RUGBY FOOTBALL.
T' HXTI.MAI (6) .V. WERAROA (0). After Weraroa's weak exhibition Otaki last week and Hni Mai >s \ fine game against Wanderers it was expeeted that the meeting ,of Hui Mai ' and Weraroa would result.in .a hollow ' victory for the former. Such, however, ' ' was not the case, and to a certain extent Hui Mai were fortunate to win. played a splendid game from --- start to finish, putting dash into their !;- play that did them credit. Their forwards proved a fast lot, and Manakau 's •‘J backs, to evade the collaring, had to ‘T display much agility, while their backs ' handled the ball and kicked splendidly. -Hui Mai proved a powerful combination and played "well, but at critical times „■ overran the ball. Their scrum and line '.-'out work was up to the standard, while 'the backs put in good work. Bevan and Enoka, although no means weak, ' should, however, have passed more. Their running and. kicking were quite good, but the play would, had it been more open, have suited nippy backs like . Meta and Wallace. These two frequently i evaded Weraroa backs, their • side-stepping being of a high standard. V ■ All backs handled the bull well, and their line kicking, like Wc raroa's, was -:V almost perfect. From the kick-off Worr.roa attacked, ■■■’ and had it not been for good play by .\ r Gray would - pr.obably have scored wither- in a' few minutes of opening.- While on -Tvthc attack Mackersey, by off-side play, V ; gave .Phillips (Weraroa) a shot at goal. The ball, however, drepped short. The b- - northerners continued on the attack and Bp, maintained the advantage for the first ‘ twenty - minutes, Manakau only twice during that time getting past half-way. A The first occasion was when Meta and /,! Wallace participated in 'a neat passing -rush, and it was only by solid play that Sinclair and Cole saved the situation. Weraroa were soon forcing play again, ■J- and Enoka, by smart play, saved. Hui M Mai forwards, evidently spurred on by ‘ ‘ Wake up,' Manakau'' from the line, ‘headed a rush, but Phillips obtained Ar-a mark and saved. Thenfcame a We-
£ raroa rush but Bevan, came to the res-i-'./cue, after which Enoka secured possession of the ball and set sail for the Weraroa line. Bevan followed, and on securing the ball transferred to Wehi--v- peihana, who passed back to Enoka, : :' Enoka to Bryant, and this player to Wehipeihana, who ran within a few feet .(..‘of the Weraroa line. Bevan then made another oponing, but his pass to Wallace failed. Bryant secured and by a good kick Weraroa were again put ou the' defensive. Robins.on, George, and , . Tana headed a rush, while Wallace took -•'-a return and dashed for the line. Ob- ’■. struction play followed shortly after, k- and Phillips again had a shot for We- > Taroa -at goal. The ball narrowly miss•i ed the uprights. The visitors kept: up the attack, and the forwards continued to play a dashing game. After a loose h. rush Clive dashed in at the corner, but the referee awarded no try. Weraroa, .still -fiacL n-ile e i deiLa d vantage, . and on several occasions made bold attempts to score. Hui Mai finally aecepted a force and,the tension was thus _ relieved. The visitors, however, still attacked ~an,d Werata missed a chance. Then Enoka was prominent and after - a good run passed to Wehipeihana, who * missed a score by inches only. Hui Mai 'at this stage played desperately and made frantic efforts to score, but de- ' spite the fine forward work failed to pierce the defence. Time and again -= ~they were within feet of the line, and Gardener was conspicuous. While attacking, Meta, from full, evaded the forwards, dodging nicely through the '-‘"pack, and after beating several backs }.'sent a pass to Wallace wh,o had no -. in scoring. _ He, however, failed to add the major points, and the spell ended: Hui Mai 3, Weraroa nil. Hui Mai made a better showing in the second half, but, nevertheless,-We-;.7 raroa played splendidly, forwards and backs working well. Early in the half Meta made a niee run and endangered Weraroa's line, and after a reverse he >' made a sensational run, covering fully “ seventy yards in fine style, his pace and trickiness standing him in good stead. : He eventually was brought down by Cole. Weraroa forwards headed a loose .rush, but Bryant was equal to the 0c- ... elision and saved. The attack, however, (..-.was maintained, and Hui Mai wete relieved by a free kick, and, followed by '. a passing rush, Wallace nearly crossed _ the line. Loose forward play saw ■ Robinson with the ball, and just as he was about to ground it he was obstruct- : ed, and a try lost. Tana and Gardener ' " also over-ran the ball. Shortly after ' Meta had an unsuccessful shot at goal, while Wallace, by failing to field a ball," - lost a likely chance. Meta then headed ( another rush, and passed to Wallace, who scored. Tana failed to convert, 6 —o. At this stage Hui Mai were hav-U-ing the advantage-of the play, but We--/'raroa's defences vwas sound, and saved score, although Meta made a of fine attempts to beat the opposition. Weraroa are to be congratulated on (/their improved form. There was hard"ly a weak point in the team. Their ’-..serum • work was not of the best, no .-/doubt on account of the fine opposition. /Broughton, Greig, Kilsby, and Horn '.-were perhaps the piek of a good even Jtlot, while Henderson, although he play.ed a lot off-side, did well. Cole, Smith, and St. Clair were' reliable libacks, and received fine support from £;the others. £■7. .The Hui Mai forwards failed for a to get fairly under way, and were pot so conspicuous in the loose as on brother occasions. Towards the end of ijsfthe game their play improved and their (feall-round work did them every credit. Inhere were no “slackers. " The backs ■lmproved a good lot, and in the open pace and judgment, and had the e been more open would probably 3 been seen to greater advantage, was the pick, and the manner in I Bltieh .he.*- handled and kicked the ball as an eye-opener. Others are also decrying of kudos. ll’.Mr. J. Sciascia was referee. Among Hui Mai's players was tie I iyeteran “Bob" George, who for the Hast 24 years has played splendid foot- . ;: ! h ii ! ■■ .■ ' ■Vs'f- 1
ball. Always a toiler—and a general—he has proved a top notcher, and on Saturday showed that he had lost none of his old dash. .For 16 years “Bob" has ably captained the Manakau Club,, but yoiys that the present season will be his last. It was his generalship on Saturday that secured Manakau's second try.
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Shannon News, 20 May 1927, Page 4
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1,110RUGBY FOOTBALL. Shannon News, 20 May 1927, Page 4
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