Hui Mai And Wanderers Play Fast Rugby

Chronicle (Levin), 13 September 1948, Page 4

Hui Mai And Wanderers Play Fast Rugby

Wanderers held Hui Mai to a 3all 'draw in the final of the Horowhenua senior rugby championship on Saturday in a fast game that provided plenty of excitefiient for the. large crowd „■ which assembled at the Levin Park Domain. Each side secured its points from a penalty in the iatter half of the Second spell. The first half was for the main part rather dreary although the game began at a cracking pa'ce, which neither team could mahitahi for long. Hui Mai kicked off and forced upfield. They looked 'dangerous immediately when the Wanderers full-back, R. Skilton, fumbled the ball. From a scru'm they once more pressed to the attack, but kicked too hard and the ball went behind. T. Winiata le"d Wanderers out of their own territory and kicked through, but was beaten to- the ball. Wander-. ers had a good opportunity- to draw first blood when Hui Mai were penalised for shepherding-. W. O'Donnell failed with the kick and play returned to the . twentyfive. The Wanderers pack were not hooking quite as well as their opponents, but they kept tight together, a distinct advantage in hard football. . Wanderers again missed a. penalty kick at goal b'efore the whistle sounded for the end of the spell. -Page, the Hui Mai full-back, seemed to have completely recovered from the injury to his back, which he received in the Wairarapa game, and provided some of the coolest displays of accurate kickihg of the day. Ngatana, the Hui Mai front row man did not play his usual tight game, although he was always close. to the ball and did some excellent work. The sceond spell began at a slower clip than the first and Wanderers appeared to have the upper hand. For some time, it seemed ■ that the game would end in no score, for both teams attacked time and again only to be repulsed. Hui tMai's defence was outstandingly good and the manner in which the back^ow moved back to defence wh,en a manoeuvre went astray was well worth watching. G. Bryant was one of the most prominent Hui Mai rnen and, with McCashin, made several good forays. H. Cook played well but tended to hesitate when following up. -Early an the second spell, he made a brilliant lone dash, but ran into trouble in the shape of Sciascia and Hakaraia, and play went back to the twenty-five. Again Hui Mai crossed the-line, but the ball was forced. At this stag.e, F. Corbett was hurt and was replac- ; ed by D. Campbell. The ball came out- :of the line® jout on the far side and went downi ithe line from Staple's boot. Skiljton collected it and ran across the I field. He passed out to Milroy, jwho raced up-field for a short disjtance before being tackled. Then |J. Neylon went off and was replacied on the wing by Winiata. Hui jMai looked dangerous when I Ngatana took possession and kickj ed through, but the ball went out | in the corner. Wanderers slowly | forced them back and- then in a brilliant dash went to the opposite , end of the field. From the scrum, the ba'll came out to the Wanderers' back-line, but O'Donnell dropped at a critical stage. Shortly after, a lineout occurred and Hui Mai were penalised for having a man oifside. Stevens took the kick and gained the lead for his team. Wanderers 3, Hui Mai- 0. With 20 minutes to go, t-he pace of the game increased and for a time Wanderers held their ground Poor tackling on the part of Hui Mai was responsible for a great deal of ground being lost. " Hui Mai forced behind the Wanderers' line and a scrum was set on it. A penalty resulted and Hui Mai elected I. Robinson to secure their points, which he did. Wanderers 3, Hui Mai 3. The final whistle biew while both teams were still trying hard to gain the lead. The referee was Mr. J. A. Zuppicich.