Mangonui 3rd Graders Retain Powell Shield

Northern Advocate, 18 July 1949, Page 7

Mangonui 3rd Graders Retain Powell Shield

KAITAIA, Mon. (Sp.).— Defeating Bay of Islands B—3 at the Kaitaia Oval on Saturday, Mangonui third-grade Rugby football representatives successfully withstood the season’s second challenge for the Powell Shield. Winning the premier Northland trophy from Whangarei in 1947, Mangonui retained it against five challenges last season, and meets Whangarei’s bid for repossession next Saturday.

The previous week the holders won by default from Whangaroa Conditions for the Bay ~ visit were almost ideal, the ground being much improved after line weather and showing only a few soft patches.'

The holders failed to settle down in the first half, and to within a few minutes of the interval play was indecisive until wing-Lln'eequarter S. Shirley paved the way for Erceg to go down the line very fast for a try wide out. Continued possession by Mangonui told the tale in the second spell and gave a final margin of two tries, one of which was converted, to one unconverted try

Whangarei's Side

Sole selector (Mr G. Elliott) 'has announced the following team to represent Whangarei in its. challenge against Mangonui at Kaitaia on Saturday for the Powell Shield. Fullback, L Rouse (Kamo), threequarters, J. Hodge (Kamo), W. Brown (High School), B Sinclair (Kamo); five-eighths, T. Parore (Old Boys) first, C. Hamilton (Hora Hora); half, R. Penney (Old Boys); front row, 1. Smeaton (High School), T Connelly (Old Boys), B. Christensen (High School); second row, R. Kennett (Old Boys), D. Grist (High School) K. Gwyn <Kamo),. N Doul! (Hign School); back row, I. Stifle (High School). Reserves; Backs, D Joll (Kamo), 1. Rawhil.i (High School); forwards, I. Morgan (High School), A. Tucker (Old Boys). Eight of the 19 players are High School boys, five are from Old Boys, five from Kamo and one from Hora Hora. Third Grade Trial Full of sparkling football, the two representative trial games between Whangarei and Rodney third-grade teams at Kensington Park provided a large crowd with adequate compensation for having missed the MaoriPakeha clash. Rodney A beat Whangarei A 14—9, and the two B teams drew 6-all. Two copybook tries worthy of the best senior football were produced by the Whangarei backs. Fullback Rouse took the ball from a kick midway between the half and his own 25. lie carried the ball downfield.-set his backs in motion and handed on to R. Brown at centre. Brown sold a perfect dummy on the Rodney 25 and went on to touch down between the posts for a classic try. Hodge, on the Whangarei wing, showed plenty of determination when he carried thq ball from halfway to the fullback on the 25 and then broke through two tackles to score. Rodney scored a good try when, from a kick off on his own 25, Bagot gathered the ball, took it on a great run down the line and sent it on to M. Gravatt, who carried it on the necessary distance to score. Penny, Parore and Rouse showed out well in the Whangarei back line; while Sliffe put in some solid work in the forwards. In the B event, Whangarei surprised as the lighter team by gaining more than its share of the ball from the scrums. D. Cunningham, the Whangarei halfback, had a great run when he gathered the ball after a loose kick and outstripped the opposition for 60 yards to score in the corner.