WANDERERS 11 DEFEAT SHANNON 9.

Shannon News, 28 June 1927, Page 3

WANDERERS 11 DEFEAT SHANNON 9.

A CLOSE GAME. The competition games were resumed on Saturday when the first matches of the second round were played. Wanderers proved that they are still a force to be reckoned ivith, by narrowly defeating Shannon just on the call ot time by eleven points to nine on the Levin Domajin. The game, for the most part, resolved itself into a close forward struggle with the Shannon forwards more than a match for their lighter opponents, until the final twenty minutes, when the Red forwards tired badly and Wanderers, clapping on the pace, finished with a rattle, and scored the winning try just before the final bell rang. . „ , Daring the last stages of the game the forward play was inclined to become over-strenuous, both fists and feet being brought into action in a rather . . indiscriminate manner. The game was remarkable for the number of jerseys torn during the proceedings, there hex' ing no less than nine of these garments rendered practically useless. The teams were as follows: — w "~" WANDERERS (Black). Backs: Ryder, Williams, Graham, "Udv, Brown, Winiata and Parata Forwards: Jacob, Poad,.Heremaia, Ward, Tohu, Tatana, Kuiti and Knox. SHANNON (Red). Backs: Symons, Robbie, Hunt, Satherley, Roberts, L. Dalzell, and Watts. ■ Forwards:" Tohu, Marsh, Moody. Hirst, E. Satherley, Payne, K. Dalzell and Robbie.

M*- E. Sevan controlled the game

THE PLAY,

The Shannon forwards started off in a spirited manner, Hirst and K. Hal sell being prominent in a foot rush that pla’eed Wanderers on the defensive. The Red backs came into possession but -Roberts was well upended in an endeavour to dummy through. Hunt failed to control the ball and Jacob dribbled through to midfield. From the throw-in, Ward accepted and punted high upfield. The bounce of the ball badly beat Roberts, Hunt and Symons, who were bunched togeth er, and Jacob,, galloping along at top speed,' gained possession, but when tackled, had nobody to pass to and Roberts returned activities to Wanderers area. HUNT OPENS THE SCORING. The Shannon forwards kept up the pressure, but Ryder found touch at hu 25, with a timely kick. From a scrum that followed a faulty tlirow-in, Jacob was caught well off-side, and Hunt landed a fine goal from 10 yards msidt of half-way. ■ „ Shannon 3, Wanderers 0. CLEVER PLAY BY WALLS. Tatana, Heremaia, and Tohu combined in an effective piece of play that was „ the means of making Wanderers appear dangerous for the first time, but • the opposing vanguard were* too' •soho and swept play back to the Blacks line, and almost immediately increased their score, the result of clevei p by Walls, the half-back. / . This player accepted from a line-out. sold the dummy to a bunch of Blacks, cleverly ducked under Jacob s high tackle and flashed through the defence to pass to Payne a couple of yards from the line, allowing the latter to cross un opposed. Hunt missed the kick. j •Shannon 6, Wanderers 0. > Wanderers livened up somewhat attei this, and shifted play to Shannon s territory, but were considerably tioubled by the glare of the sun winch was lying at an awkward angle. A mgn kick saw Ryder in trouble a » and Co. swarmed around, and Wa a era had to defend stubbornly to avert a score. Walls dived over but had picked the ball out of the ruck V The penalty did not gain much reliet for the defenders, and the R«d forwards, operating freely with their spoiling efforts, nullified any attempts by the Wanderers’ backs to relieve and fiom the succeeding play, Walls came possession and with another excel ent piece of solo play repeated his previous performance, this time scoring hunseli. Hunt again failed to improve and tne spell ended with the scores. Shannon 9, Wanderers 0. Shannon appeared likely to repeat the dose, as a bunch of Blacks failed to stop Maihi, who accepted the kickoff, but, using the sun to advantage, the Black forwards assumed the ascendancy and forced play to Shannon s line. McDonald, who had replaced Tohu owing to an injury to the latter player, forced Walls across his own line -in possession of the ball.

JACOB’S BOOT IN EVIDENCE. Scrum, followed serum close to the goal, but the defence held good, and Jacob failed to gain his side points

from a couple of penalties in handy positions. However, K. Dalzell .was caught hanging on too long and this time the Blacks’ skipper piloted the ball safely over. Shannon 9, Wanderers 3. It was Wanderers all the way now, and they maintained an incessant attack near Shannon’s line, the Reds being compelled to force down three times in Quick succession. A dribbling rush headed by Kuiti and Poad, saw the leather go into touch right at the corner flag and from the throw-in the ball went over the line and Tatana, after a desperate dive, got his hands to it. Jacob converted well. Shannon 9, Wanderers 8. With only a point separating the teams arid time nearly up, excitement increased, the crowd fully showing their appreciation of Wanderers’ belated efforts to save the game. Shannon attacked strenuously, and Hunt was injured during a desperate endeavour to score, but the Black backs repulsed the movement. Udy came into possession and centred for Williams to neatly accept, pass infield to Graham, who returned to the winger again, only for that player to pass forward with the defence well beaten. Wanderers increased the" 5 pressure, but deadly tackling kept them at bay, and Shannon, keeping play _ tight appeared likely to hold the fort long enough to save the game. Wanderers, however, reaped the. harvest of their tenacity and scored right on time. The Black forwards managed to heel the ball back to Parata, and Jacob, ever on the alert for an opening, received on the blind side, ran Udy into position and sent that player across at the corner. Jacob missed with the kick and ’ime was called immediately with the scores 11—9 in Wanderers’ favour.