WELL-FOUGHT GAME

Chronicle (Levin), 27 May 1946, Page 7

WELL-FOUGHT GAME

HUI MAI SENIORS BEAT OTAKI Hui Mai and Otaki seniors .met on the Otaki Domain on Saturday. ! when a well-contested game event- | ually ended in Hui Mai's favour bj; !six points to three. Both sides I fought hard for supremacy -and there was little to choose between I the teams. Otaki started off well ! but condition eventually told. As in the preceding game, play was [field up on several occasions on j account of spectators encroaching on the field. ! From the kick-off play was sent jto Hui Mai territory, Arda Hakaraia being mainly instrumental ; and it was only good play by Cor j bett that prevented a score. Mcj Caskin and Robinson were tlien prominent for the visitors, anc Otaki accepted a force-down tc save. Then Engels, who had been playing a splendid game, was forced to have the attention of the ambulance men. He continued on for & time, playing gamely, but eventu- | ally had to retire. Bevan, Cook anci

Rawhete proved of great assistance to Hui Mai, being well catered for by Ransfield, Page and Lewis. These piayers, although up against a stiff proposition worked well. Gordon, Hakaraia, Winterburn and JohnSon made few mistakes, throwing the ball about in good style. Passing generally was good, though occasionally erratic, and it was on such occasions that Hui Mai made the most of opportunities. Gordon and Hakaraia, heady and fleet-of-foot piayers, made determined efforts to pierce the defence, but this proved equal to the occasion and the visitors frequently retaliated, gaining the advantage in scrum and lineout play. While on defence Otaki were lucky to stop Hui Mai scoring, accepting a force-down just in time. The pressure was maintainen and Rawhete goaied from a penalty kick, thus giving Hui Mai a three-point advantage. Two piayers who were afterwards well in the limelight were John Winterburn and Lander, while Rawhete missed a score by a narrow margin. Otaki maintained a solid defence and when they did attack made good but futile attempts to cross the line. The spell ended in favour of Hui Mai by three points to nil. Otaki set out to wipe off the deficit, and were soon on attack. Solid and even play ensued in the melees that followed. The Hakafais and Gordon made repeated attempts to score, and had the able assistance of Winterburn and George Johnson. Huff was also putting in good kicks. While on defence Gordon made an injudicious kick across field, with the result that Cook took advantage of it. He dashed for the ball, gathered it in on the bounce and crossed the line. Heperi failed in the kick at goal. Hui Mai 6, Otaki nil. For a time Hui Mai were on the ascendancy and played good football,

showing better form than their opponents. However, Otaki, game. to the last, worked well, and owing to Hui Mai being over-anxious to stem off an attack a penalty was awarded against them. Arda Hakaraia kicked a neat goal to make the score Hui Mai 6, Otaki 3. The latter worked hard for further points, but Hui Mai were not to be denied, strenuous efforts on their part keeping Otaki from striking • distance. Thus the game ended. Mr. L. Smith carried the whistle, while men of the St. John Ambulance Brigade rendered good service to the piayers who were injured. ' ' ■ -