BEBBINGTON SHIELD MATCH.

Shannon News, 16 July 1929, Page 3

BEBBINGTON SHIELD MATCH.

BUSH DEFEAT HOROWHENUA.

BY TWO PENALTY GOALS TO UNCONVERTED TRY.

The Bebbington Shield match between Horowhenua reps, (holders) and Bush representatives (challengers) was played at Foxton on Saturday afte"noon and resulted in a win for the challengers by 6 poiuts (two penalty gbals) to 3 (an unconverted try). Rain fell throughout the game, making the oall difficult to handle, but the ground was in good order. There was a good attendance of spectators including a large number from the Pahiatua district.

The. teams lined out as follows: —

Horowhenua: Johnson, Robinson, Graham, Taylor, Be van, Stevenson, Parata, iPratt, Andrews, McDonald, Tataha, Dalziell, Satherley, McDonnell and Moses.

Bush: Stevenson, Harris, Tait, Wolland, Bidell, Udy, Wright, Mahey, H. Udy, Moynahan, McKay, Henderson, Ralfe, Kindalland J. Ga.lvin. Bush became aggressive from tha •start and Taylor saved/ a Bush onslaught into home territory with a speculator. Johnson, Horowhenua full-back, broke through to the centre but hung pn too long to push the opening, and play was taker, to Horowhenua territory where an off-side infringement enabled Udy to goal within five minutes of the opening, putting Bush 3 up. Horowhenua attacked and a Bush off-side infringement gave Taylor an opportunity to equalise but the kick fell short . Stevenson saved a Bush mass onslaught and Taylor transferred the venue by a well-judged kick to Bu?h territory, where Tatana faile.l with a penalty kick, the ball striking •the post. Bush were getting tire best of the scrums and worked play down to Horowhenua's territory where an off-side penalty enabled Udy to send the oval over. Bush 6—Horowhenua nil. Horowhenua now pulled themselves together and Gregory saved a dangerous Horowhenua onslaught and /Tayloi"found the ball too heavy in another attempt from a penalty. Henderson, Bidell and Udy worked play to centre and for a time give and take play ensued. Time and again the ball wad >sent out to the home backs but was <mishandl3d. McDonald and Dalziell got away, the latter short punted and a scramble ensued on the Bush lins, but Udy saved the situation by a welljudged kick. Johnson came back with a strong run but delayed in the transfer transferred to centre. Bidell fast following his kick compelled Horowhenua to force. Horowhenua were on the defence when half time sounded. . ■

Horowhenua livened up in the second spell and taxed the Bush defence to its utmost. Wolland found the line in the home 25, and from a pass across field Harris was pushed out in the corner. Horowhenua charged down and Stevenson carried on, but his kick resulted in Bush forcing down. Bush were kept on the defensive and Udy /eased the pressure. A spectacular passing rush by Horowhenua in which Stevenson, Taylor : Robirson and Gratarn were prominent, taxed the Bus4i defence to its utmost. Horowhenua was knocking at the challenger's door, but were beaten by the slippery ball. Taylor had a shot at goal from a penalty, but the ball hit the post. Play was now very willing and exciting. Johnson ean-.e away with a dodgy run and transferred to Robinson who was pushed out. Moses, Taylor, Graham and Parata vainly tried to ttenetvate Bush defence. The home attack continued and Taylor securing transferred to Stevenson, to Robinson, who crossed well out. Taylor failed with the kick —Horowhenua 3—Bush 6. Horowhenua, with shock tactics forced Bush down to striking distance but the greasy ball robbed the home backs on three occasions of splendid scoring 'chances. Excepting for a brief interval, Horowhenua had Bush pinned, bu» the defence held and the game ended without further score.

IThe challengers, both fore and aft, put up. a stubborn fight and a splendid defence and deserved the win.