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PAKEHAS LUCKY TO WIN AT KAITAIA

Before a crowd cf well over the 1000 mark, the North Auckland Pakeha representatives secured a lucky win from the provincial Maori side at the Kaitaia A. and P. ground on Saturday by 11 points to 10. Outplayed in the backs and only barely shading the opposing vanguard, the Fakehas secured three tries, one of which was converted, to two converted tries by the Maoris. At no time did the winners approach the combination, speed and dash of their opponents, who turned on a sparkling game, despite heavy going. Individual brilliance gave the Pakehas the decision.

Careful preparation by the Mangonui sub-union had much improved the ground compared with that for the previous week’s Harding Shield game and the pools had dried out.

Although marred by a cold southerly wind blowing across the field, the day was fine, with the field still rather muddy from overnight rain. Fed by their pack with the lion's share of the ball, the Maori backs, headed by ex-Kiwi Ike Proctor, fanned out time and again in swift penetrating movements, which provided the best Rugby seen in the Far North this year. Behind the Maori scrum W. Hemi. Mangonui’s representative half, gave faultltess service to Proctor, and, with Peter Smith as second five-eighth, the line functioned like a well-oiled machine.

It was tne sound defensive play of Teddy Nash, Pakeha pivot, L. McCann and fiery elements in the Pekeha pack in Hancox, Squire and Fraser which prevented the Maoris from notching a higher tally. All Pakeha points came from the tight, and the half-time score was 10-5 in favour of the Maoris. NASH DIVES OVER Pakehas kicked off facing the sun and the opening exchanges were slightly in their favour, but P. Clarke soon settled down consistently to outhook Southwell, and Hemi sent Proctor and Smith away to show their form. Taylor and Fraser were prominent in a line forward charge and Squire broke from the ruck to be forced out near the line. After several thrusts. Nash dived over and McCann guaged the wind nicely to add the major points, putting Pakehas in the lead with the game still young.

When the Maoris' right winger, R. Wright, left the field the replacement was J. Pene. who went to centre. Walters and Watcne were the wingers.

The Maori rearguard continued to be formidable, with Bob White as cus-

todian chiming in to initiate several movements and also to make an extra pair of hands. Proctor, Smith and Walters staged a promising sortie, swiftly reversed by Cunningham, on the Pakeha wing, and Taylor, who charged down White's clearing kick and put their side in a handy position, but Ihe inside backs could net capitalise. Pakehas were penalised on their own 25-yard line and Bob White's long shot landed in the goal mouth. The Maoris took full charge and turned on snappy football, which almost sent Te Haara over wide out, and all the backs handled in several clean movements. From a nearby scrum Proctor cut in and scored under the posts, J. Isaacs converting to even the tally.

MAORIS LED AT SPELL Just before half-time Peter Smith received a long pass from Stirling in the ruck and crossed under the posts, converting his own try. Snappy handling and plenty of movement saw the Maoris again taking charge to open the second spell, with Pene using his speed as centre. The Hemi-Proctor-Smith trio was again within scoring distance, but Smith lost possession on the line. A knock-on cost another promising chance and Pakeha forwards carried the ball the length of the field for Nash to send Squire over from the loose. McCann's attempt at conversion was almost charged down, but his cool kick passed just outside the post, and Pakehas were still three points in debit. Late in the game the Pakeha forwards, under Hancox's rugged leadership, gave their backs more opportunities and Nash sent out to V. Pearson and on to Cunningham, who sailed down the line and beat the defence to score wide out. His own kick failed, but within a few minutes of. the final

(Special.) KAITAIA. This Day

whistle Pakehas had been given tneir single-point winning margin. INDIVIDUALS Prominent in the Maori pack, which worked as one man throughout, were J. Isaacs, C. Stirling and Ted Reid, while White was an ideal full-back. J. Slater, Pakehas' custodian, was outclassed. G. Cunningham showed up well on the wing when the ball came his way, but K. Pearson on the other flank received few chances. J. Smith gave a fair display as centre and later as second five-eighth when he exchanged positions with McCann, who did not repeat the form shown in earlier Harding Shield games, although always prominent on defence and several times using his speed to advantage in promising forays. Teddy Nash played an excellent defensive game behind the Pakeha scrum, but lacked Hemi's accuracy on attack, while V. Pearson was not a strong link. Squire, Hancox, Fraser and Taylor headed the Pakeha pack, with good, but intermittent, support from S. White, Whitefield and Pausina. .Southwell apparently lacked the support to which he has been accustomed in the Mangonui pack and was fairly consistently outhooked. The teams were: Maoris.—R. White. Walters. I. Watene, R. Wright. P. Smith. I. Proctor. Hemi, Wordley. P. Clarke, Tc Haara, J. Isaacs. C. Stirling, J. Wharerau. Ted Reid, W. Reid. Fakehas. —J. Slater, K. Pearson, J. Smith, G. Cunningham, V. Pearson. L. McCann. E. Nash, S. Pausina, 11. Southwell. R. Squire, C. Hancox, I. Fraser, L. Taylor. S. White. M. Whitefield.

Mr R. C. Somerville carried the whistle.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19460826.2.78

Bibliographic details

Northern Advocate, 26 August 1946, Page 6

Word Count
936

PAKEHAS LUCKY TO WIN AT KAITAIA Northern Advocate, 26 August 1946, Page 6

PAKEHAS LUCKY TO WIN AT KAITAIA Northern Advocate, 26 August 1946, Page 6