COUNTY 11 DEFEAT WANDERERS 9.

Shannon News, 14 June 1927, Page 3

COUNTY 11 DEFEAT WANDERERS 9.

BLUES SNATCH LAST MINUTE VICTORY. A SPLENDID GAME. The first round of the senior competition came to a conclusion on Saturday, when County, Shannon and Hui Mai, registered wins in their respective games, thereby improving their positions on the Championship ladder. The star attraction of the day was the meeting between County and Wanderers, who were given pride of place on the Levin Domain, and in every respect they proved worthy of the distinction, providing the finest club game ■witnessed this season. Wintry conditions prevailed but despite the* heavy rain during the week, the ground was in surprisingly good . condition, and although on the, greasj . side, in no way did it impede the game, which was played at a tremendous pace throughout. At half-time Wanderer, had established a handy lead of nine points, the outcome of a couple of brilliant penalty goals by Jacob taken from a couple of yards inside of half-way, and a goal from a mark by Winiata, while County had failed to score. When rhe second spell commenced, it soon became evident that County wert in no way deterred, setting out to make up the leeway in a determined manner, and although lire Blacks were never really out of the picture, the Blues became more and more relentless, and time and again they turned defence into ' .attack with terrific rushes that swamped the invhders, and swept the length ;y bf ;the ground each rush being more'resolute than its predecessor, with the ;*result, that the final stages of the game . . were characterised by play of such a sensational nature, that the spectator.-; were aroused to a state of-excitement seldom seen on the Domain. County’s persistency gained its reward, as Gleeson notched three points from a penalty, then T. Parata gained a converted try, and during the final moments when County -were hotly attacking, they were awarded another penalty, and Gleeson clinched a hardearned victory by repeating his previ- . ous performance. The game will be long remembered for the unusual number of penalties incurred by both sides, no .doubt due to the keenness display ed bv both teams. "THE game DESCRIBED. The teams lined out as follows: County (Blue). ■ jßacks: Webber, M. McDonald, J. • ‘ McDonald, Whyte, T. Parata, Warren and Chisholm. Forwards: Gleeson, Runa, Robinson, Bond, Greig, Dunn, R. McDonald and Eansfield. Wanderers (Black). Backs: Ryder, Williams, Graham, Uay, Nicholson, Winiata, and Parata, Forwards: Jacob, I-leremaia, Poad, ,Ward, Tatana, Tohu, Kuiti, and Knox. Mr B. George controlled the game. WANDERERS ESTABLISH AN EARLY LEAD. Play opened quietly in midfield, noi ther side gaining any advantage until Jacob attempted a seemingly impossible shot from a penalty right on flip half-way line. Although not success ful, it was a wonderful effort on the part of the Blacks’ skipper, the leather just dropping in front of the crossbar. J. McDonald failed to gain much ground with his relieving kick, and from a throw-in near County's line Chisholm punted straight into the arms of Winiata, who accepted a con vehient mark, anc], essaying a shot at goal, he piloted the ball safely between the posts. Wanderers 3, County 0.

Both sets of backs indulged in several passing movements, little headway being gained on account of deadly tackling, and indecisive play followed, until the Blue forwards, playing an effective spoiling game, were seen to advantage, only to be repulsed with a long penalty kick by Jacob thatfound touch at the Blue 25. Wanderers' backs ;ame into possession, but oblique running saw little ground gained, and from a stray transfer Runa and R. McDonald dribbled through to Ryder. Chisholm sent his backs away, but the speedy Kuiti smothered T. Parata, ana with the assistance of Knox and .Jacob returned activities to midfield. Only temporarily held up, the Black •forwards, combining well, carried play downfield and disregarding any attempts by the opposing backs to stay their progress, appeared dangerous Until Warren was obliged to force down as the ball went across the line.

. • Wanderers hung to their advantage jfor some time, and Parata and Jacob made valiant to open up the play, but mistakes by the outside men ■ kept'them'at bay, and eventually offside : play enabled T. Parata to clear.

