BEBBINGTON SHIELD.

Shannon News, 15 July 1927, Page 3

BEBBINGTON SHIELD.

HOROWHENUA STILL UNBEATEN STRENUOUS GAME IN THE MUD. GREAT FORWARD PLAY. After a heavy scoring game, characterised by an epic struggle bet £ ee " well-trained packs of lorwaids, : Ho 0 whenua successfully defended the Bob bington Shield for the second tune this season, defeating the. Bush vepresentjtives by 20 points to 14 on the Lcvni Domain yesterday. The morning bioke gloriously fine, but shortly before noon threatening rain clouds banked up fiom *'tbe south-east, and at 1 o clock heavy rain, accompanied by a bitterly cold breesse, fell incessantly, with the result, that when the teams filed out tt P on playing area it was in an atrocious condition. The game had not been m progress long before , the ground was • churned into a quagmire, and of couise effective back play was the question, the battle resolving itself into a-grim forward struggle with the backs endeavouring to make the most of the adverse conditions, Although beaten, the honours of the game must go to the Bush forwards who accustomed themselves more readily to the state of the ground than did their opponents, and altogether played a remarkably fine game. Had the Bush backs risen to the occasion and played up to the standard set by the men m front of them, then a different tale may have been told, but in this respect they were eclipsed by the Horowhenua backs who played a remarkably safe game, while tlieir handling of the greasy ball at times was well-nigh uncanny. . . „ Although they were up against a better pack of forwards who were more suited to the heavy going, it is not to say that the Horowhenua pack was disgraced, far from it, for they undoubtedly gave their best display so far this ; Owing to the favourable climatic conditions pertaining along this coast, a ground like yesterday’s is an exception, and the natural sequence is, that a Horowhenua pack usually plays a fast open game, but yesterday they were called upon to adopt an entirely different type of play. They rose to the occasion manfully, particularly during the second spell, and towards the finish were in the ascendancy, outlasting the Bush forwards, who tired considerably. The attendance was estimated to be about 900, but it is safe to predict that had the weather not been so unfavourable there would have been a bigger attendance. Both teams were given a rousing reception on making their appearance, and took up their positions as follows: —

HOROWHENUA. (Red and Blue). Ryder, Roberts Hunt McDonald Warren T. Parata Chisholm Jacob (eapt.) TT • . R. McDonald Hakaraia Tana Gleeson Dalziell Pftyßc Tatana ' BUSH. (Green and Red.) Udy Fergusson Humphrey Wolland N .Galvin (capt.) Ware P. Galvin 3. Galvin _ Kerrison > Bowenng Whitehead Morrison Moynahan Mahoney Perry Mr F. C. Atkinson, of Wanganui, controlled the game.

the game described horowhenua quickly PILE on THE POINTS Horowhenua won the toss, but little advantage was galined in this respect. The Bush forwards almost immediately gave a taste of their qualities, a concerted foot rush ending near Horowhenua 's line. . An excellent solo effort by Maihi returned play to the centre, and it was ■from this spot that Horowhenua thrilled the onlookers with a magnificent try, the outcome of some wonderful handling of the greasy ball by the home backs. Prom the ruck, the leather was booted to Fergusson, one of the visiting backs, who miskicked right into larata’s hands. This player sent on to Warren and the ball travelled to Hunt, tor Roberts on to Parata who had raced up on tjie outside, back infield to Jacob, who dived over the top ot TJdy, to score in a handy position. He just taiito convert his own try. Horowhenua 3, Bush 0. The Bush forwards, with Morrison and Whitehead in the van, retaliated determinedly a# carried play mto the home 25, where they were awarded a penalty. TJdy could get no direction with the greasy ball, although the position was not a difficult one. Then followed a succession of qumK thrusts by Horowhenua that gave the defence no time whatever to settle down, and before many minutes they had gained a commanding lead. The home backs initiated a movement, but the ball proved too difficult to handle and little ground was gained 'past halfway. . . However, from a line-out in this vicinity Chisholm recived the ball and transferred to Parata. Instead of sending on, the latter player short punted over the heads of the opposing fiveeighths, shot through at top speed, and took the ball at his toe down to the visitors 7 line. Udy, the full back, failed to gather the leather in, and after & scramble R. McDonald gamed, and dived over under the posts. Jacob s kick sailed under the bar. Horowhenua 6, Bush 0. STILL ANOTHER TRY. Play had no sooner started once more when the Red forwards, adoptmg the early dominating attitude fhat has been k feature of their games this jear, fought their way into Bush territory, •jhp balk slithered on its way to Udy - r v ' i. * ---

who was altogether too slow in his hands to.it, and quick as a flash Hakaraia booted it goalwards to race ahead and touch down with no one within yards of him.

