The World of Sport.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 September 1927, Page 6

The World of Sport.

RUGBY FOOTBALL

NASH CUP FINAL.

SHANNON VICTORIOUS. DEFEAT WANDERERS, 3 POINTS TO NIL. A DISAPPOINTING GAME. The meeting between Shannon and Wanderers in the final for the Nash Cup at Levin on Saturday gave every promise of being an exhibition of spectacular football, but, contrary to expectations, this was not the case and the actual game proved a rather dreary affair. Individualism was the order of the day and neither side showed much .semblance of concerted action in any 'way, with the result that those present had very little to enthuse over. For the final of a competition the standard of football witnessed was exceedingly poor, both teams creating the impression that they were not in the mood for anything better. To a certain extent a strong westerly wind made the flight of the ball somewhat difficult to judge, while passing also became inaccurate, but despite this it can hardly be said that either team accepted the advantage of the wind when they had it in their favour and many opportunities went begging through not exploiting the kick and follow-up game more frequently. As a matter of fact, strange to relate, Shannon scored the only try of the match while playing against the wind, with the result that many predicted a cricket score against Wanderers when the teams changed over, but the Reds, like their opponents, failed to add one solitary point while playing with the wind.

Jacob received a painful injury right at the commencement of the game, and from then on was practically hors-de-combat. Shannon's winning of this trophy proved very popular, for they are a team that usually treat the publie to a good display of football, and always being keen participants in the senior competitions, their success is felt to be long overdue. The teams were comprised as follows: — SHANNON (Eed). Backs: Symonds, Bobbie, Roberts, Satherley, Hunt, Sherman, and Walls. Forwards: L. Dalziell, Tohi, Maihi, Hirst,,, Payne, K. Dalziell, Bobbie, and E. Satherley. WANDEEERS (Black). Backs: Ryder, Udy, Graham, Williams, Nicholson, Winiata and Parata. Forwards: Jacob, Heremaia, Poad, Tatana, Kuiti, Tohu, Nuthall and Knox. Mr J. Sciascia refereed.

THE GAME DESCRIBED.

Wanderers played with the advantage of a strong wind in the first spell and Hirst set play in motion for Shannon. After a quiet spell in midfield, Shannon were the first to become aggressive as Hunt speculated through to Ryder for the Blacks' full-back to be caught in possession in his own 25. Shannon appeared dangerous as their forwards gradually worked close to the line and K. Dalziell spoilt what appeared to be a likely try as he knocked on. The weightier Red forwards quickly demonstrated their superiority in the scrums and from one of these in the far corner, Walls passed to Hunt on the blind side. The Manawhenua player cleverly wriggled his way past several opponents and sent the ball on to his winger, but Robbie was not in position and a clever opening went west. The invaders were then nearly successful down the opposite wing as Hirst opened out to Sherman from the ruck and the latter player actually crossed the line, but the wily Jacob robbed' him of the ball. From now on till half-time, with the exception of one or two brief excursions into their opponents' territory, Shannon were called upon to exert all their energy on defence for, with the aid of the wind, Wanderers carried play to the other end and the Reds were kept hemmed in their 25 for some considerable time. A strong run by Udy saw the Blacks' winger beat a couple of opponents only to be held up by Symonds right on the line. A serum followed from which Wanderers were awarded a penalty, but Jacob allowed too much for the wind and went wide. Sound defensive work by Hunt, Walls and L. Dalziell, the former in particular, enabled Shannon to keep their line intact, but Symonds nearly got his side into trouble by adopting a most casual attitude by not getting smartly to the ball on one occasion. Parata had let his backs away from a scrum but smothering well, the Red forwards carried play to midfield. Graham checked their progress and a high punt by that player saw the ball sailing high down on the wind. It careered over Shannon's line and the Shannon fullback seemed satisfied to allow it to continue its journey to the dead ball area, but this it did not do and twirled around in a most unusual manner, coming back into the field of play with no one within yards of it. 'When the players realised what had happened, there was a spasmodic rush to the spot and Symonds was lucky to speculate to touch" as several Black forwards arrived together. Had the Blacks followed up sooner they would surely have been presented with a try. Wanderers kept the pressure going and play remained near Shannon's line. However, the invaders had difficulty in finding a gap in the defence, and when they did, always booted too hard, allowing the

Auckland Draw With South Auckland

ALL-BLACK TRIAL.

