BEBBINGTON SHIELD

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12078, 23 June 1932, Page 5

BEBBINGTON SHIELD

DANNEVIRKE BEAT BUSH 5-3 AN EXCITING TUSSLE. The Bebbington Shield has gone. Dannevirke wrested it from Bush, ob the Showgrounds yesterday, by five points to three, in as exciting a tussle as one could wish to see on a ground made wet and sticky by almost a week of heavy rain. The greasy ball made handling very uncertain, but luckily the rain cleared off for the afternoon. Despite all the heavy rain, however, the ground appeared to be surprisingly good, clear evidence of the perfect system of draining carried out lately by the Bush Union after ds purchase of the ground. As it Happened, the third-grade curtainraiser nnglit easily have been played, but the Union wisely decided to take no risks of cutting up the surface. Under the circumstances the attendance was quite gratifying and a large contingent of Dannevirke supporters journeyed over to give their team its full share of vocal -encouragement. Their outspoken confidence proved not to he unfounded. For weeks Dannevirke prepared for this encounter, and yesterday they reaped the reward due to a properly coached and thoroughly fit fifteen. No• one will begrudge them their hard-won victory: They played .good football, took full advantage of the fewer opportunities offered them, and once they had established their slight lead hung to it, "tenaciously, to the bitter end. Some will say that Bush were unlucky to lose. Perhaps they were. But the element of luck enters into all sport and even though they met defeat they met it grandly. They went down with colours flying and if they had made up that two-point leeway (as they came so very near to doing on countless occasions) even Dannevirke must then have admitted that Bush secured only what they deserved on the run of play. Bush started shakily and the challengers caught them napping to score a rather simple try in the ■corner which Grant improved with a great place-kick. Mahoney was the means of equalising with a fine try soon after for the holders, but Olivant had no luck with the kick and the greasy ball screwed away from his boot. That was the end of the scoring. Exchanges in the first half continued very even, the slight superiority of the home pack being more than matched by the enterprise of the Dannevirke rearguard. In tlie second spell, with the breeze slightly" favouring Bush, there was a. rather different story. what they were up against Bush forwards rose nobly to th« occasion and received much fuller support from their backs. Dannevirke were hemmed in their own half and how they stood up to the fierce battering of the Bush vanguard must remain a mystery to all. But they" did it. They kept their line intact and at the slightest opening away would race the yellow backs and set the holders scurrying to defend. Their physical fitness stood wonderfully to them in countering the fierce rushes of the red forwards and in the last quarter they- were able to stage a final rallywhich dashed the hopes of the home supporters. It was a thrilling encounter all through, not ' for the brillian e of hack play, but for the intense earnestness of each side, the determination to do or die which marked every action, every fluctuation of the game. It need scarcely he said that Bush did not reproduce the amazing form displayed last week against Wairarapa. In the loose the forwards, in the second half only, were nearly as dashing, but they met a team of tacticians who preferred, as occasion suggested, to keep it tight. There was no doubt about it, the Dannevirke forwards knew how to scrummage. Henderson and Beck, exBush men both, made ideal locks and many times the visiting vanguard broke through in a body to harrass the local inside backs, with Sewell and McKay the danger in the loose. Percy Wolland had a heavy day- of it to stop their rushes ■ hut be seldom shirked his task, and w-hen the attack swept over him there was always Mason, a rock on ■ defence, who saved the Bush time and time again. He and Horace Wolland were easily the hardest worked of the Bush backs. The remainder fell below expectations. Both full-backs started uncertainly. Olivant wore gloves but his handling at times was very disappointing. He discarded the gloves in the second spell and his game improved but his kicking lacked the usual brilliancy". He did some indifferent work and then some re/Coveries equally brilliant. Certainly he never gave any points away and was the means of saving many but the fact remains he was not up to his usual high standard and the greasy leather had him troubled. He' had one of those unaccountable off day-s when he could do scarcely anything right, not even kick effectively. But the kicking of most of the Bush backs was ill-directed, in striking contrast to that of the challengers. Peeti was undoubtedly Dannevirke’s mainstay. His linekicking was a brilliant feature of the day’s play and repeatedly he placed his team on attack with powerful punts to touch. The other backs were smart and moved nicely in the passing rushes whereas the Bush backs were slow-footed and never looked like framing a really dangerous attack. The Bush forwards played soundly and well. At times their smashing rushes rose to great heights. Mahoney’s lineont play was a. prominent feature for the principal part of the game and he produced some of his very best form. Galvin, Mabe.v, Oliver, Gunn, and towards the end, Mitchell. were all conspicuous at times but Galvin was penalised too frequently for off-side play due to JLit;erness in getting ahead of the j j n footrushe&L

