SENIOR RUGBY.

Shannon News, 23 July 1929, Page 3

SENIOR RUGBY.

WANDERERS DEFEAT SHANNON.

The above teams met on the Shannon Domain on Saturday in the presence of ' a good attendance of specta tors. 'The game, taken as. a whole, Was very -ragged, particularly in the early'stages of the second .half. On the day the visitors were easily the best team and emerged from the contest winners bv 17 points to 6. Shannon, for the first twenty minutes ol the game, played only fourten men, when Picard arrived and relieved Gray at full back, the latter going up to the three-quarter line. The team played a long way below their v usual game, the backs, who were continually‘“out,of position, being outclassed by their opponents, while it was not until half way through the second half that the forwards showed any combination Thefollowing is the personnel o.t the two teams: — , Shannon. —Full-back, Picard; threequarters, Robbie, McKenzie, 5 five-eighths, Roberts, Wall; half,- Good'win; wing forward, L. Dalzell; foiwards, Pratt. Robbie, Hanna, Satherley, Fitzgerald, Payne. Williams. Wanderers.—Full back, Ryder; threequarters, C. Graham, S. Graham, Bryant; five-eighths, T. Parata, Webber; half, W. Parata; wing forward, McDonnell; /forwards, Haeremai, Udy, McDonald, C. Skilton, Tatana, R. Shilton, Knox. The Reds, playing against the sun, set the ball in motion and carried play into Black' territory, where the latter wei*e penalised for off-side. Hanna failed to open Shannon’s account. Then the Blacks, per medium of Ryder, transferred the contest to the other end: of the field, from where W. Parata by a long pass to S. Graham enabled the latter to draw first blood owing to the Shannon backs being out of position. Tatana failed to increase the score.

Wanderers 3, Shannon nil,

The visitors continued to press, dur

ing which from a penalty they were unsuccessful in adding to their score ’ A Bed rush headed by McKenzie carried play to near half way, where T. Parata picked up and after recovering a lot of ground, transferred to S. Graham, who after a short sprint passed to Bryant, who had a clear run in to score just outside the posts. Tatana . failed to convert. Wanderers 6, Shannon nil.

At this juncture Picard took his place with the Beds, who had been playing only fourteen men. He signalled his appearance by an unlucky penalty kick at goal, the ball striking the post and rebounding .buck. Satherley made a dive for the ball, but an opponent beat him for it and once more the visitors became aggressive and Picard failing to take the ball, allowed the Blacks to reach the home team’s line, where from a scrum W. Parata got the ball and sent it out among the backs. S. Graham, with another clear run in, scored, McDonnell converting Wanderers 11, Shannon nil. Reds now took a turn at attacking in which W. Gray, after a short sprint passed to Wall, who raced for the line with Ryder in pursuit, scoring gs the latter reached him. Wanderers 11, Shannon 3.

The Black rearguard, in a fine passing movement, again had Reds on the defensive, {Bryant being pushe'd out near the corner flag, Reds worked them back over the 25 mark, where a penalty to Blacks saw C. Skilton successful in adding a lucky thre points, the ball striking the bar and rolling over, With play at half way the spell ended with the score standing—- , . Wanderers 14, Shannon 3.

Very ragged play marked the opening/of {he second half, during which, although Reds were the aggressors, they showed lack of combination. Finally, however, reward came to. them when from a scrum Goodwin sent the ball to Roberts, who scored. Hanna took the'kick but failed to raise the ball from the ground. Wanderers 14, Shannon 6.

N On the ball going into play a penalty to Blacks saw C. Skilton make a S good attempt to place the ball between the uprights. The Red forwards now combined better, and for a while kept the visitors busy defending their rush.v es. Picard essayed to field a goal from just inside the half way line, the ball going just outside the post. Then a forward rush by the Blacks carried play * ’ to the Red line, where from a five yards

scrum T. Parata added a further try. Skilton failed with the kick. Wanderers 17, Shannon 6 After play had hovered around midfield for some time the Graham Bros and Webber,, by an exchange of passes, reached the Red line, where from a scrum Walls was compelled to force. They continued to press until Roberts and Hanna returned play to the other ed, but Blacks came again, Graham and W. Parata reaching the 25 flag before being pulled up. Then Robbie (forward) got possession and gained quite a lot of ground before he passed to Roberts, who sprinted down field, but was overhauled by Bryant. The Reds continued to attack until the visiting forwards broke through with a forward rush, Goodwin saving by marking. A fine parsing movement between the Graham Bros, ended in the younger one being pushd out near the line. From a five yards scrum Reds worked back to half way when time was called. Mr McLeavey controlled the game.