EXCITING GAME IN THE MUD AT OTAKI

Chronicle (Levin), 4 July 1949, Page 4

EXCITING GAME IN THE MUD AT OTAKI

ijpnmuixig oi rugoy ians wno braved the elements and risked a "ducking" by attending at the (Continued on Page 7) _

(Continued from Page 4) ^ Otaki racecourse to "witness the Ckash oeuween Vvarraerers ana Otaki were reward,ed with a reahy exceilen!t wet-weather game. Contrary to expectations, it was not a muascramble and some realiy excenent movements were witnessed, with the handling .of the backs at times as good as could be wished for. Otaki emerged victors by eigh. points to six, but not without a screnuous tuss.e, with the visitors exhibiting dogged detarmination in the final quarter. ...Tne home defence was just a shade too good, however, and the win was weJdeserved, both forwards and backt combining to give a most satisfying display. . In earlier matches the homt side's back line has on occasiom exhibited a'lack of confidence, bu. on Sauiirday Nehu, at half, was brilliant, with PhiLips and Foster, first and second five-eighths respectively, litt-e inferior,' and tht winmng points came from a combined effort by the trio. This movement was a real highiight and relieved when the Wan'derers' ons.augLt was at its greatest. Otaki kicked off with the breezi and with all forwards right on thd attack, Wanderers were compeLe^ Lo force half a dozen times in quici succession. A penalty kick to V/an derers refleved, . but half waj through the spell. Otaki's first penalty kick saw T. Gray set his forwards racing with an up and undei kick. A nice movement with the baU at- toe took it from Shaw tc Hakaraia to Kiriono to Carkeek and with Wanderers' fuliback, Skiiton, slipping when he attempted to pick up, Gray hurdied him tc open the seoring. Huff added the major points with a giand kiekanc .he home side led 5 — 0. .Short 3 after Shaw, L. Enoka and Carkeek repeated the dose for Shaw to cross but was reealled and a scrum wen down. The changeover, there was nt half-time owing to the incessan rain, saw Wanderers dttacking vigorously and Milroy, Stevenson anc Gwynn caught Huff with little room! His specu'a.or kick went infield under the goal posts, right ai the feet of three other attackin^ p ayers, for B. Hughes to.snap up and crrss under the posts. R. Phillips missed an apparently easy kick ;nd Otaki led 5 — 3. v Excitement reached a high pitcf with the Wanderers pack actackin^ nard, and O aki showed signs Oi weakening. Following a scrum fivtyards from the Otaki line, the visitors were penalised and the position was relieved temporarily. Soon after Nehu secured from a scrun on Otaki's 25 line and stab kicked Phillips won the race for che kai and, after a short dribble, kicked hard aeross field. In the hectic rush which followed "W. Foster used his brilliant speed to dive between a maze cf 'defending p ayers. pick up the ball and dive over. Hufi missed the kick. Three penaities to Wanderers for olf -side play by the home side ih their own 25 resu ted in Gwynn seoring off the vhird one to bring Wanderers' points up to six. Soon after the final whistle blew, with Wanderers still attacking. Under the conditions the performances of practieally a'l playere were remarkabie. The tv/o fullbacks, Huff and Skiiton, gave outstanding displays, Huff probably turning in his best perfcrm&nce ever. His fielding of the heavy. greasy ball was splendi'd. M. Shaw, liooking for Otaki, secured plenty > of the ball for Nehu to shine a". day. Gray, G. Enoka and T. Hakaraia were safe as usual, with M. Hakaraia, Carkeek, Hohipuha, Kiriona and Shaw working harc^ throughout. For Wanderers, Milroy, Stevenson, Gwynn,- Lincoln, Winiata, R Phillips and Hughes gave the home side many anxious momen s. Several brilliant saves by Foster and Huff saw their efforts come undone. however. Mr. F. D. Chainsy carried the whistle.