RUGBY FOOTBALL

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 July 1937, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

UNSUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE.

BUSH RETAIN BEBBINGTON SHIELD. GAME AT PAHIATUA. HoroAvhenua football enthusiasts are beginning to feel that the unsuccessful ' journeys made to Pahiatua each year in an endeavour to relieA r e Bush of the Bebbington Shield are becoming just a little monotonous. It is undoubted, lioavever, that on Saturday HoroAvhenua came as near to bringing home' the bacon as they have done since they lost possession of the trophy four years ago. The shield, which was presented 16 years ago by a one-time Levin resident, Mr. J. Bebbington, was last removed from Horowhenua in 1933 by Dannevirke, Avho went down to Bush the same season. Horowhenua have since made four unsuccessful bids for the trophy. After proA’ing their superiority over ManaAvatu B. a few weeks ago, it was thought that the team at least, had a reasonable chance in their challenge .this year, and had the game been played on anything but a sodden, slippery ground and Avith no rain falling, the result might have been much different. There is no necessity to advance any excuses, hoAve\ 7 er, Bush are more accustomed to a heavy ground, and they adapted themselves more faAmurably to the conditions. Their handling of the slippery ball in the first spell in particular was remarkable, and the -best team won on the day. Of the HoroAvhenua team P. Nepia, the full-back, gave a disappointing exhibition. He handled the ball well enough, but for the last line of defence to speculate at critical stages instead of finding touch is inexcusable. On numerous occasions too, he hung on to the ball and tried to beat oncoming- players with hiS weight instead of kicking, and was thus caught in possession and rolled in the mud. T. Henry went well and in the first spell put in several enterprising runs on the left wing, but A\dien brought in to second five-eighth in the'second half did not see his share of the ball. Cole, on the other wing, played a good defensive game, and ga\ r e a solid exhibition of tackling. *Hogan had an off day and did not live up to the reputation he brought with him from WanganuiL. Coles was consistent in his attacking -’■moA'ements as first five-eighth, but the Horowhenua rearguard did not get as much of the ball as their opponents in the second spell. Hutchins was sloav getting the leather away from the serum, but certainly played an excellent defensive game. George, at centre, was not at all at home in the wet and was unable to show anything like his usual speed or his handling. Of the forwards, Anderson was obviously feeling the effects of his three trial games at Wellington during the week, in the first of which he received an injury, and for much of the game did not shine. The more prominent players in this department Avere Bateman and G. Woods. It Avas a pity that, in the second spell, Anderson permitted his team tc play the tight forward game, which suited Bush admirably. With the wind behind them, Horowhenua could have done no harm b.y attempting to open things -up —such tactics Avould probably haA 7 e brought results. The team felt the absence of Clunie and Molloy in the forwards and Jim Cameron and Carmont in the rearguard, none of these players being a\milable. Future Games. It has been freely mentioned that in the course of a tour which they propose to make, Bush should Ausit Horowhenua for another game this season. There is a strong possibility that if the donor’s consent to an alteration to the rules governing the trophy can be obtained, they will bring the shield with them for competition. At present, the trophy may be played for only on the home ground of the union which holds it.