THIRD GRADE.

Shannon News, 6 August 1929, Page 3

THIRD GRADE.

THIRD GRADE CHAMPIONSHIP PINAL. WERAROA DEFEAT TOKOMARU IN SECOND SPELL. An attractive exposition of Rugby was given at Prouse's Paddock, Levin, on Saturday afternoon, when the Weraroa and Tokomaru third grade teams met in the final for the championship, the result being a win for the former players by the narrow margin of two points over their heavier opponents. The match took place i;: the presence of quite a fair number ot spectators. The teams were as follows: —Weraroa (white and black). —Full-back, Roe; three-quarters, Bishop, Trueman, Galloway; five-eighths, Biggs, Store; half, Taylor; forwards, Butler (captainwing), Williams, Denton, Mr.key, Bignail, Bateman, Roberts, Procter. Tokomaru (red and black). —Fullback, Williams; three-quarters, Peach. Woodfield, Sherman (captain); fiveeighths, Jack Young, Jim Young; half. Walden; forwards, Stoodley (wing), Free, Matthews, Bennett, Walker, Guy, Sadd.

The visiting team kicked off, Weraroa defending the north end. Through the efforts of Tokomaru backs, play immediately took place in Weraroa territory and one of the Youngs had a shot at goal from the twenty-five', but missed. The whites commenced to press, but good line kicking by the visiting full-back restored play to quar-ter-way. The attack by reds was conbut a bad pass by one of them lost the side an otherwise certain try. Play now alternated for a while. Butler," captain of the local side, received an injury to the knee and had to be carried off, Grace coming on. A free kick taken by,Store, we'll out, did not register any points for Weraroa. The reds, by judicious line-kicking, repelled an invasion and carried play to the other end of the field. A good, solo effort by Roberts took play to the neighbourhood of Tokomaru's goal. Store marked and had a shot, but again missed. The reds' back division were playing a nice, open game; their five-eights were nippy, and, passing well, transferred play to the opposite end, The local forwards gradually worked their way downfield, but the ' Tokomaru backs returned to the attack by means of well timed passing rushes. Weak tackling by the home backs allowed the visitors to reach a position close in front of the goal, where Jack- Young marked and made no mistake with the kick. Tokomar-i 3, Weraroa 0. The reds were quickly invading again, through the.efforts of their backs; and a passing rush resulted in Jim Young obtaining a try. He was unsuccessful with the kick. Tokomaru 6, Weraroa 0.

The whites made a bid for fame prematurely, as they were sent back to their quarters through a solo run by an opposing five-eights, but Roc was ready for him and prevented a score. Half-time sounded with whites pressing reds in the latter's twenty-five. Up to this stage the Weraroa forwards had been trying to make the game open, instead of concentrating, and it turned out that the visiting backs were clever enough to throw the ball about greatly to their own advantage. Both sides had had a fair share of the ball, but later in the game Weraroa did not throw away so many chances.

With the resumption of the game, the white forwards took play to their opponents' end, resulting in a Tokomaru force-down. Play hovered about the visitors' twenty-five, where a free kick to Weraroa was taken by Higgs, who failed to find the goal. Continuing their aggressive tactics, the home forwards manoeuvred play to a position right in front of the goal, where a melee ensued, from which Higgs secured a try. Store easily converted. Tokomaru 6, Weraroa 5.

At this stage, the Weraroa forwards were playing a decidedly improved game, following the ball up fast, smothering Tokomaru 's inside backs, and stemming passing rushes. A free kick was taken by Higgs, of Weraroa, but the ball hit the post and rebounded into play. Tokomaru made an incursion, but were sent back to their line and had to force. Higgs' foot was still yearning for a goal, and he had a shot from the field, but again without success. As a result of punting into touch, Tokomaru returned to the opposite twenty-five. . A free kick relieved Weraroa, and their forwards renewed the attack. By good play among the backs, Tokomaru resumed an •aggressive position, and, through the mulling of the ball by a Weraroa back, Jim Young was able to score a spectacular try. He also took the kick, but did not goal. Tokomaru 9, Weraroa 5.

During an invasion by the reds, ■.Tin's Young took- a mark inside Weraroa's twenty-five, but his kick at goal was profitless. Galloway relieved to .the touch-line at the twenty-five. The visitors were putting some more vim into their play, and this resulted in Weraroa forcing. Play was next in the region of half-way, until Eoberts got away witli a dribbling rush. A race with a Tokomaru man ensued, which resulted in a win for Eoberts, who scored wide out, having run practically from half-way—a capital effort. The kick was disallowed owing to an infringement. Tokomaru 9>, Weroroa 8.

Prom the kick-off Tokomaru took play down field, but a free kick gave Weraroa relief and they followed their advantage into the reds' territory, where a free kick was taken by Store, well out, which resulted in a goal. Weraroa 11, Tokomaru !). The whites again applied the pressure, Tokomaru defending hard. Grace had a drop-kick from the field, but no score came of it. A further attack by Weraroa caused the visitors to force.

