HUI MAI SCORE OVER OTAKI IN RAGGED GAME

Chronicle (Levin), 23 May 1949, Page 4

HUI MAI SCORE OVER OTAKI IN RAGGED GAME

On'y in thq last quarter- was Sfiere aii-y bright: play in tlie game a,t, Otaki, When last year's championjhip winnefs, Hui Mai, met and trounced Otaki by 18 points to nil. Doubtless Hui Mai woUid be gratified a-t the success, but the performance was not. wholly satisfacfcory. The only points in the first had eame from a p&nalty, and the scores remained unchanged until Withih 15 minutes Oi the end of the game. Two cohverted tries and anLther penaity kiCk came the way of the victors in quick succession, the resu t of an improve'd showing *by the forwards late in the game. Efrors were numerous, however, and the display generally lacked the thril's expeCted. Otaki fielded several new recruits and, With two rctirements in the first half and one in the second, a ack Of confidence was display ed. Their showing a'so was not to be cjmpafed With that given against Rahui the orevious week, although their defence - held fairiy well throughout. . Hui Mai kicked off with the sun in heir favoiir and an early free kick saw M. Staples land a nice goal and three points for the visitors. Otaki retaliated ahd Gordon and ROiri, two recruits fiaving their first game With the seniofs, went elose to scoring. Two furLher penaity kicks by Stap.es Were unavailing- and at this stage Gordon, whose knee gave early tfouble, retired. Otaki looked dangerous with T. Henry and Shaw heading a forward rush, but another penaity brought re'ief. Rolri, Shaw an'd P. Hakaraia were doing some good work in the forwards for Otaki, and kept up a fairiy vigordUS attack, .but Hui Mai's defeice held. Wth only a few minutes left n the first speil, Huff had Otaki's first pena*ty kick ahd found the line with a grand kick. Another penaity kick to Hui Mai gained them valuabie ground, and R, ana I. Robinson crossed for the visitors, but were' recalled. A few moments of bright play concluded the first speil with the Hui Mai forwards rueking hard. Roiri retired just prior to the end of the speil. Hui Mqi's forwards. used their weight to better advantage. in, the seeond speil, btitr although H. wallace at haif got some ' nice passes out, the backs handled poorlv. A penaity kiek;- to Otaki saw Huff's attempt just go under the bar, an effort'. which .was applauded and raised' the hbpes of his supporters. Play tended to liven up with Otaki again oi| the attack, but W. Page, fuU-back, , was too safe. M. Phillips Started a hectic rush for Otaki and Henry and W. Taratoa made determined but unavailing attempts to go over. Ian Robinson had -an attempt at gOal following another penaity to the visitors. The full back figiired in the .next bright spot when he' raced up 'and took a pass to hotfoot- it 'for the line, but -T. Hakaraia stopped him at the corner fiag. Foster, Otaki's third replacement, infused dash into Otaki's back line and he and the fu'l-back, Huff, livened things up with short bursts. P. and R. Hakaraia and Shaw were also doing good but fruitless work, owing to the poor passing. Play took an unexpected turn with the last quarter looming up and the visiting forwards reached Otaki's line for R. Robinson to score. Ian Robinson added the major points. Another free kick by S.taples missed and much offside play by prominent forwards followed, Ffom a scrum Camnbell snd R. Robinson, with the ball at their feet, reached the line and the half-back, H. Wallace, snapped up the ball from in front of their feet to dive over under the posts. I. Robinson again eonverted, taking the score to 13 — 0. Foster's efforts drew further applause and with Huff and G, Enoka in support the full-back was again reached, but Page saved. A succession of lineouts near Otaki's corner fiag resulted in a further penaity to the visitors, and I. Robinson added another three points for the final score to read Hui Mai 16, Otaki 0. Mr. D. Aitchison was referee.