The teams lined out as under: BUSH (Maroon and Blue). Full-back: D. Olivant. Three-quarters: H. Wolland, B. Udy, J. Walker. Five-eighths: Mason (1), A. Mills (2). Half: P. Wolland. Front row: Sargisson S Oliver, G. Mabey. Second row: A. Mahoney, J. Gunn, Welch. W. Mitchell. Rover: J. Galvin (captain). DANNEVIRKE (Yellow and Black). Full-hack: Godfrey. Three-quarters: Cochrane, Grant, Brogan. Five-eighths: Peeti (1), Te Ture (2). Half: Woppy Hopi. Front row: R. Smith, Pearson, L. Anderson. Second row: Sewell, Beck, Henderson, Hagan. Back row: McKay. GLIMPSES OF THE GAME, Dannevirke kicked off from the south end and when play settled down they were pressing. Horace Wolland followed up a kick and nearly got away but he knocked on and was recalled. Cochrane secured on the wing and centred dangerously for Bush hut Mason cleared in fine style. A short kick by Peeti gained further ground for ‘ Dannevirke. Off-side play by the Bush forwards let Dannevirke down. The yellow backs secured and were off in attractive style. Peeti backed up round his winger and tore for the corner. Olivant held him up near the line and the ball dropped to the ground. Cochran© jumped onto it as it rolled over the line but the ball had gone out and a lineout was ordered. Dannevirke secured and Cochrane dived across at the corner for a try while Bush looked on. Grant added the major points with a. magnificent kick from the side-line, and the visitors were jubilant: Dannevirke 5 Bush 0 Dannevirke kept at it and then Galvin, in midfield, kicked high and the full-back came up to get it. Mason and Mahoney were bearing down on him and Godfrey fumbled. Mahoney dribbled on and snapped up near .the line with three yellow men round him. He hurled himself into the hunch and ducked down to force the leather over the goal-line as the yellows fell on him. It was a fine solo try near the posts, but Olivant had no luck with a simple kick and the score read: Dannevirke 5 Bush 3

Galvin and Oliver soon carried the play to enemy territory again. The Bush vanguard burst through and Peeti was mobbed hut a red forward kicked too hard and Dannevirke easily forced. The Dannevirke forwards set up a dribbling rush hut Anderson got off-side and Olivant gained forty yards with a great line-kick past’ lialt-way. Horace Wolland improved the position with another line-kick, hut later Mitchell came too fast round a scrum, was penalised, and the advantage to Bush was lost. Mahoney was putting in some splendid work on the line-out and Mason was playing a great defensive game. Walker put in a fine long line-kick to the visitors’ twenty-five where Galvin was penalised lor getting off-side round a scrum. Bush began to press once more but Peeti drove them out with a good kick. Again Galvin was penalised for off-side play and this time Peeti lined over forty yards downfield, the cross breeze assisting him. The yellow backs tried to get going but Te Tore fumbled. Busli got within striking distance and McKay got off-side. Olivant took a long shot at goal from out to the side but allowed a fraction too much for the breeze and the leather sailed outside the upright. Peeti ran out and lined down at the half-way. Peeti put Dannevirke on attack with a lovely long kick to touch, 5 el lows stormed the lino and the backs opened but were smothered and after a battle royal under the posts Stan Oliver kicked clear to Cochrane who took a “pot” but missed and the ball went dead. Peeti found the line again in tlie Bush corner and Brogan gave it a go on the wing hut Horace Wolland saved the situation. Brogan got in. a long line-kick which Olivant just failed to field before it slithered into touch. Henderson broke away strongly and passed to Cochrane who slung it infield and Te Ture ran Grant into position but the latter knocked on and Bush were saved. Galvin fought clear from here and Mahoney and Mason carried oil. Reds were going strongly when Brogan secured and booted down to Olivant who fumbled but recovered and found the line. The Dannevirke forwards, McKay in the ran, broke through strongly but Mason, P. Wolland and Alec Mills went down in grand style on the ball. As one of the visitors dived to force Mason was too quick for him and was onto it a fraction sooner than his opponent. Half-time then sounded, the score being: Dannevirke 5 Bush 3 On resuming, Bush had the slight breeze advantage. Galvin was penalised for getting off-side as the Bush forwards broke through but it was a very fine decision. Bush broke through strongly and Mills and Sargisson were in the van. A Kush hack rush broke down and Brogan intercepted and made away hut Horace Wolland grabbed him and Udy and Olivant cleared. Bush staged a brilliant onslaught, hacks and forwards joining in. Excitement was at fever heat but Dannevirke defended grimly. Reds were hustling hard now in characteristic style. Mason made a dash to get through hut was stopped at last and Alec Mills kicked on. Mason next kicked through onto the fullback but yellows rallied to save. A pass among the home hacks went astray and Grant was nearly away. Yellow’s hacked him up to accept the pass which, however, was forward and a dangerous situation was cleared for reds. Dannevirke came again and Olivant cleared well. Olivant fumbled a moment Inter hut cleared smartly and followed alter his grubber kick. Ho downed

