Kaitaia B on Top in Mangonui

Northern Advocate, 17 July 1939, Page 7

Kaitaia B on Top in Mangonui

With only four more games to complete the championship, Moses Yates’ team, Kaitaia B, now appears to have a mortgage over the Bell Shield after their narrow victory against Houhora on Saturday. The latter team had made a belated run for the honours, having won their last four matches, and, had they succeeded on Saturday, would have been Jevol with the leaders.

It would appear that the only serious challengers for Kaitaia B from now on are their own clubmates, Kaitai'a A.

Territorially, Houhora had much the better of the game, and, on the run of play, deserved to win. However, astute tactics, by the wily veteran Moses, plus his excellent goal-kicking ability, gained the win.

The curtain-raiser between Kaitaia’s two junior teams, both level on the ladder, ended surprisingly in an easy win for the A team. The B’s waited for opportunities that never came, while their opponents packed in and made every inch the winning post. In the only other senior match, Mangonui met Manukau at.Herekino ; ' the home side again proving too strong. Te Kao did not visit Awanui on account of not being able to secure transport. Results:— Sepor. Kaitaia B 5, Houhora 3. Manukau 9, Mangonui 0. Junior. Kaitaia A 17, Kaitaia B 3. Herekino 12, Awanui B 6. Third Grade. High School 17, Kaitaia 0. Ahipara 11, Awanui 3. Houhoura Play Safe ; But Vanquished The showground was in surprisingly good order, and though the ball was at times sticky, players had little difficulty with their handling. As a spectacle, the game between Houhora and Kaitaia B was scraggy, with too much kicking. The visitors preferred to gain ground with continual line kicks, and the spoiling tactics of the five-eighths gave the Kaitaia backs few chances. About half-way through the first spell, Houhora secured the lead when Marsh, the home full-back, speculated, for W. Petera to gather in and race over. The same player had scored two tries against Kaitaia A last week. Half-time came with the score unaltered. Houhora continued safety tactics, and it was not until well into the second spell that Kaitaia scored from a scrum on the quarter-way. Clever Strategy. Moses Yates left the scrum and took up a position behind the half, Wiki Sylva. This led the opposition to believe that he intended to drop-kick, and Evans, at first five-eighths, came up out of position. Sylva secured, feinted, to go round the scrum with i cat-like ability, and, though tackled right on the line, grounded the ball for an excellent try. The kick was not an easy one, but Moses converted. Until this score, the home team were playing as a beaten side. Although Houhora pressed hard on two occasions, the B team held on to win. Mr P. Stone was referee. Kaitaia A Team Outplay Second String In the junior game, Kaitaia A proved beyond doubt which was the better team. Toby JBreathwaite opened the scorring when, after the full-back mulled, he picked up and raced over. This was the only score in the first half, which territorially had been in favour of the leaders. The next try was a beauty. It started with great v/ork by W. Edwards, who sent on to £ade, who cross-kicked, and Varly Flinn followed fast to complete.

Cade was responsible for the next try when he dribbled through for Breathwaite to score again, this time behind the posts. Varly Flinn converted. Soon afterwards a passing rush enabled Flinn to score his second try, and a moment later the scoring forward, Byon Thompson, followed a high punt to score. The B team came with a fighting finish, and a penalty kick saw C. Berghan break their duck.—Kaitaia A 17, Kaitaia B 3. Mr Webster was referee.