PRIMARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 14 August 1928, Page 3

PRIMARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA V. WELLINGTON. On Saturday, August 11th, the Horowhenua primary schools Rugby representative team travelled to play Wellington reps, at Athletic Park. A party of excursionists numbering 204, and coming from Foxton, Shannon, Levin and Otaki, took advantage of the concession granted by the Railway Department. Arriving at Thorndon, 'the team were met by Mr Linklater, M.P., and members of the Wellington Schools Rugby Union. Mr Linklater conveyed the team by taxis to the "House," where they inspected both the Upper and Lower Chambers and were introduced to members present, including the Hon. E. Newman, M.L.C. A light lunch was then provided at Bellamy's, after which the bovs, still under Mr Linklater's care, boarded the waiting taxis for the run through the city to Athletic Park, THE GAME. The game was played under perfect conditions. It was fully expected that lack of practice together, would prove a disadvantage to the Horowhenua team, but the country forwards gave a very good account of Ihemselves and this, aided" by the cleverness of the backs, particularly Matthews (captain) enabled the visitors to win by 19 points to 3. In the first few minutes, after a determined rush by the Horowhenua forwards, Matthews dived over in a good position, and converted his owntry. Horowhenua 5,. Wellington 0. The Town boys then carried play to the other end, pressing hard but. were unable to break through. The line was cleared, and a passing rush enabled Coley (wing) to set off down the line with a rare, turn of speed to score near the corner. Kingsbeer's kick missed Horowhenua 8, Wellington 0. Murphy (V) then showed up with a great 'run, but was overhauled by Coley near the line. Horowhenua backs, were soon off again, and Coley w-as' thrown out> at the corner.

Wellington delivered a determined attack, Horowhenua forcing. Following the drop-out, Murphy (Wellington) raced across far out. The kick at goal was unsuccessful. HoroAvhenua 8, Wellington 3. The Horowhenua forwards were now dominating the play and giving their backs plenty ,of opportunities. -JA splendid parsing movement enabled Matthews to make a good opening and send Coley away to score near the corner. Matthews missed. Horowhenua 11, Wellington 3. After some give-and-take play in midfield, Matthews snapped up the ball, and, after a flashing run, scored near the posts and converted. Horowhenua 16, Wellington 3. The visitors continued to attack, Wellington forcing. The final try was scored by Coley near the comer. Matthews failed to convert and the game ended: Horowhenua 19, Wellington 3. Tht, Horowhenua forwards, as a pack, played very well, the hookers having an advantage in the scrums. Coley brothers (half and wing threequarters), also George and Matthewsplayed well in the backs. Mr Areus (Ohau), the selector, is to be, congratulated on (putting in the field such a good team,. After the game the players were entertained to lunch by the Wellington Primary Schools Rugby Union, at Langham Hotel, Newtown. Mr Duncan (president), presided, and there were also present Mr Stainton (secretary) and'Mr Murphy. Mr Duncan congratulated the visitors on their play. Mr McDonald (mauager) thanked the Wellington Union for the game provided and the hospitality extended to the team. The boys wore then conducted to a position in the grandstand at Athletic Park, from which they followed with great interest the final game in the -senior Rugby championship. Other parties of visiting boys spent the rest of the afternoon seeing the sights of the city. Messrs WliAje (Shannon), McDonald (Levin) and Areus (Ohau) accompanied the team. Shannon's quota was 22 adults and 36 scholars. At 5.40 all boarded the train, after a very enjoyable day. NOAD SHIELD SEVEN-A-SIDE CONTEST. The annual contest among the primary schools of the district for Noad Shield, in a seven-a-side tournament, will take place on the Park Domain, Levin, on Saturday next, commencing at 12.30 p.m. Entries, which, are open to primary schools only, close on Thursday. The weight limit is Bst 71b. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. FINAL UNDECIDED. MIRANUI PLAY A DRAW WITH HUI MAI. j On the Levin domain on Saturday, Hui Mai, the winners of the Southern division of the junior competition, met Miranui, the winners of the Northern division, with the object of deciding which team should be entitled to the honour of junior champions, but after a keenly contested 'game the result is still in abeyance for the game proved a draw with eight points to each side. Hui "Mai (green and white) won the toss and elected to have the advantage (if the wind in the first spell. Miranui (green and black) kicked off and it was not long before Hui Mai came through but a knock-on spoilt their chance and from the scrum Miranui were able to clear and carry the game into their opponents' 25 and after pressing hard for some time they miss-. ' ed a good opportunity of opening the score through faulty handling and Hui Mai were able to clear. They charged down the field with the ball at their feet, but oyer eagerness near the line gave Miranui the chance to force. I The game was now . fairly open on 'both sides, but not nearly as fast as

