RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 30 April 1929, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA SEASON OPENED.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

SENIORS. Shannon 17 v. Weraroa. 3. Otaki 29 v. Hui Mai 8. Foxton won from Wanderers by default. JUNIORS. Foxton 20 v. Wanderers 8. Shannon 23 v. Weraroa 9. Otaki 30 v. Hui Mai 6. THIRDS. Weraroa 25, Foxton 6. Tokomai’u 13 v. Shannon 0.

Owing to the continuance of summerlike weather, the Rugby .season opened in the Horowhenua district on Saturday at somewhat of a disadvantage, the football spirit not being fully in evidence. After some delay Weraroa were able to field a composite team to defend the McLennan Shield against the challenge of Shannon. - The latter had. the best of the game, and as a result the trophy will next be played for on their grounds. Wanderers were unable to get a full team to send to Foxton, whose club consequently, won by default. At Manakau, Otaki had a substantial win over Hui Mai.

SHANNON v. WERAROA

The Wcraroa team started the game with thirteen men, but attained full strength in the early stages by the inclusion of two veterans, . Rangi Broughton and J. Hopa. The personnel then was: Full back, Joe Broughton; three-quarters, Rangi Broughton, Bull, Nahona; five-eighths, Warren, J. Hopa; half, McLennan; foiwards, Palmer, Greig, Cole, Edlin, Taylor, Beattie, Horn, Ron. Broughton (wing). About half-way through the first spell, Horn had to retire through a leg injury, and he was replaced by Fume. Greig went off a little later, hurt in the side, and his place Avas not filled. The Shannon team, which had the advantage in weight, besides more staving poAver, was made up as folloavs:—Full back, Warman; three-quar-ters, Robbie, Picaid, Guy; five-eighths, McKenzie, Goodwin; half, Walls; forwards, Moody, Pratt-, Robbie,. Satherley, Johanna, N. Dalzell, Williams, L. Dalzell (wing). The ■ atmosphere was calm and warm, and there was just a fair attendance of the public. Shannon (red) kicked off from the eastern half and maintained an attack -for the first few minutes. Weraroa (whiti and black) Avere given a chance through a long punt by Warren. Bull folloAved the ball y>ver the line, but Avas effectually tackled. The Weraroa backs kept up the pressure with tne aid of passing movements, from one of which Bull dashed across near the corner and scored against some strong' opposition. Warren’s kick went AA'ide of the goal. Weraroa 3, Shannon Q. Creditable bits of passing among the visiting backs gave evidence of combination in the team, but for a while the opposing pack pro Aided a solid resistance. A free kick for Shannon at about 35 yards from the line Avas taken by Picard, but the ball passed beside the goal. The reds Avere soon on the attack again, and the leather was dribbled over, but Bull forced it doAvn in the nick of time. Almost as soon as it Avas in play once more Williams gained possession in front of the goal, and opened Shannon’s score Avith a try beside the post. Picard Avas unlucky with the kick, as the ball struct the goal-post and bounded back. Shannon 3, Weraroa 3. Another good save Avas made by Bull, who took a pass from Rangi Broughton njear the line and punted to halfway. The visitors returned to -the assault through the efforts of their ■forwards, Williams short-punting, picking up, and running doivn to score in a nearly central position. Picard’s attempt to convert failed by the smallest of margins. Shannon 6, Weraroa 3. Play of a someAvhat even character followed in midfield, after Avhich the visitors, gradually bore their opponents doAvn to their twenty-five.. Craig went off at this stage, and Furrie came on. Weraroa continued to defend ■their line, ivhich Avas seAmial times in danger, but after strenuous efforts half-way Avas reached, Avhere marks we: e taken on both sides Avithout ma•terially altering the position.. Then Shannon encroached, and Robbie, outstri uping the opposition, scored Avith ease. Picard Avas too low Avith the kick. Shannon 9, Wera.roa 3. A forward rush by Weraroa led to /McLennan sending a neat pass to J. Broughton, AA-ho took it smartly, but Was brought down in front of the goal. After play had pretty Avell covered the field, Picard gathered up the ball following a scrum and shot over, registering another try for the visitors. He was not so successful Avith the kick, the ball falling short. Shannon 12, Weraroa 3. , After uneventful play had proceeded for some time in the second spell, J. Broughton got in a long punt, Avhich Ron. Rroughton follcAved up, but the latter Avas just beaten for possession on the line. The Avhite backs were working pretty Avell together and several openings were made, Avhen it seemed that Weraroa might offset the visitors’ tally, but the anticipation was not borne out. Rangi Broughton started a promising parsing manoeuvre, but the ball Avent astray. The Weraroa backs put in some good defensive Avork, the full back frequently punting to safety, but only fleeting respites Avere secured against the solid attacks of the red forwards. During one of these an .lunexpectqd score eventuated, Ia Dalzell snapping up the ball in the open and streaking across before the home team realised Avhat was happening. E. Satherley took the kick, and nicely cleared the goal. Shannon 17, .Weraroa. 3. , There were still five minutes to go, and during that time the whites invaded right up to the line, but found the opposition too strong for them.

