KEEN GAME FOR TE HURINUI APANUI SHIELD

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 10403, 16 June 1930, Page 3

KEEN GAME FOR TE HURINUI APANUI SHIELD

Te Puke Defeats. Tauranga by Six to Three.

FORWARDS’ GRIM STRUGGLE

Those who forecasted a close and keen game between the Tauranga and Te Puke Rugby representatives on Saturday were not astray in their predictions. The eastern challengers fielded a strong side, particularly in the forward division, while the Tauranga ■ defenders, fresh with their Thames laurels, had no excuses to offer. The teams were not long in action when it was evident that Te Puke intended to rely on their vanguard to secure possession of the trophy. The visiting forwards hunted in a pack and dominated the tight play—on which they concentrated. They harassed the fast Tauranga backs continuously, and their rapid tackling spoiled the rearguard actions very effectively and kept down the scores. Tauranga led at half-time by three points to nil, and in the third quarter Cameron landed a penalty goal for Te Puke and equalised the tally. Later Malcolm scored and gave Te Puke a lead of three points. The visitors held the scoring advantage to the end, and left the field victors by six points to three. It was mainly a grim struggle between the forwards, with occasional brilliant flashes by the rearguards. The game was bard and there were several stoppages for temporary disablements, but only one player, Hataraka, a Te Puke back, who sustained an injury to his shoulder, had to retire. Mr A. L. Wallace, of Rotorua, controlled the match in a strict and impartial manner, and his interpretations earned universal satisfaction. The teams lined out as follows:

Tauranga (blue and gold).—Fullback. Bell: three-quarters, D. Ainslie, E. lies. A. Tassell; live-eighths, J. Ferguson, G. Farmer (captain): half-back, K. Mirrielees; rover, W. Turner; forwards, C. Haua, D. Mountfort, P. Ririnui, I. Tangitu, r. Ngatal, C. Cameron, N. Leslie.

Te Puke (red and black).—Fullback, M. Cameron; three-quarters, H. Johnstone, H. Dare (captain), O. Webber: five-eighths, J. Cooney, Hataraka; half-back, Rini; rover, R. McKenzie; forwards, L. McNaughton, A. Morton, M. Malcolm, I. Ollivier, E. Morton, P. Webber, V. Hewitt.

Farmer won the toss and elected to defend the southern goal with a strong south-westerly wind behind him. Dare set the leather going, and the visiting forwards made the pace from the start. Tauranga heeled from the first scrum and Mirrielees sent the ball out to his backs but the opposition spoiled quickly. Turner secured and fended his way down the western line, Johnstone foiling by a punt to the side line. Tauranga pressed and the Te Puke forwards massed and drove to the central zone. Tauranga was penalised and Dare lined near the middle flag. Leslie and Mountfort broke through, but Cameron checked and found touch with a long kick. The forwards battled strenuously in the neutral ground. Ngatal, Leslie and Ririnui forced their way through in the thick and the ball rolled across for Johnstone to force. Determined forward play ensued near midfield until Hataraka, Dare and Johnstone made ground in a combined movement, which was nullified by Tassell. The advantage passed to Te Puke and Cooney improved by cutting through but was tackled in front of Tauranga's goal. Hataraka sustained an injury to his shoulder and was compelled to retire, F. Chapman going on In his stead. O. Webber then to five-eighths and Chapman took his place in the threequarter line. The forwards continued to dominate the play. A Te Puke man got offside and Farmer found touch in the reds’ territory. A bright movement by Farmer, Mirrielees, lies and Tassell placed Te Puke on the defensive. The visiting vanguard tightened the play and Cooney relieved by breaking through. Tassell steadied the advance and ran straight and punted high for the ball to roll across, Te Puke forcing. The visiting forwards—Malcolm and E. Morton leading—retaliated convincingly, and Hewitt swung down the western side, Tassell checking. McKenzie made ground from a lineout by beating several opponents. Then the Tauranga backs started a handling bout and reached the Te Puke line, Johnstone saving skilfully, At this stage Ferguson was hurt and retired but came on again later. The teams changed round for the second quarter. The advantage passed to Tauranga, but Rini pushed his way through and cleared. Then Ferguson cut through and centred beautifully to a group of colleagues. Turner secured and passed to Leslie to Tassell. The latter made a great run on the eastern flank and in-passed to Turner, who wound up a meritorious movement and scored. The kick missed: Tauranga, J; Te Puke. 0. The visiting vanguard massed and drove to the home twenty-five, Farmer saving twice in quick succession. Turner, lies and Mirrielees then gained ground in a footwork effort and smothered a Te Puke buck when attempting to return. The local men pressed on, but the ball rolled too far and a touch-in-goal was th£ result. Chapman was conspicuous in a solo run down the western side, but lies and Farmer countered and the ball reached Johnstone, who punted to touch on the eastern side. Tauranga was penalised and Dare lined at the central mark, A. Morton came into the picture and made his way to the Tauranga citadel, Bell checking and finding the line. From a scrum Mirrielees set the. home Backs going, but one of them drop- .. ped the ball. Tight play ensued and Ferguson cut through and handed on to lies to Tassell, who was checked in the south-eastern angle a few yards off the line. Te Puke cleared with a penalty. McKenzie, in a strong run down the eastern side, bumped off several tacklers and Te Puke assailed resolutely until Farmer cleared with a long range kick to the visitors’ salient, which was well countered similarly by Camer- • on. The Te Puke forwards launched an attack in the north-eastern angle. Farmer averting danger by the aid of a penalty. Half time sounded with Taurauga leading by three points. Dare kicked off and the ball was taken by one of the reds, who was crowded into touch on Taurauga’s side of half-way. The home backs got into their stride but the opposing forwards tackled rapidly and steadied the advance. A fine kick by Beil saw the ball bounce out Hear the Te Puke quarter-way flag. McKenzie was hurt, but resumed. When (he ball came iu the Tauranga backs swung into action, but were quicklv checked bv effective tackling. Malcolm, McNaughton and E. Morton broke through. Dare, .*■ Ollivier, McKenzie, and O. Webber combined attractively and penetrated the home salient. A local man was caught offside and Cameron landed a great goal from forty-five yards to equalise lire scores —three all, Tauranga rallied and a high kick by Farmer rolled across and was forced by Cameron. From a

