HARD SENIOR GAME

Chronicle (Levin), 22 July 1946, Page 7

HARD SENIOR GAME

HUI MAI AND ATHLETIC DRAW One of the hardest and fastest games seen this season was piayed 011 Saturday at the Levin Park Domain when Athletic and Hui Mai seniors played to a draw, six all. Ileavy rain fell during the greater part of the match, making the ball greasy and hard to handle. The recently-renovated grandstand was packed to capacity, and tliose who were less fortunate took shelter beside the stand and underneath the trees while the rain lasted. The crowd was tne biggest yet seen at the domain this season. The game was confined mainly to the hard working forwards, and any back movements attempted were spoilt by the slippery ball. The two full-backs, Page and Skilton, were both hard worked and both played well under the conditions. At times they made aggressive runs, and their linekicking saved their respective sides 011 many occasions. Only oue try was scored during the match, all the other points coining from penalties, and the final score oi six all was a fair indication of the game, which was lcept at a very fast clip throughout. Play continually swung from one end of the field to the other and the crowd was kept 011 its toes as eacli side struggled to gaiir the upper hand. The teams were as follows: — Hui Mai (Green): Page, Cook. Bevan, Rangiwlietu, Ransfield, Corbett. Mather. Heperi, R. Robinson, I. Robinson, Lander, King, Te Hiwi, McCashin and Wallace. Athletic ( Blue ) : Skilton, Stevens, Hudson, Everton, Galloway, Batten, Blenkhorn, Carkeek, Lomas, Morris, Cjrbishley, Fletcher, Denion, O'Donnell and Palmer. Athletic kicked off into a strong breeze, but the Hui Mai forwards promptly took the ball back into Athletic ' territory, where the game remained for most of the first half. Both seis oi forwards settled down to hard play, with Hui Mai forcing tjie pace ail the time. Following scme particularly hard play. Hui Mai took the ball to Athletic's line, where scrum after scriun was set down. Wallace. the Hui Mai half. repeatedly attemp_ ed to break through 011 the biillu lide near the corner, but he was stopped every time. Stevens at last eased the pressure when he put his boot to

the ball and kicked it out by ' the twenty-five. Hard and fast play was again forced by Hui Mai until half-time when there was no score. From the kick-off, Athletic cracked on the pace and after five minutes of hard play, the blue forwards, led by Fietcher, Corbishley and Denton, took the ball in a rush to just beneath the posts. A ruck fonned and Blenkhorn, on receiving the ball, threw it out to Everton, who just managed to get over. A good attempt by Galloway failed. Athletic 3, Hui Mai 0. The Hui Mai forwards came back in a d'eiermined rush and took the ball to Athletic's twenty-five, where an infringement enabled Rangiwhetu, the former league player, r,o equalise with an easy kick. Athletic 3, Hui Mai 3. Hui Mai again forced the play into the blue twenty-five until Palmer led the Athletic forwards back to half-wav in a dribbling rush. The line-out formed into a ruck, and Blenkhorn snapped up the ball and made a spectacular solo run, which had the crowd on its feet. He ran up into the green twenty-five and in passing out he accidentally threw the ball forward. Cook then took tlie ball back to the blue line, where the situation looked dangerous until Athletic were awarded a penalty and Galloway cleared with •i gocd line kick. Fietcher was playing a good game and with tne rest of the blue pack he rushed the ball back to the Hui Mai twentyfive. A penalty was awarded to Athletic right in front of the posts, and Galloway with an effortless kick brought the score to Athletic 6,. Hui Mai 3. The game was straight away taken back to Athletic's twentyfive and after some hard forward play a penalty was awarded to Hui Mai right on time. Ran gi whetu again made no mistake with the kick, bringing the sccre as the final whistle blew to Athletic 6, Hui Mai 6. Mr. C. E. Wiseley was the referee.