Away came the Blue backs after some nice play by Chisholm, and a neat cut in by J. McDonald, saw his brother receive possession only to be tackled simultaneously by Ryder and Winiata, as the last line of defence was reached. He was laid out in the process, being‘compelled to leave the field, C. McLeavey coming on, allowing Randfield to take up the wing three-quar-ter position. TWO SPLENDID KICKS.

County failed to hold the advantage gained, and were sent scuttling back or. defence as Wanderers came through in possession of the ball. A hot melee ensued in the Blues’ territory culmina' ting in Robinson being caught offside and Jacob landed a long range penalty with a hefty kick from near half-way. Wanderers 6, County 0. In no way subdued the Blues again adopted the initiative; An irresistible rush in which both backs and forwards participated, saw Ryder badly bustled, and Wanderers weie in somewhat of a predicament as their line was endangered for some minutes, blit try as County would they could not gain those final few yards, and ultimately their over-eagerness cost them a.penalty and they were sent back to midfield. , Almost immediately Gleeson came round the scrum too quickly, was penalised, and Jacob presented : his ' side-with another three points from practically the identical spot - from which he kicked his previous goal, and half time sounded. . Wanderers 9, County 0. Although, a merry pace had been adopted in the first spell, it was as nothing compared with that set when the teams resumed, and right from the outset play became sensational. A quick thrust by Wanderers was just as quickly repulsed by County, and as Ryder again misjudged the fiight of the ball, the Blues set to on Wanderers’ line in an endeavour to open their scoring. A blind side movement botween Chisholm, Gleeson, and Eansfield, saw the last named all but there, and excitement raged as the Blacks were penned down on their line, fighting desperately to avert a score. The Blue forwards heeled nicely to Chisholm, who shot the leather on to Warren who in an endeavour to find a gap, knocked on. From the scrum in front of Wanderers’ goal, the Black hookers incurred a penalty and Gleeson opened County’s scoring with the simplest of goals. Wanderers 9, County 3.

This reverse stung Wanderers into renewed action, and from a high punt by Graham, Jacob came into possession, but finding his backs out of position endeavoured to go through on his own, only to be up-ended by Gleeson The Black backs then handled, only tc see Udy forced out at the corner flag, and the Blue forwards cleared from (lie line-out. Then followed a couple of brilliant runs by Warren, from one of which he was very nearly over. This had all happened.within the space of a few seconds, and from the ensuing play County who only a moment before had been furiously defending their own ; ino, added another five points to their total as T. Parata dived over near the posts after R. McDonald had been held jp. Gleeson. converted. Wanderers 9, County 8. COUNTY TAKE THE LEAD.

Interest became intense, as County, who were now dominating the game at this stage, swarmed all over the Blacks in their race against time. A brilliant movement in which some clever handling between Parata, Gleeson, McLeavey and Dunn was seen, allowed the Blue forwards to smash their way through to Wanderers’ line. Scrum followed scrum, as the batle raged on. County playing like demons possessed to gain the winning score, while Wanderers battled desperately to avert defeat. Then the mexpected happened. A quick blast on the whistle as Ransiielcl dived over in the corner, and the Blues, after indecision on the part of the referee, were awarded a free-kick

Gleeson made no mistake with a well-judged kick, giving his side a onepoint lead. Semi-darkness now reigned and the game finished as Jacob missed another long penalty shot.

SHANNON DEFEATS WERAROA.

