NASH CUP SEMI-FINAL.

Shannon News, 20 September 1927, Page 3

NASH CUP SEMI-FINAL.

WANDERERS 14, DEFEAT HUI MAI IS. A FAST OP BN GAME: After a remarkably fast game played on the Levin Domain on Saturday, Wanderers wrested a last-minute victory from Hui Mai, this season’s senior champions, in the Nash Cup .knock-out competition, thereby placing themselves in the final against Shannon. With the advantage of a stiff eastei]y breeze in the first spell Hui Mai quickly rattled on 13 points and appeared to be playing so confidently that tliev gave every indication of notching an easy victory. Snch was not the case, however, ior the iightei Wanderer team, ably led by Jacob, cracked on the pace and gained a converted try before hair-tune. After the change over, the Blacks, with the aid of the wind, set out to overtake their opponents’ lead and, maintaining a fast rate, they hammered away at the Green defencfi in an effort to win. H proved no easy matter tor the Hui Mai backs to a man defended stubbornly and it was not until within two minutes of time that Jacob, with a desperate dive, hurled himself over for the winning try after having received the \uul from Parata from a scrum near Hm Mai’s line.

The evenness of the scores is an indication of the exciting nature of the play that characterised the last lo minutes arid this alone made ample amends for any lapses of ragged play during other stages of the game and the moderate number of spectators present displayed greater enthusiasm than hitherto seen at a club fixture this season.

The teams were composed as follow

WANDERERS (Black)

Backs/ —Ryder, Gi’aham, Williams, Mackenzie, Winiata and Parata. Forwards—-Jacob (capt.), Heremaia, McDonald, Ward, Tatana, Knox, Nuthall and Poad.

HUI MAI (Green and White)

Backs —Johnson, Bryant-, Bnolta, Bansfield, 'Beva'n, Wallace and Tail hora. , ’ . Forwards —G. Gray, George (capt.), C, Robinson, Tana, Norton, Gardener. Wehipeihana, and T. Gray. TILE GAME. Wanderers won the toss and accepted the advantage of a glaring westerly sun, but Hui Mai had the bieeze be hind them. Ryder returned the kick off and Hui Mai were immediately pen alised for off-side play, Jacob finding touch at. midfield. The Hui Mai forwards carried into Wanderers’ 25, when Tauhora sent put from a serum to Be van, whose pass to Wallace was not accepted!. Enoka and Rpisfield were handy, however, and dribbled on ove. the line, but Ryder managed to force down. Hni Mai were soon on the offensive again as Bryant short punted. Rydei however, accepted a mark and fount: touch. From the throw-in at th. Black’s 25 Paiata booted infield anr the bounce of <the, ball badly beating Bevan, Jacob dashed up, took the bal in his stride and galloped downfield On reaching Jolinson he punted ahead but in a race for the ball Johnson gath ered in near Hui Mai’s line. The Greens’ fullback was sorely pressed and in a hasty effort to relieve miskicked across to the left corner. Mackenzie dashed up at full speed, blithe ball' did not bounce kindly for him and Johnson again came into possession, but was forced over his line by Mac kenzie, a five yards’ scrum being tin result of an exciting episode. Hui Mai were penalised for lifting but Jacob failed with an attempt a goal. A movement between Mackenzie Graham, and Udy down the right wing kept activities at Hui Mai’s 25, bn. the Green forwaids swept upheld and Wanderers were compelled to exec, their defensive powers until Graham accepted a weak attempt at goal b,, Johnson, and initiating a loose rush, transferred play back to midfield. TIUI MAI ESTABLISH A LEAD.

Hui Mai gradually gained the uppe hand once more, and from a line-out o. Wanderers’ 25 Ransfield broke through and when tackled by Ryder, passed infield to Gardiner who scored near tinposts. Johnson converted. HUI AIAI 5, WANDERERS 0.

Play of an open but ragged nature followed for some time until Wallace snapped up in midfield and snappy passing among the Green backs, on del as Bryant knocked on near the line. The Black forwards cleared from the line-out and a strong run by Jacob gained further ground, but Norton and Co quickly rushed play back to neutral territory, and within a few moments Hui Alai, through the agency of Johnson’s -powerful boot had increased then lead by three points. A Black forward was caught handling the ball during a forward battle in midfield and with a mighty" kick a yard inside of halfway thd Hui Mai custodian piloted the leather safely between the uprights, making the scores— HUI AIAI 8, WANDERERS 0.

