APANUI SHIELD

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVII, Issue 10137, 29 July 1929, Page 2

APANUI SHIELD

TAUiIANG A I) hi FEATS OPOTIKI.

The Hurinui Apauni Shield has been responsible ior many stirring Rugby matches between the various Unions in the Bay of Plenty, and the contest on Saturday last be; tween the Tauranga and Opotiki representatives, at Opotiki, ranks as one of the keenest that has ever been played in the Bay of Plenty, Each Union was represented by a

good side. Opotiki, on their recent performances in defeating all challengers this (season, were looked upon as possessing an excellent chance of retaining possession of the trophy. The Tauranga learn had been practising for a week and faced their worthy opponents in go. d form. The game was fast and hard. The Tauranga forwards, although considerably light - , r than their opponents, held the Opotiki park and in the main dominated the play on the lineouts, ami in the scrums and the open. Tbe Tauranga backs showed up as an attractive combination, and came through the game with great credit. The first score went to Tauranga in the second quarter. From a .scrum near midfield, Tauranga hooked. Mirriclecs, the half, secured, and sent, to G. lies to It. lies. The last-mentioned shortpunted to the open and the Tauranga forwards swept through, a splendid movement being finalised by C. Cameron scoring. The kick failed. Towards the end of the third quarter Farmer scored as the result of clever Tactics,_ and the kick missed. Then after interesting play O’Sullivan scored for Opotiki, and the kick failed. Mr Moffatt. of TVhakatanc, was an eiheient referee. The Shield was brought to Tauranga last night and will be on exhibition in Messrs Hanna and Jones' window to-morrow. Botorna, Taupo and Opotiki have submitted challenges fur the Shield. The first challenge game will be played at Tauranga on August 10, and will be probably against Botorna. MATCH BETWEEN NATIVE TEAMS:. A native team chosen from the afforestation employees in the Putaruru district visited Tauranga on Saturday and met a native fifteen selected from thy l [players in the Tauranga Rugby Union's district. The local Maoris took the early scoring lead, and were never in danger of defeat, winning by 11 points to •’!. The game was a forward contest, the two sets of backs showing to little advantage. Mr C. Davison was referee. The teams were as follows: Tauranga Natives. —IT. Ngatai, B. Ngahoc, C. Motuierc, R. Gear, T. Palmer, T. Kani, J. Webster,

S.’ Ngatai, T. Faulkner (captain), W. Nepia, M. Faikato, P. Bidois, B. Ngatai, Rikirangi. T. Moiri. Perpetual Forests, Putaruni. —H. Ua, P. McLeod, T. McLeod, McCarthy, Tarewha, Jerry, Atutu, P. Taikato, W. Keuo (captain), Tipiwai, McDonald, T. Albert, H. Taikato, P. Moses, Enoka. Putaruni won the tqss and defended the southern line. The territorial advantage 'ait dhe outset passed to Tauranga, who reached their opponents’ area by a series of forward thrusts. Tauranga pressed in the south-eastern angle, until Jerry cleared with a nippy kick to the side-line. Several scrums ensued close to the Putaruni citadel and the. home forwards surged over for Putaruni to force. The visitors worked down the eastern side to, centre, but the home vanguard * came back, the McLeod Bros, clearing. Putaruni was penalised and a place kick by W. Nepia from thirty yards went close. Faulkner cut through and the Putaruni line was

jeopardised until the forwards * massed and readied the central zone before they w 7 erc pulled up. Tauranga was penalised, and Tipiwai made ground by means of a long range kick. Putaruru maintained the advantage and M. Taikato sought safety in forcing. _ Immediately after resuming P. Bidois and Webster were responsible for an attractive effort, which was pulled up in front of the Putaruru goal. The home vanguard attacked vigorously, but a penalty enabled Putaruru to clear, and the central zone was once again the storm centre. The second quarter opened to the advantage of Putaruru, and then the borne forwards replied in convincing style to reach the Putarliru salient. The defence weakened and S. Ngatai dashed over and touched down. The kick failed : Tauranga. :i; Putaruru, 0. The home forwards ■were soon prominent and dribbled across for P. Taikato to force. Palmer made a spectacular mu down the eastern line and the, ball was dribbled across, but a Putaruru back ran round quickly and forced. The Putaruru backs replied with a sparkling handling bout, in which half-a-dozen players participated, and the ‘ home ( salient was threatened. Eventually Moiri made a good run, fending off several opponents, which enabled Tauranga to clear. Putaruru kept the ball close and improved their position. The home forwards bunched and made a nippy drive to their opponents’ territory, the whistle sounding half-time with the local men leading by three points. Early in the third quarter Moiri made a strong dash, which placed Putaruru on the defensive. The visitors were penalised, and Nepia landed a goal; Tauranga, 6; Putaruru 0, The visiting forwards retaliated very effectively, and Albert ran through and scored. P. McLeod’s kick went close: Tauranga, 0; Putaruru, 3. The advantage- then passed to the; visitors and they made matters lively for their opponents until Tauranga cleared and made ground with a free kick. Ngahoe—who played a splendid game—followed up fast and dashed for the line, but was called back. Ngahoe- and Faulkner then showed out in a concerted movement and the Putaruru backs we He called upon to exert all their energies in protecting their line. Ultimately the visitors cleared by the aid of a free kick. The home forwards swept hack again and dribbled the hall across, Putaruru forcing. Uninteresting forward play -followed ten- some time until Tauranga launched a telling offensive, which made things merry for the opposition. The visitors were penalised ancT Nepia’ had an unsuccessful shot at goal. Bidois secured and made a long run on the angle to score. The kick went Tauranga, 9; Putaruru, .‘5. Play opened at a slow pace in the final quarter. Then Tauranga delivered a great team attack and Putaruru we"' kept busy defending their line. Ngahoe opened up the game in spectacular fashion ■