AUCKLAND, Saturday,

Canterbury Combined Beat Otago CLOSIO-SCOKIXG ALL-BLACK TRIAL.

alert Hunt to force down on several occasions. THE ONLY TRY. The Red forwards were proving masters in the tight and eventually, by sheer weight, forced their way upfield and, controlling the ball in the scrums, enabled Walls to continually gain ground with short bursts until they were well within striking distance. The Black backs attempted retaliation with a handling bout, but lateral passing saw ground actually lost, and Udy was forced into touch in his own area. Then followed what was to be the only score of the game as, from the throw-in, the Dalziell brothers and Tolii came away with a short passing bout and after each had handled a couple of times, Tohi finished a good movement off by racing over midway between the posts and the comer Hag. Hunt found the wind too strong for his kick. SHANNON 3, WANDERERS 0.

Realising that their only chance of winning was ( slowly slipping away, AVanderers rushed play to Shannon's area and an excellent dribbling effort by Heremaia down the sideline saw Tatana gather the leather in and dive over the line. He had put his foot into touch, however, and the line umpire's flag was up. The throw-in saw a period of ragged play close to the line, which ended as Hunt took a couple of marks in quick succession and halftime sounded with the Shannon supporters"in a jubilant mood, for it was realised the advantage was now all with Shannon.

This turned out to be the case when the final spell started, and the Keds quickly gained the upper hand and had Wanderers penned on their line. Hunt, who had previously made several fruitless efforts to pot a goal in the first spell seemed determined to achieve his object before the game was over and on nearly every occasion that the ball came to him he would give it a go. He could not get the right direction, however, and much time was wasted as Ryder was compelled to seek for the ball that had been carried by the wind, down to the Eastern hedge. When this phase of the game was over the spectators were treated to a very ragged period, as the players on both sides appeared determined to outdo each other in the way of taking marks and stoppages were frequent, the spectators at first becoming riled, but as the players persisted with their actions the crowd started tp treat things as a joke and some of the remarks were very amusing.

Then the Wanderers' backs handled in what was the one isolated piece of decent back play during the whole proceedings. Nicholson gained possession in his own terr.itory, and beating his vis-a-vis, sent on to Winiata, the ball travelling fo Graham, to Williams, back to Graham, who was hauled down near the Shannon line. The Black forwards carried on, but in the race for the leather that had gone over the line Hunt won and booted dead.

This was practically the finish of Wanderers for Roberts and Hunt quickly returned play to the other end, but the Red forwards were not following up with their usual alacrity and Wanderers were allowed to play safe. Ryder was injured at this stage, being compelled to leave the field, Graham taking up the full-back position.

The Shannon forwards were dominating the scrums and the tight play, but usually when the ball got out among the backs mistakes started and from one of these, the Blacks burst through in which was to be their final effort, but a high punt by Hunt initiated a Shannon rush that swept all before it until Udy averted a score as he dived on the ball, after L. Dalziell had dribbled it over Wanderers' line. Shannon remained in the ascendancy from now on to the finish, but the play was of a very unenterprising nature, the only incident of note being a fine effort by Hunt to goal from a penalty on the half-way line, the ball just sailing wide of the posts, and time came without any further alteration in the score.

The All-Black trial match plaj"ed here to-day between team representing Auckland and North Auckland (one team) and Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley and King Country resulted in a draw, each side scoring eight points.

Heavy rain had made the ground in an exceptionally heavy stat<; and good back play was impossible. As indicative of. the standard of All-Black play the game was very ( disappointing. Scorers for the first- , mentioned team were Palmer and ! Finlayson, Berridge converting one j try, and for the other side Bayley J and Fitzgerald, Thomas converting ! one.

