RUGBY FOOTBALL

Shannon News, 1 October 1929, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Rowlands Cup KIA TOA DEFEATS OTAKI. AFTER-PLAYING EXTRA TIME. The game for the Rowlands Cup between the Manawatu and liorokuenua junior champion teams, Kia .Toa am: Otaki, was- played on the Domain ai Levin on Saturday afternoon. Tho ground was in ideal condition for Rugby but for champion teams/ the game although strenuous, was very dis appointing. Both sides lacked combination and mistakes were frequent, each team appearing to be afraid to open up the play, while the defence, particularly that cf Otaki, was weak, the standard of play being much below that seen against Foxtoh and Oriental. Otaki, playing . with the aid of a slight breeze, had much the better of the first spell which ended three all. In the second half, the wind dropped but although the Manawatu champions had the better of the game they were unable to' increase their, score, time being called with the score still three all. Two ten minute spells were then played, Kia Toa having the better of both and scoring eight points in quid? succession in the last ten minutes. The following is the personnel of the teams:—

Kia Toa (blue and black).—J. Weston, A. Weston, Morgan, Topee, Powell. Kelly, Hancock, W. Mitchell (capt.,, Nesbit, Turnbull, Kerrigan, Comber, F. Powell, G. Brown and Argy'l. Otaki (light blue).—Johnston. G. Flutey, Annis, Derham, K. Meters, G. Merwood (capt.), J. McLcavcy, 0. Mora, Sihkinson, Fafeita, J. McDonald, Edwards, -R. Merwood, J. Bevan, B. Ryder.

Kia Toa kicked off against the winil but Otaki quickly went to the attack, a penalty giving Metera a chance -\\> goal but the ball went wide. Otaki continued to press, a cut in by Mc Leavcy being spoilt, by hanging on to the ball and not passing to his supports, the leather going out at the corner flag. Soon after, from a mar!?, Annis essayed unsuccessfully to drop Xick a goal. On the ball going into play, Kia Toa, headed by. J. Weston placed Otaki on the defensive at the half way line, but owing to fault) handling, gained little ground. Meters

with a high kick attempted to clear but A. Weston marked. A dribbling rush h&idcd by Powell reached Otaki '?• territory, a breach saving the situation. Shortly after, from a free kick, J Powell had a shot at goal, the. ball going outside the posts. Otaki then carried play downlield .and Metera, securing the ball from the ruck, 'opened up and passing to G. Mer wood, the latter went over. Meter:: took the kick but dwelt too long, u Kia Toa player charging down. Th; bull struck him and rebounded back.Otaki'3, Kia Toa nil.

- On the ball going into play, Nesbii dribbled through, but Flutcy beat him for possession and forced. A long kick by J. Weston was missed by Derham and the former, following up secure! possession, but after short-punting ovei an opponent's head, was obstructed Merwood coining up to force. Kia Toa continued to press, durim: which time J. Powell had an unsuceoss ful shof- at goal from a free kick a dribbling movement, Dcrham carrier! play into Kia Toa's territory but tin latter brought the ball up the Jiele again with thp ball at toe. Flutcy missed twice, by trying to speculate -instead of picking up. Just on the call of time, G. Brown, scored, from the ruck, Powell being un successful with the kick.—Kia Toa o Otaki 3.

, Oh changing over, Otaki rushed to ?*the attack, the opposition having t< force. Following a fine dribble throug. 1 bv Fafeita, Kia Toa worked back t: . the half way line. Kelly by a good run reached Otaki's twenty-live, wher Johnson collared him. and getting lh< ball, kicked to touch. For some time Kia Toa had Otaki hemmed in. A pass ing movement between Kolly, Pmvel 1 and Morgan was spoilt, by a low pas*. J. Weston had a shot at goal, the ha! 1 going outside tho posts. Play for some time travelled up and down the field, neither gaining an ad vantage. McDonald (Otaki) and Pow ell (Kia Toa) unsuccessfully attempted to goal from free kicks. From the halt way line, J. Weston dribbled throng!' but in endeavouring to pick up, ho knocked on. A scrum followed and Merwood sent the ball on to Flutcy, who dribbled e'ear to midlicld. Both teams continued to' fight hard for a win, but time was-called without any further score.

The game continuing for two ten minute spells, Kia Toa pressed hard throughout and twice was unlucky not to score; once when A. Weston went over but was called back for a knock on and when Powell .with practically a clear run in, failed to take a pass frmn Morgan.

Early in the final ten minutes play, Merwood. from outside the half way line made the best run of. the day, reaching the twenty-five line where he short-punted, th. ball bouncing out. Kia Toa immediately rushed the leather ■ down the field. From a scrum ten yards from the line, Topee completed (he movement by scoring. Powell fart- ' eel to- goal. Immediately following, .' Ncsbit dribbled through and was able t. to pufethe issue beyond doubt J. We • I- 'ton converting. Time *as called with

Kia Toa the winner of the cup by 11 points to 3. Mr. Rowland referccd. At the conclusion of the game, Mr. Hannan, president of the Horowhcmia Rugby District Council, presented the cup to W. Mitchell, captain of the Kia Toas, congratulating him on the team's win. He also congratulated Otaki on the good fight it had put up. Cheers were given for each ' team. Mr. Hannan also handed to G. Merwood, captain of the Otaki team, the Licensed Victuallers' Cup, won by Otaki in the "knock out" competition.