Hikurangi And Kamo; Even Game

Northern Advocate, 19 June 1939, Page 2

Hikurangi And Kamo; Even Game

Although 25 minutes late m starting, the game at Kamo was played throughout at a cracking pace. Hikurangi was hard put to field a team, with several of their best men not available, while Kamo had several of their older hands at it again, and some promising new material. It was Kamo’s best game to date. Hikurangi won the toss, and elected to play with the sun at their backs.

From the kick-off, Kamo went on attack, but their movements were ragged, and made little impression. Hikurangi also lacked cohesion, and for the greater part of the first spell loose play predominated. C. Hamilton and Pickerell carried play into home ground, where the former had a couple of unsuccessful penalty shots at goal. Kamo forwards pressed in turn, and Hikurangi forced. Both sides were trying to open up the game, and from halfway the Hikurangi rearguard came into action. Fickerell sent on to Hamilton, but stepped out and the other man’s try was disallowed.

Hayward shone in the Kamo attack, and McMillan essayed to go through, but failed from lack of support. Rod Hamilton secured and came downfield fast, but Thorburn had him bottled up.

Fihlayson was hooking well for Kamo, but the ball seldom went far along the back line, and then the Hikurangi pack began to take command.

Flaying his first game of the season, Lenne appeared as the home team’s five-eighths, and although out of condition, was playing a constructive game, which brought the leather into Hikurangi’s half at half-time, which came with no score.

Hikurangi in Trouble

Play remained indecisive for the earlier part of the second spell, and themKamo went away with Farrell and M. Thorburn in the van.

They had Hikurangi in trouble, and C. Hamilton ran back fast to scoop up the ball one-handed beneath the posts and cross the dead-ball line. Up and down play followed, with both sets of backs still trying to strike form, but being met with hard defence on either side. Both full-backs. L. Thorburn (Kamo) and Gabolinsky, were working hard, while J. King was marking Hikurangi’s star winger, Pickerell, in deadly manner. C. Hamilton gathered in close to Kamo’s line, and Pickerell took his pass brilliantly, and it was only great defence which saved Kamo from a score. The Only Score. Hikurangi backs were all set to go, and from a scrum the ball swung out to Crackett, who steamed up the line in great style before firing out to Rod Hamilton for the only score of the game. C. Hamilton failed with a difficult kick from the sideline. Again and again Hikurangi rearguard attempted to increase their lead, and there was a spell of hot work on the Kamo line in the fading light, but the defence was more than solid. Hikurangi was penalised several times and this helped to keep Kamo s line clear.

In the closing stages Ruddell and Farrell carried the ball deep into the visitors ground for the first time in 15 minutes, and the final whistle came with the score: Hikurangi 3, Kamo 0. Mr J. Hill controlled the game.