PAKEHAS WIN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 4001, 2 June 1948, Page 8

PAKEHAS WIN

HEATHER SHIELD MATCH MAORIS BEATEN 15 to 5 ANNUAL MATCH AT THE BAY A Ru”'!>y match considered by many to be quite up to representative standard was played at Whitianga on Saturday when the Pakehas bear the Maoris by fifteen points to five, in the annual match for the Heather Shield. Many spectators from Tairue. and all the surrounding’ districts helped to make the largest crowek of spectators seen in Whitianga for some years. The game was fast and open and despite the final score, the game was never at any time onesided. The Maoris won the toss and Mr 1.. R. Dale, who donated the trophy, kicked off. The game opened with fast forward play and the first points were s ored by G. Dale who secured from a loose rush and went over. The kick* failed.

Pakehas 3, Maoris nil. Pakeha backs attacked again but pooi- handling spoilt the movement and Hodge cleared nicely. From a scrum. Davis sent the Maori backs away and it was obvious that they were a dangerous back line. Pakeha loose forwards took play over the line but Maoris forced. When Sewell put in a tricky run Maoris looked dangerous but Pakeha forwards reversed the attack with short sharp passes. Although Maoris were dominating the set scrums Pakeha forwards were hooking quickly from the ruck and G. Simpson, Pakeha half, playing a splendid game, kept his backs bn the attack. Working the blind, G. Simpson passed to Lyall Oliver, who scored wide out. The kick failed. Pakeha 6, Maori nil. Maori forwards led by SeW’ell and Troughear put in a determined attack but S. Laycock cleared nicely. A. Beach, Maori’s second five-eighth, was forced to retire and was replaced by P. Tawhara.

Both teams employed up and under tactics, with some splendid kicking by the opposing fullbacks, P. Simpson (Pakehas) and Durant (Maoris). Pakeha backs opened up the play- once more but a nice interception by P. Beach spoilt a promising move. Half time came with G. Simpson clearing nicely in the face of a strong Maori attack.

Following the interval, play was very fast and open, and when Sewell secured he made a good opening and passed ...» Winiata who was pulled down c ' the line after putting in a determined run. Pakeha forwards pressed to the twenty-five where Oliver secured but was pushed out. Pakehas continued to press until Whapepapa snapped up the ball and put in a fine run, but lacked support. He was well tackled by Chaney and Fussey cleared with a fine kick.

From a loose rush, Troughear secured and in a brilliant solo effort, out-raced the opposition to score beside the posts. Winiata converted. Pakehas 6, Maoris 5.

A period of fast even play followed with G. Simpson fee-ding his backs well. The Maoris were defending well and feeling ran high as spectators cheered and called to both sides. A penalty awarded to Pakehas gave Coe the chance to add another three points with a splendid kick. Pakehas 9, Maoris 5. Maori forwards pressed to the twenty-five where Davis sent his-backs away, but the defence held. A penaltykick to Maoris, in front of the posts, looked easy but the ball went just outside. Pakeha again attacked to the twenty-five where an offside gave Pakehas a penalty kick which Coe put over in good style. Pakehas 12, Maoris 5. With time nearly up, Pakeha backs attacked strongly and the final points went to Chaney, who scored a good try from a reverse pass by Bradshaw. The kick failed. Pakehas 15, Maoris 5. Mr F. Donaghy was the referee. JAW BROKEN accident during match A broken jaw was suffered by A. Beach during the annual Maori versus Pakeha Rugby match played at Mercury Bay on Saturday. He was attended by Dr. Feltham of Whitianga. A popular toast at the dinner after the match was “to the health and rapid recovery of Mr A. Beach.”

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM MATCH WITH COROMANDEL The senior Rugby team to represent Mercury Bay against Coromandel for the Montgomery Shield on the King’s Birthday is as follows: M. Hodge, Wood, Rivas, H. Simpson, Coe, Troughear, Sewell, Hardy, Dale, Oliver, Davis, Winiata, Lyall, Oliver, S. Laycock. Fussey, Wharepapa, P. Simpson, Otter, P. Beach. Mr T. Winiata is the selector. MEETING OF UNION MATCH WITH THAMES At a recent committee meeting of the Mercury Bay Rugby Union the following members were present: Mr F. W. Lee (president), Messrs D. Hamilton, I. Brophy, T. Winiata, A. E. White, V. W. Stocker, G. Crisp, F. Donaghy, H. Hinds, B. Hamilton and J. S. Bongard (secretary and treasurer). It was decided to send a senior and a junior representative team to play Coromandel at Coromandel on the King’s Birthday, the games to be for the Montgomery Shield and the Mahinganui Cup respectively. It was also decided to accept the Thames Rugby Union’s invitation to send a representative team to play a Thames representative team at Thames on June 12. Following the unsatisfactory arrangements made by the Thames Rugby Union regarding the Mercury Bay union’s nomination for the country teams’ match at Eden Park on May 19, it was resolved to write to the Thames Rugby Union protesting against what is considered to be most unfair treatment in this matter. The starting time for matches in the Bay union’s area was advanced to 2 p.m. Mr Dave Hamilton, representing the United club, exhibited a sports shirt with a somewhat mutilated tail, which he claimed had been attacked with obvious relish by a calf, whilst the owner was playing on the Whitianga field. The calf was alleged to have entered the dressing shed where several suits and other articles of clothing were hanging, and to have selected this straw-coloured shirt from the whole array and chewed the tail! After some discussion, during which the president pointed out that it could scarcely be called an Act of God, it was decided to send an expression of sympathy from the union to the owner, regretting that the union could hardly be considered liable to replace the shirt. Players are to be advised to ensure that the shed door is securely closed when left unattended .