it could have been as both sets of backs were waiting too much for the bounce instead of taking the ball on the full and getting away with it. Hui Mai for a while were attacking hard, but a fine dribbling rush by the northerners put them in >a scoring position and Goodwin was able to gather the leather in and dive over in the corner. Picard's kick from an awkward angle against the wind went a few yards wide of the goal. Miv-anui 3, Hui Mai 'O. Inspired by their . score Miranui were quickly on the attack again, but I the southerners cleared and then for some time th e game was of a give and take nature. Both teams were now playing better football and the backs were paying more attention to the game, taking the ball on th e full and livening things up considerably. The northern forwards were much bet-, ter in the loose and securing the ball'' went through till they had an opportunity to pick it up. The passing rush was, however, of short duration for they spoilt what seemed to be a certain chance, of scoring with a forward pass. The free kick was not a great advantage for Miranui came back at the attack and went over the line with the ball at their feet, but Hui ■ Mai were too quick for them and managed to force. Miranui were soon pressing again but a free kick to opponents for holding was made the most of, Hui Mai carried the game into the northerners territory and after several futile attempts the honour eventually fell to Trotter to scor e in the' corner. JSwainson's kick went wide. Miranui 3. Hui Mai 3. This seemed to put new life into the southerners and gaining possession from the kick off they inaugurated a line passing rush which, ended in a forward pass about ten yards from their opponents line. The free kick enabled Miranui to clear but Hui Mai soon carried the game, back to within striking distance, but they were unable to get across and half-time was sounded with the green* and whites pressing hard., In the second spell Hui Mai were soon within ten yards of their objective but were forced out. From the throw-in they knocked on and from the scrum, * the northerners went through with the ball at their feet and dribbled it right over Hui Mai's line, but were forced into touch-in-goal. From the kick off they came quickly on the attack and Simpson scored' in an easy position, Picard adding the major points. Miranui 8, Hui Mai 3. Hui Mai were soon playing hard to make up the leeway, but the Miranui forwards were too much for them and soon had the green and white defending their line. A free kick for forward play, however, relieved matters and brought play back t.o mid-field.' From a good long dribbling rush Bevan scored near the posts and iSwainson converted. Miranui 8, Hui Mai 8. The game from now on was very willing both teams striving hard to add the winning points. Combined play by the Miranui forwards brought them within striking distance and they eventually succeeded in crossing the'line but Hui-Mai beat them to •the touch. They were soon back again and securing from a five yard scrum went over again but were forced into, touch. Miranui again returned to the •attack and Picard took a flying shot at goal' which failed by only a few yards. They came again and were charging towards Hui Mai's lin e but a long kick lost them their chance anil Hui M>ai forced. Hui Mai now took a hand and several determined rushes .ended just short of the line and after 'several scrums it was clear that the green and blacks were fighting their 'way back inch by inch when they .were penalised for holding, only .15 yards out. Swainson's kick, however, failed. Hui Mai wer e row playing better football than they had been all the afternoon and' again charged down towards the .northerners line but. solid defensive play saved the situatim. Hui Mai> however, again returned to the attack but the defence was again sound and play was leturned to muifield when time was called, leaving the championship undecided. Mr. Bevan controlled the game in a capable manner. SOUTHERN THIRD-GRADE REPS. The following players have been selected by Mr. Leiteh to represent the third-grade reps against th e northern reps at Levin on Saturday:—Full-back, H. Edwards (H.), three-quarters, Matthews (0.), P. Wallace (0.),. G. Haywood (H.); five-eighths, G. Merwood (0.), G. Wilson (0.); half, M. Johnson (H.): wing-forward, B. Ryder, (O.); hookers, B. Rolfe (H.), F. Rolfe (H.); lock, J. MacDonald (0.); supports, C. Cheer (0.), C. Morgan (H.); back-row. J. Bevan (0.), J. Fielding~(H.). Emergencies and how the team will travel wilt appear in the next issue.

NORTH ISLAND TEAM TO PLAY SOUTH ISLAND NEW PLYMOUTH, Last Night. The North Island selectors have chosen the following North Island team to play South Island at Christchurch next Saturday: Full-hank: L. Paewai (Auckland) Tiiree-quarters: W. H. Carlson (Wanganui), L. Hook (Auckland), M. Anderson (Waikato). - * . m Five-eighths: A. E. Cooke (Wairarapa), A. Langlands (Poverty Bay). Half-hack: G. Bramwell (Poverty Bay). Rover: C. G. Porter (Wellington). Forwards: Palmer (Auckland), Finlayson (Auckland), M. Willoughhy (Wairarapa) R. Steere (Hawke's Bay), W. Batty (Auckland). Knight (Auckland), S. Willoughhy (Wairarapa). Reserves: . Forwards: E. Reid (Wairarapa). Back: P. Kemp (Waikato)