the mai in possession and from there Bush swept on, Mahoney and Gumi figuring at the head of a spectacular onslaught. When the attack was checked, Oliver and Mitchell got it going again and hurled themselves at the line. Gunn and Horace Wolland were tearing through a moment later and Peeti was there to stop the try. His clearing kick fell short and Horace Wolland scooped it up and dodged for the line. He tried to dive over at the corner but was forced out just in time. From the line-out Mahoney dribbled clean over but a Dannevirke man heat him to the force-down. Olivant went close with a long “pot” at goal. The visitors finally worked free but were penalised. Udy kicked far down and Mahoney tore after it. He charged the clearing kick brilliantly and reds bore down on the line, the sphere rolling out. As Dannevirke tried to clear, Olivant raced up and held the advantage, A moment later he fielded and lined another ball thirty yards down. Peeti made away and kicked up to Olivant who got in a mighty punt far down to the visitors’ corner, fully fifty yards. He was right on his game now. The next minute he was called upon to field it when racing at top. He took it cleanly and chased his kick, downing Peeti in possession. Mason scooped up and tried a quick “pot” which went low and yellows battled clear. Peeti put his team on attack with one of his perfect line1 lie visiting hacks tried to open hut were smartly smothered. Peeti had half his jersey ripped off him. Mason kicked down well but Godfrey was safe and sent the reds hack. The Dannevirke vanguard got oil the move hut Walker went down gamely on the ball and later made ft dribbling run along the side-line. The Bush hacks opened and Mason cut in. His pass was intercepted and yellows cleared. Mason again placed Bush on tlie attack. Mitchell and Mabey tried to battle through the luck and a scrum was formed on the visitors’ line. A scrum infringement here gave Bush a golden opportunity and Olivant took the kick which passed a hare six inches outside the right upright. It was a close thing. Time was getting on. Galvin and Mabey started a footrush from half-way but a red man got off-side. Again the red ""anguard was making away hut Olliver this time got in front. Udy put a lovely line-kick down to the yellow twentyfive but Dannevirke dribbled free. The yellow hacks opened dangerously hut Alee Mills tackled Brogan low as lie was making for the corner and the situation was saved. Olivant fumbled a low ball and a scruiu was ordered on the' Bush twenty-five. Peeti found the line neatlv and then kicked too hard, the ball going out behind. Dannevirke broke through, ball at toe. Olivant went resolutely to meet the onslaught and stopped the rush hut as he went down he got a kick on the head and play had to he suspended momentarily. The Dannevirke backs staged a wonderful passing rush and Cochrane tore for the corner. Olivant went across and got him brilliantly and reds rallied to clear in the nick of time. Mabey, Galvin and H. Wolland set a Bush attack going. Mitchell and Gunn carried on hut yellows rallied and the hacks staged a pretty bout of passing to take play past half-way again. For tlie remaining few minutes the visitors were ill the ascendancy and when the final whistle blew they walked off the field of battle proud victors with the score reading: Dannevirke 5 Bush 3 Mr Blake (Wairarapa) refereed in an impartial manner. (-OM.PL 1 ,MKNTA R Y 1) I NXE I} . Hie visitors were subsequently entertained to dinner at the Club Hotel by the Bush Union when the local president (Mr R. .1. Smith) handed the Bebbington Shield over to the Dannevirke team’s manager. Ml!" H. Eredericksen. The usual toasts were honoured. MANGATAINOKA SEN 10R TEAM The Mangatainoka senior team to play Hamua, at the Showgrounds on .Saturday next at 2.30 p.m. sharp, will be picked from the following : Oliver, Sharplin, Compton (2), Fuller, Hunt, Skilton, Moynahan, Lett (2), Walker, Lawton, Harris, Griffin, Brown, Michael, Angclini. Braddick and Polglase. ALL BLACKS’ FIRST MATCH. TEAM FOR SATURDAY. United Press Assn.— By Electric I elegra pli—Copyright. SYDNEY, June 22. Ihe All Black team against New South Waleo in the opening match on Saturday is as follows: Backs: Collins, Ball, CUughey, BullockDouglns, Page, Lilburne, Pollock (one to be omitted), Kilby (captain) ; forwards: Solomon, Max, McLean, Steere, Purdue, Metcalfe, Oottrill, Palmer and Jessep (one to. he omitted).