Sport and Pastime

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2642, 10 May 1923, Page 9

Sport and Pastime

RUGBY FOOTBALL. liAST SATURDAY'S MATCHES. NOTES BY "FOLLOW UP." Intermittent showers., a cold southerly brcezo, and a sodden ground were the prevailing conditions for last Saturday's matches. Owing to tho na. ture of the weather, and the uncor. tainty of the games being played, several players did not put in an appearance, thus leaving their respective teams shart. This should not have for surely Rugby is a winter game, and good weather cannot always be relied upon. Taken as a whole some very exciting games were witnessed, regardless of the inclement weather. SENIOR DIVISION, KIA TOA V. WESTERN-UNITED. Kia Toa took the opening kick, and from then on nil half-time presseu their opponents pretty hard. In the second spell Westeru.United made a gallant attempt to even the score, but without avail. If this team play as they did on Saturday they will certainly como Qut of the competition with matches to their credit. Kia Toa undoubtedly had the best combination, although for the most part it was a forward game. Swainson (Kia Toa) is a hard man to tackle, and Westorn.United players will never da it If they persist in going high. Go for him round the ankles —that's the place. Lo Compte and De Clcene (Western. United) played a line game, especially Le Compte. He is as game as a rooster and will go down to Btop any rush. JUNIOR DIVISION. Kia Toa v. Western. United. —This gamo was very evenly matched, and although Kia Toa had only eleven men at the commencement of the gamo, the stragglers came on while the game was in progress. The gamo ended in a draw, neither sid e scaring. Hutchins (Western. United) played a rattling good game, and is a big asset to his team. Hughey, as full-back, is as safe as a church. White-, Mahoney, and Grinstead (Kia Toa) were the noticeable players for this team. Grinstead is very tricky and is a straight runner, Feiiding v. Linton.; —Another very close gamo here. Linton played the better game, and it was hard luck they lost. Off.side play was the cause of it, so they will be more careful next time. The score was 6 —5. High School v. Bunnythorpe.— Owing to a misunderstanding, Hign School did not put a full team in the field, playing only 13 men. Bennett and Diedrich were absent. Had these two players been present the score would perhaps have been reversed, or at least evened up. i THIRD GRADE. High School v. Feiiding.—Both these teams played an even game, and it was hard to say which was thp better. It was a case of give and take all the way through, Y.M.C.A. v. Old Boys.—What's the matter with Y.jyl. ? Are they frightened of the wet? Several players put in an appearanco, but the others were among the missing. It was a case of no team, no play, so the game went to Old Boys by default. NEXT SATURDAY'S MATCHES. The Hankin Shield competition will be advanced further, both on the Showground oval, and the Recreation ground at Woodville next Saturday and tho fixtures set down are most interesting, especially as the teams are still on equal footing. The local public will hav e a first, class match to watch in the Old Boys. Feiiding fixture, which will create great interest in the competition as to its result. The game will be played on the Oval at two o'clock, and nothing less than a. rattling exhibition of tho Rugby code can be expected of such team 3. As a curtain.raisor to the senior match, tho Bunnythorpe juniors, who defeated the local High School last week will try conclusions against the Old Boys juniors. As only two points in the championship separate the teams , the game will be very exciting both for tho public and competitors. It is to be hoped the weather conditions will be more settled than last week, when a good programme will bo witnessed

The followers of the good old Rugby game at Woodville will again have an excellent fixture for Saturday, when their local fifteen will meet the improved Western. United team. After the red and black's close go with Kia Toa last week, and the inclusion of new players for Saturday's fixture, the Woodville team will havo to be all out to gain victory. The game will be played on tiie Woodville recreation ground, at 3 p.m., and the result will be eagerly looked for * SHANNON SENIORS V. FOXTON SENIORS. This game was played at Foxton on Saturday, on Easton Park, before a large number of spectators. Shannon won the toss and defended the eastern goal. Foxton became aggressive from the start, but the fine tackling by the Shannon backs prevented any scoring until Foxton's centre-three-quarter, Westwood, obtained tho ball near halfway, and after eluding several opponents passed to Moses, who., when getting within striking distance, passed back to Westwood, who was collared on tho lino but managed to drop over and score. Taylor took tho kick, and although the effort was good, failed to add to the score. —Foxton 3, Shannon 0.

