TE PUKE LIFT APANUI SHIED

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIX, Issue 10615, 13 July 1931, Page 2

TE PUKE LIFT APANUI SHIED

Last Minute Penalty Wins! Game. I RANGITAIKI OUT OP LUCK. Fortune smiled on the Te Puke fif- ; teen in their match for the Te Hurinui Apamii Shield against Rangitaiki. which was played at Matata on Saturday before a large gathering. From the opening whistle the crowd realised that they were to witness a match something out of the ordinary and they were in no manner disappointed. The score a minute before call of time was in favour of Rangitaiki, the holders of the shield, ten points to nine, and the result seemed assured, but one of those acts of fate occurred, and, unfortunately for Rangitaiki, right in front of their goal, and the result was a penally kick for the challengers which allowed Dare, the Te Puke centre-three-quarter and kick, to land a good goal and win the match for his team by the narrow margin of two points. The Te Puke supporters not waiting for the final whistle rushed on the Held and chaired their idols to the line. However, time was up and everyone left fully convinced that the match just witnessed was one of the finest expositions of football yet witnessed in the Bay. Rangitaiki, who defeated Tauranga a month ago. and who successfully withstood a challenge by Opotiki on June 27, took the field with practically the same team and from the outset took nothing for granted-—they could not afford to, as To Puke also has a number of matches to their credit. The Rangitaiki forwards had plenty of weight and time and again pushed Te Puke off the hall, hut later the visiting forwards seemed to exert themselves and stood their ground. The hooking was good and the ball came clear enabling both halves to gel it away to their backs and some fine passing movements resulted. The wingers on both sides were fast and made some tine dashes. P. Howell playing at first five-eighths for the Rangitaiki team was a tower of strength and featured prominently in practically every movement. There was little to choose between the teams in the line-outs, both sides getting a fair share of the ball, but Rangitaiki settled down to the game ! quicker than their opponents and made the most of it. The teams lined out as follows:

Rangitaiki (Blue and Black).- — Fullback, W. Hataraka; three-quart-ers, H. Kingi, R. Lees, Reweti; liveeighths, R. Howell, P. Howell; half, C. Oswald; rover, F. A. Burt; forwards, A. Howarlh, A. Rota, F, O’Neill, P. Tama. T. Whitely, Broderick, and J. May.

i Te Puke (Red and Black).— i Pull-back, Cleary; three-quarters j McKenzie, Dare, W. Webber j five - eighths, Corbett, Cooney j half-back, Kelly; rover, W. Pile forwards, Jackson, Whiteside, Dono van, Malcolm, Wicklift’e, Lemon, P , | Webber. j First blood was drawn by Rang! i taiki from a scrum on the Rangitaik side of half way. P. Howell securec the ball from Oswald and passed t< R. Howell, who cut in well and wit] a nice kick found touch just over th< 1 centre flag. Rangitaiki won the lim out and a back kicked well up t( the Te Puke full-back, Cleary, whe kicked across the field. The Blm men followed up their kick fast anc Lees, who was in a handy positior when Cleary’s kick landed, caugh the ball and raced across. P. How ell lauded a goal from a fairly diffi cult angle, making the score: Rangi taiki, 5; Te Puke, 0. The nexi piece of spectacular play also origin ated from a scrum, this time in th< Te Puke territory. Kelly securer the ball, cleared to Cooney, to Cor belt, to Dare to McKenzie, who side stepped and cut in. He handed the ball back to Dare who made a great run for the line but was well tacklec and pushed into touch five yards out Rangitaiki secured the ball from the line out and managed to clear theii line. The play now swung to the Te Puke goal line and an infringment saw a scrum formed on the line Rangitaiki carried over the line and I a scrum followed five yards out. Te j Puke hooked the ball and the back | line were away. Cooney made j ground and sent a pass to Corbett, I who managed to force his way over, j Dare’s kick at goal missed narrowly. I Rangitiki, 5; Te Puke, 3. Hall j time sounded with play in the Te Puke territory. j Both sides were fighting hard immediately after the commencement. Te Puke backs attacked and play was in the Blues’ 25. Then the Rangitaiki full back, Hataraka, who was playing a fine game, cleared the position with a fine kick up the side line finding touch midway between half way and Te Puke's 25. From the line out Kelly secured the ball and whipped it out to Lees to Rewiti, who : passed back to Lees who was well i tackled on the line but he fell over 1 and touched down. Howell took the kick at goal and landed a flue one, ■ giving his side a lead of 7 points. This reverse set the Te Puke challengers I hard on the attack. The whole side was playing good football and it would be hard to make special mention of any particular player. Their forwards with a dribbling rush carried the ball to their opponents’ twenty-five, but Hataraka was handy and kicked out at about fifteen yards. Out came the ball to the Te Puke backs and they set out for the line but an over anxious Rangitaiki forward tackled his mand off-side and the penalty gave Dare a straight shot at goal. The kick was successful, and the score was now: Rangitaiki, 10; Te Puke, (1. At this stage both sides were battling hard and there were several fine solo runs on both sides but these were resultless, the player being forced out when within a few yards of the line. Then a scrum was formed in mid-field. Donovan broke through and kicked to Reweti who made a dash for the line. He was checked by W. Webber who punted up into the Rangitaiki 25. Kelly secured the ball from the line-out and passed to Cooney to Corbett to Dare who handed on to McKenzie who set out for the line. A great race ensued, but the Te Puke wing three-quarter proved too fast for the opposition and crossed and touched down. Dare took the kick from a fairly difficult angle, the ball striking one of the posts and bouncing back. With the scores ten points to nine in favour of Rangitaiki Te Puke kicked off. There was little time to go and the crowd was hoarse with barracking. Time after time Te Puke launched an attack, and a player essayed a pot which just fell short, but the defence was sound. Rangitaiki retaliated but they too, were denied and the result seemed assured. And then fate stepped in and took a hand in

matters. Te Puke were fighting in ' front of their opponents’ goal and there was just over a minute to go ; to the call of time, when one of the i Rangitaiki team infringed right in : front of the goal about twenty yards ' out. What a chance for Te Puke! I Dare took the ball and the crowd | was breathless, lie placed it with care and took the kick. The leather i sailed well and truly between the j uprights. Pandemonium broke j louse. Not waiting for the final

whistle, the Te Puke enthusiasts rushed the field, cheering madly and- , chaired Dare and the other members : from the field. However, the game , was over and the final whistle blew with the scores: Te Puke, 12; Rangitaiki, 10, and the Shield again in the possession of another challenging team. Mr Geo. Peebles carried out the duties of referee in a most