RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 13 May 1927, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NOTES AT RANDOM. THE BtTI MAI-WANDERERS CLASH As predicted'in this column several weeks ago, Hui Mai going to be a power to be reckoned with in this season’s elub championship. _ This, they proved in a convincing manner on Saturday, when they down- , ed Wanderers, last year’s champions, by eleven points to three. There was no fluke about the win either, and once the Green forwards settled down into their stride, at no stage did they look like losing. - As far as the forwards were concerned, it was a triumph of combination and dash, over a' pack destitute of team work and ability to cover up mistakes. Speed, the Wanderers pack has in plenty, but this will be of little use to them until they • cultivate some semblance of finish to their movements, while in the heavy stuff, there were times when they were simply swept aside owing to faulty packing, and one felt genuinely sorry for Parata, their half, and his inside backs, who literally had to take the ball from the toes of the Hui Mai forwards when it came their way. Had it not have been for Ryder, Wanderers full-back, it is safe to say Hui Mai’s score would have been considerably larger, he played an outstanding game. Generally the essence of coolness, the manner in which he extricated himself from awkward positions, at times Was remarkable. He however, should endeavour to cultivate more .length and direction with liis kicking, _ thereby saving his forwards a lot of aimless running back and forth. Meta Johnson, although not called upon to do the amount of work that Ryder was faced with, played well, liis line-kicking being quite a feature of the game. ■■ • . The Hui Mai backs, if nothing else, Were content to leave the game to the forwards, and principally played safeAt one stage, they had a finger in the pie, 1 a pretty movement that culminated in the best try of the day . This was the outcome of some quicit thinking on the .part of Bevan, their second five-eighth. Receiving the ball in midfield, he did the unexpected, and dashed straight through between a couple of opponents, to ; draw Ryder and give Gray a clear run in; As Hui Mai’s wing forward, Gray sprung a surprise, and clearly demonstrated that he possesses a football head suitable for the position. The manner in which he raced into position to Score a couple of tries proved this. Tana, Gardiner and C. Robinson, were a good trio of forwards; the two former displaying plenty of dash, particularly when they were associated in Hui Mai’s first try, while the latter excelled in the loose play. Gardiner ap pears to be in better nick than last year, being about a stone lighter. A noticeable feature of Saturday’s game was the play of “Bob” George. Considered a veteran at the game in this district, he footed it with the best, and *was' into everything, while as a hookeT, with Mackersey as a companion, proved more than u match for tin Black front rankers. # , Owing to Wanderers being somewhat disorganised at present, Ja6ob is compelled to take up the second five-eiglitb position. ' „ • , , . ' This seems a pity, for although h.can adapt himself, to practically any position, he does not get the freedom he would in his accustomed place as wing-forward. His try was a typical Jaeob try, nevertheless, his handling at other times was very uncertain. ' That Tatana has improved through his trip abroad, is needless to mention, for his play on Saturday clearly demonstrated this. He is faster, handles better, and has acquired that sense of anticipation so essential to a good footbailer. He should go a long way in the game pf Rugby. Parata played well, or as well as the Green forwards allowed him to. 11': eertainly got little protection from his own forwards. „ _ , Heremaia proved one of Wanderers hardest grafters on Saturday, ana plaved a good honest game, while Tohu and Kuiti excelled in the loose. Knox was noticeable on the line-outs.

COUNTY'S WINDING WAY. Up to the present, County have-won their games, by big margins, and in their three matches so far have scoied 65 points with only eleven against them. They have perhaps been fortunate in the fact, that these games have been comparatively easy ones, allowing them to experiment and acquire com bination for the harder struggles to follow. , , On Saturday, the Blues meet Shannon at Levin, their first real test, and this game should be worth going a long way to see. On the form shown so far this season, the wntei tips County to win. - Q The other games set down foi Satui day are Wanderers versus Otaki, at Otaki, while Weraroa engage Hui Mai wasseenebom the sideline That there were times during the Hui Mai-Wanderers game, when the referee could easily have applied the advantage rule. His failure to dp s caused the game, at intervals, to become Ul That one hooker in the al ?° ve must have thought he gifted with second sight. He was usuaUy standing straight up and trying to hook th. ball at the same time. That hardly once during the whok game, was a decent scrum formed, i, became monotonous to see two pac<. of forwards pushing and tugging m a jumble over a radius of anywhere \ within ten'square yards. Tins w a phase of the game that has been sadn neglected of recent years. What arc our club coaches doing? That both wing-forwards persisted in ■ putting the ball unfairly into the scrums- They were allowed to get away- with it too! That, When 'a free charge was granted Hui Mai after scoring a try, a prom-

bis knowledge. for application while refereeing. That there was far too much ob; -truction on the line-outs in the Hui Mai-Wanderers game. : That it is entirely unnecessary for the man throwing the ball in from the line-out, to wait until both sets of forwards have lined up in proper formation As long as the referee is in a position to see the play, and the man receiving -fhe ball is outside the required five vards, then play can proceed immediately.

The following will represent Shannon Seniors against County at Levin nexi Saturday, 'l4th May, 1927:—Symor.s, P. Satherley, C. Hunt, W. Robbie, Roberts, Lenihan, Walls, Les. Dalzeli, Tohi, M. Hakaraia, Hurst, K. Dalzeli, „ F. Satherley, S. Robbie, G. Gayne. Emcr- : 0. Anneson, B. Poaneki. The Shannon juniors to meet Hui Ma. at Shannon on Saturday, are as follows: Pullen. Young, Barber, Williams, Waka, Robbie, Saxby, Robinson, Pullman, Tongariro, Campbell, L. Bowler, Ciscel, Dalzeli, Hibbell. Emergencies Webber, Bowler, White. WELLINGTON REP. FIXTURES.^ The succession of defeats experienced by the Wellington reps, last year has had the effect of deterring them this season from attempting any ambitious programme. They will commence with a match against Taranaki at Hawera on July 6th, and will next meet South Canterbury at Wellington on July 2.6 th, Southland at Wellington on A'ugust 17th, Otago at Wellington on Septem ber 3rd, Canterbury at on September 10th, and Auckland on' September 17th. They will not put in a challenge for the Ranfurly Shield thu year The only challenge which has come in for the Shield so far this* season is from Wairarapa.