RUGBY FOOTBALL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4538, 1 May 1934, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

RESULTS

Seniors. Rio 18, v. Nehe 0. United 8, v. Mahoenui 3. To Kuiti 34, v. Hangatiki 0

Juniors. Rio Rio 21, v. Te Kuiti 0. Hangatiki 6, v. Mangaotaki 0 Waitete 11 v. United 4.

PIO PIO v. NEHE. Nehe brought the hearts of Pio Pio supporters into their boots last Saturday. About half-way through the first spell they gained a try, and held this lead of three to nil right up to the closing stages of the game. Then, after Jones had crossed for Pio Pio, and Smyth with a wonderful kick from the side-line converted, Pio Pio, more particularly Coffin, White and Jones, simply walked through Nehe. On one occasion they rallied well, came right up the field for a try, but generally the way they let Coffin slew right through them made the spectators wonder where their defence was.

The game until Pio Pio got busy was mainly a forward one, both teams working hard in the uncoordinated play. Nehe had largely a new team; Pio Pio, though such stalwarts as Brown, Armstrong, Riley and Weo were not on the field, had most of the rest of their last year’s players. Trust and Faulke were at the head of all their forwards, but the opposition of Kawe and his henehmates was just enough to keep things even. As individualists the Nehe backs, with Bully Wallace in their midst, were good, but, as events turned out, were not reliable, especially in defence. Pio Pio tried out their back line fairly often, but lack of understanding between their new half-back, White, and Coffin, and bad passing between Taitoko and Griffin, at first cost dear. Two wonderful chances went begging for the latter cause. It was these factors which kept the play even until nearly the end, this, and the fact that Nehe were playing up wonderfully. Nehe’s score was only lucky in that both teams had failed to take advantage of their chances. After their promising centre threequarters had missed a shot at the goal the Nehe pack pressed on to the line. Mali uki came through the ruck to beat Smyth to the ball. Kawe’s beautiful shot at goal was unsuccessful. 3 —o. For a while Pio Pio pressed, but play soon began to swing from one end of the field to the other. Referee Sheppard on one occasion had to warn both sides for late tackling. After half-time play continued on the same lines, Pio Pio’s back line showing more and more promise, but with still no result. Both sides had very possible penalty shots at the goal, Nielson and Smyth sending the ball astray. As the backs improved Faulke, Trust and Boddy came more to the fore, and Pio Pio began to get the best of the territory. The first score came when, Pio Pio hooking cleanly, White worked the blind for Jones to cross. From the side-line Smyth with a superb kick put the ball between the posts, and Pio Pio were in the lead, 5—3.

Pio Pio now worked their backs consistently. After a fine bout of passing, Jones’s knocking the ball on prevented a score. Jones and Faulke got over, but were penalised for rabbiting. But next time Faulke got the ball he made no mistake about it, dodging through the thick over to the line. Smyth converted. Inside a few minutes Coffin got the ball, dodged a way to slip a pass to Taitoko to cross. Smyth missed an easy kick.

Kawe, Karu, Turner and the rest of the Nehe vanguard suddenly took heart and swent up the field into the danger area, and Nielson took the ball across. Hurst missed the kick, 13—6.

But Pio Pio, in spite of one or two smaller breaks like this had complete charge, and Coffin lost r. 3 time after receiving from White, in cutting in to walk over, Smyth converting. The score remained at 18—6, though Jones and Griffin were just on the point of crossing before the end came.

TE KUITi v. HANGATIKI

Playing at Waitomo, Te Kuiti gained the victory over Hangatiki by 34 points to nil. Te Kuiti won the toss, electing to defend the northern goal. Kiti made a good run down the line, but a run by McLeod and Hartwell moved play upheld for Pliekey to gain possession to pass to Barlow to Brainsby who scored well out. McLeod missed the kick. After many scrums the ball went across the field for Gilbert to make a good run and send Brainsby over in a good position. McLeod converted. B—o.8 —0.

Play moved up and downfield, Bradshaw being prominent before Hartwell went across in the corner. The kick failed. After a wonderful line-kick from Kiti a penalty, a mark by Nikora gave the Blues a chance, but play moved upheld again for Andrews to secure a runaway score, which McLeod converted. 16—0. A business-like rush by Te Kuiti was stopped by Hangatiki’s full-back, barefooted Bill Taukiri; but Wilson picked up to pass to Brainsby to scored under the posts. The kick was successful. In the melees in midfield young Koro Davis was showing up well against the older players, while Gault made a spectacular burst to be caught just short of the line. Then Gilbert kicked up for Bradshaw to collect and score under the posts. McLeod converted. With Te Ivuiti hooking Hickey sent Evans and Gilbert away to score, McLeod again converting. 31 —0. After ten minutes up and down play Brainsby broke away after the ball, collected, sent on to Andrews, received the ball back again and galloped over to gain a spectacular try. The kick failed, leaving the final score 34 —0.

WAITETE v. UNITED.

Very keen play ensued in the United v. Waitete junior game played on Rugby Park. Both sides showed distinct promise, Waitete winning by 11 points to 4, a -mod indication of the trend of play. For the United Mooney and McNeil were the mainstay, while Joe Wallace, Nealon and Elliott did good work for Waitete.

The latter team gained first blood on United muffing a pass. Elliott came through, outstripping the opposition to open the scoring. After Ferguson had spend down the line the ball came back to L. Cotter. He twisted into the pack, found Bowick outside him, and sent him away to pass three men and cross. A beautiful dropkick from McNeil (United) made the score G—4. Waitete obtained the final score when Searancke bounded over from the ruck. Bowick had better results from his kick than Elliott and Anderson in the two previous scores.

PIO PIO v. TE KUITI.

Te Kuiti juniors took a scratch team out to play Pio Pio last Saturday, and lost 21 to nil. Pio Pio fielded a strong team, with a solid forward pack. Te Kuiti with ‘‘fillups” and selector held them to the extent that Pio Pio up to about three-quarters of the way through the game were but three points in the lead. But after th.at, the puffed Te Kuiti lads failed to stand up to the fitter Pio Pio team. The net result was 21 points to nil.

WITHDRAWAL OF MAHOENUI.

ihe Mahoenui team has withdrawn from the Maniapoto Rugby Union competitions. At the last moment

it was decided to reinstate the Tainui Union, in which Mahoenui Club will now play. Mahoenui, however, came in to Mangapehi to play United last Saturday, losing by 8 points to 3.