RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 15 May 1928, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS. SENIOR. Hui Mai 21 v. Foxton 9. Shannon 15 v. Weraroa 6. , JUNIOR. Weraroa 14 v. Hui Mai f>. Shannon 14 v. Miranui 3. THIRD GRADE. Weraroa 11 v. Foxton 8. SENIOR COMPETITION POINTS.

SHANNON v. WERAROA. The start of the match between Shannon and Weraroa on the Shannon Domain was delayed owing to the late arrival of three members of the visiting team.. Shannon fielded the'heavier team, their forwards having the advantage by their weight in the scrum and also in Une-out work, but unfor- , tunately their efforts in the latter were often spoilt by the back division being out of position/ and not handling, the ball well. The tackling by the visiting team was weak and with the openings that came Shannon s way thej should have put up a much larger score. The Weraroa team put up a game fight but the local boys were too good on the day. , From the kick-off, Hirst by a good kick returned to the 25 line. Weraroa quickly worked their way down the field, but from a scrum near the 2o line the ball went out to McKenzie, who sent a long pass'to Mitchell, the latter passing it bn to Robbie who happened to Be off-side. The penalty enabled Tantrum (half) to open Weraroa h scoiiing. account with .a good goal. On the ball going into play Shannon s backs got into action and a fine passing bout initiated by Mitchell, ended in Robbie being collared in Weraroa h territory. The latter then worked the' Reds back over the half-way line. A passing* bout by the local boys, in which tffe visitors showed very .weak i tackling, carried' play back agaiii inside Weraroa’s 25, where ,L. Dalzell and Robbie dribbled th§ ball on the line, the former scoring. Walker tool: the kick but failed to add the extra points. Shortly afterwards Weraroa were awarded a f ree kick through a Red player piekiug the ball .out of the scrum; but the kick brought little re lief. The Reds kept up' the 'attack by a series of passing bouts among the backs and they had the visitors hare pressed in their.-. 25, Qie Reds finally being penalised for;off-s.de play. The latter came again/but failed repeated ly to get through, A the cause being: largely due r to players being out oi < position when the, ball came their waj. Finally relief camo‘to Wefaroa when J. Broughton got possession and made a fine run down the line. From a line out Wqraroa got .the ball out ain on; their backs and £he full-back, Graham by kicking/the ball over the line the Reds had to force. Play for a while traversed up and dowh the field by ex- , change * of V kicks -in which Graham h (Weraroa) kicking and taking of the ball was a feature., A line out saw Bather ley kick back to McKenzie, win made off but was w(ell collared by McLennan. The offensive was then taken up by Weraroa in which Ellairtorc made a fine run down the line, Whyte, saving. They were at length repulsed and a good opening was made by Roberts, saw him Tace through the opposition and pass to Whyte, who unfortunately knocked on, when near their opponents’ line. Shortly after Mitchell getting possession sent it on to Robbie, who was collared on the line. He dropped the ball but immediately picked it up and touched down, thereby registering Reds’ second try. Hirst missed with the kick at goal. The Reds immediately dribbled back to the Wera roa line, but a penalty enabled the latter to clear. The home team came again, blit Graham saved with a mark, which sent play to midfield where from a free kick Tantrum had a shot at goal, but the ball although well directed, fell short. The Reds then dribbled up the field and with only the fullback to beat Moody picked up, but gave a forward pass. This rush was quickly followed by another headed by Satherley with the ball at his toe, but R. Broughton saved by forcing. Jnst before call of time the speedy R. Broughton snapped up the ball and set off for the line, but was overtaken by McKenzie/ The spell'ended. Shannon 6, Weraroa 3.

On resuming there was a re-shuffle of positions among the backs in both teams, Roberts playing centre for Shannon, exchanged places with Marsh at full-back, while Graham, who had played a good defensive game for Weraroa at full-back, went up to the fiveeighths position, R. Broughton taking his place. Early in the second half Roberts made a fine run through the opposition, making a-* good Opening, but a low pass to K. Dalzell spoilt the ' effort. A further chance was lost by 1 McKenzie hanging on to the ball j too long, instead of centreing. The Reds continued to launch. attacks on the defence, but a long kick by Graham carried play back over the half way line, where from a line out Walls got the ball and threading his way through the opposing side, he beat the lot and scored a good try. Hirst fail- , ed to convert. Shannon 9, Foxton 3. \ Erom the kick out Roberts got possession and made a dash through the op-

posing forces, but w'as collared on reaching the 25 line, and Weraroa dribbled the ball back to half-way, where McKenzie picked up and,beat-

ing several men passed to Whyte who ’ bailed to ta&e the ball. From a scrum the ball went out among the Red backs, and Robbie, throwing off three men, tteored at the corner. Roberts missed, adding the extra points. The Reds kept ; up the pressure, but a free kick

