HUI MAI WIN HARD GAME

Chronicle (Levin), 19 August 1946, Page 7

HUI MAI WIN HARD GAME

PLAY-OFF IN SENIOR SECOND ROUND

In one of the hardest and fastest games of the season, a very large gathering of spectators saw Hui Mai beat Athletic by eight points to six. They thus won the second round of the championship and lifted the McLennan and Easton Cups, which Athletic have held for most of the season. The weather was disappointing to those who had hoped to see the two rearguards at their best, a thick drizzling rain militating against good handling. The outstanding players of the day were Page, the Hui Mai fullback, and Blenkhorn, the Athletic half. Page was safe at all times and besides saving his side on several occasions, he also started sorne good back moves with his determined runs. Blenkhorn played aggressively all day, and his nippiness and varying tactics had his opponents guessing. Both packs were hard worked and the most prominent among thern were Heperi and McCashin (Hui Mai) and Corbishley and Fletcher (Athletic ) . The game itself was very even and the half time score of three all had many enthusiasts wondering if it was going to be another draw. The final advantage could have gone to either side, as play fluctuated continually from one end of the field to the other and the crowd was on its toes every few moments as each side would nearly score, but would be frustrated at the last minute. A feature of the game was that each side had been successful with a penalty goal and a try, the deciding points coming from the conversion of Heperi's try by Rangiwhetu. The teams were as follows: — Athletic (Bluel : Skilton, Stevens, Batten, Henson, Hudson, Galloway, Blenkhorn, P. O'Donnell. Bartholomew, Fletcher, Corbishley, Palmer, Carkeek, Lomas and W. O'Donnell. Hui Mai (Green): Page, Bevan, Cook. Rangiwhetu, Ransfield. Corbett, Wallace, Mather. Roy Robinson, Heperi. Ray Robinson, Lander. Te Hiwi, McCashin and King. Hui Mai kicked off and immediately forced the pace. Athletic brought them back to nea-r the half-way line, where a penalty was awarded Hui Mai. Cook took the kick, which fell short by a few feet, and the blue forwards picked up the ball and started a passing rush, which endcd with Fletcher being caught right 011 the line. A scrum was set and Heperi eased Hui Mai's position with an excellent line kick. The ball came back to Stevens from the line-out, and he kicked ahead for a gap, but Rangiwhetu came across, gatliered it in and kicked up centre field. It went straight into Palmer's arms and he immediateiy started a passing rush, the ball travelling right along the Athletic back line to , Stevens, who was grassed by ; Cook. From another rush Hudson received the ball, and in being 1 tackled by Cook was accidentally - kicked in the leg. Af tex. tr eatment by the St. John Ambulance men he 1 played on. but he did not have the j same vigour which he had showp ] previously. Hard play followed, ( With the game going from one end 1 of the field to the other. For an 1 infringement Hui Mai were award-

ed a penalty close to the posts, and Rangiwhetu made sure with an effortless kick. Hui Mai 3, Athletic 0. From the kick off a ruck was formed and Blenkhorn sent the ball right along the backline to Stevens, who in-passed to Hudson, but the slippery ball was fumbled and knocked-on. The drizzly rain had tliickened and the ball was becoming greasy and heavy, and consequently hard to hold. Both teams were playing hard and fast football. and at last the Hui Mai pack broke through with practically 110 opposition in front of them, but Henson came back. picked up the ball and saved a dangerous situation with a good line kick. From the line out the

ball was sent to Cook'on the blinc side and he raced over the line, anc was about to touch down, when the whistle was blown and he was recalled for an infringement whict had occurred as he took the ball. A , scrum was set down and Blenkhorn, who had been coming around the side of the scrums very fast kicked through. Batten, with Henson in support, raced the ball. back to the Green twenty-five. Athletic then forced the pace and took tne ball to within a few feet of- the 'line, where a scrum was set. A. penalty kick was immediateiy awarded to Athletic, as Rangiwhetu was standing off -side. Galloway took the kick and evened the points just as the half time whistle' blew. •' Athletic 3, Hui Mai 3. Hard play followed the referee's hold, with neither side holding a definite territorial advantage for long. Blenkhorn snapped up ihe ball following a ruck and- kicked through. Corbishley followed up quickly, picked up the ball and passed to Galloway, who ' transferred to Fletcher, and- then on .to Henson. He went over w.ell out under a pile of Hui Mai men. Ah excellent kick by: Galloway hit the cross bar and bounced back in fieldAthletic 6, Hui Mai 3. Five minutes later Hui Mai forced Athletic back, and Heperi picked the ball up and dived over close to the posts. Rangiwhetu's kick brought Hui Mai back into the lead again by two points. Hui Mai 8, Athletic 6.. Blenkhorn who had been playing a spectacular gamd\ received the ball from a scrum and dodged around on the blind side. As Cook went to tackle him he leapt* into the air and cleared Cook with inches to spare in true hurdle fashion, but was forced out. by Page. Galloway then took a "mark" and Stevens, in following up the kick, narrowly missed scoring. O'Donnell, who had been playing an excellent forward game, Was hurt at this stage and- had to be helped off. His positiQn was taken by Morris. Fluctuating play followed, with both sides trying to improve their positions, but both teams had visibly tireckand their movements were not as clear cut. as they had been at the b'eginning- of the match. The final whistle 'blew soon after with the score still Hui Mai 8, Athletic 6. Mr. J. A. Zuppicich was' the referee.