Reid secured tho ball from the kick. but, and passed to Bryant, who centred. but' he kicked too far to enable him to put his men on.side. with the result

that Lenihan, of Shannon, secured the leather, and initiated a passing rush, which put the Foxton line in but at the critical time a wild pass to Monyihan, on the right, spoilt Shan, non's chanc e of scoring, and play was returned to neutral ground. A forward rush by Foxton was spoilt by Barber getting off.side. Much give and take play then took place, until Monyihan, Shannon's right wing three-quarter, made a streak for the line; and on being challenged went to centre the ball ( but made a niis.kick, and Barber immediately started a counter rush the ball eventually getting into Taylor's hands, who, after a serviceable run, kicked to the right centre, and putting his men on.siiie, Moses picked up and dashed over the line near the corner. Taylor again failed to add the major points—Foxton 6, Shannon 0. From the kick out Shannon forged matters, and soon had the Foxton bucks in difficulties, but through a for. ward kicking too hard, had to bo con. tent with a force.down. Foxton then attacked, and a breach by Shannon in their own twenty-five gave Taylor another chance at the goal, but was'again unsuccessful. Shortly after half-time was called, Rain then began to fall, and as a new ball was used for the second half < play became more erratic, and the Shannon forwards, taking advantage of this, kept the bail on the ground, and started dribbling rushes, and from one of these Touhi scored near the corner, no goal resulting,—Foxton 6 % Shannon 3. Shannon stili kept on attacking, and Bryant had to force to save Foxton. Shannon was now having all the best of the game, •and kept Foxton busy defending. Taylor secured from a rush, and in order to extricate his side ran back towards his own goal, until he was able to get his kick in, —it was a dangerous' game to play, and he was fortunate that, he did not let his side down badly.J Foxton then took a hand at attack, ing and a good cross kick by Bryant came across to Christie, who was push, ed into touch a few yards from the line. Shannon then rushed the ball to th e Eoxton goal.linc., and Monyihan, picking up, got over the line under the goal posts, but was held up and pushed back. From the scrum Foxton got possession, and started a forward rush, but were stopped when looking dangerous, by a clever mark by Prain. Shannon still kept up the prcs. sure but was unable to break through, and the game ended —Foxton 6, Shannon 3. Shannon were unfortunate in not adding to their score as they had much the best of the second half. The teams were very evenly matched, but Shannon had more staying power than Foxton. The new rule about line, kicking makes for a much faster and more interesting game, and this was one of the best games ever played on the Foxton ground. Every man on each side worked hard and made few glar. ing mistakes. But Foxton could im. prove the formation of its pacic, and those who take free kicks should learn to punt high, and not too far, so that the forwards can get under the ball. To kick too far is as good as passing to an opponent. Mr Bcvan Is to bo con. gratulated on his referceing. He was strictly impartial, but he could at times take the advantage rule into consideration. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. ("CENTRE'S" COMMENTS.) Mr J. Dawber has presented a very handsome set of silver medals for the "knock.out" competition this season. They are formed in the; shape of a football, and ar e remarkably solid. Regarding soccer in the schools, the "New Zealand Times" has the follow, ing:—It is rather remarkable that in nearly all parts of the Dominion there is opposition to the introduction of soccer in the secondary schools. Tho F.A. and tho local associations arc, however, quietly working away, and the time is not far off when the scholars and parents will be so strong in their demands that the authorities will be unable to offer further resist, ance. Even though the game is not played under the name of Wellington College, it is a fact that there is a club —the playing members of which are all students at Wellington College, and they have a strong following of collego boys, too. Otago High School has a team.but Christchurch, while not refusing to allow tho boys to play, declines to allow them to play under the aegis of the school.. Tho two schools, however, met under these, con. ditions last year, and it is hoped it will now bo an annual event. This year six boys from a Christchurch elementary school gained entry into the college. Five of them were soccer players, and sought to be allowed to form a team, but wero refused. An appeal to be allowed to register twelve players under the nam c of the school was also turned down. Why? Because the master considered if soccer was permitted to cuter the college he would have difficulty in getting boys fur the Rugby teams, as soccer was more popular with the boys. Is this a good and sufficient excuse for the rigorous exclusion of soccer from the secondary schools? At tho last annual meeting of the New Zealand Council, Mr Skerrctt spoke of the fraternal feeling existing between the F, A. and the Rugby Union. If this is'a solid fact, and not mere "pcrsi. flage"—to use the president's own ex. pression when discussing another question —then the F.A. might well put the question to the Rugby Union if the attitude meets with their approval, and if Rugby requires steps of this kind to bolster it up. Not for one moment do we think this is iU<i case. Neither it is so in England, where soc. cer is the national game, but whero Rugby has its devotees, and the crowds wax enthusiastic over both codes, with, out trying to crush either out of existence.