Grammar Old Boys Defeat Tauranga

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12825, 21 August 1939, Page 1

Grammar Old Boys Defeat Tauranga

The Grammar Old Boys team from Auckland had an easy win against the Tauranga representatives on the local domain on Saturday. The forwards on each side were fairly evenly matched, but the Auckland backs were definitely superior, their passing bouts being the best that have been seen here for a long time. The visitors led by 11 point's at the interval , and added a similar number of points in the second half, while Tauranga gained only two tries, the final scores being 22 to 6 in Grammar Old Boys' favour. The teams lined out as follows:

Tauranga, blue and gold.—Fullback, S. Gardiner; three-quarters, F. Voice, J. Faulkner, M. Tangitu; fiveeighths, J. Bidois, F. Moat; halfback, J. Kuka; forwards, P. Ririnui, S. Wright, G. Tuwhakaraina, P. Murray, T. Kakau, M.’ Murray, C. Kohu, N. Ngatai. Grammar Old Boys, back, N. Blanchfleld; three-quarters, P. Spittall, L. Wotherspoon, R. Mansill; five-eighths, F. Reid, T. Wagstaff; half-back, R. Cato; forwards, A. Mcßeath, S. Gable, T. Lockington, A. Forbes, J, Mills, M. Evans, D. Simmonds, S. Johnston. Tauranga won the toss and defended the northern goal. Cato kicked off and the visiting vanguard came up fast, but failed to catch the ball and it. flew into touch. From the line-out the ball travelled across field and Kakau sent out in the whites’ territory. Play was restricted to the forwards along the eastern side, until Wagstaff attempted to break through .-but was checked by Voice. Bidois kicked through and the local forwards followed up rapidly, Blanchfleld kicking to touch in his own twenty-five. Wotherspoon secured in his own territory and after a good run passed to Mansill, who was forced out in the corner. Following the throw-in a sparkling passing bout by the visiting backs was finished off by Spittall scoring. Blanchfield’s kick raised the flags: Grammar Old Boys, 5,; Tauranga, 0. After resuming Kakau, P. Murray and Wright led the home forwards to Grammar territory but Blanchfield proved safe and cleared. Wotherspoon made a strong run and evaded several opponents to break clear, but tripped and fell a few yards short, of the goal line. Tauranga rallied and a forward rush gained ground. Tangitu followed up a high ball, but Mansill cleared. Grammar was penalised and Gardiner’s kick from forty yards missed narrowly. The visiting vanguard rucked to the home quarter. Then Mansill secured and after a strong run was pushed out in the northeastern, corner. Grammar pressed and pushed their way over. Tauranga forcing. Following resumption the Grammar backs swung into action and the winger Mansill raced for the north-eastern corner". He was well tackled by Gardiner but dropped over to score. The kick failed: Grammar Old Boys, 8; Tauranga, 0, After resuming the visitors moved rapidly to the blues’ territory, and a clearance was effected by Gardiner off a penalty. Then a nice passing run saw Reid cut through and touch down. . Blanchfleld failed with the kick. A little later Bidois cut through smartly and handed to Tangitu, who was stopped by Mansill close to the Grammar line. Tauranga pressed but Blanchfleld checked with a punt to touch. From the throw-in Kuka set his backs running, and Voice kicked overhead with the forwards in close pursuit, but Johnston came round quickly and found touch. A high kick by Blanchfleld was missed 'by several of the home backs. Gardiner came to the rescue and kicked over all the opposing backs. He followed up quickly but Blanchfleld was handy and cleared. The blues’ attacked and the Aucklanders cleared with a passing bout from their own twenty-five, Spittall being Stopped near midfield. From a line-out the visitors secured and the whole of fixe backs moved like clock-work right up to the home line. M. Murray gained possession and kicked clear. With Bidois he chased the ball but Blanchfleld saved with a speculator. Tauranga pressed on and Ririnui evaded several opponents to be tackled close to ‘ the

EASY WIN FOR RUGBY VISITORS

AUCKLAND BACKS SUPERIOR

line. Tauranga maintained the attack and Voice was thrown out in the south-western corner. The visitors swept through and Voice cleared with the aid of a penalty. The second half opened with a bright movement by the Grammar backs. Wagstaff then sent up a high ball and Gardiner forced. The advantage passed to Grammar and close forward play, scrums and line-outs kept Tauranga busy defending until Gardiner cleared with a powerful kick. Wagstaff fielded and sent to touch in the blues’ quarter. After the ball came in Wotherspoon fielded and tried with a drop-kick but missed the goal. Lockington secured from a ruck and broke clear. Ho then punted and the ball rolled across for Moat to force. The Tauranga forwards rallied well and from a rebound Ngatai secured and dashed for the line. Blanchfield camo up and seized him just as he touched down. M. Murray’s kick from the side-line went close; Gramma" Old Boys, 11; Tauranga, 3. Followresumption the home vanguard attacked strongly and a penalty kick awarded for offside play resulted in, Gardiner missing narrowly. Short snappy passing by the Grammar forwards carried play to Tauranga territory, but Kakau countered effectively. Ririuui, Wright and P. Murray pushed through but Spittall more than equalised. Grammar infringed and Voice dropped the ball out in the north-eastern corner. Weak fielding let the visitors through, but Kakau stopped well and made a good run before he was brought down at midfield. Reid cut through and beat half-a-dozen men. Another back dropped the pass and Mcßeath picked up and dropped over. The kick missed: Grammar Old Boys, 14; Tauranga, 3. The advantage remained with the Aucklanders and a fast open movement shattered the defence and saw Mansill score. The kick went close; Grammar Old Boys, 17; Tauranga, 3. The Auckland backs continued to dominate the game and twice in quick succession Mansill, the winger, was stopped by M,- Murray.. From the line Lockington sent to Evans who forced his way over to score. Lockington’s goal from the side line was the best of the match: Grammar Old Boys, 22; Tauranga, 3. In the last minute Kakau made' an. opening at centre and after breaking clear passed to M. Murray who raced from centre with several backs in close pursuit, but the Matakana player outpaced them to score the best try of the game. The kick failed and the game ended: Grammar Old Boys, 22; Tauranga, 6. Mr F. Bickers was- referee. Lockington was the outstanding forward on the ground. Others in the visiting vanguard to shine were Forbes and Evans, and Spittall and Mansill in the rearguard. For Tauranga the most prominent were Voice, M. Murray, Kakau and Wright. Juniors Junior games were played with the following results: Cadets 19 v. Rangataua 8. Mr Haycock was referee. Judea 16 v. Wdiroa 0. Mr Wilson was referee. Third Grade Cadets 22 v. Rangataua 5. Mr Slow was referee. MINOR UNIONS’ MATCH The Minor Unions match between North and South Island- teams, play-, ed at Christchurch on Saturday, was won by the North Island by 22 points to 9. H. Rayment and J. McNeile (Tauranga) were very prominent in the North Island team.