ROWLAND CUP WON BY HUI MAI, HOROWHENUA Junior Champions

Shannon News, 18 September 1928, Page 3

ROWLAND CUP WON BY HUI MAI, HOROWHENUA Junior Champions

Tn view of the fact that Saturday nil been declared Charity Day by the Manawatu Rugby I nion, there was a lisappointing muster of the public to 'vitness the Rowland Cup fixture bcwcen Kia Ton (Manawatu) and Hui Mai (Horowhenua). The handsome trophy was presented in" 192 G for competition between the respective junior champions of the Mana.vatu and Horowhenua districts. Won by Fcilding Old Boys in the year of its presentation, the cup 'was annexed ia. c .t year by the first fifteen of the Paimcrston North Boys' High School. This season the fate of the trophy rested between Kia Toa, of. Manawatu and Hui Mai of Horowhenua. After a ragged and uninteresting game the I Horowhenua champions secured tho tro}phy with a last minute try scored right on the call of time, the tally reading 6—3 in Hui Mai's favour. The teams lined-out as follows: Hui Mai (grcon and white): W. Swainson, R. Swainson. Atkins, R. Wehepeihana. Pcrewiti. L. Wehepeihana, Home, Bowling, Karauti, Rua, Slack, Trotter, Knight, Pennial, George, j Kia Toa (double blues): Weston, Topee, Weir, Dixon, Kelly, O'Kecfc. Hancock, Mitchell, Turnbull, Thomas, Brown, O'Keefe, Comber, Spencer, Gallic!) an. The Game. Hui Mai set the ball in motion, but Kia Toa speedily took the offensive, the forwards lining right-on the Hui Mai citadel. Compelled to force, Hui Mai temporarily relieved but was soon i once more defending its line from the ■onslaughts, of the invading blues. Press- , ing hard, the Manawatu boys held the

territorial advantage, a fact which stood them in good stead when an infringement by a Hui Mai defender gave Comber an opportunity to kick a well-judged penalty. Kin Toa 3, i-lui Mai nil.

Encouraged by their success, the double blues continued to hammer the defence attempting to use their backs as a medium of attack. Slovenly passing marred their efforts in this direction, however, ami the burden of the attack bad to fall once again on the pack-men. Both fore and ait the game was ragged, although Kia Toa was holding the u[;per hand in bothdivi- ! sions. It could not add to the score ' however, and the spell ended 3—nil in khe double blues' iavour. Second Spell.

The southerners ro-ope'ned with the sun and wind at their backs,'but despite this advantage could not break tho attack of the double blues,. The Kia Toa jpek-men were playing a willing game, as in the first half, and it was largely their efforts which kept the -Horowhenua boys penned in their own territory. At long last, however, the greens succeeded in raising the seigc, their backs stringing out for attack. Tho leather travelled out to R. Wehepeihana, the winger being hauled down only in the nick of time. Scores Level.

The green backs did not slacken their efforts and driven back once, swept to the attack again. From half way Atkins burst up field, anfl passing three defenders with a tempting dummy cut in brilliantly to score a fine try. Swainson failed, the scores then standing 3 all. Play Brightens. The score gave the game a muchneeded impetus and in a moment the double blues were hammering at Hui Mai for revenge. The greens had taken a fresh lease of life, however, and drove back the attack to take the offensive in their turn. Lining right oh Kia Toa's line thoy had the borne team desperately defending until Weston cleared with a gosfl kiek. Atkins again came to 'light with a strong run, when he sent the Hui Mai backs racing for the line. R. Wehepeihana. on the wing, could not complete the movement however, and again Kia Toa cleared. Nothing daunted, the Horcwhcnua boys swept into action again, but Wehepeihana mulled in the corner to lose'an almost certain try. Last Minute Try.

With five minutes' to go and the scores standing even, both sides were going hard for the deciding tiy. With all the elan of victory, Hui Mai swept to the attack, the backs handling with accuracy across to the comer. Atkins had only a yard further to travel "before registering a crossing, but he elected to transfer to his w'-iger.'The ball went astray and the attack seemed baulked, but in a moment Atkins had brought play across field, to thread his way through and score in the corner. L. Wehepeihana failed with the kiek and the game ended o—3 in 'favour of the Horcwhcnua champions. Mr. T. Forata controlled the, game. At the conclusion of the n-ateh, Mr. Dave Row?inds, one of the donors of the Cap, presented the trophy to the captain of the Hui Mai team. The champion fifteen entertained the crowd ■with a stirring haka of. victory at the conclusion of the little ceremony.