THIRD GRADE RUGBY REPS.

Shannon News, 9 August 1929, Page 4

THIRD GRADE RUGBY REPS.

HOROWHENUA DEFEAT BUSH BY 16 POINTS TO 5.

CREDITABLE FOJfcM DISPLAYED

The Rugby contest on the Levin Park Domain Wednesday between the ‘third grade representative teams of Horowhenua and Bush provided an attractive display, which ended in a victory for the home side by four trie’s (two converted) to a converted try. On the appearance of the teams when taking the field, 'the visitors might have been expected to realise a much larger score than they did, as they were a fairly' solid looking lot. They were fast, but the tackling by the Horowhenua forwards was superior; their backs were more sure of their intentions, and in the long run combination won the day. One result of the contest is to shoAv that this district has much fine material in the lesser grades, which should act as a valuable feeder to the depleted seniors in .coming seasons. The match was witnessed by a somewhat sparse attendance of the public. The team Were as follows: —

Horowhenua (red and blue). —Fullback, Mabey; three-quarters, G. Hirini, Store, G. Young; five-eighths, J. Young, Higgs; half, Coley;- forwards, Galloway (wing), Bennett, Denton, Bignall, Bateman, Matthews, Huffman, Richards.

Bush (all black). —Full-back, Bentley; three-quarters, J. Mills, Mitchell, R. Mills; five-eighths, Sievers, Wolland; half, Fergus; forwards, Spring (wing), Moore, Kingshott, Richardson, Beagle, Tatarangi, Smith, Futcher. During the first spell J. Mills and Sievers exchanged places.

The weather was overcast, and the ground a little on the heavy side. Bush kicked off from the western end and dribbled to touch at the twenty-five. Their backs kept the ball on the move, and the pack reached the corner, where a score appeared probable, but the ball was carried over the touch line. J?iom the line out it went through the ranks of the local backs, and a force-down resulted. Short-punting, followed by passing, took the reds down-field- until they were near their opponents’ goal, but a well-timed kick enabled Bush, to invade again. Horowhenua returned the compliment, punting vigorously; a promising passing rush among their backs ended in the ball going out. at their opponents’ twenty-five. A visit to midfield was followed by a scramble in front of the blacks’ goal,, whore their defence was sound. Their position was eased through a penalty against Horowhenua for a forwaid pass, and for a while there was some tight play in midfield. Nice handling by the three-quarter line was the means of the home team invading again. Hirini had a shot at the goal, but did not find it. Both sides wore warming up, and play of a fast nature took place in the Bush half of the .field. J. Young tried to pot, but without success. After having been on the defensive for quite a while, the blacks broke through by sending the ball low and were shortly inside the Horowhenua quarter. . Here the forwards engaged in a head-to-head contest, and just as the ball came into the open, Wolland, one of the Bush five-eighths, secured it, and, with two opponents hanging on to him, scored alongside the goal. Sievers easily converted. Bush 5, Horowhenua 0. The reds increased their speed and made a strong bid for an opening. After a line-out Higgs took a pass, but. was grounded a few yards from his objective. The Bush line was again threatened, but the dribbling game was resorted to with much effect, and play .was thus transferred to the other end of the field. The reds returned with the ball at the toe; they steered it away from the touch-line, and caught Bush napping, Jack Young picking up in the loose and running over, to score with only one man opposing him. Store added the goal. Horowhenua 5, Bush

.The blacks invaded from the kickoff,' after which there were several exchanges of punting. Higgs booted it far enough to put Ilorowhenua once more in a handy position. Some strenuous scrums ensued not far from the Bush goal. The ball came out to Hirini, but he was pushed into touch near the scoring area. Further scrambling took place; Store sent the ball to Hirini, but the latter went down to a tackle when close to hi 3 objective, after which Bush found it advisable to force. Their backs did some good combined work, which the forwards continued, but the effort was short-lived, the reds punting and 'dribbling until they were engaged in a five-yard scrum. Higgs kicked the ball ovc* the line and followed up, but was beaten by two opposing players and a force-down resulted. Ilorowhenua came again, relying on short, low kicks, and Hirini looked like scoring, but was brought down alongside the goal before he could ground the ball. Just afterwards, when play had receded a few yards, B.ignall scooped the ball out of the ruck and scored on the side of the goal opposite that where Hirini had made his attempt. Store sent it over the bar. Ilorowhenua 10, Bush 5.

Ten minutes of the spell remained, and the reds went to work again with a will, a dribbling rush taking them inside the twenty-five, where some scrambling took place. Hirini made a solo effort, but after a smart run was brought to earth near the line. Mabey was unsuccessful with a shot at goal from the field. The reds attacked again and went in for a number of line-kicks, gradually improving their position. Their backs were passing with a fair amount of precision, and from one of these transfers Hirini obtained possession ,and scored practically on his own, well out. Store took the kick,

but did not increase the points. Ilorowhenua 13, Bush 5. An invasion by the reds took them well up the field, and then half-time sounded.

On the resumption of play, Jack Young and Hirini were prominent in a passing rush which caused play to be taken well up towards the blacks’ corner. Coley took a pass and made

a dash for the line, but was pushed out. Bush were penned up for a timq, till their forwards managed to work the ball out and follow it to midfield. The local back division handled it freely,. but their movement ended disappointingly owing to the ball being eventually thrown where there was no one to receive it. The blacks put on a rush, but Horowhenua’s full-back saved well and opened the way for another attack by his side. Jack Young and Store initiated a passing movement, which was carried on by two others, but as on a former occasion the line of communications broke down. Bush were being kept largely on the

defensive at this stage, however. A free kick gave them some relief, but the leather was passed about pretty among the home backs.

Dribbling followed, and Galloway cleverly picked up from a low shot and gained a try with an opponent on his back. Store just missed the goal. Horoivhenua 16, Bush 5. The visiting team were again put on the defensive. Their full back, Bentley, a light chap, was playing a neat game and making very few errors with his marks. He held the invaders back by means of a long kick, but this just missed the touch-line, and the reds

made another incursion, in the course of which they came very near to scoring After blacks’ line had been several times threatened, they obtained a breather through the advent of a penalty kick, and a few exchanges over half-way, took place. .Bush, 'gained ground by footwork among the for-

wards, but the red backs presented a formidable proposition. The latter gave some exhibitions of passing that raised, hopes of a display of regular chain work, but failed to connect up with the forwards. Busli made an at-

tempt to wear down the opposition and began to play a closer game, but the other side were quick with their feet, and time and again the ball was sent back over the blacks’ heads. Once Bush broke through the opposition and were within striking distance, but the opposing backs succeeded in closing up on them and made the proceedings int» a tussle. The attackers were drive a out mainly through the efforts of Store, who picked up from in front of the goal and started a passing rush, which gave way to punting that carried play to the other half of the field. _ Bush made another incursion, keeping the ball low, but Ilorowhenua replied with similar tactics and regained the lost ground. Two subsequent attacks by the visitors showed that they were all out to lessen their opponents’ margin of points. They dribbled right down to the end, but the ball went into neutral territory. Some strenuous play in midfield was followed by a. red invasion, which was nullified by a knockon. Play was up and down the field for a few minutes, then the local men were engaged in a stern contest with the blacks near the latter’s line. Higgs passed to Jack Young, who sent the ball on to a player who lost it, and just

afterwards time was sounded, with the scores: Ilorowhenua 16, Bush 5.

Mr E. Bevan gave every satisfaction as referee.