REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 July 1937, Page 8

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

BUSH DEFEAT HOROWHENUA. HARD-FOUGHT GAME ON SODDEN GROUND. With Horowhenua fielding their strongest side. for several seasons, and Bush slightly weaker than they were last year, it was considered that the representative senior Rugby fixture between these unions, played at Pahiatua on Saturday for > the Bebbington Shield, would result in the trophy changing hands. On the wet, muddy ground, and in bitterly cold weather, however, Bush adapted themselves better to the conditions to emerge on top and retain the shield by 12 points to eight. The Showgrounds at Pahiatua were swept throughout the afternoon by a bitter, southerly -wind, with light, but almost continuous rain, and the ground was a sticky, sloppy quagmire on which it was impossible for a good exhibition of the game to be given. The home side’s rearguard handled the going more enterprisingly, however, and made better handling of the slippery ball

than their opponents. The two packs of forwards were evenly-matched, and fed their backs with about an equal share of the ball. Both sides turned 'on

some solid tackling in defensive work. Throughout the first spell the game was slow, both teams bping badly held back by the conditions. The second started off with Horowhenua six points down, and some exciting play saw them take the score to 9—B in Bush’s favour until in the closing stages, when the home side secured the try which put the issue beyond doubt.’ Bush’s points came from three tries, each secured by Lett, the half-back, together with a penalty by Riddell, while for Hbfpwhenua G. Woods scored one try, which was converted by Nepia, who also kicked a penalty goal.

Considering the very unfavourable weather, the game attracted a fair attendance of the public.

The. teams took the field as under:—

Horowhenua (green and white): Kepia, George, Henry, Cole, Hogan, L. Coles, Hutchins, A. Woods, Rpbbie, A. Baleman, Knox, Gray, Anderson (captain), G. Woods, Bond. Bush (blue and maroon): J. Smith, W. Twentyman, Riddell, S. Wolland, Stringfellow (captain), McSherry, E. Lett, Bailey, Spring, Woodell, Failover, Verryj Harvey, Aitken, D. Luke. Mr. H. M. Reid, of Dannevirke, controlled the game. The Game. Horowhenua started the ball off into the wind and Bush took possession to start hammering at the visitors' line from the word "go,'’ but a free kick relieved. Lett secured and tried to get'his backs away, but the movement' was intercepted and McSherry could not take a high pass. The Bush rearguard were determined to make the most of it while the ball was still dry, and selling the dummy in a pretty movement, Stringfellow got past Henry deep into green ground to send Twentyman .away in a bid for a score from which Horowhenua were lucky to escape with a force.

Horowhenua forwards broke away when Smith hung on to the ball too long and ran back with it, but Bush came again, Failover and Spring taking the ball near the green line. Here offside play gave Bush an easy chance and Riddell had little trouble in goaling from the penalty kick to draw first blood. .

Bush 3, Horowhenua 0. Almost immediately a rather flagrant ease of shepherding gave Bush another chance, but this time Riddell missed. .The green forwards came away from raid-field in a promising rush, which’ Smith stopped. Henry gathered in the ball and galloped down the side-line, evading two tacklers before being thrown into touch. Play swung back into green territory and the red backs commenced a series of sorties which, however, were spoilt by over-eager kicking, the ball going to the dead-ball line twice in succession. They were not to be denied, however, and with play on the green twenty-five, * Riddell stepped in close to the line before handing out to Verryj—who was solidly dumped by Nejiia. The ball went to the ground, but was fielded by Lett, who dived through an opening in a handy position and touched dcrwn. Riddell failed to add the extra points. Bush 6, Horowhenua 0,

From the kick-off Henry dodged away down the line once more, his peculiar side-step thoroughly puzzling would-be tacklers, until three men downed Sim in concert. The ball came to Hord whenua’s end again, bounding down the side-line with Nepia plugging after it, to finally catch it up and boot it into touch in a hurry. Bush commenced another solid series of attacks, apd McSherry started uwayj but Cole picked him up and dropped him. on his face in a pool of mud. Bush kept plugging away, and the call of half-time came as Horowhenua accepted another force. The ; oranges and the wind at their backs saw Horowhenua commence the second spell path a good'deal more devil in their play, and the first few moments found the green' forwards deep in Bush ground and knocking at the door. An infringement in front of the i posts gave Nepia an opportunity he ■ could not miss, and from the free kick 1 he goaled to open Horowhenua’s ac- ! count.

