HARD TUSSLE DRAWN

Chronicle (Levin), 20 May 1946, Page 4

HARD TUSSLE DRAWN

WANDERERS AND FOXTON Some interesting and bright f'ootb.all was seen in the senior game at Levin Domain between Wanderers and Foxton, which was drawn. The backs of both sides saw a good deal of tjie ball, which quie'ken.ed the pace of the game and made it more pnjoyable for both spectators and players. During the first half Foxton l$,d a decided advantage, pi-essing hard with vigor.ous back and fofwjard play_ which tested the \yande.rers' defence considerably. In the second half -play was more even,' with both sides fighting it out as hard as they could go. With only a few minutes to go and the scores still even, t'here was great excitement as the two teams difj their best fo get deciding points. The teams which took the field were as follows: — Wanderers : Hapeta, Broughton, E&moiydson, Taylor, Winiata, Herer maia, Wehipeihana, Meads, Morgan, H. Adams, B-. Adams, Milroy, Nepia, J. Winiata and Hobson. Foxton-: PJfillips, MdNeii, Whaka,

Preston, N. Brown, Robinson, R. Smith, Graham, G. Hirini, Jarvis, H. Robinson, Evans, Holden, J. Betty and A. Winiata. Foxton began the scoring after a short spell of offensive play in the | Wanderers' half, Evans taking the j ball over in the corner after .receiviing it from Robinson, who had j gained possession in a loose ruck in Wanderers' twenty-five. The kick failed, so the score stpod at 3 — 0 at the end of the first five minutes' play. Wanderers fchen took | the ball into Foxton's territopy, but ( A. Winiata sent play back to Wani derers' half with a good kick. From i a scrum on the Wanderers' twenty- | pve, Foxton's forwards broke 'through and J. Betty, foliowing up, i scored, bringing the. Foxton total to ;Six. .The, kick failed. For th,e, rest of this half both sides fought, fot, the. Jnitiatiyje, although Foxton' had ' a ter ritoiqal ' advantage ,for m'ost of the . tim'e. , The Foxton backs got away several times in good t.style and were ; unliieky not. to score... again. One i particularly fine passing movement', j which seemed almost certain to jbring a try, ended by the winger ! going in:o touch only a few ya'rds | from the line. Foliowing this, the game went back and forward until H.» Adams got the ball and took- it to within ■ scoring distance of the Foxton line. Wanderers nearly ; scored after foliowing up a free ! kick in the Foxton twenty-five. A Foxton player fell on the ball just ; in time. Wanderers kept up the ; attack, which was finally relieved ; by the Foxton forwards breaking through and sending the game i back to half-way. This type of play continued, with neither side holding much advantage, until the ; whistle blew at half -time with the score still at 6 — 0 in Foxton's favour. ; The second half began with determined efforts by Wanderers to , score and any attempts by Foxton to take play into Wanderers' half were checked in the early stages. A | good solo run by Broughton took the 1 game back to Foxton's end of the ; ground. After a short spell of this play, Wanderers' first points were | scored when J. Winiata took the r ball over from loose play in the 'Foxton twenty-five. The attempt , at conversion failed, making the score 6 — 3 in Foxton's favour. j Foliowing this the ball went for la short time into the Wanderers' jhalf, but a break-through to Foxi ton's twenty-five by Wanderers' 'forwards gave them the initiative, i and Broughton soon went over after picking up from Meads. The score was then 6 — 6'. Both sides then made great .efforts to score, and play brightened up a good deal. Wanderers continued to attack strongly, and until Hirini saved the situation for Foxton with a kick which went into touch at half-way the game was dominated by the Wanderers forwards, who kept up a fast pace for the remainder of the game. A well-judged line kick from behind a scrum by Hirini gave Foxton the chance to penetrate into Wanderers' territory, and a strong attack by the Foxton forwards was stopped by Hapeta, whose safe handling atfull-back saved his side on numerous oceasions. With both teams striving to add the' points necessary to win, the game continued at a pace which grew hotter as time went on. Foxton made several attempts which made things rather an'xious' for Wanderers, and on one occasion Evans was very unlueky not *to score. Hapeta managed to fall on the ball and roll it into touch almost on the line. Foliowing this, the game was Undecided, although the -pace did not slacken, and when the final whistle blew Wanderers and Foxton were still hard at it, keeping the spectators on their toes right .up to the last minute. With no further score the game ended a draw, 6—6. Mr. F. Carrington proved a capable referee.