WAKATU v. HUTT.

Evening Post, Volume 55, Issue 55, 3 September 1923, Page 3

WAKATU v. HUTT.

Realising that the senior championship was.at stake, both Wakalu and Hutt went on to the field determined to give one another a tough struggle,: and each was equally optimistic as to the /chances of victory., Superior combination, however tolds its-tale, and the dashing work ot the Wakatu. forwards enabled them to. score three goals against the two successes of their opponents. Hutt however, were always in the picture, and never-at any stage did it seem that tne championship favourites had an easy task; they had to'fight right up to a very stubborn finish.

From the opening bully the White forwards moved up to the assault, and maintaining a strong offensive, were able to break through the Hutt ranks dominating the game completely for the first few minutes. Hutt soon wa.rmed up to their work, however, began to counter-attack, but the Wakatu advance guard had the feel of the ground ?SV ,? ood- movement on the wing gave Wells the opportunity to sprint down and score. Hard hitting -was the order when play was resumed, and the backs of botli teams were given opportunities ot showmg their skill or otherwise'at placing the ball. It proved only a momentary relief for the Hutt men, and the White .forwards were very soon pressing hard again. Both D. and W. Hood tried shots, and between them gave the goalie plenty to do to keep between the ball and the not, but finally the. first-named was successful with a drive which did not give the custodian a chance to save. Wakatu, 2; Hutt, 0. Several individual efforts by the Hutt men looked like bearing fruit but Sherwood, at full,back for Wakatu, was always ready, and whenever. his stick connected with the ball it usually sped considerable momentum towards the opposite end of the field. F. Lusty showed up splendidly at times, and it was more through bad luck than anything else that his efforts' did not meet ■ with better success. Clout appeared to form rather a weak link in the forward line, and was not playing with anything like his usual confidence," but the' remaining forwards, individually, were doing all that could be expected of them. The second spell saw ■ Wakatu still aggressive, and it-was .not long after the bully-off that they had succeeded in' gaining the opposing circle, about which the play' centred for several minutes. An unexpected movement by the Hutt men caught Wakatu unprepared, however, and F. Lusty was able to have several • shots at goal before' the White backs could dear. The' ball did not find its way between the posts before Wakatu were. able to combine, and ' the leather was very soon taken down the left-wing. W. Hood drove.hard for'the net, but the ball- went across the front of the posts and was caught in-the-ruck. Much hard hitting followed, and X>. Hood, waiting his chance, timed his stroke well and added -another goal to his team's tally. Wakatu 3, Hutt 0. From this, stage of tho game, play was decidedly in the favour of the suburban team,'who attacked with a vigour-which, in view of their showing earlier in the match, was quite surprising. E. Lusty, lone-handed, gained the opposing twentyfive, and, ■moving', up, sent the ball across the line, and Wilkins, the goalkeeper, in trying to stop tho ball, threw his stick. A penalty corner wasgiven against Wakatu, and Webley securing, made no mistake with a splendid shot. Playing against time, Hutt Bet to work with a will, and did almost everything they liked, except find the net. They dominated the play through the Wakatu men failing to grasp that, being much stronger when on the attack, their game was to carry the play to their opponents. They attempted to defend, "and the result was that their combination absolutely disappeared, and each man apparently played for himself and not for the team. Just before the call of time one of the Hutt forwards drove the ball hard towards the goal, and Wilkins, in trying to save, obstructed F. Lusty. A penalty bully followed, and Lusty scored just as the whistle announced Uhe end of the game. It was a good spectacular game, with little' to choose between the teams.

Mr. ■A, game.

Needham controlled the