TAURANGA DEFEATED

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13171, 21 October 1940, Page 2

TAURANGA DEFEATED

MANAKAU PROVE TOO STRONG FAST OPEN FOOTBALL AUCKLANDERS VI SIT Tauranga football enthusiasts were treated to a display cf fast open football on the Domain on Saturday afternoQii when the wellknown Auckland Rugby League team. Mamikan. visited Tauranga for a friendly game with a local team of combined Maoris. Although defeated by IS points to 13. the local boys acquitted themselves well and the visitors, particularly in the opening stages of the game, did not haye things all their own way. The game arose out of an annual trip which the Manakau officials give to their members at the close of the season, and with a choice of Rotorua or Tauranga, the members elected to play here. At the line-ont the teams were: Tauranga.—Tata, Murray. Kakan, Faulkner, V. Dixon. B. Te Kani, R. Dixon, S. Ririnni. Pion Ririnni, H. Honiana, A. Kohu, N. Ngatai, D. Tawhia. J. Taikato. W. Ngatai. Manakau. —Hemi, Awhitu,. Chase. Kauhoa, Cato, Donaldson. Selwyn. P. Ririnni, McGuire. Beadle, Hardy, Howieson. Dnnstar. Watfne, Ririnni. Referee, Mr. J. Wilson (Tauranga) . Kicking off towards the bowling green end of the Domain. Hemi immediately treated the spectators to a sample of his brilliant kicking, the ball only jlist missing Abe upright, went well into dead. From Tauranga’s twenty-five line, the home team were soon on the attack through V. Dixon and Kani, who combined well in a fast passing movement; Keeping nlay well into the visitors’ territory, V. Dixon again came into prominence with a good solo effort for the ball to pass through. Kani and out to Kakau for this player to open the scoring within five minutes of the first whistle. M. Murray converted' with a good kick from well out. Tauranga 5; Manakau 0. From the kick off, Tauranga again displayed bustling tactics, M. Murray being particularly prominent with a , fast dash for the line. Hemi, however, positioned well to bring Murray down into touch close to the corner flag. The visitors now appeared to be settling doWn to Rugby code rules and also the different ball, factors which,, after four years as a League team it is understandable that readjustment requires time. P. Ririnui, the former Rangataua player, and a member of the last All Black team to visit England, opened play for Manakau, and supported b(y' McGuire transferred the hall well into the Tauranga half. Keeping up pressure McGuire found Tata out of position to open the scoring for the visitors. The try was converted by J. Hemi with a beautifully placed kick. Tauranga 5; Manakau 5. Play continued fast and open, Hemi being particularly prominent with seyeraL excellent dashes. The speed _and accurate passing of the visitors appeared to have the home team somewhat worried for a while, and Tauranga did well to keep their line intact under pressure. A hand injury to Kani in a scramble for the hall necessitated his leaving the field. T. Faulkner substituted. Both Chase and V. Dixon were prominent for their respective sides, but both movements fell through for. lack of support, P. Ririnui bustled ’ for Manakau to put them in the, lead. Hemi’s kick converted as the wstile blew for half time.

Half time score Manakaii 10; Tauranga 5. . With the exception of one short spell in the first half when it appeared that Manakau were merely playing with their opponents, Tauranga had acquitted themselves well. Their tackling and positional play had been sound and against the more experienced players there was not so great a difference in the standard of play. Tauranga made further alterations to their ranks, Pio Ririnui retiring with a shoulder injury. T. Moire substituted. From the resumption of play, Cato and Hemi combined well to immediately put Tauranga on the defensive. Pressure was relieved by Tata with a good clearance kick and followed up by Murray, Ngatai and T. Faulkner, play was back again in the visitors’ half. T. Faulkner made a brave solo effort down the. wing, but was brought into touch by the corner flag. ' Excitement ran high as Tauranga kept up the pressure, Murray amf Kakau being particularly prominent. Their persistance was rewarded when V. Dixon saw the opening to reduce the arrears. Murray’s kick at goal failed to convert. Manakau 10; Tauranga 8. Keeping up the attack, the home side tried hard to take the lead, and Kohu, Murray and Ngatai all had attempts to take the ball over, Manakau, however, were covering well, and play was suddenly transferred when Hemi saw his opportunity and with a brilliant run took play well into the Tauranga half. Awhitu continued the movement,for Selwyn to go over in one of the best movements seen on the Domain during the whole of the past season. Hemi easily converted.

Manakau 15; Tauranga 8. This reverse did not deter the home side who again launched a vigorous attack. Dixon, Kakau and Murray combining well. Over eagerness, however, spoiled several good opportunities for reducing the arrears. Hemi sent Chase awgy in a fast solo run during which he evaded xiiost of the Tauranga defence. Tata positioned well, however, to relieve. From the line-out scrambling forward play took the ball dangerously close to the Manakau line for Kakau to finally go oyer. Murray’s kick converted. Manakau 1 1*.; Tauranga 13.

With only two * h °'”a Ta S n«"P and time close at hand, * taliC made a further valiant e weV er, the lead. A loose ball, fj . oVi was intercepted by Cato. just inside his own teir J v ’ er a ud a brilliant solo run to go decide the issue. -oviiled up° !! The Manakau team P r f' ai }J om ilie Hemi to take the kick ” biß half way line. Tins he did. ™ ftff kick was purposely trick ed vards. In view of the fact that were only a few i seconds * effortwas asked to make a P . g and from the centre sp postspassed well up bet^® e “ fc Lainst 3 A really phenomenal kick ver , strong breeze. Thei po J£ were not recorded foi -j-aiiraaS 4 Full time,' Manakau 18. lo Played in an exce ” en /o Ca f °W S spirit throughout, the showed that al * h ° ug k flgon hejr ar a after the end of the season, still in reasonably good jiim. Proceeds of the c® ll fu»d s * are to be devoted to P