Then Tokomaru, by relying on the touch-line, worked back to half-way. The Weraroa forwards again attacked; Roberts followed fast on the ball, but was beaten by the visitors' full-back, unci Tokomaru forced down. The whites continued the pressure and had the reds defending when time was called. Weraroa 11, Tokomaru ,6. Mr IT. llend controlled the match.

The home team played a greatly improved game in the 2nd spell, their forwards following up well and not giving the opposing rearguard much chance to open up their game. The whites were pretty even, as a team. Roe, their full-back, played a nice, cool game, and repeatedly saved his side by skilful line-kicking. Galloway, Higgs and Roberts were very prominment among the other home , players. The coach, Mr H. Bolton, received congratulations on all hands upon the flue display put up by his tea?n. The' most conspicuous of the Tokomaru men were the two brothers Young, who played five-eighths; in the first spell they were thorns in the side of Weraroa, but in the second half the home forwards were more alert in anticipating the movements of the pair and did not allow them to open up'the play to the extent that they had done in the first spell; generally speaking, the Y r oungs formed the pivot of the Tokomaru' side. The visiting team showed an excellent sporting spirit in "chairing" the winners off the ground in recognition of their achievement. REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. . The fixtures and referees for this week in the Horowhenua Rugby district are as under: — Wednesday, August 7th.—Bush v. Horowhenua, third grade, at Levin; Mr E Bevan. Saturday, August 10th. —Senior: Nash Cup—Wanderers v, Foxton, at Foxton, Mr. P. ; McLeavey. Otaki v. Shannon, at Shannon, Mr J. Smith. Junior: North v. South, at Levin, ar 2.30 p.m.| Mr T. Parata. Schools '—Primary Reps., Horowhenua v. Wellington, at Levin, at 1.30 p.m.; Mr J. O'Connor. COMING EVENTS. 'The Bush third-grade rep. team are to meet the Horowhenua Thirds on the Park Domain, 1 Levin, on Wednesday, at 2.45 p.m. The North v. South junior trial match will take place on the Domain on Saturday. As a cvu'tain-raijser at 1.30 p.m., the Wellington and Horowhenua primary schools' reps, will be engaged. JUNIOR TEST TEAMS. NORTH v. SOUTH. ,- The following is the northern junior team to play south at Levin on Saturday next, at 2.50 p.m.: — Full-back, Mabey (Shn); threequarters, Croon (Fxtn), Huff (Fxtn), Newman (Shn); five-eighths, Saxon (Shn), Stevenson (Fxtn); half, Hirini (Wand.); forwards, McCorkindale (Fxtn.) (wing), Lankshear (Shn.), Whyman (Wand.), Jude (Shn.), Anderson (Fxtn.), Taylor (Wer.), Ward (Wer.), Ngatuma (Shn). Reserves: Backs—Hartley (Fxtn.), Davis (Wand.); forwards—Curran (Shn.), McGregor (Fxtn). Colours: Green and white. The team will assemble at 2 p.m. at the Levin Post Office.

The South team has been picked as follows: —

Full-back—Howe (Wlaikanae). Three-quarters—Cray (Waik.), Atkins (Hui Mai), Mora (Otaki). Five-eighths—Matera (Ot.), Mcrwood (Ot.). Half—A,. Smith (Waik.)

Forwards—Moore (H.M.), Bowling (H.M.), Kyder (Ot.), Roach (Waik.). McDonald (Ot.), Fafeita (Ot.), Sinkinson (Ot.), F. Smith (Waik.) Reserves: Backs—Flutey (Ot.), WeHipeihana (H.M.), McLeavey (Ot,), Forwards—Edgin ten (Waik.), Davis (Waik.).

PRIMARY SCHOOLS. On Saturday morning, representatives from the primary schools of the northern end played the representatives of those of the southern end, the game resulting in .a win for the South by six points to three. After tne match the representative team v.'as chosen, and another game, lepvcsentatires v. the rest was played, resulting in a win for the representatives by nine poiiits to three.

HOROWHENUA SCHOOLS' TEAM.

The Horowhenua nrimary schools' Rugby team to play Wellington schools, at Levin on Saturday, prior, to the Noith v. South junior trial match, has been selected as follows: —

Full-back —Xicolson (Otaki). Throe-quarters —Tamahana (Ohau), Utiku (Ut.), McEwau (Shan.). Five-eighths —George (capt.) (Ohau), Webster (Ot.). Half—Hogg (Ohau). Forwards—Hunter (Lvn.), Picard (Shan.), Kingsbeer (Lvn.), Croon (Foxton), Mason (Shan.), Devonshire (Fox .), Brown (Ohau), F. Easton (Fox.). Reserves: Walls (Fox.), Ellison (Ohau). I. Easton (Shan.), Bills (Fox.).