NASH CUP FINAL.

Shannon News, 29 September 1925, Page 3

NASH CUP FINAL.

HUI MAI 17 v. COUNTY 11. The final game for the Nash Cup was played at Levin on Saturday, and resulted in a good win lor llui Mai by 17 points to eleven. On the run of the play the score is a lair indication of die relative . merits, of the teams, although County Were decidedly unlucky in one re- - spect. Hui Mai played with a howi- * ing westerly at their backs in the first spell and County did well to- keep the score down to 13 to 3. However, at hall time, when it came the Blues turn to accept the advantage of the ■wind, it died right down, and the conditions became quite calm. Play hung around neutral territory for a few minutes after the start, until a wild pass by Hiwi, let B. George and Robinson through, but Udy ran across to save well. The Blue backs then handled in several passing bouts’ but the wind made accurate passing well nigh impossible.

Gaining ah advantage from a faulty transfer, the Green forwards swept towards County’s line,- Warren trying hard to clear, but his kick was blown over the line, and a 10 yards scrum was ordered. Parata endeavoured to work the blind side, but his pass was nut; accepted, and Broughton and Cuail headed play back 10 half way. Wuka, the Blues’ hail, was getting ins share of the ball, but the Hui Mai lorwards, breaking quickly, gave him a lot of trouble. The Greens, making full use of the wind, pressed home attack after attack, anu County excelled themselves time and again in averting a score. After Tana had just been beaten in a face to touch -down, Bobmson (County) set his backs going, all handling in a rush that gained hall the length of the field. Then Williams, the Blue centre, obtained possession, and' cutting cleverly through the deience, made a score possible, but Warren was not up in time for ins pass. The Blue forwards who were hold ing their own up to this stage, now came away in a flue rash, headed by Broughton) Goad and Mci.eavey, and were only held up on Hui Mai’s line. Prom the resultant scramble McDonald dived over. The wind was too much for Udy with the kick. McDonald, accepting the kick out, tried to go too far, and was well smothered. The Green forwards swept on, and Hui Mai had equalised the scores within two minutes. Johnston’s kick failed. A clever movement by Waka.was nullified, by Hiwi knocking on, and Enoka, receiving from the scrum, ran well down field until stopped by Udy, who was penalised. Johnston's'attempt at goal went wide. Hui Mai novv,put more dash into their movements', and kept up a sus tained attack. County's relieving kicks in the face of the wind being practically useless. Udy fumbled badly near his own line, and Robinson, picking up smartly, threw himselt over to put his side in tire lead. Johnston again failed to convert. Almost immediately T._ Gardiner, who was playing a dashing game for Hui Mai, broke clean away Irom a line-out in County’s territory, and sending on to W. D’Ath at the right moment, gave that player a clear run m under the posts. Johnston made no- mistake with the kick. Back came the Greens when play restarted, and a line out, close to County’s line saw Tana whip the ball smartly out to Bryant, who was standing unmarked on the Wing, and he flojw over in the corner. The kick missed. During the remainder of the spell the Blues were seldom out of their own twenty-five and half-time came as a welcome relief to them. When the second spoil started, County were denied the advantage ot the wind that Hiui Mai had enjoyed in the first spell, as it died down, and only a very taint breeze was in evidence. ' Gray’s return kick . w'as charged down by T. Gardiner, and the southern men pushed into Blue territory, but McLeavey and Robinson cleared, and a speculator went the length of the field, and the Greens had a turn on defence. Johnston relieved with a good kick and Tana, carrying on, rushed play to the other end. Johnston marked and made a good attempt to goal, the ball just falling short. There was a period of uninteresting ■Dlav now, and a lort of aimless kicking was indulged in. Broughton eventually livened interest again. Following a long punt well down field, he gained possession of the leather and fending a couple of ticklers sent Palmer over for a good try., I-leremaia made a feeble attempt to convert. , u , n ., , r Fumbling by the Blue backs let iGardiner through, and he dribbled down the side line, then, picking up; ran around to score under the posts while several County men stood and watched him under the impression that he had gone into touch on his way down Johnston missed with an easy kick.

A misdirected pass t>y pa rata iiear ; lv got his side into trouble when pla> but Johnston marked well in the face of a Bl H£ r “ s s: innin <r Greens were playing like a ” team at this stage, Tana, Sardine , and "Wilson being prominent m th forwards, .while Parata andG ~ . the inside backs, were making spJen did dashes down the centre of th f field, thereby gaining plenty °Tbe Blues were not done with, ever, and a fine rush swept the oprwvdtion aside, and ended with Me Donald being forced into touch in the ?nmpr The movement was certamU Shv of a better fate. The Green forwards cleared but Waka Robinson and Gray sent them back with a pas.-

ing rush, but deadly tackling kepi the local men at bay. i Loose play saw County pushed hack , into their own territory, and Hui Mai I were swinging to the attack, when I Williams, County’s diminutive centre { three-quarter, cleverly picked uip, and ; side-stepping a couple of opponents, broke clear, ran down the centre, I out-paced the opposition backs in a 6u yams dash, and scored the finest try seen here for some considerable time. Broughton capped this great effort by I neatly converting. I This success spurred the County men to greater efforts, but an interchange of kicks saw Hui Mai gain the advantage, and the final whistle sounded with play hack in County’s twenty-five. Mr R. Sloan refereed.