ATTRACTIVE RUGBY

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10921, 23 August 1928, Page 5

ATTRACTIVE RUGBY

THIRD GRADE REP. MATCH RUSH NARROWLY BEATEN. There is still hope for Bush foothall. So long as the third grade division can produce fifteen players of the calibre of those who stepped out against the visiting Horowhenua representatives yesterday afternoon senior teams in the future can reckon on replenishing their ranks with rising players well worthy of the honour. Though Bush were heaten by 18 points to 14, those spectators who were present at the Recreation Ground yesterday will remember this match as one of the highlights of a very drab season. It was Rugby as it should he played, and as we certainly' like it played, clean, scientific, fast and open. To begin with Horowhenua brought over a very fine team, a beautiful set of backs, fast, heavy, combining cleverness with perfect combination. Rut the visitors were young men, the majority well past their teens, whereas the local players were still boys, only one or two being over eighteen years of age. What made matters more unequal was the very evident disparity in weight. On an average per man the Bush players must have given away several stone in weight and to look at the teams as they filed out Horowhenua should have been able to push their opponents off the paddock. But as events proved, for such a big pack, their pushing was surprisingly ineffectual. The game played by the Bush forwards was little short of amazing. In almost every department they simply outshone and outplayed their hefty 7 opponents. With a courage that deserved a better reward they tore into the fray and harassed the life out of the visiting vanguard and Inside backs. Never for a moment did they let up. In the loose, rush followed rush with relentless persistency and clever footwork had the ball under beautiful control. Only sterling defence saved Horowhenua frohi the onslaughts of the blues who came through, not in ones or twos, 7but in bunches. Esc-ott, Spring, Richardson, Gardiner, and T. O’Brien were in the limelight throughout but .1. O’Brien, Baker and Smith were grafters every hit as honest. It was when the ball got amongst flie Hoi •owhenua hacks that the Bush supporters held their breath. It was significant chat every try for the visitors was scored by members of The rearguard and curiously enough almost every move originated somewhere about the half-way line. Invariably. by their superior pace, the Horowhenua inside men would run tbs opposing line out of position and leave their own dangerous scoring wingers a clear run down the line to tlie full-back where a support, hacking up cleverly, would accept a reverse pass and go over. Merwood, Wallace, Macliers and Jones were always c-onpicuous in these movements. Nevertheless, the Bush backs, to a man, defended and frequently bore clown so suddenly on the opposing line as to break up a promising attack and turn it to account with a counter dribbling rush. The inside backs, Brady, Lett and Ali-Sherry. many times chased Through after strategic kicks by the latter and Lawton, and very often when the forwards had paved the way with a sweeping onslaught the hacks v.’ere close enough to the firing line to complete the work with a try. Horowhenua led 12 —5 at halftime hu e on changing over Bush set •the visitors dancing to a different tune and their score crept up till, amidst the greatest excitement, the local hoys, with only four minutes To go, took the lead at 14—12. They were all over Horowhenua in this sp°ll and were unlucky not to be further ahead. But victory was not To be their lot. From a very evident forward pass the visiting backs went away to score and snatch victory, setting the seal of merit on the achievement when Merwood raced Through to register another brilliant Try right on time. Errol Lett got Through an immense amount of work at half. He was a hard man to pull down with the ball and an even tougher proposition on defence. Brady tackled like a demon and was usually where the fight was thickest McSherry, the utility man in the Bush, having attained in one season, promotion from third grade to the height of senior representative honours. was invaluable for his coolness and experience and. together with Lawton, was responsible for some useful kicking. Horowhenua has extended an invitation for a return match at Levin and on their plav this season the thirds should he a better advertisement foi the Bush than either the seniors or juniors. If ever a team ■enint a. trip, then the Bush thirds did yesterday THE PLAYERS. Tim teams lined out as follows: Horowhenua (red and blue) : Edwards; Wallace Jones leapt.), Mathers : Merwood (I'. Hoklon (2); “Willott; Wyman, ltolpli ; Wilkinson; Smith, Feilding; Tippler, Butler; and Walton. Bush (blue): E Hirst; -T. Mills, Goss, Lawton ; Brady (1), McSherry (2)- Lett; .1. Richardson, Soring; T. O’Brien; Baker, J. O’Brien, Smith. Esc-ott; and Gardiner.