to Weraroa returned play to centre. The Reds came again with a forward rush and Weraroa had to force. A good passing bout in which McKenzie, Hirst and Whyte took part, saw the latter pushed out at the corner fiag. From the line out Red dribbled over, Keieona forcing. The home team continued to attack, by short passing bouts, but Weraroa held them off and gradually forced the Reds back over the half way line where they were awarded a free kick. Tantrum had a shot to goal. They then launched an attack by opening up the play, but a bad pass spoilt a chance of scoring. They continued these tactics, finally being awarded a free kick, which McLennan converted. Shannon 12, Weraroa 6. On the ball going into play McKenzie.made a good run through finally sending it on to Whyte, who was collared. This was followed by another passing rush in which Whyte was pushed out at the corner flag. After an* exchange of kicks Roberts tried to open up the game,' but R. Broughton intercepted and dribbled through, Roberts saving. The Red forwards initiated a rush, carrying play into Weraroa’s 25 and getting the ball from a scrum. A passing movement between Williams, Mitchell, Marsh and Robbie saw the latter register bis third try for the game. The kick at goal did not eventuate, a Weraroa player charging down, which the referee allowed. The game ending sffirtly after with Shannon 15, Weraroa 6. Mr T. Parata refereed the game.

JUNIORS. MIRANUI v. SHANNON. \» . . The above teams met on the Miranui ground before a fair attendance of the public. The ground was dry, and there was no wind to hamper either side. A good game was expected, and .this was realised. On previous occas--ions when these teams met Miranui seemed to have the Indian sign on Shannon, winning most of the games duriug the last three seasons; but the spell was broken when Shannon turned the tablfes on their old rivals by winning the match by 14 —3. . The Miranui team could not last tlm journey but held their own until well through the second spell, when conditions told the tale, enabling Shannon to score a well-deserved victory. The teams were as follow:—Shannon. —Bifchall, Mason, Jude, Thorn, Catherley, Gray, Coyle, Warman, White, Dalzell, Crombie, Ngatuna, Pratt, Lankshear, Curran. Miranui.—Pieard, Crawford, Croon, Young, Humphries, McEwan, Goodwin, Farrell, Batt, Mabey, Yergeoten, Polglase, Coutts, Rettcr, Mason. The first spell was well contested, there being no difference between the teams, excepting a score' to Shannon. The ball -was kicked over Miranui line. Pieard failed to secure, the ball beating him. Another Miranui player over ran the ball, when Gray, by good following up, fell on the ball. War-man failed to convert. Shannon 3, Miranui 0. Players on -both sides tried pot shots and goals from penalties and marks, but failed-to add points. The half-time score was Shannon 3, Miranui O'. On resuming, Miranui kicked off, the ball going out at Reds’ 25. 'Shannon forwards carried play back to half-way, where ‘Picard secured and found the line near Shannon’s «orner. The Reds kicked up the field, where McEwan marked, little ground being gained. Gray secured, finding the Greens’ 25 line. From the line out Gray' tried to pot a goal, failing. From the drop out, give-and-take play followed, Miranui being awarded a free kick near the centre, which McEwan kicked out. An exchange of kicks by the fullbacks left play in Shannon’s, but Gray and Jude in turn gained ground for the Reds. Humphries later stemmed a dangerous forward rush headed by Crombie and Dalzell, but Picard, with a long kick, - tried a field goal, which fell short, Birchall returning to halfway from the line-out. Miranui started a passing rush, the ball passing through five men, but no ground was gained. As the play went across the field the Red forwards started a good dribbling rush, but Mason saved. Miranui tried more passing, but a wild pass spoiled a promising movement. Jude kicked through, finding the line. Coyle marked from a line-out, and the Red forwards carried the ball over Miranui ’ 8 line. A five-yards’ scrum followed. The Reds tried parsing, Coyle being pushed out by Croon on, the corner. The Green forwards then charged down the field, where Birchall secured and centred under Miranui posts, and Jude securing scored a good try, the kick missing by a small margin. Shannon 3, Miranui 0. This reverse livened up the Greens, and only good defensive work by Mason, Gray, Coyle and Birchall kept Miranui from scoring, Birchall eventually clearing with a big kick to halfway. From a scrum, Goodwin, who was the best Miranui back, made a good opening, seuding on to Young, who scored. The kick failed. Shannon 6, Miranui' 3. The game became willing at this stage. Jude, being hurt, had to retire; as no substitute was allowed by the Miranui captain, Shannon carried on with 14 men. From a melee, Whyte cut through the Miranui backs, running well down the field before passing to Wannan, who scored. Mason kicked the goal. Shannon 11, Miranui 3. As time was almost up, Pratt secured, a !$, beating Croon, passed to Thorn, who scored. No goal resulted, the game ending Shannon 14, Miranui 3.

Mr R. Sands controlled the game,

% /. ' ' p W. D, L. Pts. Wanderers. • • ... 3 3 - 6 Hui Mai .. • • • Shaiw on • • • • • .. 3 ... 4 2 2 1 1 i— 5 1 5 0 Foxton ....... ■" Weraroa • ... 3 ~