Bush 6, Horowhenua 3. | Bush quickly turned the tables when | Failover gathered in on the twenty-five I from a cross-kick and tore for the green . line with Lett in support. Failover} was pulled down, but his colleague fell on the ball for a try wide out. Riddell’s kick was a deserving effort but

missed the posts by a small margin, and the score read:

- Bush 9, Horowhenua 3. Early in the spell Hogan went to the left wing and Henry took his place at second five-eighth. This arrangement gave a stronger attacking machine, which was effective v. hen Coles carried the ball close to the Bush line. Prom the ensuing forward melee G. Woods bulldcked his way over, and Nepia added the "trimmings” to put Horowhpnua within one point of the home side.

Bush 9, Horowhenua 8. Then followed a long period of play which was largely anybody's game The xorwards made several sorties into Bush ground, and Bateman and Anderson were especially prominent Bush looked like scoring when MeSherry took the ball close to the but: lack of support nullified his effort, while Hutchins was playing an excellent defensive game. The ball remained! 'half-way for a long spell, while bbth sefs of'-'forwafds strived for possession, but vtfak too heavy for anything to be done with it.

Hutchins and Coles brought the leather oh to the red line and from a series of scrums Horowhenua’s half tried to work the blind side, but was effectively smothered by hard tackling, and Bush forwards pushed back to the twenty-five. Offside-play by Verry gave Nepia a long chance to secure a penalty goal, but the angle was too difficult with the sodden ball. Wolland kicked for the line and the ball rolled into touch on the"green twenty-five. In the closing stages of the game Coles was trapped with the ball on his own line and ! swamped by the red forwards. Lett picked up and scored well out to give Bush the game beyond doubt. Twentyman failed to find the uprights. Horowhenua rallied and, although they were deep in red ground when the filial whistle sounded, they could not put the finish oh to their movements, and' the game ended with the score: Bush 12, Horowhenua. 8. . At the conclusion of the games the teams met at dinner, when the president of the Bush Union, Mr. J. E. Smith, thanked the Horowhenua representatives for having made the visit and providing an enjoyable day’s sport. The manager of the Horowhenua team, Mr. J. B. Bateman, responded, con’ gratulating the Bush team on jtheiJ meritorious win, and thanking the home union for their hospitality.

SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNEY.

The Levin Domain was.the. venue for ; a large gathering of children and ; teachers on Saturday morning, when the primary schools of Horowhenua : i played their annual seven-a-side tour/ney. Alogether thirteen teams, fully representative of the district, participated and the number included two entries from some of the larger schools. ' The games throughout were very even, and this is borne out by 5 the fact {that in several instances extra time .had to be played before’there was any award made Shannon A. and Manakau A. held unbeaten records at the end of play, and in a final, characterised by j excellent football, the former team won |by three points to nil. I The results of the various games were as follows:—First Round: Otaki A ■lO, Tokomaru nil; Manakau A 3, Shannon B nil; Manakau B won from Levin Convent by a toss after two extra spells had been played; Foxton A 9, Ohau nil; Foxton B 3 points were beaten by Otaki B three points through forcing after time had been extended, j Second Round: Manakau A 11, Levin B nil; Otaki A 11, Manakau B nil; | Shannon A 3, Foxton A nil; Levin A 6, Otaki B nil; Semi-finals; Manakau A 3. Otaki A nil; Shannon A S, Levin A 3. Final: Shannon A 3, Manakau A nil. *