FOXTON HAVE CLOSE CALL AT OTAKI

Chronicle (Levin), 13 June 1949, Page 4

FOXTON HAVE CLOSE CALL AT OTAKI

At Otaki on Saturday Foxton met and defeated the home team by 11 points to nine. v « It was a aour scruggle, with the pace on all the1: - ( svay, and 'plenty of thrills were \ giyeii spectators. • x With the half-time score 3 — 0 in Foxton's favour, it was anybodys game until the final quarter, when Otaki appeared to tire and the honours were with the visitors, whose full-back, D. Langley, gave an exhilarafing exhibition, scoring eight of the 11 points for his side. The Foxton half, Lay, was little inf erior. and these two were the mainstay of the visiting fifteen. At the - same time, with an ounce or two of luck. their way, Otaki could easily nave been the winners. The home forwards held territorial advantage throughout most of the game, with Huff at full-back apparently having an off day, and narrowly missing quite a few easy penalty kicks. It was ironical that in the closing stages a punt to centre in the visitors' 25 by Huff should; have skimmed easily over the uprights for Foxton to force. Fierce rucking throughout saw plenty of wiLing tight play eventuate, and infringements were-num-erous, Foxton alone having no iewer than nine free kicks awarded them in the first half. The Otaki backs again gave a patchy display. They handied well in the first half, but the reverse was the case after the .interval, and many poor passes were seen. In contrast &o the game at Otaki the previous week, when the forwards were fed the ball throughout, on this occasiori the backs were too prone to lind the line. Otaki forwards, until they tired, generally gave a, better all-round display than the visitors, but lacked opportunities. The visiting forwards emulated the Maori forwards in Sydney and most of their rushes took place with tne

ball at toe, tries eventuating from these tactics on two occasions. Foxton's three points in the first spell came from a fairly easy try by Langley, after Phillips had f umbled. A sparkling try by Tas. Hakaraia, . who barged his way over following a nice back line movement in which PhTlips and G. Enoka Wfere prominent, saw Otaki-draw level early in the second spell. Soon. after Otaki teok the lead. when. a short up 'ind urider kick by T. , Hakaraia saw Phillips dive straight between two defending playefs to press. Otaki 6, Foxton 3. The luck was in Foxton's favour when securing their next five points. A scrum on the Otaki line collapsed for McAriey to be awarded a try which Langley converted. Otaki attacked vigorously in return, when a sudden turn of events saw the full-back, Langley, literally leave Bob. Hakaraia, Otaki's speedy winger, standing in a race the full length of the field for Langley to secure his sec,orid try by the corner flag. Otaki retaliated again and ■, their efforts were rewarded when Foster fended off three defending players to pass 'to W. Thomson on the line for the latter to ptess. Otaki were back on the attack when the final whistle blew, but they wer.e two points down. Mr. J. Elvidge was the referee.