HUI MAI WIN EASTON AND MCLENNAN CUPS

Chronicle (Levin), 23 September 1946, Page 4

HUI MAI WIN EASTON AND MCLENNAN CUPS

Revealing much improved form from last week, Hui Mai ran out easy winners against Foxton by 20 points to six in a challenge match for the Easton and McLennan Cups at Manakau on Saturday. Both sides opened play up at every opportunity by throwing the ball around in real Kiwi fashion, and as a result the game proved to be one of the fastest and most exciting seen at Manakau this season. The pick of the Foxton backs were McNeil, at*half, and Winiata, at fullback, while Taylor and Rueben were tireless in the forwards/ Of the Hui Mai backs Page played a very sure game at full-back and Wallace and Cook also played well. McCashin, Heperi, Robinson and Te Hiwi were probably the pick of the Hui Mai forwards. Foxton won the toss and Hui Mai kicked off, the play going to the Foxton twenty-five. However, Foxton were soon attacking in Hui Mai territory. Play moved up and down field for the first quarter of an hour until the Hui Mai forwards broke through, with Staples arrd Mather in the van, the ball being kicked over the Foxton line. Cook, who was following through fast, beat the opposition to score 15 yards from the post, Rangiwhetu's kick just going outside. Hui Mai 3, Foxton 0. Foxton were soon on the attaick and forwards took play to within ten yards of the Hui Mai line.

From a scrum at this spot McNeil, who played a grand game, worked ! the blind side and dived over in the ] corner. The kick missed. Hui Mai 3, Foxton 3. Foxton again brought play into the Hui Mai twenty-five and from a scrum and an infringement, a penalty was awarded them. Taylor made no mistake with the kick. . - j Hui Mai, who were now playing f j much better football, took play to } J within five yards of the Foxton i ! line, where an infringement I occurred from the scrum. (Roy ' 1 Robinson dribbled the ball off the , i side and went over for a nice .try. . I Rangiwhetu had no difficulty in- j adding the extra- points, to make \ ] the half-time score Hui Mai 11, \ Foxton 6. ' After the change over Hui Mai \ dominated the play, excellent passing rushes being the order of the * f day. It was one of these rushes, ' [| that took the Hui Mai forwards- c0 ] within an ace of scoring, but they Y were recalled for a knock-on. Hui | Mai secured the ball froirt vhe resultant scrum and "WUllace centred straight back to Cdtbett, I who potted a neat field goal. The final points of the rA&teh j came when Hui Mai secured pdsses- _ ^ )\ sion from a line out, the ball "tfav^ " elling right along the backs to | Cook, who crashed through two tackles to score five yar$s from the \ corner flag. Cook converted his own try with a magnificent kick, to t make the final score Hui Mai 20, | Foxton 6. * Mr. L. Smith carried the whistle. • 1