RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 30 July 1929, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL.

WANDERERS 11, FOXTON 8,

The/final of the Horowhenua District Rugby Council'3 senior championship competition, took place on the Levin Domain on Saturday afternoon, when

in the presence of the largest crowd ot spectators seen at a game at Levin this season, Wanderers defeated Foxton by 11 points to 8, the winning try being scored right on the call of time. The

game throughout was fast and keeni} contested, neither side giving a let-up. The first spell ended with Wanderers leading by eight to nil, but early in the second half Foxton showed that they were going to be hard and amids. great excitement were able to draw level, and with only ten minutes to go, a great struggle ensued for supremacy, in which both sides launched attacks. Wanderers finally being successful in securing the victory. The game was the best seen in Levin this

season, both rearguards -gave a bright exhibition of handling the ball, while both sets of forwards did all that was required of them. In the closing stages the crowd was raised to a high pitch of excitement. Folowing was the personnel of the teams: — Wanderers (black) .—Full-back, Ry-

der; three-quarters Bryant, 8. Graham, B. Graham; five-eighths, T. Parata, Webber; half, W. Parata; wing forward, Ransfield; forwards, Udy, Heremaia, McDonald, Tatana, McDonnell, G. Skilton, Knox. . Foxton (yellow): —Full-back, Hirim; three-quarters, Robinson, Procter, Taylor; five-eighths, Moses, Stevenson; half, Hartley; wing forward, Huff; forwards, Andrews, Carter, Renata, Harrison, Hindu, Pine, H. McGregor. From the kick-off Wanderers went to the attack and first B. Graham and then W. Parata tried to break through the defence, a blind pass from the lat-

ter spoiling a likely chance to, score. The visitors worked back to half way where Ryder by a good kick returned to the Yellows' territory where an attack was set up on the latter's line, a free kick enabling Taylor to clear and faßt following up by Yellows the play travelled to the other end. Blacks, by a dribbling rush, again returned to the comer flag, where from a line out the ball went out along-the line of the Blacks' backs to Bryant, who scored. Skilton failed to obtain the extra points. Wanderers 3, Foxton nil. The visitors now took a turn at at-

tack and for a while the Blacks were kept busy holding them. Securing the ball from a scrum W. Parata sent his ■ backs away, the movement transferringplay into Foxton's territory. Then Moses, Robinson and Andrews broke away with the ball at their toe and dribbled to centre. Each side were nQTv endeavouring to open up play. Finally Bryant, put in a fine bit of play, when he -got' possession and racing down the field with no support, on reaching Hi-

rini, at full back, short punted ana dribbled to the line, beating Stevenson in a race for the ball to score. Me-

Donnell converting. Wanderers 8, Poxton nil. Again Blacks were aggressive, but a free kick to Yellows allowed them to clear and Andrews following up, dribbled into Black' 25, Ryder having to kick to touch to save. Once more play

travelled up and down as a result of forward rushes. A free kick in Yellows' 25 by Taylor sent the ball to. Bryant, who set off accompanied by W. Parata and S. Graham, the latter being overhauled in Yellows' 25. Tatana carrying qn by dribbling to the line,

where Stevenson beat him to the ball and forced. Shortly after Procter put in a good sprint down the line, the result of which put Blacks on the defensive and they were compelled to force. Prom nearly half way Taylor had an unsuccessful try to goal. Poxton, came again and Robinson following up his kick, was beaten by S. Graham, who forced. A very determined effort was

now being made by Foxton to get through, but the Blacks' defence wafc too sound and finally the latter got the ball out among their backs who carried it to Poxton's line where Hirini secured and running back, kicked te the line just inside the flag and saved. The swell ended soon after with.Poxton pressing. Hindu, who injured his shoulder', was replaced by J. McGregor in the second half. On resuming, a man being in front, a Bcrum followed from which Parata opened up play among his backs, but a breach_pulled them up before they had

