TAURANGA WINS KUSABS' CUP FINAL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume 49, Issue 7742, 11 July 1921, Page 2

TAURANGA WINS KUSABS' CUP FINAL

HU iUK FA BEATEN BY SIX .. TEEN POINTS TO NINE.

Ai last, ‘Tauranga footballers after several attempts, have won the coveted Kusabs' Cup. The victory was achieved at Arawa Park, Rotorua, on Si.turdav last against the representatives of the Rotorua Rugbv Union. The weather was glorious and there was a large attendance. which included numerous enthusiasts from Tauranga and Te Puke and even a few irom as far eastward as Whakatane. The game was a great trial of strength, both teams playing up to their best form, end the spectators were treated to a highly interesting contest. The match was played in an excellent sporting spirit and was very ably controlled by Mr. H. Cliff, of Auckland. who gave his rulings in a prompt and impartial manner. The ground, which has nut been long laid down, was somewhat lumpy. During the first fifteen minutes there was no score. Then D. Borell made a fine run cf eighty yards and scored, no goal resulting. Shortly afterwards Graham scored a try for Rotorua, which was not converted, making the scores even. A little later Young notched a try and the kick failed, pulling Rotorua three points in she lead. The next score was not registered until early in the second spell, when I). Borell landed a penalty goal, again equalising the scores. About fifteen minute? before the call of time D. Borell scored, putting on the additional points, and a few minutes afterwards A. Ties obtained a try, which 1), Borell converted. Then the Rotorua captain kicked a penalty goal, the whistle sounding with the verdict in Tauranga's favour by 16 points to 9. D. Borell played left wing three-quarter. The new position suited’him admirably, and the two tries which be scored were high-class efforts. He was certainly the hero of the match and was responsible for thirteen of the Tauranga total of sixteen points truly a splendid performance. A Ties gave -a finished display as fivejdghths, and capped a fin,* afternoon's work with a tty, which was a fitting reward for his efficitat backing up of the vanguard at I lie opportune moment. G. lies played his usual brilliant game, but was exceedingly well watched, and unfortunately suffered as the result of a nasty knock in the lace early in the game. The Rotorua forwards were nippier than those of Tauranga and hunted and drove with telling effect, showing that the Tauranga vanguard is not yet as perfect as it should be. It was the finished back play that secured victory and in this department a change «r two in the personnel could be made to advantage. The Kusabs’ Cup now passes to the Tauranga Union, who will, in the ordinary course of events, hold it until next season, when it will again be the medium for competition by all the Bay of Plenty Unions. .'To secure the trophy Tauranga has this season defeated the chosen of Te Puke, Whakatane ami Rotorua. The local players reside in a district that is widely scattered, and considering the few opportunities afforded for practice together have put up a very cteditable performance in winning the Cup. The competing teams on Saturday lined out as follows:

Taurauga, yellow and black. - Full-back, J. Tarau; thrfr-quarters, J. Tau, G. lies (caplain), I). Borell; five-eighths, A. lies, J. Don; half-back, J. Borell: rover, Wiiana Murray; forwards, R. Heke, W. Pearcey, T. Ormsby, Tapeta, Tiwha, Tu Taugitu, C. Faulkner. ■Rotorua, black. - Full-back, D. Mason : three-quarters, Graham, F. Purcell. .1. Tapir! ; five-eighths, A. Keepa, C. Woods: half-back, Heke Rogers (captain) ; rover, B. Lowrie; forwards, S. Emery, Oneone, E. i-l.aira, McGulTog, E. Young, J. Rogers, R. Royal.

Line umpires. Messrs. J. Tanner (Tanranga), and L. Parrant (Rotorua). As the teams stepped on to the field they were loudly cheered by the crowd. Mr. Clift' addressed the' players. Then the coin was tossed, the Tanranga skipper winning and marshalling bis men in defence of tlic northern line. Reke set the leather in .motion. Don secured and set the lies Bros going, George being tackled in the neutral zone. Following a scrum the Tanranga hicks tried to get moving, but were steadied bv effective tackling bv

Tapiii and Purcell. Oneone and ■I. Rogers led attacks by Ibe Rotorua forwards. Tauranga was penalised and Lowrie’made an unsuccessful attempt to goal from twenty yards. Reke beaded an attacking movement by the blacks, and tried to drop a goal, but missed, and the ball rolled across the line, Tauranga forcing. The next outstanding feature was a breakaway by Faulkner, Tape!a, Ormsby and Murray, to which Rogers, Woods, and Graham replied with a nice passing bout. A series of line-outs and scrums followed in the centra] area. Young broke through, and was steadied by Don who marked. J.'“ Rogers Oneone and Royal were tlien associated in a concerted manoeuvre, which found the yellows busy defending, a free kick bringing relief. A. lies sent the ball spinning to Graham, who ran down the western side and was thrown out. Smart work by Murray pushed the blacks back. Woods fielded neatly and kicked to the Tauranga twenty-five, where D. Rorell gathered the ball up and swept down the eastern side. Running at top speed the Te Puna back shook off a couple of tacklers,

niul Hashed ov,. r m the south-easter anyle, scoring the best try 0 f ".i" game. lie hilled to convert*

