RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 107, 6 April 1926, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

DANNEVIRKE v. WESTERN UNITED. VICTORY FOR HOME TEAM. A Rugby match was contested at Terrace End Park yesterday afternoon between tho fourth grade team of Dannevirko and :a Western United fifteen, the game terminating in a victory for the local side by 25 points to five. Western United fielded a team which was not solely composed of players of that grade, and as a result they had a considerable advantage in weight and stature over the visitors, who, despite the fact that they had a strong wind at their backs in the opening half, had tho worst of the exchanges. Western opened with great dash and, the return from tho kick out being charged down, they rushed the leather right to the opposite end of the field, where, from a resulting scrum, Cox secured possession from the heel 'and dashed over. Pegler, however, failed to goal from a fair position. Western 3 —o. With the ball coming into play Hemi cut in prettily prior to sending on to Robb to Pegler, but a forward pass taken off-sicfe enabled the visitors to work free, and Lewis, a local player who was assisting Dannevirke, carried on down into the home zone. Western United backs were throwing the ball about freely, and it was only faulty handling which was keeping them out, while solo dashes by Robb and Ormond threatened danger on two occasions to the visitors’ line. A long kick which found touch enabled Dannevirke to work into an attacking position, and from a forward rush a melee ensued fight on the home line. Brown being awarded a try, to which Drinkwater _adjled tho major points. Dannevirko 5 —3. Just prior to tho interval Hutchin3 replied for Western with a great dash from beyond the half-way line and, outpacing the opposition, grounded close to the posts. Hemi goalcd and half time found, the scores: Western 8, Dannevirke 5. WESTERN SCORE FREELY. Dannevirke hurried to the attack on resumption, but were quickly driven back, and a breakaway by Hutchins and Robb carried Western into foreign territory, where Cox, obtaining possession in tfie loose, dashed clean through the ruck to ground over the line. Ormond failed. Western 11 —5. Robb was again prominent in a determined dash which required a power of stopping, the attack culminating in a force down from ■ a shot at goal from a free kick. An opening made by Pegler and hand on to bindl'ay Saw the latter sprint over in good position, but Hemi failed to turn it to account. Western 14 —5. Dannevirko flattered their supporters momentarily, but again the locals assumed the aggressive, and Robb, securing possession from a long throw-in, dashed over after a sprint of 20 yards. Ormond goaled. Western 19—5. Before the spell closed Tuck finished oft a dribbling rush by adding a further three points, while a follow up by. Urmond which enabled the full-back to recover possession, saw him hand on to Hemi for the latter to run in. No shot at goal was taken in either case, and full time sounded with the scores reading: Western United 20, Dannevirke 5. Mr McArley earned the whistle. GAME AT SHANNON.

The match between St. Patrick’s and Shannon thirds, played at Shannon yesterday, resulted in a drawn game, the score being 3 all. At half time the* score was 3 to nil in Shannon s favour as tho result of a forward rush, Heavey touching down for Shannon. Picard’s kick missed by inches. There was no further score until just on time, when a fine opening was taken advantage of by McKenzie, who made a determined dash and scored riglvt on tho corner flag. Mr D. Sands refereed. In the evening a dinner was tendered the visiting team by the Shannon Football Club. Mr Gray, on behalf of the Shannon Club, thanked the visitors for the good game they had given the Shannon players, and emphasised- tho fact that such contests always mfide for the good of the game. Mr Rvan, manager of the St. I atrick’s team, suitably replied. “OLD BOYS” MATCH.

Per Press Association. NAPIER, April 5. A team of Rugby footballers from the New Plymouth old boys played a match here against the Napier High School old boys. _ The weather was rather warm for winter sport, and the ground was hard. The contest resulted in a draw, 8 all. For the visitors, Stevens and Pope scored tries, Jones converting one. McNeil and Smith scored tries for Napier, Hammond converting one. DUNEDIN MATCHES. DUNEDIN, April 5. Easter Rugby matches played on Saturday resulted in Merivale (Christchurch) 29 defeating Alhambra (Dunedin) 17, and Christchurch 11 defeating Pirates (Dunedin) 6. At the annual meeting of the Duller Rugby Union mention was made of the good results accruing last season from the visits of outside representative teams and the hope was expressed that Southland would this year send a represntative team on a tour of the Seddon Shield unions, also that some of the other unions who have not yet sent teams to the Coast, would make an effort to do so this season. MEETING OF REFEREES. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, April 5. At the New Zealand Rugby Referees’ Conference Mr Cliffe (Auckland) moved: “That -by-law No 9 be amended thus: Instead of ‘That the headquarters of the association shall be at Wellington,’ it be altered to read: ‘That the headquarters of the association shall be moved every three years, the destination for each succeeding three years to bo determined at the annual meeting preceding the change, and that the headquarters for the next three years shall be at Wanganui.’ ” The mover said that the motion ’was brougho forward in the general interests of the game. The executive sitting in one place for too many years tended to bring about a stalemate. They (in Auckland) would also like to see tho headquarters of tho New Zealand Rugby Union changed from place to place at different periods. Mr Millard (Wanganui) seconded the motion. Ho assured tho meeting that if Wanganui were selected an executive could be appointed there which would be quite capable of managing the affairs of the association.

Mr Smyrk (Hawke’s Bay) said his union was opposed to the motion. He

considered that the place of the association was alongside the headquarters of the New Zealand liugby Union, with which it should be in close touch. He suggested that at least two members of the association outside Wellington should be appointed to the central executive. Mr McKenzie (Wairarapa) said he was instructed\to oppose tho motion. It was not desirable to shift the headquarters of the association until the headquarters of the New Zealand liugby Union were shifted. The chairman said that the practice of holding the conference in different places was having 'a beneficial effect. Another delegate pointed out that the New Zealand Appointments Board being; located in Wellington, so that it could get into touch at a moment’s notice with it. Mr Sievers, the secretary, thought the headquarters of the association should bo located in the same place as the New Zealand liugby Union. He pointed out that the association was not getting altogether a fair deal on tho New Zealand Appointments Board, as it had only one representative against two by. the New Zealand Rugby Union. In reply Mr Cliffe said that he was glad delegates had not regarded the proposal as a personal attack, but as an attempt to improve the conditions of liugby football. The motion was lost, -