and sent the ball to Bidois,- wh 1 outpaced several opponents anil II scored. T. Faulkner added th 1 major points; Tauranga, 14 ; p 1 rnrn, The home team now main' | tained the upper hand. From a * serum Ngahoc secured and b ro ]. Gear, hut was tackled right on the hue. Tauranga win penalised and the visitors cleared with a fjU kick. Tauranga returned to th-> attack, hut m> further score was registered and the whistle sounded with the scores; Tauranga, 14., Putaruru b. ’ , JUNIOR MATCH. The Cadets Old Boys and AthIcties met in the junior competition. Tile match was keen and fast and resulted in a win f or Athletics by 8 points to 6. In the first two quarters the play was even anil at half time the'scores 8 were three points all. F. Pi a .,_ I fair scored for Cadets and C. Day- 1 oren for Athletics. The third qtiar- I ter opened with fast play between the, iionvani divisions. Cadets then assumed the aggresive until Hayaian cleared with a good kick Athletics opened up the game and penetrated Cadets’ territory. The t in wards dribbled across "and J Tanner dived over and scored, j" Stewart converted; Athletics’, g‘. Cadet's Playfair made a sola run down the western lino but was not supported. The plaswung across field and one of the Cadets tried to clear, but Olsen marked and had a shot at goal which missed narrowly. Early the last quarter Athletics attacked and the ball was sent across the line, Cadets forcing. Milne was conspicuous 111 a dodgy run. which 9 placed Athletics on the defensive I Atiieltics were penalised and Miln e I landed a goal from the thirty I yards mark-: Athletics. 8; Cadets I t:. Athletics retaliated, R. Cambio I being conspicuous in making a . run to the south-eastern corner Athletics .assailed strongly but Cadets cleared and their forwards swept _ through and crossed the Athletics’ line, Stewart forcing ' lay continued in Athletics’ territory till the end of the game, the I whistle sounding; Athletics, 8- 1 Cadets, 6. ’ | Mr H. Allely controlled the match. SCHOOLBOYS GAME. The Tauranga High School teams 1 mites and Ponekes played a match in connection with the Mewenzie Shield. The game was a I draw-five points all., D. Beckett j scored for i'onekos and G. Finlay- I son converted. A, Mitchell notched a try Tor Pirates and W. Haro I added the extra points. Mr H. J Gavin was referee. I ALL BLACKS BEATEN. Sydney, July as. I The fiiiiil of the Rugby test series between New Zealand and Australia was played at the Sydney cricket ground yesterday and provided an epic struggle, and resulted: Australia, 15; New Zealand, lb. BAA OF PLENTY VERSUS POVERTY BAY. , The following are the representatives selected to represent the Bay of Plenty, against Poverty Bay on Saturday next at Opotiki ; Full-back, McKay (O); Three-quarters, E. Kelly (0), liarawera (\V), M. Howell (IT); Five-eighths, Farmer (T) (Captain), Morrison (Ro); Half-back, Nuku (W); Rover, Turner (T); Hookers, Haua (T), Scott (11); Luck, Parkinson (O); Side Supports, C. Black (0), P. Tama (R); Back Rankers, 1. Tangitu (T), F. Kelly (O). Reserves.—Craig (O), P. Howell J (R), Skelton (0), T. Black (O). O Opotiki; W Whakatane; R Rangitaiki; Ro Rotorua; Tc P Te Puke; T Tauranga.