sp Avhen playing with the <nd, but when they changed over ’i'ey hving together much better, an , Tohu. H. McDonald and hdgmton, led some excellent rusher On defence, the Black scrurnim; *es placed a sterling game, and hiod wo bv Bond and Co., all owe them t I’eipeatedlv clear the danger zone. Mr R. Hands, of Palmer- cm North kept a firm control of th game and proved popular with the , 1 interpretations gave genoT; satisfc.tion, and very little escape! his ey,.

He was particularly quick to spot obstruction tactics, and both teams Avere made to realise this early in the game.