ATHLETIC AND HUI MAI.

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 73, 28 March 1932, Page 14

ATHLETIC AND HUI MAI.

Athletic experienced very weak opposition from.Hui Mai (Manakau), who started off with, thirteen- players. The exercise was used to the full by the local team, which showed that, although rather light, it was speedy. Combination was /.de- , veloped as the game progressed, and some of. the Athletic "movements were very attractive; with occasional reverse passing by way of an additional flourish. An occasional dash was made by the visitors, but it was all of no avail,.except in a single case in the second spell when the way to a try was unexpectedly found to be easy. Athletic won handsomely. Within a few minutes of the start of the game: Athletic set up a. likely attack, but the danger was averted by the visitors in the ball being kicked "dead." A little later a weak relieving kick paved the. way for a try by Davies. This was not converted. Athletic continued to make most of the play, forwards and backs alike working with much better understanding than the scratch Hui Mai team. It was not long before a series of rushes was capped by a good solo effort by Bezzant, who neatly side-stepped before touching down for a try (unconverted). An occasional rally by Hui Mai realised nothing-more than a brief territorial advantage. The Athletic teamwork was far superior to that of the visitors, and eventually a bright, snappy bout of passing by the Athletic backs ended with Poulton sending Reid over for a try. The kick again failed; ■ 9-0. Keeping the play moving at a lively paeei and varying, the method of attack, Athletic soon put on more-points.. A kick to the-centre' and a fumble by Hui Mai gave Tindill a chance, and lie cut through for a try near the posts. Diaek converted. 14-0. There was no further scoring before half-time. Athletic continued: to. do much as they liked in the second spell. The backs were far too nippy for their opponents, and in quick time four tries were registered as a result of snappy movements.. . The scorers were. Boyd, Jolly, Diack, and Poulton. Three of these tries were converted, two by Diack and one by Jolly. By this time Athletics tally was 30 points. Hui Mai had_ failed to score, although they went: close: in one attempt, ; which failed at the critical-moment .through a pass being dropped. The: visitors,. however, broke their "duck when Perawiti ran across .without opposition, for an, unconverted .try; 30-3.- The visitors endeavoured to spring a surprise-by employing the;"silly" kick, but. this and other efforts were fruitless. Just before the call of time.Andrews almost added a try for Athletic, failing only through hitting the corner flag. The game ended: Athletic 30, Hui Mai 3. Mr. A.'de Clifton was the. referee. BERHAMPORE V. PIRATES. In their match at Athletic Park against the. Napier Pirates team, Berhampore, with a fifteen containing a number of their old hands as well as several younger players keen to gain senior status, were successful by 6 points nil. There was very little to enthuse over in the match, although the players on both sides were keen, enough. Berhampore scored early in the game, Fraser getting a try, which Knudson failed to convert. The first spell produced no further points. Although it was evident that there were "bellows to mend" in some cases, neither team left the field at half-time, being content to box-on after a brief breather. Berhampore opened the second spell with a rattle, and a try •■was only narrowly missed after Love had made a penetrating run 'from near half-way. A little later, however, from'a burst: of short passing near the corner Glennie, one of the forwards, got a. try. The . same • player took the kick at goal, but he was unsuccessful. Berhampore were, six points up, and Pirates renewed their efforts to score, but they were unable to break through the Berhampore ranks, and when time was called they had failed to open their account. Three Petone players filled gaps in the Pirates team. They were Huxtable, Wilkinson, and McGurk. The referee was Mr. D. Calcinai.