The above match was played on the •Shannon Domain on Saturday, Shannon, securing a comfortable- victory. The game was late starting and as a result was finished in semi-darkness. VVeraroa defending the eastern line commenced well, but as the game progressed, they drifted and were unable o stop the home team from scoring. Prom the kick-off Weraroa rushed play into the Red territory where the Reds were penalised three times in quick succession for scrummaging fault’s. Weraroa goal kickers had a splendid opportunity on each occasion to register a goal, each attempt being around the 25 line, but although their attempts were good they failed to place the ball between the uprights. After play had been in progress about ten minutes, during which time the Reds had been one the defensive, the latter by a series of dribbling rushes worked play back over the half way line where L. Dalzell picked up and made for the line. Me was closely attended by K. Dal zell, but a forward pass to the latter pulled them up. Prom a serum soon after, Payne getting possession got over the line. Hunt took the kick and making no mistake converted the try. On the ball going out the Reds opened up play among their backs, with the result that a passing rush was set in motion by Lenihan who sent the ball on to Roberts, then to Hunt and Robbie and back to Hunt who was pushed out inside their opponents 25. Shortly after Hunt had a shot at goal from a free kick, one of the umpires put his flag up, but the referee ruled otherwise. The Reds backs came again with a passing bout in which Walls, Roberts, Hunt and Robbie tok part, Hunt finally centreing but their onslaught was stopped a scrum being given from .which the half (Lenihan) got possision of the ball and sending it out to Hunt the latter potted a beautiful goal. At this stage Weraroa made an effo:t to score. .Getting the ball from a scrum the half sent it out among the backs and Westrupp beating several opponents looked to have a god chance to score but hesitated and Roberts, who was now playing fullback collared him. Soon after Sinclair, the... wing-threequarter,

also spoilt a chance by trying to beat too many men. By a series of 0 ? 1 ’ passing bouts among the backs the Reds worked play to midfield, where it hovered for some time. Finally Weraroa forwards, who were hooking the ball cleanly from the scrum, enabled their backs to put their opponents on the defensive, and the Reds, in their overeagerness were penalised for off-side play. R. Broughton had a shot at goal, but like his predecessors, did not have his kicking boot on. Play had not been going many minutes before Reds Were again penalised, this time for picking the ball out of the scrum. Bull failed to put the ball over the bar. On the ball going into play, the Shannon forwards rushed it up the field and E. Satherley picking it up and kicking •found the line well down. From the line out Weraroa got possession and worked" their way to ; midfield, were play remained for some time, Roberts finally wriggling his way through the forwards* raced away. He was supported by P. Satherley, who he passed to, but the latter after putting in a good run down the line..was collared by Sinclair. Half time was then called. The seore being Shannon 9, Weraroa nil. . After the resumption of play, the Reds, again returned to the attack, and the game had not been in progress many . minutes when'Hunt potted another goal. Un the ball going into play the Reds forced matters, but Cole, who was playing a safe game, saved the situation by forcing. From the kick out Weraroa took a hand at attaek and McLean, the five-eighths, by a good kick and fast following--up was able to push Symonds out weli up the line. Their effort dad not last long, the Reds turning the tables on them by opening up the play among their backs and thus putting them on the defensive and for some time had them hard pressed. A penalty kick, which was missed by Hunt allowed Weraroa to force. Reds through the agency of Payne, Roberts and Robbie came at them again, but Weraroa forwards by fast following up a kick by Cole, dribbled the ball to Reds 25 line. The Reds immediately worked it back again and from a scramble on the line Hurst touched down. He lost the ball, but E. Satherley, who was alongside of him also touched down. In the meantime the referee had blown his whistle awarding Hurst the try. Hurt narrowly missing adding the extra points. Reds . kept up their attacking tactics and soon after K. Dalzell dribbled the ball through the defence and picking it up inside the 25 raced oyer the line and scored. Hunt failed to add the major points. The last fifteen minutes of the game was played in semi-darkness and it diffieut to see what was happening. Reus indulged in short, pass? ing bouts'among their backs' but were unable to again pentrate the defence of the visitors. The game ending Shannon 19, Weraroa nil. Mr. J. Smith had control of thegame.

JUNIOR. SHANNON 11 v. AWAHOU NIL;..;! This game whs played on the Miran?' ui ground, the home team all’: the best of it;. Mr-; McGregor refereed. ) THIRDS. v \ SHANNON v. FOXTON. ; The above game was to have been played at Foxton. The Shannon team left for Foxton by char-a-banc, but on arrival at the Punt to go across the river, the driver was unable to'get the vehicle on to the punt, with the result that the team had to return to Shannon and thus forfeit to Foxton.