HETET SHIELD LOST

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4750, 24 September 1935, Page 5

HETET SHIELD LOST

ATHLETIC WIN TROPHY. PIO PIO DEFEATED IN FINAL CHALLENGE. The Athletic Club team were successful in their challenge for the John I-letet Memorial Shield on Saturday, defeating Pio Pio on Rugby Park by 13 points to 8. The trophy has been held by the champion team of the Maniapoto Sub-Union over a period of several years. Pio Pio were successful in defending it against Raetihi this season, but Athletic, champions of the Taumarunui Sub-Union, proved too strong. The visitors had a light, but fast and quick-breaking pack. Their backs also were speedy, showed good anticipation, passed at full speed, and, with the help of the forwards, had a defence that Pio Pio found it very hard to penetrate. With their weight Pio Pio could at times in the tight push the visitors all over the paddock. Trust was feeding his backs well, Verry opened the way to both Pio Pio’s tries, while Coffin, with a roving commission, seemed to be everywhere at once, and his strong running caused several openings,

Each team secured two tries, Pio Pio converting -one, and Athletic two, while the latter team also had a penalty. The visitors appeared to have the best of the game for most of the time—towards the end of the second half they were tiring, but Pio Pio had been kept on the move, too. Getting the ball out two or three times in succession, the visitors attacked, Smith’s dash down the line nearly carrying him over. In the following melee Pio* Pio were penalised. From within two or three yards of the sideline Logan put a superb kick between the uprights. 3—o.

With Trust feeding his backs and Smyth putting a kick out just by the line, Pio Pio pressed hard. Loose play resulted in the ball being brought to midfield; and from there Taylor swerved through and on to give the ball out to McKee, who in a magnificent run outstripped the opposition to score between the posts. Logan converted. B—o.

After loose work had carried Athletic under the goal, a dive by Griffin saved the situation. Quick following up saw Buckley caught, but Pio Pio, rallying round, managed to dribble the ball out.

Play had returned to midfield when Rauputu sent the Pio Pio backs away. Frerichs sent the ball on to Verry, who. swerved infield, and in a brilliant run covered 30 yards and scored under the posts. Coffin converted. B—s.

After half-time the position seemed very much the same. At times it appeared as if Pio Pio’s weight was beginning to tell, for the visitors had been cracking on the pace for the whole of the first spell. But they still kept the Pio Pio rearguard stifled. Penalties for their overeagerness were costing their team just about as much as faulty handling was cqsting Pio Pio. Smyth for Pio Pio and Logan for Athletic both missed penalty shots at goal. An opening down the left wing very nearly saw Athletic cross; the winger was recalled as the line umpire had his flag up. Scrums followed the line-out, and from the second Athletic hooked and Logan dodged close in round the blind and over. Again he placed a perfect kick between the posts. 13—5. Coffin sped away towards the line after good work, but was forced to in-pass blindly, and the ball was pul out. Following a long throw-in Smyth was just too late in falling on the ball. Pio Pio were rewarded, however, when Verry secured at the head of a forward rush and tossed the ball out to Marks, who fought a way over with two men hanging on to him. Griffin failed to convert. 13—8.

During the remaining few minutes of the game the visitors attacked, but without success.

Mr. Joseph was referee.

HANGATIKI WINS PUKEWEKA SHIELD.

In the final of the Pukeweka Shield competition, Hangatiki defeated Waitanguru by 17 points to 3 after a hard forward tussle. A dropkick by Barrett opened the scoring for Hangatiki, and this was added to by yet a further dropkick, this time from Armstrong’s boot, and a try gained by the same player after an in-passing movement with Barrett. P. Nikora made a fine effort, but failed to convert. Gault crossed the line from a forward rush and failed with the kick, and Swanberg also gained a try. A penalty kick secured their 3 points for Waitanguru. Mr. W. Eketone refereed.