SHALFOON SHIELD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 44, 2 August 1939, Page 8

SHALFOON SHIELD

WIN FOR RANGITAIKI GOOD FORWARD PLAY Rangitaiki Juniors took the Shalloon Shield from Rotorua by 10 points to 6 on Saturday. The visitors opened the match play ing downwind with a stiff breeze behind them. They Avere not slow to take advantage of this, and scored their 'ten points in the first ten minutes of the game as a result of for-* ward play on the first occasion and a fine back run in the second, so that Rotorua Avere left Avith a big hurdle to. clear soon alter the commencement of the match. After the spell, however, Avith wenthctr 1 conditions in their fa\'our, Rotorua Avere on the attack practically all the but were unable to score the necessary points for 1 a Aictory. Rangitaiki showed early that they had a fast and efficient pack of forwards and some good penetrating backs, and it AA*as some time before 1 the Rotorua team Avas able to take the measur c of the A r isitors. A feature of the plav of the Rangitaiki forwards Avas their tireless followingup. Rotorua performed relatively well, but they Avere no match for the A'isitors, who showed really good com bination and left feAV gaps in their defence. The match opened Avith a strong attack by Rangitaiki, Avho vs T ere aAvarded a penalty just outside the 25 yard line. This avas missed, but they kept the pressure up Avith tight forward play until Pierce finally diA r ed Leckie converting his try. Rangitaiki 5, Rotorua 0. Rotorua kickcd off .again into the Avj-nd and attempted to penetrate to P»angitaiki" ; s goal line, but were re., pulsed by a series of forward rushes. From a scrum the visitors gained pos session and scored after a fine back movement. This try AA*as also convert od by Leckie. Rangitaiki 10, Rotorua 0 Faced wi'tli a deficit of 10 points, Rotorua began, to play in real earnest Shortly before half-time they AAcre penned in their own territory, hut managed to clear to touch Avith a number of AA*cll-plaecd kicks most by E. Kingi at fullback, and thus working up the line until Douglas came round on the blind side and scored, h\s try being uncompleted. At half-time the score Avas Rangitaiki 10, Rotorua 3 Shortly after the spell Rotorua. were on the attack Avhen a gap Avas left in the Rangitaiki defence. J. Morrison took the opportunity offer, fed and shot through to score a short distance from the posts. P. Gear was given the kick, but owing to the greasy condition of the ball it failed to clear the cross bar, leaA r ing the ! score at Rangitaiki 10 Rotorua (5 From this point till the end of the game Rotorua Avere on the attack constantly and Avere several times Avfthin reasonable scoring distance of the goal. The Rangftaiki defence hoAvever, proved to be too strong, no further scores being registered ;!nd the match ended Avith the score the same. Mr L. Wallace was the referee.