TE PUKE NOTES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12761, 7 June 1939, Page 1

TE PUKE NOTES

REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL (From Our Correspondent) The King’s Birthday fixture at Te Puke between Te Puke and Morrinsville resulted in a win for the home team by a narrow margin, the final score being 10 points to 9. The issue was in doubt until the final whistle. Te Puke took the offensive early and within the first few' minutes had five points on the board. Passing among the backs allowed Donovan. to secure and in a lightning flash and swerve he beat his vis-a-vis and scored between the posts. Satherly converted: Te Puke 5, Morrinsville 0. Morrinsville retaliated and a good f/orward attack carried play to the town corner. Here E. Leeson darted over from the loose to score Morrinsville’s first try. The kick missed: Te Puke 5, Morrinsville 3. Donovan’s second try was a brilliant effort. The ball travelled to.him via Wilkinson, Ahomiro and Valder and a dummy and superior speed did the rest. Satherly 'converted from right in front: Te Puke 10, Morrinsville 3. Bad judgment on the Te Puke half-back’s part in passing to Ahomiro when under

pressure and on his own goal-line cost Te Puke 3 points. Ahoiniro’s attempt at a clearing kick was charged down and in the resulting scramble, Chau of Morrinsville beat' the local defenders to ground the ball: Te Puke 10, Morrinsville 6. All these points were scored early and there was every indication of a high scoring match. Territorially for the remainder of the spell Morrinsville had'the advantage. J. Bennett, local full-back, often repelled dangerous movements. The halftime figures were Te Puke 10, Morrinsville 6. The second half of play for the most part lacked sting. Te Puke turns nqii attack were mainly due to .individual efforts. R. Valder broke through on a couple of occasions and transferred play, while J. Graham was seen making a strong dash along the side line. E. Donovan brought the crowd to their toes when he fielded and veered to the grandstand touch-line but was solidly grassed. On the other hand, Morrinsville scored again, the try-getter being Wetere, a forward who fielded a weak clearing kick nicely and raced, over unopposed: Te Puke 10, Morrinsville 9. Despite good efforts by Morrinsville there was no further score. Mr A. Spratt was referee.