DUNEDINT, Saturday... The All-Black trial between North Otago, Otago, and Southland combined and Canterbury, Ashlrurton and South Canterbury combined was

WAERARAPA WINS 36—19,

played at Carisbrook to-day in fine weather, the ground being in good ord'.'r. The attendance 1 * was about 10,000. The Southerners showed to advantage until Strang took' a mark and goaled from 40 yards but. Steel next scored for Canterbury. Strang failed to convert. \ Lindsay started a movement which enabled Marslin to score behind the posts for the Southerners. Lindsay converted. A strong Canterbury rush enabled Burrows to touch down. Lilburn9 was caught in front of the posts, and Bird picked up and dived over. Lindsay converted. Half time was called with the score: Canterbury combined 11, Otago combined 10. Otago opened the second spell with a try by Marslin two minutes after tiro start, Lindsay converting. Pass.ng by Canterbury backs enabled Strang to score behind the posts for Lilburne to convert. Ste"i next scored at the corner. A penalty by goal by Lindsay made the scores: Canterbury 10, Otago 18. A beautiful potted,goal by Heazlewood put Otago in the lead. A try by Scrimshaw converted by Strang gavo Canterbury a two-point lead. Robilliard (wing) added another 3 points with a try. Alley next touched down. A great dash by McClymont brought a try to Otago. The final score was Canterbury Combined .30 Otago Combined . . . . 25

North Otago Squares it With South Canterbury

OAMARU, Last Night. At Rugby the final game of the season between South Canterbury and North Otago at Waimatc resulted in an easy win for the latter by 22 points to 6, leaving the rivals a win each and a draw on the three gamesplayed.

The North Otago forwards played' a fine, bustling game dominating the play in the last spell. A feature of the game was a magnificent goal byBoroman (North Otago full back) who drop-kicked from a mark from' his side of half-way.

Wellington Beaten From tiie r Start

WELLINGTON, Last Night.

At rugby Wairarapa outplayed* / Wellington in all departments on Saturday on Athletic Park to win in a hollow fashion by 36 points to 19. The following were the teams:—

Wellington.—Grenfell, Rushbrook,. South, Elvy, Nicholls, Johnson, Kilby, Porter, O'Regan, Olliver, Blacker, Taylor, Thomas, Edgar. .'

Wairarapa.—Roach, Booth, Stringfellow, Le Qiiesne, Cooke, Cundy, Hiroti, Irvine, Donald, Harvey, Parker, Reside, Fairbrothcr, Reid, J. Donald.

Smashing forward play by the Wairarapa pack allowed their backs, of whom Cooke was the star performer, to function with great dash. Wellington played in the first spell with the "wind and at half time l'ed. by 13 points to 11. In the second Wairarapa just romped over them as thoy pleased. Cooke played a great ganre both in. attack and defence and was always found where most wanted.

Porter, Rushbrook and Elvy scored for Wellington. Nicholls converted' two and kicked two penalty goals. Fo r Wairarapa Stringfellow (3). R. Booth, Cooke, Le Quesne, and Reid scored tries. Roach potted a goal, and Cundy converted fou r tries and' kicked a penalty.

, Irvine, Harvey and Quentin Donald were always in the thick of it and' Porter, the Wellington wing forward, was more than usually subdued. He was not prone to hold to the ball toolong yesterday. The Wellington pack were pushed all over the shop and* outclassed in loose and tight. Wellington were a beaten team right from the start or a few minutesafter.

PROBABLES v. POSSIBLES SELECTED. AUCKLAND, Last Night After -watching- the All-Black trialmatch on Saturday the selectors chose the -following players for the j North Island Possibles and Probables 1 match at Palmerston North on Tuesday. The teams ai*e: — POSSIBLES. Full-back: Brown (Taranaki). Three-quarters: Grenside (Hawke's Bay), South (Wellington) and Rushbrook (Wellington). Five-oighths: M. Nicholls (Wellington) and L. Johnson (Wellington). Half: Kilby (Wellington). Forwards: (Rover) Porter (Wellington). Hookers: Swain (Hawke's Bay),. and Caulston (Poverty Bay). Lock: Conrad (Hawke's Bay). *

Sides: M. Brownlie and C. Brown lie ''■'(. (Hawke's Bay). Back Row: Leahy (Wanganui) and Galpin (Manawhenua). PROBABLES. Pull-back: Thomas (Waikat;o). ~ Three-quarters: Hlook (Auckland), She-en (Auckland) and Brophy (Manawhenua). Five-eighths: Berridge (Auckland) and D. Johnson (Taranaki). Half-back: McManus (Auckland). Forwards: (Rover) Keene (Au'ck- , land). Hookers: Hadley and Palmer (Auckland). Lock: Harvey (Wairarapa). ' Sid<es: Finlayson (North Auckland) and Ward (Taranaki). Back Row: McWilliams (Auckland) and Donaldson (North Auckland). Emergencies (for both teams): Backs—Bramwell (Poverty Bay) and Stringfellow (Wairarapa); forwards —Courtney (Waikato) and Anderson <Manawhenua). .

