RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 3 September 1929, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS. JUNIOR REP. MATCH. Wellington 14 v. Manawhenua 9. SENIOR—NASH CUP. Wanderers 8 v. Otaki 1 3. Hui Mai won from Foxton by default. NASH CUP POINTS.

JUNIOR REPS. WELLINGTON DEFEAT MANA WHENUA.

The junior rep. match between Wellington and Manawhenua was played on the Park Domain, Levin, on Saturday, in beautifully fine weather, but on a hard ground. There were about three hundred spectators. The game ended in favour of the visiting team, but towards the end of it the issue was in doubt K as they were only leading by 11 points to 9 and the local men were then making ,the contest very willing. The final assault, however, was by the city men and it carried the day just on the call of time, increasing the Wellington points to 14 by means of' a try. The teams lined out as follows:

Wellington (black). —Full-back, Currie; three-quarters, Jessop, O’Connor, Brown (captain); fiv-eighths, Griffiths Coekerill; half, Hislop; forwards, Howard (wing), Crichton, J. Wright, Pickard, Fox, Hull, Carlyo.n, M. Wright. Manawhenua (blue and red). —Fullback, McKay; three-quarters, Croon, Atkins (captain), Moffatt; five-eighths, McEwan, O’Keefe; half, Hirini; forwards, Shearman (wing), Nesbit, Moore, Jude, Comber, Lee, Taylor, Lankshear. The visiting team kicked off from, the eastern end, and the early stages were somewhat slow while the respective sides were sparring for an opening. The Wellington backs were prominent almost from the start, effecting some good .saves and showing scientific combination. The first incursion of note came from an opening by Jessop, following by a dribbling rush ivhich threatened the blues’ line, the ball going into touch near the corner. Following a couple of scrums, Manawhenua carried the ball back over the line. After another scrum Croon and then Comber cleared, shifting play to midfield. The blacks threw the ball about avell, but it eventually found its .way into the opposing back division, ' and. some exchanges in the way of long punting ensued. Hirini, who played a nippy game at half for the home team, diverted the ball when it was sailing for the touch-line and returned it up the field . McKay increased the advantage from a penalty kick and brought his side within striking distance of the line, ’but the blacks repelled the attack by a combined rush. •Continuing the movement they had the blues on the defensive for a while. The home backs got in a piece of creditable passing - , the ball travelling very speedily, but when Atkins was in possession he was pushed out. The blacks forwards worked the ball with their feet in an endeavour to make a break through, but the defences held, and play travelled to the opposite touchline, after which McKay booted well up-field. The Manawhenua pack were quickly on it, and Taylor, outstripping the others, went across the line, and, staving off a challenge by the Wellington full-back, got possession and scored well over. Hirini, kicking with the left foot and from the left side of the goal, failed to convert. Manawhenua 3, Wellington 0. Shortly afterwards the blues reached their opponents’ quarter, and Hirini essayed a run with the ball. He was grounded by Jessop, and falling on a patch of dried mud, hurt his head somewhat, but after a minute or two wag able to resume play. Indecisive operations on cither side of half-waj followed, until Moffatt up the leather during an advance by Manawhenua and attempted a solo dash for the line, an effort which ended against a stonewall of black opposition. The blues renewed the attack, but a free kick relieved Welltogtoii to 35 yards. Jessop and Griffith^commenced a passing movement which helped the blacks to invade. Manawhenua were penalised for off-side play in a scrum, and Currie, from just inside half-way, had a shot, which fell a little short of the goal. The blues returned to the attack, and one of their number had a shot from the field, but the ball went low to the side and Wellington forced. After a period of midfield play, the blacks reached a position near their opponents’ line. A scramble took place there and the ball was carried back, a scrum resulting. From the

ensuing melee, Brown snapped it' up and shot over. Currie took the kick, from a wide angle, and missed. Wellington 3, Manawhenua 3. Wellington were again prominent in attack, and the ball was- kicked over the line, but in the subsequent rush it was knocked on. In a second attempt the visitors were more successful, Crichton following through from a scrum and scoring in the corner. Brown’s kick did not reach the goa l . Wellington 6, Manawhenua 3. In the remaining ten, minutes of the spell, the visitors were mainly on the aggressive. Co.ckerill obtained ' pos- • session after another of his side had ! been grassed, and he crossed the line, but in the hands of several opponents he was unable to score; Although playing with fhe descending sun in' their eyes in the second spell, Manawhenua made things lively and gave evidence of more combination than had marked their werk in the, first half. The visitors’ backs, however, were still as tough a preposition as before. Play had only been going a rev/ minutes, when Wellington were moving fast in a rather loose rush, in which their wing forward, (Howard, N obtained possession and headed for the line. He passed over against opposition, and, with several of the blues hanging on to him, scored behind the goal. Currie nicely- converted. Wellington 1 1, Manawhenua 3. Manawhenua were responsible for several incursions, their backs kicking to touch with good judgment. From near the twenty-five O’Keefe earned the ball, down and passed to Atkins, but the latter rvent out into touch. The blacks’ line was in danger both from scrums and line-outs, but ultimately a free kick from a mark gave them relief to 30 yards. Manawhenua came again, but the blacks were tackling well and they found an opening to work play into their opponents’ territory, reaching the twenty T -five, from which they made several attempts to get over Jjcfore the blacks were relieved by a free kick. A passing rush took Wellington into a favourable position, but Brown’s attempt to get away with the ball'was brought to an end by a swift tackle by Moffatt, and play went back to midfield. Wellington started another movement, which fizzled out in a penalty against them for off-side. Their forwards got. going again, but met strong opposition at the twentyfive. Hull and Brown both tried to make openings, but were earthed. The tide turning, Nesbit carried the ball to the Wellington twenty-five, and, the blacks being penalised, McKay had a •shot and landed a neat goal. Wellington 11, Manawhenua 6. Play of an open nature went on for a 'time. Croon tried to get through