They secured a penalty kick while stiil in the visitors* territory, but no goal Resulted from McLennan’s kick, and the game ended immediately thereafter, with the scores: Shannon 17, Weraroa 3. Mr E. Sands Avas referee.

The Weraroa seniors on Saturday elected H. Bull captain and J. McLennan vice-captain, for the season.

JUNIORS.

SHANNON v. WERAROA.

The first junior gam3 of the Horowhenua Rugby Union’s 1929 competitions to be played at Shannon took place on Saturday afternoon at the Domain, in the presence of a small attendance of the public. During the first spell and nearly half way through the second spell, honours Avere even, but- after this Weraroa (ivho played only 14 men), faded and Shannon finished up Avith a victory by 23 points to 9. By their play both teams showed that they have the material to field good teams as the competition progresses, each side having some very promising players. From the kick-off Weraroa by forAvard play quickly compelled Shannon to force. This was followed up by Shannon Avorking back to just over the half-Avay where from a free kick Mason converted and thus drew first blood;. Shannon Avere now doing most of the attacking but a dribbling rush headed by Walton ended in Shannon being penalised, Avith the result that Webb was able to equalise the score. Then a free kick came to Shannon inside Weraroa’s territory and once again Mason placed his team in the lead. Shortly after Lee, who Avas playing well, got possession, and after a short run sent the ball on to. Judo, who scored. Mason failed to increase the pcore. Weraroa uoav placed Shannon bn the defensive dribbling through to the line only to be forced. They came again, but a long kick by Birchall sent play to half-way. The spell ended: Shannon 9, Weraroa 3. On resuming Weraroa, by forward play,' worked down to -Shannon’s line, where from a scrum Weraroa’s half, Webb, got the ball and dived across, scoring near the corner. He took the kick, but failed to convert. The home team sent play to Weraroa’s line, but a dribbling rush by the latter carried the ballover the half-way line, Mabey (.the full-back) saving by kicking into 'touch. Following the line out Rumble secured a mark and having a shot at goal was successful in piloting it between the uprights, thus making the score nine all. For a time there was a lively exchange of attacks b} r both sides, tin til, from a serum a Shannon player getting the ball kicked to Weraroa.’s full-back, but Newman, with a great burst of speed raced up and gathered in the ball and having, a clear run to the line scored. Mason failed to vonyert. Shortly after Ncavman again went Avithin an ace of scoring, losing the ball on the line. Shan-, non Avere now haAdng the best of it and from a serum in the front of Weraroa’s gjoal McEwdn attempted to goal from the field, the ball striking one of the uprights. A scramble near the line followed, resulting in Thorn adding a try for Shannon, which Arms not converted. From a line out the ball travelled out to Mason, who ran across, the field, where he passed to Newman, Avho outpacing the opposition, scored a good try. Mason was successful in adding the extra points. Shannon, by a dribbling rush down the field, ended in Puti gathering up Die leather and adding another try. The whistle sounded shortly afterwards with the score Shannon 23, Weraroa 9. Mr T. Kohika controlled the game.