WERAROA DRAW WITH WANDERERS.

Shannon News, 9 August 1927, Page 3

WERAROA DRAW WITH WANDERERS.

AH EVEN GAME ENDS THREE ALL

Wanderers aiul Weraroa met on the Levin Domain, and after a very ever, game, honours remained easy, both sides securing an unconverted try apiece. Neither team were :t full strength, in fact the Weraroa fifteen was practically a junior combination :ind it speaks Volumes for their efforts that they fought the game out to a draw. Wanderers were without the services of Jacob, and W. Parata, who were doing battle against Wairarapa at Carterton, their absence being most i otic cable —to such an extent that the Blacks were a disorganised force and had their work cut out to stall off defeat at the hands of their younger opponents. THE GAME. Play opened in midfield with both sides• endeavouring to make proceedings ; as open as possible and getting a goodly share of the ball. The opposing rearguards initiated several rushes, but frequent knock-ons spoilt some promising play, particularly by the Blacks. Tatana shone out with a good dribbling effort on to Weraroa’s line, but Skelton, assisted by the two Broughton’s, returned past halfway. The White forwards worked into Wanderers’ 25, where Udy was compelled to run across to save. Hesitation by Phillips enabled Bull to snap up and reach the Blacks’ line before being hauled down. WERAROA DRAW FIRST BLOOD. Prom the scramble that followed Weraroa were awarded a free kick and Tantrum narrowly missed with a good -.hot. Will'd became prominent from the kick out, and broke away from a line-out to reach Graham, Weraroa’s full-back, only to delay his pass with a buiicli of Blacks waiting for the ball and play went into touch. The Weraroa forwards retaliated with some excellent close work and pushed'Wanderers back to-their own territory. Securing from a throw-in, Edlin punted ahead. Winiata failed to close on the leather, and a -race to the line ended as 0. Cole touched down for a good try. li. Cole’s kick kept low.

Weraroa 3, Wanderers 0. The Blacks made matters interesting upon resumption and set up a series of assaults on Weraroa’s line. Tatana put in a clever run, but elected to pass when a dive may have meant a score and from a melee on the line, the white forwards relieved the situation by coming through to half-way with the ball at their feet.

The whites were having more than their share of the play and appeared dangerous for some time, the Blacks being kept busy on defence. Eventually the pressure was lifted and activities transferred to the opposite end and after a period of ragged forward play, Wanderers were granted a penalty in a handy position, but Tataua could do nothing with the kick and half-time arrived a moment later. The Wanderers’ forwards took the offensive, when the second spell commenced and kept Weraroa penned down near their line nevertheless the whites defended well and managed to keep the invaders at bay. WANDERERS DRAW LEVEL.

From a scrum Ryder, playing at half, was prominent with a clever run to within a few yards of the line, only to spoil his effort by hanging on too long, and Weraroa forced. However, Ryder retrieved his mistake a few moments later by sending his back-line away from a scrum, and the ball trav elled along the chain for Udy to cross in the corner. Tatana made a poor attempt to goal. Weraroa *3, Wanderers 3. Almost immediately Tatana initiated a loose rush among the Black forwards that traversed half the length of the ground and gave every appearance of a try to follow until Graham, dlie white’s full-back, saved by booting to touch. Bull marked from the line-out and gain id further ground, following which Broughton snapped up in the loose, and caught the Blacks napping as he raced down the centre. Plav veered across under Wanderers’ goal as R. Broughton accepted the pass infield and sent on to Bull, who gained ground, and transferred to R. Cole only to see a certain try lost as the latter dived into the ruck instead oi going for the corner. Weraroa did not remain on the attack for long as after R. Broughton and Edlin had made valiant efforts to go over, Wanderers pushed their wa\ out to midfield. Play, although not very, scientific, was of an interesting nature, and both teams were all out to settle the issue one way or the other, although their efforts were placing a decidedly noticeable strain upon their physical condition. Weraroa were now having much the best: of the argument, their forwards proving more than a handful for the Blacks and they kept activities close <o Wanderers’ line. Graham narrowly missed a pot from well out after which TJdv and Tatana returned to .midfield.

Flay remained in this vicinity for quite a while with neither side gaining much advantage until Weraroa broke through, only to see their advantage spoilt through lack of finish at the critical moment.

However they remained in the ascendancy, and -he Blacks’ defence was tested to the utmost in an endeavour to avert a score. This they managed to do and were having a turn on the attack when the final bell sounded. Mr Sands controlled the game.

NO GAMES AT SHANNON. No games were played on the filmnhan Domain on Saturday. Awaliou thirds defaulting to Shannon- and Weraroa juniors to Shannon juniors. No notification was received from Weraroa that they were defaulting and as a result the Shannon players were kept waiting on the ground until late in the afternoon.