HUI MAI DESERVED THEIR WIN OVER WANDERERS

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1948, Page 4

HUI MAI DESERVED THEIR WIN OVER WANDERERS

Playing conditions were most unfavourable for rugby when the Hui Mai and Wanderers senior teams met on the Levin Park Domain. Heavy rain set in about 11 a.m. on Saturday- morning and the ground, already soaked by the downpour on Thursday, was a quagmire before play began. Hui Mai fully deserved their win of 13 — 11 over Wanderers, although

the matoh was very" close towards ^che end. The local team made a gfeat comebaok dqrir^g the; second nalf a£ter the first spell ciosetf with Hui Mai leading "13—0. •/. . ' Mud rqled the game with plentJL of hard fprward work the order of ' the day. Hui -Mai were the first to realise this and spon gained.a lead on their opponents; , Hui Mai went on.. the .offensive fro.m the .start and ' for some time held Wanderers fHefr.'own territory. A penalty • to Hui Mai: early in the game was unsuccessf ully . attempted by I. Robinson and Wanderers took . ,this, bpportnhity. .-to open an attack. They broke -through the centre of the field and cro'ssp'd the line* with A. Stevenson ahd* L., Hakaraia to the fore.- Somesn^pp/ywork on the parfc of thC'Hui Mai fqll-baek, w. Page, resulted in thfe ball being forced. After fhu Mai had'lost. a aimiiar opportunity, L. Robinson" . diyed fiver from a rupk nea,r the posts .to draw - first blop.d- I- Robinson conyerted with a greasy ball. Hui Mai 5,. Wanderers b Twlce ,more Hui. Mai crossed Wanderers' .line, .the ball being fprced on each occasion". Wanderers were maMng numerous mistakes and failing to use ■ their opportunities, *' - Hui Mai followed up their- lead with an attack and Wanderers were penalised for ah infrihgement '• in the ruck. Staples collecte'd a very difflcult Mck, Hui Mai :8, Wanderers 0, Time and agaih the H\« Mai forwards broke thrpqgh and several times went over the line as 'they carried the ball at- their fpet. Roy, Ray and fan Robinson were- mbst outstanding in this work, while the half, L. Robinson, Was also prominent. A quick throw in went astray and gave Wanderers an opportunity, but they failed to use it and play sUrged back to the other end t>f the field and L. Robinson again scpred. l. Robinson converted. Hui Mai 13. Wanderers 0. There were no further points in the first spell, rbut Hui Mai stiil had the best of the game. , ' During the second half, Wanderers put more work into the. game. Shortly after the commencemeht of play, they went over the Hui Mai line, but play resumed frgm the twenty-five. Mflroy and J. Neylon raced apross ,the line, only to have the ball go dead. From the twentyfive, Mfiroy once again headed" an offensive. He broke through with the ball at his feet and dfved over. Stevenson failed to convert. Hhi Mai T3, Wanderers- -3=-" ' This success.. , ,gave Wanderers r eney^d '-eber gy "mnid - they -#rOc.feded to stage a cQQiebapk... A penalty was collected -by Stevenson. Hui Mai 13, Wanderers "6-a? -Shortly> caftfe%aTds, the •fuii-back! X ' Wmiala. whp had been playing-; «a;;f.air'ly - good game, was 'hurt. He was1 replaced b'y G. Murphy. G. Seiascia went viown the field in a^fightmg'rush which carried him over fof'a niost spectacular try. Stevenson converted. Hui Mai 13, Wanderers 11. By this time excitement1 ambhg the spectator's 'had regohed a high pitch,.'s': Wanderers1' wCfe'- striying hard " to ' score but thd" Hui ?Mai 'defeixcg :was too strong.' The' whistie ' blew shortly afterwards. '• /•'' The referee Was- Mr- 4*. A, Zttppicich.