HAWERA (10) v. OKAIAWA (3)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 28 April 1924, Page 8

HAWERA (10) v. OKAIAWA (3)

Playing at Okaiawa the home team' gave Hawera a great struggle, and up till the middle of the second snell the issue was in doubt, for the Okaiawa forwards were playing with great dash, while the backs were defending well. j Okaiawa opened the play, and at onoe ' set up a hot attack which carried play to the Hawera line. Lay cleared, and for a time play went up and down field in vigorous forward rushes, the backs being unable to handle a wet ball with certainty. One run by Whittington looked likely, but he was tackled well. Then Hawera forwards charged down, and Johnston took a neat mark', which saved a dangerous situation. ' Again Johnston saved, and the home forwards went upfield in a rush that tested Hawera defence sorely. Up and down the play went in loose rushes, in which the honours were even. In a good position Brown slipped and, unluckily, lost a good opening. A nice movement by Hawera backs looked likely, and -, play went to Okaiawa territory, where j from a free kick Sinclair nlaced a pretty I goal. ' | In the second spell D. Johnston ' onened with a clever dash, in which he eluded most .of the backs, and put the Hawera line.in danger. He was taken by Sinclair, and Hawera went npfield in a great dash. Lay seer.red and sent out to McGregor, who. instead of going across, cut in on the blind side and, eluding all oppos'tion, scored a cood try. Sinclair's kick iust failed. From the kick-out Okaiawa rushed down, and R. Roberts securing, sent on to Johnston and the latter was forced into touch. Tlie ball came out and three Okaiawa men went over the line, Linn appearing to score the try. Tbe kick failed. Following the kick-out Hodder secured and, putting in a good run, passed to Whittington, who made a fine dash and passed on to McGregor. He failed to take, and the opposing forwards went down in a great rush. Only good defence "and strenuous work by the forwards kept them back. Passing by Lay in his own twenty-five nearly brought trouble, but Brown saved well on two occasions, once with a fine kick and again by a clever mark Shortly after, Hawera were forced twice in quick succession, and then they rushed upfield. The ball coming out, the backs were doing capital work and had hard luck in not scoring, Brown b^ing specially noticeable for opening up play and initiating several fine back movements. D. Johnstone put 111 fine defensive work, but, not to1 be denied, Hawera backs' onened up play the ball going out from Lay to Hodder, to McGregor, who ran and passed to Brown, and the latter seeing an opportunity in front of the posts potted a pretty goal, makino- Hawera's score ten points. From this to the end of the match'play was pretty even, Okaiawa malting strenuous efforts to even un the scores, and the whistle sounded'as the ball was kicked out in Hawera quarters. It had been a ke^n and well-contested match. Mr. A. H. Guy was referee. I