scrum in the Te Puke twenty-five Tangitu broke through close to the lino, but the visiting forwards crowded and checked. Several successive scrums favoured the eastern 1 pack and they eventually reached Tauranga’s territory. Dare punted high for the visiting vanguard to swoop down on the Tauranga citadel. The defence weakened momentarily and Malcolm hurled himself across and scored. Cameron failed with_ the kick, and Te Puke now led by six to three. Shortly afterwards a splendid kick by Farmer saw the ball go out in the north-eastern corner. Tauranga launched an attack, McKenzie beating back the assailants with a kick to touch. Twice in succession Farmer made ground with formidable line kicks. Haua was hurt, but resumed in a few minutes; Tauranga pressed. The home backs started a handling movement, and lost an excellent scoring chance through a knock-on. The eastern forwards surged upfleld. A local man worked offside and Cameron made an unsuccessful’ attempt to goal from fifty yards. The teams changed round for the final quarter at four o’clock. From a line-out Rini broke away and was joined by McKenzie and O. Webber. The reds backed up well ajid one of the home backs was smothered when endeavouring to return. The Te Puke vanguard charged through rapidly, but were pulled up for an illegality, and Farmer found the line near centre. The ball travelled up and down the field at a rare pace. From a melee at midfield Te Puke was penalised and Farmer found touch in his opponents’ territory. The advantage passed to Tauranga .and the home forwards worked into the south-western angle, O. Webber relieving with a speculator. The home forwards pressed the attack and the backs manoeuvred into position to strike, but McKenzie was too watchful and booted the leather out near the centre. The home forwards bunched and drove back, but were pulled up for an infringement, and Dare cleared with the resultant kick. A well-judged punt by Mirrielees found the home forwards back again on the visitors’ line. The Te Puke forwards massed and drove for some distance, but Mirrielees sent them back again into the south-western corner. The play swung to midfield, where Te Puke was penalised and Farmer made a good attempt to drop a goal, missing by three feet. The visiting forwards crowded and reached the home twenty-five. McKenzie obtained possession from the tight and sent to Chapman, who went within an ace of scoring. Ferguson, lies and Tassell were conspicuous in a combined effort, which shifted play to the reds’ salient. A halt was called, a Te Puke man being hurt. With only a few minutes to go the pace quickened. The advantage then passed to Te Puke and the home twenty-five was made the storm centre. Tangitu and Leslie came through towards centre, but Rini stopped progress. A great final effort by the Tauranga backs saw the Te Puke line seriously jeopardised, and once again play was stopped as a Te Puke man was hurt. Upon resuming Tauranga delivered a great team attack, but Malcolm sent to touch right in Te Puke’s corner, and the whistle sounded time with the scores: Te Puke, 6; Tauranga, 3. |

After the match the Shield was presented to the Te Puke'team. The next game for the trophy will be played on June 28, when Rotorua will meet the holders at Te Puke. HIGH SCHOOLS’ TEAMS.