got far. Soon after Tatana had an unsuccessful try to goal. An exchange of kicks followed, ending in an advantage to Poxton. Prom a scrum Robinson, Moses and Hartley, in a good movement, reached Blacks' line, where the latter lost the ball.. Poxton now set up a great fight to get over, but ai&er several serums round about the line, Knox cleared and the Blacks returned to Yellows' 25, placing the latter on the defensive A penalty, however, saw Taylor clear and Procter and Harrison following \ip, carried) play back to Blacks' 25, where the latt.T • were penalised for a man lying on the ball, Hirini safely conveying the ball between the uprights. Wanderers 8, Poxton 3. . Spurred on by their score Poxton came again, but fine line kicking by Ryder prevented them gaining much wound. Then play was up and down the field, on one occasion Procter being p4ed out at the corner flag Prom a . Sum that followed soon after Hartley got the ball and sent out to his ' back After travelling along the whole line the ball leached Robinson, who amidst great excitement, scored. TayiZ adding the extra points, making he scorf eight all. With only ten minutes to go feelings now ran fcigh - and both teams, urged on by their supporters, were putting up a gient - fiJht In a Black attack in their op- ***^ h %^&£.

saw McDonnell miss an easy one. Soon after Robinson and Procter made a good attempt to get over, .but their opponents' tackling was too sure. Foxton wecre now making a big bid for honours, the backs handling the ball in >great style, but Blacks were equal to the occasion and finally they got possession of the ball and by a passing movement removed play into Foxton's 25, where S. Graham getting the ball, sent it on to the speedy Bryant, who raced across to score the championship try. McDonnell failed to convert.

Mr O'Connor had charge of the game.

AUSTIN BANNER.

In the Austin Banner competition for primary schools Shannon played Ohau at Shannon. The game ended in a draw. The Shannon boys were con siderably smaller than their opponents from Ohau, but in spite of this they kept Ohau on the defensive until the last few minutes, when Ohau missed a chance of goaling a penalty, the ball striking the crossbar and rebounding into play. :.j <M3*L:-

LEVIN DEFEAT FOXTON,

On Saturday, the Foxton and Leviu school teams met in the Austin Banner competition. The "game was played on the Weraroa ground and Mr Connor held the whistle. Foxton won the -toss and kicked off on a heavy ground. The Levin forward? kept the ball in close play and after ten minutes succeeded in carrying th« play into the Foxton twenty-five, where from a line-out the ball was given to Kingsbeer, who succeeded in scoring—the kick failed. Levin 3—Foxton 0. Levin had the best of the remainder of the spell and kept play down field, pressing their opponents hard. The second half saw most of the play in the Levin half. Foxton hammered away at their opponents' line, but never crossed it, the match ending—Levin 3, Foxton nil. At the morning tea held in the Levin school Mr McDonald paid a compliment to Foxton in stating that the Foxton sehool bad done much to raise the standard of school football in the district, and he hoped that that standard would still further improve. On behalf of Foxton Mr Procter replied that such a standard as had been attained wtfs certainly due also to the interest which Levin had taken and also to Mr McDonald, who had been untiring in his onerous duties as secretary. The reception closed with an exchange of cheers between the teams and expression of .gratitude to Mr McDonald and to those who weie responsible for the morning tea.

FOXTON THE PREMIER TEAM. The Ohau team which was two points behind Foxton played a drawn ■game agaiiut Shannon at Shannon on Saturday. The competition thus closes with honours to Foxton who are one point ahead.

THIRD-CLASS EEPS. SELECTED. The following team has been selected by Mr H. Bolton to represent Horo"whenua lll'v. Bush 111., at Levin, on Wednesday, 7th August, at 2.45 p.m.: Mabey (Shn.) G. Hirini (Fxn), Store (Wcr.), G. Young (Toko.) J. Young (Toko.), Higgs (Wcr.) Coley (Foxton).

Butler (Wer.) Bennett U'ok.o)., Denton (Wer.) Bignall (Wer.) Bateman. (Wer.), Matthews (Toko.) Huffman (Pxtn),' Richards (Shn.) Reserves: Forwards—McCarthy (Poxton), Galloway (Weraroa). Backs—Taylor (Weraroa), Sherman (Tokomaru). The team will assemble at Levin Domain at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 7th August. ________