THE BEBBINGTON SHIELD

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 13904, 11 July 1938, Page 5

THE BEBBINGTON SHIELD

RETAINED BY BUSH HAXNEV IHKE BEATKX 9—l>. Or.ce again Bush proved that they are a hard team to beat on their own ground when they defeated a stronfely fancied Gannarvsrke team and retained the BeblEngtosi Shield by a three point margin. Over 200 Dannevirke fans had come tnrough to help lift the Shield, and their lusty barracking was a feature of the match. Conditions tor the game were by no means ideal, a heavy sticky giound and a greasy ball keeping movements slow in the backs. The football was at times exciting but never productive of any brilliant play. Back movements were ragged and lacked snap, both sides preferring to play the line—an excellent tactical move, but not one that is conducive of good football. Bush forwards packed well, but ' their loose rushes were not up to the standard for which Bush is noted. Individual players were outstanding in these rushes, but there were none of those fine pack rushes which are usually a feature of local football. Dannevirke forwards also played in a ragged way and though they gamed more possession of the ball front set scrums, Busli were superior in rucks and line outs. Dannevirke backs were dangerous always, but good smoothering bv the fast-moving Bush forwards minimised good work by the visiting insides. Bush backs always in the picture picture were Tait, McSherrv and Staples. The latter two had a good deal of work to do and did it well, beth saving Bush from dangerous attacks by good kicking. Hunt made good use of the chances he did get ar.cl outside him Tait ran hard and handled well, and showed that he was well worth his place. Neither Lett nor Twentyman showed their usual form. Lett was slow with his passes and his handling was weak, while Twentyman, though he improved as the game progressed, did not handle well. Brown, at full-back, was as safe as the proverbial church, and handled and kicked ilawlessly He was the outstanding hack on the field Forwards who showed up well in the loose were Fergus, Connell and Verrv. Connell was always on the ball and seemed to be tireless. Fergus j was responsible for some fine rushes and Verry, TJpston and Bailey got through a great amount of work in the tight. The pick of the Dannevirke backs *®Lc‘'re Grant, at five-eighths and Basat full-back. Both wer e sound ar.d* kicked well. O’Brien at centre, played a heady game and half-back Barton gave his backs a good share of the hall. No Dannevirke forward was outstanding above the others in the pack. The game was an even one with Hush having a slight edge both on the run of play and territorially. However tlu l game might easily have resulted differently and in the closing stages with the score at 6—all Dannevirke looked dangerous. However Bush put the matter beyond •dcuht when Connell and Twentyman dribbled through for the former to ■score a fine try. THE PLAY. Dannevirke kicked off and from a scrum their backs went away but a dropped pass let Bush through into ■yellow territory where Kerr cleared. From another back movement Grant stab-kicked and the Dannevirke forwards took play to the Busli line. Bucking plav saw Miller secure and lined well down. The yellow backs .again attacked but good tackling by Bush stopped the rush. From a scrum Harris worked the blind to send to Reeves who was well grassed. Bush secured a penalty for lifting and Brown sent play back to midfield. Bush were getting much the worse exchanges at this stage, and when Dew came through to the Bush line a try looked certain until Brown got the ball away. The yellow lme swung into action again and Miller was ]allied down in the Bush 25. Bush hook**d the ball from the next scrum -and sent to McSherry to Staples who was collared in possession. From a melee Tait picked up and set the backs goiag, McSherry kicking for the line. O'Brien secured and raced to half-way where Lett set his backs offi again. The pace was torrid and the crowd was wildly ex- j cited. The yellow forwards attacked •again and after a ruck Small secured and handed to Reeves who scored about ten yards from the sideline, about ten yards from the side-line. The kick was disallowed. Dannevirke -I Bush 9 From the kick-off Staples and Tait were prominent in a good back move. Brown from a free kick sent play into Dannevirke territory, the Bush forwards held play there, bottling up the yellow backs. Bailey broke through but was pulled down ©n the line. Bassett cleared but Busli came back. Yellow forwards headed by O’Brien broke away and took play to Bush 25 where Bush was penalised—Grant's kick missed and Brown sent play back to half-way.. Connell Staples and Luke went through, and staples Ihr‘w away a sure try by passing when on the line. Bassett lired at the 25, but Connell came through in a dribbling rush which ended in a try. Bassett fell on the ball but dicl not touch it with his hands so his lorce-down was disallowed. Tait missed an easy kick. Dannevirke 3 Bush 3 Dannevirke went on attack again and Grant and Kerr were prominent jii a play which ended in the Bush 25. From a lineout Bush forwards broke through. Tait picked up and cross-kicked. Staples secured and handed on to Twentyman who went over well out for a god try. Tait failed to convert. Bush r > Dannevirke 3

The whistle blew for half-time a few minutes later. On resumption it appeared that ■both teams were under instructions to play the line for stab-kicks a la Springbok were used all through the second half. Bush backs began to put more snap in their work and a good back movement saw AlcSherry cut in nicely to set Bush on attack. The yellow forwards broke through and Kerr picked up to send t 0 Aliller to O'Brien who was grassed just short of the line. From a scrum Reeves almost got over but Brown secured and lined beautifully near half-way. From the lineout Lett sent to Staples who cut m nicely. A free-kick relieved Dannevirke and sent them on attack. Thu yellow forwards were doing much better now and had Bush bustled. Grant kicked through and a series of scrums on the Bush line kept the pace hot until Bailey broke through. Harris got his backs going again and this time Fergus cleared. Dannevirke forwards came again and several Dannevirke rushes spelled trouble for Bush. Verry and Luke came through fast and Twentyman carried play to the y*• 11 o\v 25, where an off-side by Bailey got Dannevirke out of trouble. Bush forwards were now dominating play and a rush almost ended in a try. Luke, Connell and Verry were again prominent and a few minutes later Fergus got away nicely to be taken by Bassett who set the yellows on attack again. Sewell went through but a knock-on stopped play and AleSherry sent play back to halt-way. At this stage Kerr at second-five-eighths exchanged places with Bassett at full-back. Bassett and Grant \v(lit through and Dannevirke attacked hotly. An infringement by Bush right in front saw Harris make no mistake with the kick. Bush 6 Dannevirke 6 With ten minutes to go, excitement was running high. Bush crowded through to the yellow line but Kerr cleared and Dannevirke went on attack. Staples sent play down field but the visitors came back and a forward battle took place in Bush territory. PTunt picked up and sent to Twentyman who took play to the Dannevirke 25. Bassett stmt on to Grant \t*ho lined well. Bush came again and Staples found touch at half-way. McSherry and Hunt cut through but were downed and the ball went to Connell who dribbled through and went over for a fine try. Twentyman failed with the kick. Bush 9 Dannevirke 6 With a minute to go Dannevirke attacked fiercely but the local defence held and the game ended a few minutes later for two very tired teams. Rush 9 Dannevirke 6 Air. Alatson of Wairarapa, was the referee.