A POSTPONED FIXTURE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 30 August 1926, Page 7

A POSTPONED FIXTURE

HAWERA (6) v. ATHLETIC (4)

A match between Hawcra and Athlotic, posponed from the date of the last HaAvera races, took .place on the •Showgrounds on Saturday. Though it iwasj officially! a union, fixture, the match was more in the nature of a friendly game. ■ The teams Avere much below strength. The amber and blacks provided B. Paterson as n back for the blues., “Torp” Wlnttington, “gave it another go,” this time against Ins old club mates.

In the early stages the keen young Hawera backs opened up the play and maintained the offensive consistently for the first fifteen minutes. Hammond received an injury to an able and retired. A sustained back attack by Hawera. gave Cheevcrs a- chance to reach, the corner, but lost possession as he knocked, the’ flag over. After another series of passing bouts, in Avhich Ilulbert and Williams almost scored the Athletic forAvards, led by Ryan, took play in. neutral territory. Combined Avork between the Atahleic- backs and forwards gave a brief cxcurse n into Hawera’s twenty-five. The Hawcra for Avar ds continued to feed t-hoir backs. A five-eighth hung on too Jong, and spoiled two promising attacks Paterson w-ent foTvrard for Athletic and! held its scrum together. A _ fast bout of passing, initiated; by Wilson, rrave Malcolm a chance to put in a good run. and- leave the Avay open for a fast sprint across the. Hue by Ilulbert. The try-getter failed Avith his oavh kick.

Almost immediately t-he Hawcra forwards Avere instrumental in carrying the ball Arithin a. few yards- of the goal line. “Snowy” Robinson secured. possession, and forced his av:iv oa-ct. Tltc kic-k was disallowed. Hawera led bv six to nil.

From the kick-out- Athletic- pressed, and Thomas seized! an early opportunity to pot at goal. The effort was successful and the amber and blacks’ lead was reduced to 6to 4. Half-time blew AA-ith rain setting in.

The teams changed: straight over and carried on with the play. Athletic showed the first initiative. . As the ball got- heavier, the game sloAved. up, not sufficiently, however, to prevent- a bright exchange, between Twist, Malcolm, Cheevers and * ‘ Snowy ’’ Robinson. ' A foiwardi pass brought- a dangerous attack to terminations. From, a forward and association on the part of Hawera- a bunch of players crossed the Athletic line, but were called back for a five yard's scrum. The blues took advantage of the.respite and carried!,. play to their opponent’s tAventy-five; only temporary, however. Renewed Hawcra. energy carried the ball back to Athletic’s line, where a providential infringement enabled touch to be found by the defenders.

1 -Rain noAA" descended so heavily that the players followed the line-umpires to the grandstand! for shelter. The game thus ended:

Hawcra b Athletic I Mr. H. Cl a pham was the referee