MANIOTOTO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26791, 7 June 1948, Page 7

MANIOTOTO

Special to the Daily Times RANFURLY, May 6. Results of games played in the Maniototo Rugby competition yesterday were:— Becks defeated Ranfurly, 21—14; Gimmerburn defeated Ida Valley, 31 —6; StrathTaieri defeated Patearoa, B—6. Saturday’s results have brought another change in the leadedship of the competition, Gimmerburn now being on top, with Strath-Taieri and Ranfurly equal second only one point behind and Patearoa fourth. Becks v. Ranfurly A large crowd, including many visitors from Vincent, where no club games jveie played yesterday, watched Becks piay Ranfurly at Becks. In the scrums the Ranfurly forwards held their own, but the Becks pack, led by last year’s Otagi representative, Armitage, were superior in the loose. Becks relied on this advantage for their attack, whereas the Rrrifurly team depended on a set of faster and more attractive backs. As a result, the game was the best of the day, with play swinging from one end of the field to the other. Becks played a defensive game, standing well up to their opponents, while the good tackling of Vugler and Samuels did not allow' Ranfurly to exploit advantages. Armitage was outstanding in the Becks forwards, and was ably supported by Shaw Forrester and Graham were the most prominent of the Ranfurly pack. Among the backs, Samuels and Vugler were the best of the Becks team, and J. P. Kearney played well for Ranfurly. Gimmerburn v, Ida Valley Play was ragged in the first spell of the match between Gimmerburn and Ida Valley, but the teams were more evenly matched than in the second half. Throughout the first half Ida Valley enjoyed the territorial advantage, and was able to keep the ball in the tight, while bustling their opponents into mistakes in the loose. From the opening of the second spell, however, Gimmerburn showed a marked improvement in both backs and forwards, and soon secured a good lead. Scott and Clarke were the best in the Gimmerburn scrums, and Stringer shone in the loose. J. Nicolson was always prominent in the Ida Valley pack. The best back on the ground was Paterson, who was responsible for 19 of Gimmerburn’s points, his score being made up of two tries, one penalty goal, and five conversions, two of them being £roni about 18 inches from the side line, WOMEN’S HOCKEY Results of matches played in the Maniototo Women’s Hockey Association competition on Saturday were: Naseby defeated Gimmerburn, 6—l; Becks defaulted to Patearoa.