MATATA BEATEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 15, 24 May 1939, Page 8

MATATA BEATEN

GREAT RECORD GOES TE TEKO WINS FINE GAME (By "Punt" lor the Beacon) Matata lias been beaten at last! tPor five years the Avearers oT the black and Avhite jerseys have reigned supreme. Whether the match was played at Matata or away the result was chalked up before the teams took the field. And Matata l'u'St and the rest nowhere began to be monotonous. A succession of victories extending over two or three seasons was worth talking about but when the r un carried on to five and with 110 visible signs of being broken, the football fraternity ceased to talk and like Little Audrey they laughed as they visualised years hence Matata at last being heavily defeated. IN 1934. They saw headlines in the Beacon of 1954: ''Twenty years record sipashu ed —Matata laslicd.'' "Howell and Lees Bros definitely announce their retirement.'' "E. Howell earns penalty when caught by the referee hiding the ball under the beard." However history repeated itself on the football field at Matata last Saturday. Five years ago when Matata were sweeping all before them a surprise was created when a long shot chance in the form of the Edgecumbc Club fifteen led by Billy Goldsmith got home by nine points to eight. This was the Duff Cup final. LOOKED MORAL FOR MATATA. The fixture last Saturday was .fox the first round of the same trophy and as tl}e two teams had clashed the previous Saturday with Matata retaining their unbeaten record another win seemed assured However at change had come over the Te Teko fifteen and when Tom Whitclv lead his boys on the field one perceived the burly forms of Pau\ Tama Kakahau, Jimmy Ratima and Billy Paul who were making their initial appearances this season for their old club. The Dull Cup rules state that a player who has not played in a club championship match may not participate in a Dufi Cup fixture but Eddie Howell in waiving this rule earns full marks and Tom Whitely and Co were generous in, their acknowledgment oi ; this sporting act. THE GAME* Te Teko kicked oft' against a strong breeze and sun. Matata were straight away awarded a free for late tackling It was unintentional, but its checking was nice work by the referee who controlled the game admirably. Play swung to the visitors line where R. Lees secured and reversed the pass to E. Howell who missed a good attempt at potting by inches. Te Teko with Whitely and Tama in the van pressed through from a line out R. Lees saving well. Schooner, Kakahau Whitely and Tama were doing brilliant things and the Te Teko forwards were having things much thenown, way in scrums and rucks. The Te Teko backs, noticeably Kaipara. Ratima, Rena.ta and W. Paul were running grandly but t> I thought, toss ing the ball about all too daringly. A dropped pass let Matata through, and from a penalty wide out M. Lees landed a perfect goal. Matata were three points tvp after ten minutes play. VISITORS GO HARD. Nothing daunted the visitors played with renewed vigour. Kakahau and Tama raced through from the line out joined by Schooner indulged in a pretty bit of short passing. The latter crossed but was ;c----ealjcd for a forward pass. Whitely was winning the ball, consistently from the line outs and shooting it. back to Kaipara with unerring aim. The latter would whip around the front of the lineout and Avith judicious kicks keep Matata tied in their own territory. The Whitely.Kaipara trick, for which Matata, could not find a counter, s aw them hard pressed time and time again. Sterling defence Avas shown by the Howell and Lees brothers. The half time score 3 nil Avith Te Teko hot on the attack

MAT AT A START WELL. Matata held the upper hand for a period in the second spell. Here a nice run by Edie Warbrick saw them again on defence. M. Lees came through well but Tom Whitely sliced off 40 yards with a great kick. The same player broke from the line out however E. Howell lowered him. Mis handling by Te Teko backs saw K. Howell rush through, but the pass to the winger went astray. GOOD FORWARDS. The visitors pack now dominated play completely and with Kaipara, Ratima and Toata going grandly Matata had many anxious moments. Matata were penalised and from a handy position Kaipara made it 3 all. The air was now electric. From a scrum 40 yards out Kaipara secured and evading three defenders with a perfect dummy raced through with Renata and W. Paul in line. The ball travelled like a flash to the last named who crossed wide! out, amid excitemcnt. The kick failed. Te Teko G, Matata 3. HARD LUCK. Matata flung all they had in. Thompson and Watson dribbled through and from a ruck the Matata backs fanned out. The ball went to R. Howell,, E. Howell, M. Lees and R. Lee s but the winger Freeman slipped as""he gathered the ball nea" the goal posts. It looked a match winning effort. There was no further score. The game was kbly controlled by Mr R. Housham. PLAYERS SUMMED UP. All praise must go to the visitors and little less to the vanquished who were beaten in the forwards, but defended valiantly in the backs. The Lees-.Howell quartet were well assist, ed by Rota Pcrimara and Freeman. The home forwards were outweighed outpaced and outgcnerallcd. Watson received a bad knock early but with Thompson, Morkel and Dan Rota fought fiercely every inch of the way TOM WHITELY GOOD. For the winners Tom Whitely was superb. With him were Pan] Tama, Schooner. Kakahau and Parks ail Rangitaiki reps. Schooner has seldom played better and Tama is still the player of old which is high indeed. Parks and Kakahau earned high marks for good displays. In the backs Kaipara was a shining light and was perhaps the best back on the field. Jimmy Ratima was very little inferior. Jimmy is a Hash off the mark and with concentration should fulfil earlier promise. Warbrick at second, Renata at centre

and the winger loata and Savage gave really good exhibitions. Young Jamieson at fullback continues to ini prove with each game. There is nothing sensational about his play but he works along sound orthodox lines and more should be heard of him. NEXT WEEK. Next Saturday the Te Teko Hornets and Edgecumbc Butterflies meet in the final. If last Saturday is a criterion the Butterflies should get stung to death, but one never knows.