ATHLETIC AND WANDERERS IN HARD TUSSLE

Chronicle (Levin), 3 June 1947, Page 4

ATHLETIC AND WANDERERS IN HARD TUSSLE

"With championship aspirations at stake, Wanderers and Athletic seniors fought a hard tussle at the Levin Domain. The result was a draw, Stackhouse scoring an unconverted try for Wanderers and De Castr.o equalising for Athletic with a penalty goal. The game, although ragged at times, ■field plenty of interest for spectators, who were- brought to their toes on several occasions. Wanderers had the greater part. of territorial advantage, but the score was a fair indication of the merits of the teams on the day. Both packs indulged in bustling tactics, and the rearguard movements suifered in consequence. Wanderers forced the pace frqm the opening whistle apd soon had Athletic on the defensive. The ball was hooked for Wanderers by L. Winiata practically every time a scrum went down, but poor Handli'ng by the backs resulted in lost opportunities. Both packs toiled hard, but there was a tendency to play-loose football instead of solid thrusts. The only points in this half came when Winiata hooked the ball from a scrum a few yards inside .the Athletic half. Williams gathered it in and sent it on to T. Winiata to Sciascia, who kicked through. W. Winiata followed up fast to bustle De Castro, the ball slipping off his boot. It rolled across to Stackhouse, who snapped it up quickly and raced the few yards to the line. Stackhouse could not convert his try. Wanderers 3, Athletic 0. The pace in the second half was a cracker. Wanderers again held territorial advantage, but Athletic replied with some deep line kicks which gained them ground. Athletic secured their points when a forward rush took the game to the Wanderers' twenty-five. The ball came out to the Athletic winger, McGregor, who kicked back infield and followed up. Then an infringement by Wanderers gave Athletic a penalty kick, and De Castro had no difficulty in equalising witli a good kick from ten yards inside the Wanderers' twenty-five and 12 yards from touch. Wanderers 3, Athletic 3. Mr. C. E. Wiseley . was the referee.