The curtain raiser between the Tauranga and Te Puke High Schools fifteens resulted in an easy victory for Tauranga by 51 points to nil. The teams were:

Taurauga.—W. Hare, R. Pemberton, P. Sander, M. Pearson (captain), A. Carter, E. Kennedy, R. Fell, E. Lloyd, A. Dale, R. Hammond, D. Beckett, J. Harrison, S. Goodson, L. Phelps, R. Walford. Te Puke. —J. Gray, G. Hitchings. B. Smith (captain), R. Kenny, B. Capon, B. Butcher, D. Ryburn. F. Dyer, O. Wyman, M. Haigh, C. Howell. J. Hayward, J. Gilmore, L. Fagan, O. Thomas. Shortly after the start the Tauranga vanguard dribbled through. Then Pearson picked up and sprinted through.to score. The kick failed: Tauranga, 3; Te Puke, 0. Even, play followed in neutral ground until Sanaer obtained the leather and cut through. He then sent a pass to Pearson who streaked down the western line and crossed over to score between the posts/ Hare’s kick went close: Tauranga, 6: Te Puke, 0. Shortly after resuming the home forwards bunched and drove through. Pearson followed up rapidly and touched down. The kick failed to materialise: Tauranga, 9: Te Puke, 0. Tauranga held the advantage. Pearson dribbled upfield, picked up on the western side, and outpaced his opponents to score his fourth consecutive try. Kennedy converted: Taurauga, 14: Te Puke 0. From a scrum at centre Fell passed to Kennedy to Sander, who ran through and touched down between the posts. Kennedy kicked on the major points; Tauranga, 19; Te Puke, 0. The Tauranga forwards launched a strong attack which Butcher checked by marking. The local lads surged back and from a scramble in front of the goal Sander scored. The kick failed: Tauranga, 22; Te Puke, 0. A long kick by Smith saw Te Puke launch a telling offensive which was relieved by Kennedy booting to touch. Play swung to centre. Fell obtained and initiated a fine handling movement which was topped off by Pearson scoring his fifth try. Kennedy converted: Tauranga, 27; Te Puke, 0. Hard forward play followed on Te Puke’s side of half-way. The ball was then sent to Sander, who raced down the eastern side and scored. His kick, went close and Tauranga now led by 30 to nil. Tauranga continued to hold the upper hand and Lloyd crossed in the soum-eastern corner and scored. The kick was a poor attempt. Te Puke rallied and their forwards followed up a high kick by Capon and took play into the home twenty-five where Howell had an unsuccessful shot at goal from a penalty. Score at half-time 33-0. The early stages of the second half were responsible for even play. Then Pearson and Sander were associated in a handling movement and crossed in the north-eastern angle, Sander scoring. Tauranga, 36; Te Puke, 0. Te Puke replied with a strong attack which was checked bj Hare Thou the Tauranga backs took a hand and Kennedy ran through and touched down. A little later Carter scored to bring Tauranga’s tally to 42. The visitors rallied strongly and Capon was prominent in a dodgy run. ihe home forwards crowded and cleared, and Sander led a footwork movement over the line. Butcher forcing. Capon made a sterling run in the middle of the field, and broke clear, but was not supported. Even play followed iu neutral territory until Sander picked up and essayed a field goal, which missed narrowly. Playing With dash Pearson crossed iu the north-eastern corner: Tauranga, 45: Tc Puke, 0. Immediately after, Pearson crossed again and Hare’s kick was a poster: Tauranga, 4S; Te Puke, 0. After resuming the Taurauga hacks got going and Pearson scored his eighth try. The whistle sounded shortly afterwards with the scores; 'lauranga, 51; Te Puke, 0. Mr Riggir refereed