PUKEWEKA SHIELD FINAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4440, 5 September 1933, Page 5

PUKEWEKA SHIELD FINAL

TE KUITI GAIN VICTORY. In the final of the Pukeweka Shield on Saturday at Rugby Park, the Te Kuiti team carried off the trophy by 17 points to 11. The game was just as was expected—the Te Kuiti backs against the Hangatiki forwards, but, though the backs as usual won, the Blue forwards gave them the fright of their lives in the last 15 minutes of the second half.

In the first half the packs were not far from equal, though in the loose the Blues were superior. As against that, however, Evans and B. Barlow were about the only men who could be relied on in the backs, while McLeod was very poor with his kicking, while Kite was not far short of brilliant. In the play, too, the Kites and Holden were good. Hence the score of 6—3 at half-time.

In the second half the Te Kuiti backs went into action and for a while had things their own way, they being well aided by the forwards, especially Miles and Meredith. Immediately Te Kuiti had raised the score of 17, however, the work of the Blue forwards in the loose carried the halfhearted Whites before them and Armstrong (from Topara's work) and Koreheke crossed in quick succession. The two scores placed the Blues uncomfortably close, for with two converted tries and one penalty they were only four points from Te Kuiti's four unconverted and one converted try. Rather luckily for the Whites the time was almost up by then. The work of the Te Kuiti forwards after they had followed up a short kick by J. Barlow was nullified by a penalty and the work of the Blue second five-eighths. Suddenly Holden burst through, only to have the short kick seized on immediately and the ball forced. Back swept Te Kuiti from the dropout, Evans doing good work; Brainsby was collared when he tried to get away and Barlow, collecting from the resulting loose, nearly had a chance to get clear. Hartwell picked up from the melee to send to Jeromson, but the latter was held up over the line. From a lineout which resulted after some hard skirmishing Gault came out and Hangatiki, with loose dribbling, had McLeod in difficulties about halfway. After a patch of desultory play in midfield, Gault and Riddle burst through. Hangatiki appeared to have a chance when a long pass connected with the backs, but McLeod received a short kick well and cleared. Faulty handling among the Blue backs gave Te Kuiti their chance to relieve.

Penalties placed the home team on the offensive. J. Barlow went through, but Meredith was squashed as soon as he received the ball. Miles caught a Blue man in possession and Brainsby's pass to Gilbert went astray. When the backs handled, however, Brainsby decided to try to pass Paul Nikora and did so to cross. McLeod missed the kick. 3 —o. Miles started the Te Kuiti backs going but Kite fielded Evans' kick through. Then the backs handled again. Evans received from J. Bar-, low and worked a great scissors that that cut out the whole Hangatiki back line, and which sent Gilbert over to cross. McLeod failed at an easy chance. 6—o. Almost immediately the visitors worked in the loose to gain, and Te Kuiti were penalised. Kite took it, and from a really fine kick the ball sailed between the posts. 6 —3. Desultory play was the order after the interval, an exceptionally long game of ping-pong between the fullbacks also ensuing. There was danger when a Hangatiki forward burst through to kick, but Brainsby was on the ball first and forced. Then the Whites went on the offensive. Gilbert received from the scrum and cut in to go away with Barlow in support, but the latter lost possession and Armstrong forced in the nick of time. From the field # McLeod manoeuvred for a dropkick,' and the ball went just to the side. Hard serum work followed. Te Kuiti hooked and B. Barlow sent the backs away. Gilbert held on too long but managed to collect again. Then, having drawn the opposition, he crosskicked back to the centre of the field. Andrews took the Iball on the full to score by the posts. McLeod failed to convert. 9—3.

Brainsby followed up to catch Paul Nikora in possession. Good handling saw the White backs off, but all Gilbert's efforts failed to draw the man marking Irving. Jeromson knocked on while collecting a kick rebounding from Kite, and McLeod just missed a penalty at the goal from halfway. Then, when the Blues were forcing, Armstrong failed to see J. Barlow coming up. Barlow intercepted the pass and went right through, shortkicking over Kite's head and collecting to cross under the posts. McLeod converted. 14—3. McLeod followed through and Kite's kick rebounded off him. He collected and went right to the line, but Andrews, who as usual was in support, was squashed as soon as he received. Several other times Te Kuiti pressed, as when Evans came through, and when Miles burst from the forward pack, but the ball was over the dead ball line. Andrews and Meredith both nearly crossed from the hard forward tussles on the line. Then B. Barlow sent his brother away; the latter twisted back inside to wriggle through an opening a foot wide. His feet were nearly collared some way from the line, but the top part of him scored. Brainsby failed. 17 —3 Tapara took the Blue forwards down the field in a rush that swept the Whites off their legs. Out went the ball to the other sideline. Irving failed to put it out and Armstrong had a clear run in front of him. Kite's converting kick was a great shot. 17—8.

The Whites twice tried handling but Armstrong came through to nullify their work. From that the Hangatiki forwards slowly pressed their way to the 25. Then Koroheke came through and scored under the posts. Kite converted. 17—13.

There was great excitement among the spectators in the last part of the game but nothing more resulted. Though the White backs were marked too hard for them to move, the Hangatiki forwards did not manage to look dangerous. Mr. Harper was referee.