ATHLETIC SNATCH VICTORY FROM OTAKI

Chronicle (Levin), 20 June 1949, Page 4

ATHLETIC SNATCH VICTORY FROM OTAKI

(.Athletic narrowly shatched a thrbe-point victory over Otaki at the Levin Dbmajn, the final score beihg 9 — *6. From a spectator's point of view the game was disappointing, as there was nothing sbectacular, ihhhiiy bbcau$e.bf 'the evenne&s bf -ihe t'eams-. The Backs ons'both sides had very, fe.w open-. i.ngs .and passing .was bad; .The Otaki backs actually played a bettbr "game thari their eppbnents, but ih the forwards the position was reversed, Athletic having the advantage in weignt arui height. The visitors Wefd not comnletely dutclassed; as their forwards were very fast and kept- Athletic bustled exbept in the fihal 20 mihutbfe; Wheh it WaS apparent that Otaki were tiring. , Players who were tprominent during the game were Doyle, who played a much improved game, bspecially in the lineouts, Sciascia, Powell, Denton, Cameron and De Gastro. : 7?he latter was probably not upJ t'b iast week's fbrm biit his saving for Athletic was praiseWorthy. Kihg did n'ot shbw up and Smith was disappointing. Many prorhisihg players were iioticed in the Otaki tea.fai ahd ain'ong those to show up during the game were Huff, a very «qmpet'ent full-back, Gray, Foster, who ppssesses a good tu'm of speed, and the Hakaraia trio, who all played good football. The game commenced at a torrid fiace and from Otaki 's kick off the Athletic forwards pressed hard on. their opponents. It was not long before riigged forward plav took piace on the Otaki 25 and it was from this point that Athletic drew first blood, whe.h; from a dribbling rush, Denton fell on the ba 1 k. scorfe.uu" ' For the next 20 "minutes, however, the position ;changed „and Otaki made the advanbes. ,.But for the good work of Parsons and De Castro, Otaki may have-- scored'. Nbticeable during the visitors' attacks was th'e' tbndehey for Smith' to run across the field v/hen he received the 'ball, which was' actuall'y: ho advantage' to Athletic: ' ' • Play was very erratic and combihation was laeking in both teams-, Which' made it dull for the spectaitors. From a lineout on the Athletic five-yard mark Hakaraia made a dive for the line and scored The spell ended soon after. • Otaki again took the initiative on the resumption and pressbd hard on the Athletic defeneb. Sliortly after Gray took the ball frbm a ruck and scored an inipressife try under the posts. His conversion was ruled out by the referee. Otaki '6/ Athletic 3. Athletic retaliated hard and pressed deep into Otaki territory. Galloway took a pehalty right in front of the posts, Biit the ball hit the crbss bar and he sped up gathered it _ in and masterfuuly kicked for totich on tfie Otaki five-yard mai'k. From the lineout the ball was shot out to Smith, who fiassed. to GalloWay. He sent it out to Lind, but B. Hakaraia grassed hirp. From a lineout Webb got the ball to Cameron, but he held on too' long ahd was quickly grassed. Otaki fqrced Athletic back >to the half way mark. T. Hakaraia and Foster did some good intercepting for Otaki in this movement. Athletic was settling down, tb bbtter football now, with Taylor, Dbyle and Gordon prominent. Galioway took ahbthei' p'enalty and this time made no mistake. With ten minutes to g'o, Athletic made determined efforts to-break through and although Otaki was a tired tbam they held their oppon'entfe gamely. • Smith; with thb ball at his toe, kicked for the Otaki line, biit it . was carried... out by Otaki. From thb drop biit 25 Athieti'c again ptessed hard and the ball came out to Smith, who made.a. rather game field goal which took his team into the lead. Athletic 9, Otaki 6. The fihal whistle .blew at this point. ' Mr. J, Elvidge carried the whistle;