Tauranga Rotorua HuyJ kicked oil. 1). Borell turn d to Mason, and the leather rolled uuo touch near mid-fieli Hard play followed on the Kih F '™" J , Um l' So. posision and whipped out i 0 his baeU who wove pulled up i„ ,h e Botonn ■2o. bur clever work b v Reke 1, Young carried the hall to T ° ranjja's ternlory. G. lies rep S with a quick dash and eluded several' opponents. While running smartly punted over ih e the defending full-back in an endeavour to get through, hm was tedded after lus kick, and received a bad knock m the face. Murray, Tu Tarigi tu i’earccy and Tape!a further i m ’ proved the advantage, and a f re? kick gave 1). Morel! a long shot :u goal, which went very d 0s 5 e Faulkner. Ormshy. Pearccy an( j Tapeta led a shaip attack ou ’ ,] l(l Rotorua citadel, hm the :ssaiia« t s were beaten hack by Purcell and Tap in. Shortly after resuming X arau marked and endeavoured "to CO al from fifty yards, compelling Mason folV; '- H,,v;il lilt' baVgoin* again and a meteoric dash by Rek? and Woods placed ihe Tauraima lin? in jeopardy, Taran saving by f otv . iug. Play hovered between the twenty-live Hags, the notable participants being Tu Tangitu, Tapeta Murray and Pearcey for Tauranga’ am! Reke, Oneone, Lowrie anti Woods for tlu- blacks. Then T« Tangiiu ami Pearcey drove into the Rotorua zone. Graham saving with a well-judged punt to'the eastern side .line. The Rotorua forwards bunched and dribbled the Ball up Held, badly shattering the deducea couple of the Tauranga backs fail’ ing to stem th? assault. Emery picked up in the loose and passed to Purcell, who handed on to Graham, the last-mentioned putting (be finishing touch to an attractive piece of play by scoring' at the northwestern corner. Lowrie failed to put on the extra points, and the scores were even;

Taurauga 3 Rotorm; 3 Tin* game continued at a great - pace. Rotorua was penalised. 1). Borell sent die oval to Purcell, who checked a sweeping mu ly the yellow forward! by marking,. - Oneone, .). Rogers and Royal combined in an attacking manoeuvre, whichwas steadied in the yellows’’twenty--. ■ five. Rotorua was awarded af ee kick in a good position, and Reke missed goaling by a narrow margin. Then the Hot Lakes men .delivers!', a desperate todm attack'that, tested every link in the Taurauga defence and raised the Rotorua supporters 1 enthusiasm to fever heat. Dash and combination, with the backs supporting the forwards, was the chief characteristic of Rotorua’s play ai this juncture, and eventually the ball was kicked across. Young was handy and pounced on it and scored. Lowrie failed with the kick, and Rotorua was now three points in the lead: Rotorua 6 Taurauga ’ 3 The Taurauga forwards, led by the rover Murray, replied with a sharp thrust, which was checked in the blacks’ zone by Tapiri. A. Ties marked about thirty-five yards mtr, and made a good attempt to goal. Reke obtained possession and dodg- - ed several tacklers and lined. J. . Rogers and Oneone combined in smart concerted play, Tarau foiling and sending the leather to Graham.. Woods, I). Borell, G. lies and.Tapiri were conspicuous in . sparkling fielding tactics. J. Borell set d> e Taurauga backs in motion, but Woods intercepted and steadied the advance. J.Borell obtained Rom 3 scrum, and made ground by cutting in. He then transferred toJD. Borell and the doughty Te Puna three quarter sprinted for the line. He bumped off several opponents, and was thrown into touch in the south-* eastern angle, a yard from the scoring area. The whistle sounded half-time, the scores showing: Rotorua G Taurauga 3

Ormsby kicked oft against a strong sun. Royal returned to Tau, who made a strong run, Oneone tackling well and blocking progress. J. Rogers and Haifa headed <l thrust by the Rotorua scrummage-. The home rearguard supported, but as they got within striking distance the ball went astray. D. secured possession and sprinted, Pearcey joining issue. The lattei made a game hid to score and. carn’ d phiv close to the Rotorua dine before he was stopped.’ Hit ■l' 3ll ' rauga forwards bunched in tin’ north-western angle and searched; for a weak place to get through, but the Rotorua defenders held on tenaciously and foiled even* a*' tempt. A scrum was ordered and a Rotorua man infringed the rule., with the result that D .Borell kick* ed a nice goal from the penalty an equalised the scores: yr Tanranga ' b* Rotorua .

Royal set the ball rolling, Tan returned. Rotorua was awarded a free kick and their forwardswept up under the oval in a &*■. sign to break tlie defence. D |f * blacks kept up aggressive tactics tin til Tu Tangiln picked up and mada strong dash to mid-field, where u was tackled. Rotorua was lis -J ; ml G. lies made ground wlt ' a well placed punt to the side h* n P,