FOOTBALL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3793, 17 May 1928, Page 1

FOOTBALL

lIUI MAI (21) v. EOXTON (9). The weather was almost perfect for the Ilui Mai-Foxton match played at Manakan on Saturday. The greens were without the services of Meta, while Foxton played with only fourteen men. Moses was the first player to become noticeable, and his dash for the line, backed up by Fuller and Andrews, was a splendid one. The veteran, Bob George relieved by dashing up the field with the ball at his toe. The oval, however, was returned and Gleeson put in a long kick and again Manakau had the pressure relieved. Then Rhodes came through in great style, but Fuller was equal to the occasion and saved. Westwo'od put in solid play, but. George, Bevan and Rhodes headed for the Foxton line. Hirini, Anderson, and Andrews stayed the onslaught, and their smart play was the means of sending Hui Mai back. Hard and fast play followed, and Foxton Tor a time had much the best of it. It was while in a handy position that Moses marked from a speculative kick. He failed, however, to pilot tho ball over the bar. A great rush down the field saw some fine play by Hui Mai backs. Wallace started a nice passing rush, and Enoka, securing the oval, made a great bid for the line, and when practically through the backs passed to Tahiwi, who, in turn, transferred back to Enoka, who raced over the line. The ball, however, had been thrown forward, and a certain try lost. The ball was sent up field by Foxton and again they attacked. Moses potted, and the ball hit the bar and bounced over. Foxton 4, Hui Mai nil. The visitors kept up the attack and on several occasions made bold bids for the line, only to be collared when almost over. Gleeson, at this stage, put in good work, but Robinson relieved, and was responsible for Foxton again becoming aggressive, Then came the best rush of tho day, the Hui Mai forward rushing down field in great style, only to bo stopped near the goal-line. A free kick relieved, Manakau being overanxious. Westwood and Procter, playing well, saved after a hot attack headed by Larsen, Bevan and Gleeson. Rhodes, Gleeson, Wallace, Enoka, and Wfehipcihana were then prominent, and the latter dived over the line and scored. Gleeson failed with the kick, 4 —3. Foxton, for a time, attacked, but Wallace marked and relieved, and the ball bouncing over the head of Procter, saw a Hui Mai rush, Tabiwi, receiving possession, cross-kicked, and Enoka snapping up smartly, grounded the ball over the line. Gleeson failed to convert. Hui Mai 6, Foxton 4. Foxton, mainly through Moses and Westwood, again attacked, but were unable to pierce the defence, and the spell ended. Rhodes and Bevan headed the next rush, and Gray, Larsen and Ransfield following up, gave Foxton an anxious few moments, and from a free kick Wallace kicked a nice" goal, 9 —4. Then came the best piece of passing of the day, all Foxton backs taking part. They handled the ball in great style, passed at the right moment, but over-anxiousness saw one otfside and a free kick relieved. Taylor then had a shot at goal, but missed, and latter potted, but again the ball went wide, and Hui Mai accepted a force. Then \\ ehipeihana, headed a rush, but' Moses put in nice play and enabled Foxton to attack. Tana relieved by u strong run, and aided by Enoka and D’Ath transferred play to the other end of the field. Tahiwi shot over the line, but Wallace failed to convert, 12 4. (Shortly after Rhodes dived over, but Tana missed the bar, 15 —1. After a fine rush by Foxton Taylor had a shot at goal, but missed. Kolia, put Wallace and D’Ath in action, and Bob George, following up, secured the oval and scored. Wallace's kick hit the bar and the ball bounced back infield, 18 —1. Give and take play followed, and Ransfield put in a good run. He was backed up by Enoka, wfio sent the bail to Tabiwi, who scored. The kick at goal was a failure, 21 —4. Then came a forward rush by Foxton, and a foolish kick by a Hui Mai back, saw Broad secure an easy try under the bar. Moses converted, 21 —9. Westwood was the means of the attack being kept up, and through off-side play bo bad a shot at goal, but missed. Foxton, at this stage, were working well, and forwards and backs made no mistakes. A good run by George, however, saw the attack turned into defence, and this player was enabled to cross the line, but for a breach he was called - back. Then Enoka made a bid for the

line, while some easy passing saw D’Ath touch down. Another breach and the score was disallowed. The game shortly after ended.

Foxton seniors are a good team in the making. They have been up against it due to one cause or another. The material is here. Several prominent players in the defunct Awahou club should strengthen the balance of the senior team. The weakness is in the forward division.. There is no trouble in the back division, with such men as Westwood, Taylor, Mouses, Robinson, Ilirini, Procter and Fuller, they can hold up their end with any back combination in the district. With an equally sound forward bunch Foxton should again come into its own. Now that the club has appointed managers great improvement is anticipated. The games played, so far, have been uphill ones for the seniors who have had to make up from juniors and even third-grade players. Playing with only fourteen men last Saturday they showed great improvement on previous games and with the forward ranks complete, the team should more than bold their own for the balance of the season.