SOUTH ISLAND TEAMS. DUNEDIN, Last Night. The selectors messrs A. J. Geddes, A.» Adms and T. Milliken) have announced the following as the teams for the South Island Probables v. Possibles matxjh. at Christchurch next Wednesday:— PROBABLES. Full-back*-* Lilburn. Three-quarters: - Robilliard, Carleton and Steel. ■ Five-eighths: McGregor (first) and Strang (second). Half-back: Dalley. Forwards: F. Clark, C. • Mills, Cameron, Godfrey, Greitas, Bird. Finlayson and Johnston (wing forward). . . . POSSIBLES. Full-back: Heazlewood. Three-quarters: McClymont, Lindsay and Snodgrass. Five-eighths: Mitchell (first) and H. Jamieson (second). Half-back": Holden. Forwards: Burrows, Hore t Alley, Hazlett, R. Stewart, Marslin, E. Snow.and Scrimshaw (wing forward).

Emergencies (both teams): Reid, E. B. Stewart (backs); Young and Mclnnes (forwards). Hindenach is not available.

Cdoke May go to South Africa

WELLINGTON, Last Night. A. E. Cooke is likely to be available for South Africa. He played for WairaYapa yesterday.

English Team May Visit N.Z. in 1930 (Received Sunday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23. " The Rugby Union has received an Invitation to tour New "Zealand in 1930. It has forwarded tire invitatios to the Internaional. Board which meets in March with a recommendation that arrangements be> made if possible. It is suggested that three or four games should played in New South Wales. . w' \ : . / . ■'<: ,

"WARATAHS" BEAT WEATH AND r ABERDEEN. (Received Sunday 5.5 p.m) IiONDON, Sept. 24. New South Wales beat Neath and Aberdeen by 24 points to five, at Aberdeen. * ' The match was an interesting, polished game throughout. The vlfaratahs' cleverness and speed were In the early stages checked by close marking and great tacki- ling. The first goal came after twenty minutes' play, Lawton kicking a penalty, and adding another penalty goal. Ave minutes later. Once the Scots' dribbling rushe3 were exhausted the visitors demonstrated their superior brilliance and effectiveness. Lawton's magnificent place-kicking was an outstanding feature. The scores were:. Waratahs, three goals (15), two penalties; (6), and a try (S); Neath and Aberdeen, a goal <5).

"WARATAHS" FIXTURES. The New South Wales Rugby team's fist of fixtures is as follows. The -.Waratahs had a decisive win in their first match last Saturday week against Devon and Cornwall by 30 points to 3,, and also won last Thursday against Newport by 20 points to 3. September 28th.—v. Abertillery and

Cross Keys, at Abertilrery. October lati—v. Swansea, at Swansea. October 3rd.—v. East Midlands, Notts Lanes., and Derby, at Northampton. October Bth. —v. Yorkshire and Cum-

berland. '' October 12th. —v. Glasgow, at Glas-

October 15th.—v. South of Scotland, at Melrose. October 19th.—v. North of Scotland, at Aberdeen. October 22.—v. London, at Twicken-

ham. October 27.—v. Oxford University, at

Oxford. October 29th.—v. Leicestershire, at

Leicester. November 2nd. —v. Cambridge University, at Cambridge.* NoVember sth. —v. Combined Services fit Twickenham.

November 12th. —v. Ireland ,at Dublin. November 16th. —v. Ulster, at Belfast. November 19th. —v. Northumberland and Durham, at Newcastle. November 26th. —v. Wales ,at Cardiff. November 29th. —v. Llaneily, at Llanelly. December 3rd. —v. Cardiff, at Cardiff. December Bth. —v. Pontypool, at Pontypool. December 10th. —v. Lancashire and Cheshire, at Birkenhead. December 17th.—v. Scotland, at Murrayfleld. December 21st.—v. Warwickshire and North Midlands, at Birmingham. December 26th. —v. London, at Twickenham. December 31st.—v. Gloucestershire and Somersetshire, at Bristol. January 7th.—v. England, at Twickenham. Three matches are to be played in Prance, and there will be some games In. other countries.