THE SCORING DESCRIBED. Playing with the sun and crosswind slightly in their favour, Horowhenua early attacked, a pretty passing bout ending by Merwood going over with the defence well beaten. The kick at goal was not successful : Horowhenua 3 —o. A mis-kic-k by a Pahiatua back let the reds dowu and in a scramble over the goal-line Jones scored for Horowhenua. The kick went close: Horowhenua 6 —o. Brady dribbled through for Bush and dived to tackle the fullback in possession. The home team were awarded a penalty but Lett’s kick fell short. A pretty passing rush by the red backs looked dangerous till a knock-on pulled the move up. From half-way the Bush forwards broke through in great style, Gardiner, T. O’Brien, and Richardson sweeping past the full-back. Gardiner picked up cleverly and sent a high pass out to Richardson who accepted and ran over for a nice try. Lett converted well: Horowhenua, 6 — 5. Playing with splendid dash the Bush forwards worried their opponents and kept the visitors defending. Lawton made a good run along the line and the forwards carried on to til© goal-line but the reds cleared. Errol Lett broke away and Richardson and McSherry dribbled on over the line only to see Horowhenua force. Then the visiting backs jumped iiifco action and some beautiful handling saw the winger, Mathers, reverse pass to his centre, Jones, to score a brainy try. The kick failed : Horowhenua, 9 —5. They were over again a minute later when the ball travelled out to the other wing where Wallace swerved over at the corner. The distance was too great for the kicker: Horowhenua, 12—5. Errol Lett nearly added three points for Bush with a fine long penalty kick. McSherry, Mills, and Lett made determined runs which ended with a strenuous melee on the line from which Horowhenua at last cleared after it looked as if Lett had struggled over. At half-time the score was still: Horowhenua 12 Bush 5

Horowhenua pressed at the opening of the second spell, good defence by Spring on two occasions holding up the attack. Merwood cut through strongly xo the lull-back, Lett intercepting his pass and ... clearing. Slowly the blue forwards worked down, a timely mark checking the attack. T. O’Brien led a footrush for Bush and Spring picked up to force his way over. Lett narrowly failed to goal: Horowhenua, 12 —8. Bush kept up the pressure and Escott made two good breaks through. Lett worked the blind but Mills lost the ball and Merwood - lined nicely. Eseott and Richardson led the Bush forwards back to the attack and an irresistible rush saw play sweep’ over the Horowhenua goal-line for Brady to dive over and score a fine try. Lawton failed to add the major points: Horowhenua, 12—11. This spurred the visitors and their backs raced away in attractive fashion. The winger, Wallace, tore for the corner and passed out but offside spoilt a certain try. Eseott broke from the ruck, Edwards clearing cleverly. Eric Hirst was caught in possession and the visitors got on the attack, Eseott however, dribbling clear again. The red full-hack fumbled and Brady bore down to scoop the hail up. He stumbled and failed to give a good pass to Mills who had a rare opportunity. Bush hammered away to the accompaniment of wild cheering and at last their efforts were rewarded. Mills dropped back to defend and kicked far down on the visitors' goal-line with the blues chasing it hard. The red full-back fumbled as Brady, following up, bustled him. Goss arrived in the nick of time to dive and score a good try. putting Bush in the lead. Lett failed to goal: Bush. 14 —12. Still the bines fought like tigers and hemmed Horowhenua on their line. Gardiner broke through and bustled the full-back but kicked just too hard and the visitors forced. In the last minute a miskick let the red hacks away and Mothers raced for the corner. Hirst, however, held him up and the defence rallied. The reds came again and the winger, Mathers, taking a glaring forward pass, dashed over at the corner for a determined try with Hirst hanging to his heels. The kick failed: Horowhenua, 15 —14. Bush made one final effort to retrieve the position but a cross-kick bounced badly Rathe home winger and Merwood, picking up. raced clean away, swerved past Hirst, and scored a brilliant solo try for the visitors, making the final score: Horowhenua 18 Bush 14 Mr A. Henry was not strict enough on infringements.