FOOTBALL.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 May 1914, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

LEVIX DEFEATS HUI MAI

AVith fragments of the glory of last season's victoncs hanging from tlu'ir brows, Hui Alai footballers rose in a physically dishevelled condition from their long summer rest, and hurled themselves against Ihe Levin-Wanderers on the Levin reercation reserve on Saturday afternoon, while the south wind shoved behind. After half an hour of it Hui "Mai had six points to nothing and the \\ anderers were wondering. JProm the kick-oft by Hui Mai a line-nut on either side ijuickly followed. Close took a pass and sent the ball down the line, but Hui Mai's full back sent it out again. From tho tinmv-in Horn took a mark and Hui Mai gradually worked tho play back against the "Wanderers. I'or a while play was up and down and to and fro across the Held, broken by line-outs and both teams participating in. -the , luxuries and penalties. Hereof abouts play was mostly in Levin's ,' territory, and Hui Mai with an extra rush got their opponents back nn the line and from the confusion tesuHing Mat He van scored Hui Mai's first try. Wehipeihana failed badly with the kick. For i few minuies after the kick off Hui Mai was offensive. Annoyed thereat, the Wanderers gathered themselves up, 11. Prmgle marked, Xepia AViniata took the kick. Lower and Hutchins played well ((•specially tho latter) and in a brief space Hui Mai was hard at work Avarding off an attack press- . »'d home so strongly that Hui Mai | finally had to force down. Levin - ! continued to attack until good play by Martin, Bopata and S. 'Be van'got* the ball out to Mat Bevan, who, from his own half, raided the Wanderers country with the energy of To Bauparaha, and when the Wanderers came up and looked over their line they found he had sooreu H\r Mai's second try against them. The kick at goal missed, and the first half ended Hui Mai 6, Levin 0.

With the change of position at half time the game changed also. Levin now lield the cards that were loaded with tlie south wind, and galloped over their opponents. Tliey kept Hui Mai in their own half, the play moving from sido to side, but never up and down. In the course of play on the left. >Ide of Hui Mai's twenty-five, Hui Mai infringed rules, and Levin being granted a free kick, "Nepia. Winiata put the ball over the bar. From the kick off Levin renewed the attack .and in order to save themselves Hui Mai kicked the ball into dead territory. The attack was maintained, and Hui Mai had to force down. The liext time the ball went over Kaliu 'Royal went with it, and scored_ a try, and with a fine kick IST. Winiata secured another goal. The ball again in play, Hui Mai were once more forced down. Then they reared up, and playing furiously got (<> Levin's twenty-five. Here they were headed off, and Levin got them back in the lien again and made them force down. The spurt was Hui Mai's last chance. In the last few minutes llannan scored another try for Levin, but the kick at goal faile.d, and ihe game ended -Levin 11, ITui Mai t>.

From the spectators' point- of view it was not much of a game, tooth teams were out of form, and not represented by their full strength. There was little or no passing, and it is passing that makes football worth watch in}?. Hutchins, for Levin, played well. Lower spoilt his play by holding on to the ball too long. For the visitors, Ropata, S. Sevan, M. Bevan and -T. Martin did good work. ,

Mr J. Hose was referee

WE RAH OA DEFEATS TAINUJ

Wcraroa met Tainui 011 the Otaki ground on Saturday, ail'. l defeated the local team by IT points to 0. Tainui 'did not have its strongest team, several of last year's champions declining to face the music. Weraroa had the them in the first spell. From the kick-off Tainui carried play into their opponents' twenlytivo, and several mistakes by Weraroa nearly let Tainui score, ('ombined forward play by Weraroa shifted the play to the other end, and from a free kick outside the twenty-five, Hopa kicked a penalty goal. The balk-111 play again, Tainui attacked, and got inside Weraroa's twentv-five, bul the Weraroa backs, by improved play and passing rushes, drove Tainui back into their own- ground where from a serum Buxton took a pass mid scored the lirst try for Weraroa. The kick at goal failed Weraroa started out by attacking, and kept Tainui defending for some time, nearly scoring 011 several occasions. From a line out Kennedy received the ba 11 and dashed over the line. Again the kick at goal failed, and the first half ended with Weraroa 0, Tftinui 0.

The wind assisted lainui during {ho second half. mid for the first five minutes lh<\v strongly attacked. but U'ood line kicking •»>' Woods and nop-' ginned .ground W Wentma■ T\w host^ pa ssi ng «ti' lilie - <1.0 panic happenc. aMhis From a line-out. the Wor.,y,ri I'orwards passed the hall <n tlio half. nnd ii quickly wpnf through the hands nf si < or seven

players to Heta, who crossed the line. Buxton converted. Alter the kick oft' bad play by Tainui's backs let the Weraroa forwards through, and Rangi Broughton got over with the ball, scoring Weraroa's fourth try. The kick at. goal failed. Tainui now made strenuous efforts to score, and during the last five minutes kept Weraroa defending. At the call of timo they were struggling on the Weraroa goal line. The game ended —Weraroa 17, Tainui 0.

Though defeated, Tainui put up a splendid uphill fight. On the whole the Wrraroa forwards played well. The most, prominent wore Rangi .Broughton, K. Dalziel. A. Dnlziel, Simeon and Aroua. In the backs Hopa was at times brilliant, but must learn to pass before being collared and not be selfish. Heta and Buxton played well. T. Broughton, who is .a novice, is the making of a fine three-quarter. He is very fast, but is inclined to hang on to the ball roo long.* ' Mr A. Mcßaivi was referee. At . the&'-'om lusian of the game a pleasing Utile function took place at the Family Hotel, where Miss Brown presented the members of the team with green rosettes.