OTAKI BEAT WANDERERS

Chronicle (Levin), 24 June 1946, Page 8

OTAKI BEAT WANDERERS

RAGGED GAME AT LEVIN Otaki and Wanderers seiiiors spared no efforts in their attempts to gain, and hold the upper han'd "in Saturday's mateh at the Levin Domain. However, Otaki, playing hard and fast football, piled up eleven points in the first half, and did score in the second spell, but iyere content for the most part to h'oid the advantage and stall by spoiling tactics any move on the part oi Wanderers which threatened to score. The result was that the game in the second spell was undecided and although not laclcing in pace and excitement, saw no outstanding team movements. The players certainly became more enthusiastic as the game drew to a close, and the ambulance men in attendance were kept • busy. Although the game was apparently greatly enjoyed by the crowd, it lacked that fast open character which' is so delightful to watch. However, the Otaki backs, when pivpn the onnortunitvri nrovided

some bright football. They made occasional use of the long lob paSs. as featured by the Kiwis, which helped to open the game up a bit. Wanderers put up a good show and were unlucky on several occasions not to score. In the second hs,lf they kept the game inside Otaki's end of the field, but tlle fierce defensive play of Otaki prevented them scoring, although at times it seemed almost certain that they would eross the line. The forwards of both sides were fairly evenly matched in the scrums, and, if anything, Wanderers had a slight advantage in hooking. The ground was in good c.ondiuon, so that the scrums were holding quite well, although twisting a good deal. Perhaps the most conspicuous player on the field v/cs A. Hakaraia, who started a number of good back movements by his nippy and enterprising play. P. Hakaraia, at second five-eighths, also played a good game. Hapeta played a sound game at full-back for Wanderers. The teams were: — Wanderers: Hapeta. Seymour, Edmondson,- P. Winiata, MacCready, Donald, Nepia, Morgan, Hooper, Lincoln, Meads, Hobson, L. Winiata and Milroy. Otaki: G. Enoka, L. Enoka, Henry, W. Johnson, G. Johnson, P. Hakaraia, M. Hakaraia, Gordon, Huff. Tom Grey, T. Grey, Winter -

bui-i, Pa.iri, Price and Hakaraia. Following the kick-eff by Wanderers, Otaki forced the pace. and for the first few minutes play was ciose to Wanderers' line. Wanderers warmed up and retaliated by taking the ball back to the Otaki half. From then on the game was mere even, but, following a scrum near the line, A. Hakaraia ran knrcugh, passed to P. Hakaraia, | who dashfcd over to score about ten | yards from the post. The kick faili ed, so that the score was Otaki 3, Wanderers nil. After this the pace became hotter, with Wanderers playing in the Otaki half, but not gaining the linitiative. At this stage play was fairly open. The next points came to Otaki from a penalty, awarded right before the posts. It was an easy kick for A. Hakaraia, wno ! rrtised Otaki's score to six points. | Bright play followed this try, and Otaki attacked strongly. Roiri was j the next to score, gathering the ball in from loose play in the Wanderers' twenty-five, and crossing theline at a point which made ther. on vernon simple for' Huff.' Otaki11. Wanderers 0. Shortly after this I Wanderers were unlucky, when a penalty kick by Donald hit the post. Wanderers did most of the attaeking in the second half, except for one or two determined efforts by Otaki, which nearly added to the total. The remainder of the game was hard and fast, but without team movements. There was no further score so that "the game ended with Otaki the winners by 11 points to nil. *Mr. C. E. Wiseley was the rci'eree.