Wandeder3 were hooking the ball, but there was a tendency for it to hang in the back row and Parata- was usually smothered before he could get h'S backs going. From one of these scrums a long kick down to Wanderers line * saw Williams fumble badly and Bryant gaining the ball handed back to Tauhora. The latter lost possession on the line but Bryant dived on it as it went over near the corner. Johnson converted with another splendid kick and the scores read — HUI MAI 13/ WANDERERS 0. Jacob noW made herculean efforts at the head of his forwards and a loose rush ended near Hui Mai’s line. The Greens repulsed the attack temporarily, but then Heremaia raced away

from a line-out near the 25, but on reaching- Johnson punted too hard and Ilui Mai forced. ' WANDERERS RETALI AT E Wanderers maintained the pressure and from some loose play near Hui Mai’s line Graham accepted a mark and tried a shot, but the fall fell •short:, and Enoka returned to midfield. Then the Black backs got. moving ami Mackenzie, on receiving his pass, puny ed high downfield. Johnson fumbled *«mhl Jacob smothered him for Knox to li?ad a loose rush to Hui Mai's line, which terminated successfully for the Blacks as Parata dived over in possession of the ball. Jacob converted well. HUI AIAI 13, WANDERERS 5. Wanderers were now having the best of matters and kept Hui Mai penned in their 25. The Blacks were then rewarded for their persistency as Jacob, receiving a penalty, booted high downfield. Bevan failed to get to the bail and Tatana and Knox, following up smartly, the latter snapped up, avid dived ofer next to the posts. Jacob’s kick struck the upright and bounced infield. jip: I MAT .13, WANDERERS 8. Johnson narrowly missed with another long range penalty upon resumption and half fame sounded a few moments later. The first incident of note when piny ’ resumed was a loug penalty by Jacob from half way, which just feh short and Enoka found touch at his 25. Parata opened out from a scrum, bin Winiata spoilt a promising movement as he dropped a pass from Jacob and play went into touch ou the opposite The Blacks remained in the ascendancy and Mackenzie, taking the ball from the toes of. the Hui Mai foiwaids made a clever opening and sent on to Jacob, but Williams did pot accept a pass and the Green forwards broke Through to Wanderers’ tci’iitoiy. Jacob led Ins forwavds away, but. each in turn overran the ball and Hm Mai had no difficulty in sending playback to neutral territory. Graham then initiated a loose rush that swept all over the Green defence, but mistakes near the line defeated the Blacks when near their objective. Jacob had a chance to goal from ft penalty, but the ball went wide and Hui Mai forced. Plav now swung up and downfield and the "pace became a cracker as Wallace raced away in possession. Gardiner received his pass, but Graham smothered a transfer .to Enoka and Parata savwcl a difficult situation by booting upfieftl. Both sides were making it fast and open and throwing-, the boll around with abandon, but usually the passes . were badly directed and in consequence many promising movements .were.spoil;. Wandeters were attacking when do cob came away from a line-out, and, gaining a lot of ground sent infield to McDonald. A scramble took place under Hui''Mai’s goal until C. Robinson denied- to 25. A clever cut through by- Wallace gained further ground bur Johnson was caught iu possession after fielding n kick by Ryder and from the ensuing play Wanderers weie given a pena: ty, but Jacob again failed. HUI MAI HARD PRESSED. Wanderers kept up the attack and a line-out saw Jacob and Lely all bin over, the latter being forced into touch inches from the line. From the throwin Tauhora- forced. Back came the v Blacks for they were making great ef forts to pull the game out of the .fire and Ilui Mai. were compelled to figi)■ .lor their lives to hold the lead. . ■ The Blacks were not iu be denied, however, and with a. sweeping forward usli tore their way through the Green defence for Tatana to gather .in. when near their objective, and dive over midway between the corner flag and tin posts. " Jacob’s kick went wide. HUI MAI .13, WANDERERS 11. Excitement now raged as both side;•asserted themselves and play swung up and downfield at a' remarkable pac - A centring kick by Bryant went jus. too far and Winiata forced down, tn:;n in the twinkling of an eyelid the scene, of action was again changed as Javana led the Black foiwards in a nisli tha. traversed the length of the ground and ended as Wallace forced down in the nick of time.. Graham was injured and compelled to leave the field, bis place being taken by Nicholson. Hui Ala; were kept defending strenuously mWanderers kept them hemmed on llmir line in an effort tor gain the Whining points and at length a Green forward was caught off-side, but Jacob’s kick from n handy position went outside the posts. TILE WINNING TRY. Time was now close at hand and realising this, Wanderers battled desperately and • gradually ’worked closer and closer to 'their objective. Hui Mai defended stubbornly, but the invaders were relentless and a scrum near the Green line saw the ball neeled to Parata. The Manawhenun half shot round on the blind side, but was quickly smothered. He, however, managed to slip the ball to Jacob, and the big winger, with a supreme effort, and using his reach, hurled himself over the line with a couple of Hui Mai men grimly hanging, on to him. He failed with the kick, but with two minutes to go the scores were now — WANDERERS 14, HUI MAI 13. Hui-Mai now forced matters in an endeavour to regain the lead, but time was called as Jacob marked in the face of a rush and found touch amidst cheers from Wanderers’ supporters. Mr R. King! controlled the game.