RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 74, 1 April 1929, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

GAMES AT THE PARK

LOCAL CLUBS PLAY VISITORS

The/ turnstiles at Athletic Park were set a-tlicking for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon when matches were jplnyed by two local clubs against visiting fifteens. Oriental were .engaged in their annual homc-and-lioine- niatcli witli .Kaicrati from AV'anganiii, and' Athletic met Hui-Mai from the Horqwhenua Union. Although the Orieiilal-Jvaiorau. match is a fixture" of some, standing, the games were regarded merely as "pipe-openers" for the ii|irjroiiching season nnd were played in a true holiday spirit. None of the teams had a full complement of senior players, opportunity.' being takeijf. of Irving out some fresh blood. An attendance estimated at close on 1000 was scattered over the western bank, the new stand at present being ',a mass of rough concrete, pipes, girders, and excavations. A warm sun probably /accounted for the games being played mii.two short spells each, 25 minutes in the case of the curtain-raiser and 35 minutes for the second match. The ground was in: excellent order, but a strong northerly made the ball play some tricks. ■ATHLETIC v. HUI-MAI. Tho-above teams were evenly matched, and although the football at times may have been ragged, the issue was in doubt up to the final whistle, and the spectators' interest was therefore maintained. ..The Hui-Mai team was composed mainly of Maoris, several of whom contributed much t o£ the" weight to a solid forward pack. Hui-Mai made the most of the first half, ■when they had the sun in their favour, and ran up a serviceable lead which Athletic were unablo to overtake after the sides .changed round. Before the teams left tlieir dressing-shod-.it 1 ( was. thought that Hui-Mai were c.man short, and U. Cooksdn was lent to the visitors. • Tho missing man turned- up, however, but it was decided to carry on with sixteen, Athletic raising no objection, although for a start the Blue and Blacks had only fourteen men. .Aided by wind anil sun the visitors had Athletic in difficulties from the start, although C. Porter looked. like notching the first try when he,came through with a sold' dribbling riisju.. A .weak clearing kick by Heazlewood fell into Gray's hands, and he van in to try for a field goal, but without success. A few minutes later Gray again fielded a kick meant for the line, and this time ho cut infield to score 'in a good position. Swainson converted; Hui-Mai 5, Athletic 0. Hui-Mai sustained the pressure and Bowling was nearlyiover from a scrum near the posts. A-penalty was given against Athletic within striking distance, and Swainson turned. 1 it to good account. ,Hui-Mai S, Athletic 0. Several exchanges took place when Oourtenay sent the Athletic backs off on j a-passing rush, but no' ground' was gained, anil tho visitors were soon knocking at tho: door again. Heazlewood was not finding- the lino with accuracy, and another try came to Hui-Mai when Wallace gathered in a kick from the Blue custodian and passed -in vto. 1 Bryant, who scored;' Swainson failed with- the kick,' and half-time came -with the score HuiMai IV, Athletic 0. ■'■>;■.' Athletic soon indicated that they were going io take a hand in the scoring when they got the wind at their backs, and had Hui-Mai penned in their own twenty-five. Heazlevv-ood just missed with a big "pot" from the side-line, and a forward attack .started! by M'Naught was nearly successful. Worn within a few yards of the line Courtenay sent the ball out to C. Porter, to L. 'uookson, who dropped his pass' to recover the leather and score. Heazlewood found'the distance too great. Athletic 3, Hui-Mai 11. Heazlew.ood made no.mistake', however, with a free-kick; in front' oil the posts, jt Athletic 6.. ;iltui-Mai 11. 'Try as. —they would, Athletic could make no furtheiS impression on their opponents, for whom Swainson and Atkms'played tiseful defensive games. The scores remained unaltered'; Hui-Mai 11, Athletic C. Mr.'H. Anslow refereed. 'ORIENTAL v. KAIERAU. In tftis match Oriental fielded a comparatively strong team, while their opponents' skle wasitQiiiposed mainly of junior players;. After being level at the end of the firs'tfseSsTdjt'NvnWfli'e'J' Tha'd 'the 'conditions in their favour, Kaierau were completely over-run towards 1-the. finish, and Oriental emerged victorious by-a comfortable margin. Considering if, was' "their first try-out, the Black and Whites showed very good form, particularly among, the backs.

Oriental were early on the offensive, but ■were sent back when Simpson found touch, ■well down from a free kick. The Maroons enjoyed a spell in tho ascendancy, and Simpson was nearly successful with two attempts to goal from penalties. L. Smith opened the scoring for Oriental by breaking away on a strong run which ended ■with him falling over the line just as he was tackled. Eamsay missed the kick tit goal. Oriental 3, Kaierau 0. Kaierau returned play to the other end, but could not press home their advantage until M'Carthy scored at the end o£ a forward dribbling rush. Simpson failed to convert. Kaierau 3, Oriental 3. The teams were still level nt the interval.

When Oriental returned to the field T!mnsay and Locjiorc changed places. Kai(■ran showed up in a great passing rush in. which both backs and forwards joined, but tho movement broke up near the line. Oriental retaliated with a ■ iinc effort, which swept the ball to the end of the field, and which was finished off by Whyman scoring a try. Hill's kick missed. Oriental 6-3. The local club kept up the pressure, Simpson proving a. tower of strength for the defenders. Cave increased the score by going clean through Kaierau for a try. Hill's kick was charged down. Oriental 0-3. A brief sally by Kaierau was followed by another Oriental attack, which Packnatz capped with a try. Hill converted. Oriental M-.'!. A big kick dowii■field went over the Kaierau line and Hill was the first to touch down after a Kaierau man had over-run tho ball. The scorer added the major points. Oriental 19-3. Just on time I'ox dummied his Way ■through the Maroons and added another try. Reid failed to goal, and .the ;gaine ended: Oriental 22, Kiiieran 3. Mr. G. Hoaro was the referee.