to the line, but was not successful. Long punts were exchanged, with Manawhenua having the territorial advantage. A scramble took place on the blacks’ quarter, a dribbling rush followed, and Atkins pursued the ball to touch it down with little opposition. McKay’s kick, from wide out, went •low. Wellington 11, Manawhenua 9. There was only twelve minutes of the spell left, and excitement grew intense among the spectators as the home reps, made repeated attempts to cross their opponents ’ fiine. It was a last-minute effort that assured Wellington of the igame. They gradually pressed the attackers back over half-way, and, with the aid of some well-judged infield kicks, assumed the offensive. After Hull had broken through most of tho opposition only- to be collared, Brown took a pass and scored behind the jjosts, practically on his own. Currie just 'missed with the kick, and time sounded, with the scores: Wellington 14, Manawhenua 9. Mr P. MeLeavey was referee, THE NASH CUP. WANDERERS (8) DEFEAT OTAKI (3). This game was played on the Weraroa ground on Saturday in the presence of a fair number of spectators. The contest was not noted for fine play, the exhibition on the whole being poor. Both sides were weak, and Otaki, as usual, had difficulty in raising a full quota, while Wanderers were without the services of Parata (2), Tatana, Graham, and Ryder. Otaki opened well and were soon aggressive but Bryant relieved. In turn D. D ’Ath carried the ball back, after which play hovered about midfield for a time. Then Bryant put in a good run, but W. D’Ath, who was playing well, collared splendidly. This player then followed up a long kick but in tackling ‘he fell and received an injury to his leg causing him to leave the field. Keliu filled the breach. Bevan, by solid graft, put. Wanderers on the defence, and Otaki narrowly missed a score, a lucky kick saving the situation for the Blacks. Marino and Enoka were then prominent and Otaki continued aggressive, but a Wanderers rush removed play nearly the length of the field, Otaki accepting a force to save. Winiata and Webber, backed up by McDonnell, were prominent, while later Bryant assisted. Enoka saved. Then came a passing rush, Webber finally handing to Jones, who dodged through the opposition and scored under the bar. McDonnell converted, and Wanderers led, s—o. Levin continued on the attack, but an Otaki forward rush carried play well up the field, but Bryant, by a lucky speculative kick, saved. D. D’Ath, Wallace, and Marino were then prominent, aftei which Enoka secured, and ran to the full back. He punted over this player’s head and a race followed. The ball was missed by three or four players, and the Blacks were fortunate in forcing. Wallace and D’Ath again headed a Tush, but Wanderers -retaliated by a good passing rush, Winiata, Webber, and Jones all taking part. Otaki’s collaring at this stage was weak, but Wallace, by intercepting, carried the ball well up field, and after making a fine run, sent to D’Ath, who raced at top speed. Winiat

saved, and in turn Webber, Nicholson and ,St. Clair the ball back. Bryant then t secured possesion, and after a run kicked to Otaki territory. Here Skilton put in good play, but Hakaraia, Marino, and Lima retaliated, and joined later by Wallace the ball was carried to neutral territory, and the spell ended. The second spell was about as interesting as the first, play continuing to be of a mediocre nature. The Blacks immediately went to the attack, but Hakaraia, D ’Ath, and Derham, playing well, saved. Then came smart play 1 y Enoka and D’Ath and the latter scored a well-deserved try, which Marino failed to convert, 5 —3. The Blacks again attacked, due to good play by Winiata. Then came a determined onslaught by the Otaki vanguard, who carried the ball half the length of the field before being stopped. St. Clair eventually forced and thus relieved. Derham was then prominent and his tackling of St. Clair gave Otaki an advantage, after which D’Ath made a good run, followed by good play -by Marino and Ryder. Otald again pressed hard, and caused Levin to accept another force. Otaki Jumbled from the kick-out and Levin attacked, mainly through a good run by St, Clair. This player later scored but Skilton failed to add the major points, S —3. Give and take play followed, but no further score was registered. Mr. J. O’Connor was referee, kindly filling the breach at the last minute.

For Otaki all the forwards worked hard but lacked combination. The back division was good at times, but collaring was below standard while the retirement of W. D ’Ath did not improve matters. Wanderers forwards were good, while the hacks were reliable.

HOROWHENUA JUNIOR REPS. The undeimentioned players have been selected to represent Horowhenua against Wellington, at Otaki, on Saturday, September 14th. These players have been selected from those who were not in the Manawhenua fifteen: — in the Manawhenua fifteen: — Pou '(Wai.) Wilton (Wai.), Wehipeihana (H.M.), Newman (Shn.). Mason (Shn.), Smith (Wai). Jenkins (Wai.) Bowling (H.M.) Curran (Shn.) Davis (Wai.), Roach (Wai.) Corner (Para.) Sink in-son (Otaki). McDonald (V/au.) Hobson (Wer.) Reserves. —Backs: Roe (Wer.), McEwen (Shu.). Forwards: Durham '(Oi.), Thomas (Wai.).

4-3 .2 9 c$ bo m "53 4-3 ft as 5 o £ o fl Ph Ph EH Wanderers 4 3 0 1 42 28 7 Shannon 4 2 l 1 34 24 5 Ilui Mai 4 2 2 0 34 50 4 Otaki 4 1 2 1 27 34 3 Foxton 4 0 2 1 9 9 1