RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 24 April 1928, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA COMPETITIONS OPENED. The football competitions iu the Horowhenua Rugby District were opened on Saturday, in splendid weatther, but on grounds that were in a more suitable condition for cricket, owing to the very %mall amount ot rain experienced during the autumn. ttESUliis. SENIOR. Wanderers 32 v Foxtop 3. Hui Mai 8 v. Shannon 8. Weraroa a bye. , JUNIOR. Paraparaumu 18 v. Hui Mai 3. Weraroa 20 v. Maungatuku 0., ' Miranui 8 v. Shannon 3. third grade. Foxton 3 y. Wanderers 3. Shannon 12 v. Weraroa 10. ' Otaki 19 v. Hui Mai 3.WANDERERS v. FOXTON.

"• - — , * A late start was made on the Levin Park Domain with the WanderersFoxton match,-and it was evident that the visiting club, who arrived half an hour behind tiuie, ,had had some diihculty in making up their team, as it was completed by the inclusion of-jun-iors and the veteran Hutchins. The respective teams, which; met in the best of spirit, were ; as under: — Foxton (yellow 1 and back; Newton; threequjirters, Proctor, Westwood and Robinson;; five-eighths, Stevenson and Fuller; Half Thompson; forwards, Chipper, Hutchins, Huff, Royal, Anderson, Rankin, Wright,. and Renata. ■ Wanderers (black and white)—Full back, Ryder; three-quarters, B. Willdams; Graham, Ropata; five-eighths, T. -•Parata, >. Parata; half W. Parata; forwards, Heremaia, R. McDonald, Ward (lock), Tatana, Kuiti, C. McDonald, R. Knox and McDonell (wing). The game was quite different from what would be suggested by the winners' long score, and generally speaking it was not a bad contest from the spectators’ point of view. Although the t blacks were strong on the attack; Foxton saw nearly as much of their territory, and it was frequently their experience to be within measurable distance of scoring, only to.be repulsed by the solid tackling of. the opposing 1 backs. The Visitors initiated many movements, in fact, but consummated only one; thdy were a somewhat light team, of the long and short order, and; were not nearly equal tc their opponents in securing the ball from the scrum, though they did somewhat better in (the line-out. ; Wanderers played with satisfactory combination for. an opening match; the threequarter line was a source of strength, and the match was brightened by a number of ereditable passing rushes. The tries, however* mostly eame from individual initiative applied a short distance from the line after close-up struggles for the ball. | The Foxton team may take the credit for sustaining their defensive efforts against odds and bringing some of the stronger side’s concerted work; to naught. One factor that detracted much from the, appearance of the winners’ play was. the repeated mulling of the ball. Leaving aside this feature, which is one that should be overcome with a little more training, the team shows great promise. The spirit of combination was prominent, and when the forwards are in action as the season advances ’ they .will take some stopping. Foxton won the toss and played with the wind and sun behind them. The blacks were early on the attack, but rfound the visitors’ last line of de fence an effective one in the early stlges. A penalty to Foxton was the means of affording relief, and, following up their advantage, the visitors had Wanderers busy in their own 25. Up and under tactics by the home team shifted the venue to midfield and with the ball at. the toe the blacks again invaded, a series of scrums ensuing. After a passing rush of the blacks ending prematurely, Graham took a shot at the goal, but missed it by a bit. Following two scrums in quick succession, Wanderers looked like crossing over, but the opposing back division still held good, and play was worked back to half way. The visitors got in some nice line kicks, and then Ryder obtained possession and passed to Williams, who. lost the ball to the Foxton backs. Play continued in the visitors’ territory for a while, culminating in a line-out well up, from which the ball went to Knox, * who shot over. The try was converted by R. McDonald. Wanderers 5, Foxton 0.

The blacks’ forwards were soon launching another attack, and Foxton being penalised for off-side play, B. McDonald had a shot, but did not goal. Foxton applied/the pressure, but were forced back from half-way by forward rushes of a determined character. At length B. McDonald crossed over at the corner and touched down, following this up by a difficult conversion .Wanderers 10, Foxton 0.

The visitors’ forwards released fresh energy and by alternate punting and dribbling penned the Blacks in the corner, and Anderson grounded the ball over the line. Westwood failed with the kick. Wanderers 10, Foxton 3.

