ATHLETIC BEAT HUI MAI IN HARD GAME

Chronicle (Levin), 19 July 1948, Page 4

ATHLETIC BEAT HUI MAI IN HARD GAME

Athletic seniors scored a win by a narrow margih over Hui Mai in a hard fought game on the Levin Park Domain and gave a check to their championship aspirations. After a gruelling match in which l both teams showed themselves to ' advaptage, Athletic emerged the victors by 12 points to 8. Hui Mai won the toss and eleeted ; to play with the sun. From the kick-off this team made- the going hard and fast, and in a few min- . utes were %well into Athletic terri- ' tory., A penalty kick by W.' Gallo- , vra-y brought the play back on to . more evep terms and shortly .after Athletic tirew first blood. The 1 seeon£ five-eighths, Ross Smith, got : the ball and broke through the Hui 1 Mai defences to score in a manner 1 seldoxn seen in club games, Gallo- ' way failed to convert. Athletic 3, Hui Mai 0. 1 A penalty against the home]i fceam in a handy positioh seemed ') ceriain to bring. Hui Mai points, but " M. Staples failed to find the goal.. : Then H, Cook made his way 1 fchrqugh the Athletic. team with the 1 ball at bis feet, but the half-back, T. Cameron, threw himself on it to J force for Athletic. Cameron several : bimea tuxned in brilliant flashes. Hiii Mai iooked very dahgerous at fimes, but failure to finish the oadveme^ts prevented scoring.*

1 - - ; ' - " '/ * • However, a penalty awarded against Athletic and kicked by I, Robinson brought the teams on even terms. Athletic 3, Hui Mai 3. Neithef team scored during the remainder of^the first spell. After play had been, in progress i for about 10 minutes of the second half, Galloway kicked a penalty to ^take Athletic into the lead. Atftietic i6;yHui Mai 3.. Then" Hui. Mai drevv away and carried' play to the Athletic lixie. A scrum formed on the line and L. Robinson, the Hui Mai ;half, scrambled over. I. Robinson 'converted. Hui Mai 8, Aihletic 6. Now play « began to briebten apd [Athletic started throwing the ball [ about" as they forced their way with loose rushes. A scrum went down ten yards from- the line after a -penalty had. been awarded to Ath/letic. D. Oliver, the Hui Mai full-back, had endeavoured to catch the uhsuccessful sho"t at goal and a knock-on resulted. When the bail came out of the scrum, a stiff battle ensued. Galloway found the ball and quickly essayed a successiul pot, whieh sailed very ciose to the bar and went over. Athletic 9, Hui Mai 8. ! This score was quicklv followed by 'a try on the part of A. Fletcher/who ,dived over after the ~oalI came out; of a ruek on the line. Galloway failed. to convert. Athletic 12, Hui Mai 8. ; Although.Hui Mai lost ,the game to the local team, they were m possession of the superior set of fprwards. The Athletic pack were penalised several. times for bad scrumming and Hui Mai hooked the maj[ority of balls. In the lineout, however, Athletic were more successful. D. • Oliver, the Hui Mai full-back, a well experienGed player,gave an outstanding exhibition. Ross Smifh, who gained Athletic's first try, was strong on attack and ■ gained much ground for Athletic :with some excellent line klcks. Ihe referee was Mr. C. E. Wiselev.