WANDERERS v. SHANNON.

Shannon News, 1 May 1928, Page 3

WANDERERS v. SHANNON.

The above teams met on the Shannon Domain on. Saturday, when Wanderers allowed their superiority by securing a vijctory by 19 points to 8. Despite the heavy rain which had fallen on the previous night, the ground was not wet .and slippery, although it was holding. Showers fell during the match, thus making the ball greasy and difficult to handle. The game was willing throughout, but better combination and tackling on the part of the visitors won them the game. Tne Shannon forwards, as a whole, were very (disappointing, the scrum formation being poor, while they were very sluggish in their movements. In this department Shannon was outclassed. The backs did better. They initiated several passing movements, but the tackling of the visitors proved too solid. The visitors incurred far too many penalties for off-side play and hanging on to the ball, and they were fortunate Shannon did not score more points as a result. The following players took the field: —

Wanderers: Full back, Ryder; threequarters, R. Williams, Graham, Kuiti; five-eighths, N. Parata, McDonnell; half, T. Parata; forwards, Tatana; D. McDonald, Heremaia, Bond, C. McDonald, Sinclair, Knox and Ward. Shannon: Full back, Warman; threequarters, I. Williams, Mitchell, N. Robb.e; five-eighths, Roberts, McKenzie; half, Walls; forwards, L. Dalzeli, Walker, Moody, Hirst, K. Dalzeli, Satherley, Marsh, Robbie.

Wanderers kicked off and early had the home team on the defensive, but a penalty enabled the latter to bring play back to nrdfield. The Blacks again forced the play into the Reds' 25, but N. Robbie with the ball at his toe, broke through the defence and dribbled well up the field, where the Blacks were penalised for a player hanging on to the ball. Ryder (full back) returned the kick finding the line. From the line out, Graham intercepted a pass and by a good run and beating several of the opposition carried plt'y into Reds' territory. This was followed shortly afterwards by Wil'iams (Wanderers) scoring from a scramble near the line. Blacks kept up-the attack, but. Warman fifinding the line, eased Reds' position, which was further helped by the aid of a free kick. The Blacks gradually worked their way back to midfield where N. Robbie carried play into the 25, Where a fine piece of passing between Roberts, Mitchell and Williams ended in the latter scoring. Hirst was entrusted with the kick and landed it safely between the posts, thus giving the Reds a two-points lead. Both teams took a turn at attack during wh'.ch Moody led a fine forward rush for Reds, while Graham led the Blacks with a splendid run down field, opening up play among his backs; which ended in N. Parata taking a mark, in Red territory. The shot at goal failed. A dribbling rush by the Reds, headed by L. Dalzeli, was immediately returned and Warman was compelled to force. The Blacks kept up the attack and N. Parata scored from a forward rush. The visitors now had the upper hand and had the Reds busy defending their line and from a rush N. Parata gathered up the ball and sent it on to D. McDonald who "went over the line. T. Parata failed with the kick. On the ball going into play Roberts endeavoured to open up play among the Red backs, but the tackling by the visitors proved too solid and finally from one of these atempts the Blacks got possession and started a forward rush which ended in Graham gathering up the leather and cutting in to beat the opposition and score under

the posts. McDonnell converted. Then followed a movement by Red backs in which Roberts and N. Robbie were prominent, which carried play to centre. The spell ended with play still in this quarter. The second spell opened with Blacks rushing play to the Red line, but the latter returned by a forward rush to midfield where N. Parata marked, sending the ball near the Red line, where from a line out the home team got the ball, enabling McKenzie, Marsh and Roberts with an exchange of passing to traverse well down the field. The Blacks immediately brought the ball back, a movement in which Kuiti was most prominent, to the Red line, where Warman fell on it. A scrum was ordered, from which Reds got the ball, and McKenzie, Robbie and Roberts broke away and by good passing carried play back to Black territory. Ryder clearing by kicking Avell down the field, the ball being returned by Warman, which Bond secured and by a good kick and fast following up, reached the Reds' 25 only to be penalised. They kept up the attack, Bond crossing the line, but a scrum was ordered. Reds secured and dribbled the ball down the field and Roberts getting possessi&n made for the line, but was brought down. Again the Blacks sent the ball back to the Reds' 25 to be once more penalised. However, the Reds gained little relief, and finally had to force. From the kick out Moody and Hirst led a dribbling rush which Ryder stemmed by picking up and finding the line. It was at this point that Williams (Shannon) met with an injury to his leg and had to retire, kis place being taken by a junior player, A. Mason. On resuming, McDonnell opened up the game for Wanderers, and Tatana beating the opposition, scored. Heremaia converted. The Reds now made a desperate effort to overhaul their opponents. Warman set the backs in motion by a good run, then sending the leather to Roberts and he on to Mitchell, who was collared inside the 25 line. Reds kept up the pressure, but Graham intercepting, made a good run down the field, beating several opponents before being collared. The Reds came again with a dribbling rush and crossed the line, L. Dalzeli touching down, but the referee awarded Blacks a free kick for off-side. Following up the kick Tatana with the ball at his toe, took play well down the field. The Reds were not yet done with, a passing bout started by K. Dalzeli saw several players handle the ball, which was carried back to the Blacks' line. Shannon were now making a final effort. From a line out near the line, the ball was sent out ealong the backs, but the effort was fruitless. L. DalzeU and Walker followed this, up by a dribbling rush, which ended in Ryder bringing a penalty against his team for lying on the ball. Mason made a good atempt tc goal, the ball striking the poet, from the kick out, Warman secured and after a short run passed to Mitchell, who put in a splendid run down the line. Shortly after from a serum L. Dalzeli scored. •He took the kick himself, but failed to add extra points. The score ended Wanderers 19, Shannon 8. Mr E. Bevan had charge of ii'e gpme. Among the Shannon backs, N. Robbie, wing three-quarter, was the outstanding player, particularly in thev first half. His fast following up and handling of the ball being good. The other three-quarters, Williams and Mitchell, also showed up well. Roberts did good work, but on occasions spoilt his efforts with his didging tactics. McKenzie at five-eighths was splendid on attack and proved very reliable. Walls did all that was asked of him as half. Warman, who played third grade last year, filled the role of full back. He showed signs of nervousness at the start, but gained confidence as the game proceeded and he certainly made a better showing that one or two who have filled this position in past seasons. Ho takes a ball well and is game. Of the forwards, Moody and L. Dalzeli stood out most prominently, Marsh and Hurst being the best of the others, although K. Dalzeli did good work in; the tight. As a whole they were disappointing. . For Wanderers, Ryder at full-back was safe. Graham, centre three-quar-ter, and N. Parata, five-eighths, were perhaps the pick, but all the back' division played splendidly. They have combination, are fast and handle the ball well, and are going to be hard to beat. Of the forwards they all worked well, Tatana being in good form.