In the second spell the Yellows, warming up to their work, showed an improvement of form, but the home team, having now the climatic advantages, went on to pile up the score. After some loose work in midfield, the Blacks when making for their objective were penalised, but Foxton’s relief Was quickly annulled by a return from Byde'r and .the visitors were soon busy $ef ending their line. /Their backs carried play up field again,®but it was only a brief excursion, for in a few minutes they were back on their lino.

Following a scrum at five yards, T. Parata obtained the bail and ducked over. R. McDonald’s kick missed. Wanderers 13, Foxton 3. Soon after the kick-out, there was a melee ou the home line and Wanderers forced. A period of long punting led to an incursion by the blacks. After a scramble near the line, Foxton were awarded a free kick, but it only shifted play in a lateral ... direction. There was some scrambling in the corner, till Tatana snapped urn the leather and scored. He just misfed the goal. Wanderers 16, Foxton 3. It was not long before the blacks were again knocking at the gate. Newton relieved with a good kick, after which Graham got possession and scored from a smart run. The angle was a severe one, and Tatana’s kick missed the goal by a little. Wanderers 19, Foxton 3. Wanderers were almost immediately running over’ their opponents; and from a scramble Ward got across and McDonnell converted. Wanderers 24, Foxton 3.

Another score came quickly, W. Parata touching down at the corner. Heremaia failed with the kick. Wanderers 27, Foxton 3. The Hast assault led to a line-out in a good position, then a mix-up, from which Knox obtained, a try in a handy position, enabling Tatana to convert, and the game thereupon ended, with the scores; Wanderers 32, F° x f° n -3. Mr E. Bevan refereed.

JUNIOR COMPETITION.

MIRANUI v. SHANNON,

The first round of the competitions for the 1928 football season opened in Shannon, with a- junior match between Shannon : and Miranui. The following players took the field: — Miranui.—Picard, Croon, Headland, Young, MeEwen, Goodwin, Humphries, Farrell, Better, Mabey, Vertogen, Polglase, Mason. ... Shannon. —Birchall, Warman, Mason, Robbie, "Waka, Hibell, Gray, Dalzell, Williams, Robinson, White, Natuma, Bowler, Curran and Pratt. Shannon kicked off against 'the wind and Miranui early had them pressed. Within a few minutes of the commencement Hook, playing for Shannon, received a kick on the head and was foreed to retire. The game was a ;tussle between Shannon forwards and Miranui backs, in fact the form shown by the latter was remarkably good for so early in the season. Croon (Miranui); put in a good run along the line, Dut was forced .out. From the line-out Shannon returned with a long kick which Picard fumbled. Miranui were now defending their goal, but relief eame to Miranui by finding the line. From the line out the ball trav* elled through the hands of all the Miranui backs. Finally Croon was pushed out when, making for the goal. A few minutes later Miranui were nearly over, a five yard's’ serum saving, the situation. Shannon then put Miranui on the defensive; Humphries saving with a mark. The first score came from a scrum, ’Miranui getting the ball and kicking behind Shannon’s goal line. Two Shannon players hesitated about forcing the ball and Mabey following up scored, the extra points. Shannon, a little later, had a free kick, Warman was entrusted with the kick, but fAiled. A scrum ensued in Miranui’s 25„ but a penalty brought relief to the latter. Shannon then pressed, Miranui being compelled to force twice in quick succession. Finally a free kick to Shannon saw Mason register a goal. During the second spell Headland, (Miranui), who was playing a good game was forced to retire owing to an injury to his ifg. From a free, kick Picard further increased Miranui’s lead.. The last few miuutes of the game found Miranui tiring and Shannon using every endeavour to make up the difference in the scores, but without success. The game ended Miranui 8, Shannon 3. Mr J. Hopa controlled the game.*

REFEREES FOR SATURDAY.

SENIOR. Wanderers v. Shannon, at Shannon, Mr E. Bevan. / Hui Mai v. Weraroa, at Levin, Mr Sands. $ JUNIOR.

Maungatuku v. Paraparaumu, at Paraparaumu, Mr A. George. Shannon v. Wanderers, at Weraroa, Mr J." Smith.

Miranui v. Foxton' at Foxton, Mr J. Hopa. Weraroa v. Hui Mai, at Manakau, Mr T. McLeavey.. Messrs T. Parata and Iv. Davis are not available for games on Saturday nox|. ’