Jacob failed to improve. Horowhenua 9, Bush 0. The visiting forwards now set to with a will in an endeavour to retrieve some of the mistakes made by the men behind them, and settling down into their stride and demonstrating w'hat a difficult matter it is to check a foot rush, they literally swept the opposition aside and ploughed their way on to Horowhenua’s line. A forward battle ensued for some moments until P. Galvin was seen to make a desperate dive for the line in possession of the ball. He was just smothered in time, and a five yards’ scrum was ordered. DEFENCE INTO ATTACK. Heeling- nicely, the home scrimmagers gave Chisholm possession and this player passed to J. McDonald, who booted well out. Fast following up by Jacob enabled him to catch Udy in possession, and, with the assistance of some of his forwards to carry play dangerously close to the Bush line. Failing to penetrate, the Red forwards opened play out among the backs with the result that Hunt dribbled through on the left wing, and as a couple of defenueis fail* to stay his progress he managed to get liis hands to the ball as it crossed the line. . A good attempt by Jacob just missed. Horowhenua 12, Bush 0. THE CHALLENGERS START SCORING.

The visiting forwards now went at it hammer and tongs, and effective spoiling work among the home backs allowed them to go dangerously close on several occasions, Ryder being called upon to make one or two quick saves which he did in a brilliant fashion. Nothing daunted, the challengers hammered away, but on the ball going out among their baeks, who so far had given their forwards little .support, Horowhenua were allowed to break through, and headed by Tana they transferred activities to Bush territory. In a desperate endeavour to hold them up, N. Galvin hung on too long, incurring a penalty which enabled Hunt to make the scores read-15—0 with an excellent kick. That Avas the finish of Horowhenua until after half-time, for the visiting vanguard tore into the fray with reneAved vigour and held the upper hand for some considerable time. Fergusson smothered a pass from Hunt to J. McDonald, and away came the Greens. Warren held them up temporarily, but not to be denied, they came back with a rush, and as Rydei hesitated they opened their account when BoAvering dived 'over after a scramble on the line. Udy missed a fairly easy kick. Horowhenua 15, Bush 3. Shortly folloAving this, the visitors added another five points to their total. Maintaining the pressure, they swarmed on to Horowhenua’s line, where, from a relieving kick by Ryder, Payne got off-side find from the scrum back P. Galvin worked the blind side, to alloAV Wolland to dive over. Udy converted, making the scores — Horowhenua 15, Bush 8. Half time followed shortly after with the visitors in the ascendancy. THE PACE INCREASES. The pace which had been very solid despite the heavy ground, increased considerably when the final spell started, and both sides added points to thentotals Avithin the space of a few minutes. The homesters were the first to become prominent as Payne, Dalziell and Hakaraia became associated in some short passing, that traversed half the length of the ground. The last named was hauled doivn near the Ansitors’ line by Udy, but wasting no time whatever, the Red fonvards bustled around, and before the spectators had had time to settle down, R. McDonald snapped up and ivas over near the posts for his second try. Jacob had no trouble with the kick. Horowhenua 20, Bush 8. From the kick out, Bush retaliated in a similar manner, and to the accompaniment of cheers from their many supporters both forwards and baeks combined in a rush that gave the defence no opportunity Avliatever and culminated in Fergugson racing over at the corner. Udy missed and the scoreboard read. ■ _ . ~ Horowhenaua 20. Bush 11.

Then followed a long period of strenuous forward play between the twentyfives with the Bush forwards straining 'verv nerve to make up the deficiency: .Towever, the home forwards were play ng better now, than at any stage of the Bjime previously, and although the invaders scored the filial try, their eailier efforts began to tell their tale and Horowhenua gradually gained the upper hand, Bush being compelled to force on a couple of occasions. Bush's final try was the outcome of excellent play by Udy, the full-back. Gaining in midfield, he booted down the right wing and as Chisholm and Roberts failed "to gather the ball in, he arrived oil the scene, dribbled on, snapped the leather up to send Fergusson over for a great try. He failed to convert.. The only other incident of note before the game finished was a spectacular 60 yards run by Jacob. Intercepting a pass in his own 25, the big winger broke clear and such surprising pace did he display, that when he was tackled by Udy there was no support forthcoming, and a memorable game ended as pin;/ went into touch at the visitors' twenty-five.

SATURDAY’S HOROWHENUA TEAM On Saturday the Horowhenua -team will play the return match at Palmerston against Manawatu. The Horowhenua selector (Mr M. Winiata) has chosen the following team:— HOROWHENUA. Full-back.—Ryder. Three-quarters. —-Roberts, Hunt, J. McDonald. Five-eighths. —Warren, T. Parata. Half. —Chisholm. Wing.—Jacob (captain). Forwards. —Dick McDonald, Hakaraia, Bond, Gleeson, Dalzell, Payne, Tal&na. Reserves.—Backs: W. Parata, M. Mete, P. Satherley. Forwards: Greig, Gardener, E. Satherley, Tana.