TOLAGA BAY GAME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19023, 25 May 1936, Page 14

TOLAGA BAY GAME

HAUITI BEAT TUARUA (Herald Correspondent.) With the withdrawal of the Tauwharc parae team, Saturday's Rugby game l>eiween Jlauili and Tuarua, iji which lluuiti came out the winners by 17 points to eight, saw the end of the first round in the club competition in Tolaga- Bay with Hauiti the leaders by two points. Tiie positions of the teams are :—Hauiti 4 points, Country '4. and Tuarua none. The Country team visited Tokomaru Bay on Saturday to play the first match 111 ttie Larseu Cup series against United. Bight until starting time it looked as though Tuarua would oe ununle to field a full team, .lust as Hie teams were march, inir out, however, the balance of the players arrived, having had a very arduous trip over slippery clay roads from Huanui station. Plav was not up to the standard to be expected, more especially of the Hauiti team, though at times their ■ back's developed some very pretty movements, their forwards did not appear to be on the job and time and again their weaker opponents beat them for the ball in the scrums and line-outs. Tuarua won the toss and decided to play with the sun at their backs. From the kick off Marino gained possession and set his backs in motion, the ball travelling right out. to the winger, W. Amaru, who was caught in possession just outside Tuarua's twenty-five. . Here the Tuarua pack took charge and, led by G. Thatcher, took play right down the field, where they were awarded a free kick. W. Sidney took the kick but failed to score, and Marino gaining possession relieved, with a well-placed kick. The Tuarua pack, led this time by Brown, came back to the attack, but Marino, the Hauiti half, who was playing brilliantly, got in another beautiful kick which found touch on the half-way line. The Hauiti backs now started hammering at the Tuarua line and time and again wero within an ace of scoring. ftlarino kept feeding his backs, but the Tuarua. defence was very solid and no score eventuated. With the exception of occasional bursts by the Tuarua pack and two attempts at. field goals the game was now confined to Tuarua territory A beautiful passing rush brought the crowd to their feet, the ball travelling from Marino to Kutia, W. Amaru, and again to Marino and Kutia, who had doubled round, the lastmentioned being forced out near the corner. From the resultant line-out W. Amaru gained possession from ragged play, sidestepped his man and transferred to Ngaera, who dived over to score. H. Amaru's kick was successful and the score stood five-nil in favour of Hauiti. From the kick out Hauiti again rushed to the attack and Ngaera. picking up from the ruck, went over for his second score. Amaru's kick failed, leaving the score B—o.8 —0. From the kick off Tuarua. following up fast, took play to the Hauiti twenty-five, where U. Thatcher was able to take a mark in front of the goal. His kick was successful and the score stood Hauiti eight, Tuarua. three as the whistle blew for half-time. Resuming, Tuarua appeared _ to befiring and Marino soon had bis back division going again for Haukamau to score. 11. Amaru's kick failed and the score was 11 —3. Hauiti were now dominating play in all departments, though their forwards were not by any means up to tlieir usual standard. 'Marino opened up a beautiful movement which saw him gain possession again and go over for a perfect, try. W. Amaru missed the kick and the score stood Hauiti 14, Tuarua three. W. Tantau electrified the crowd byj breaking through the opposition right on his own line and setting out in a brilliant run downfield, only to be brought down by H. Amaru on the Hauiti 25yd line, from where the Tuarua pack carried the ball over the line and N. Jones forced. Hauiti came back to the attack again with the forwards now participating in the passing. Several rushes at last saw Maunsell transfer the ball to Milne, to Marino, who went over to score. W. Amaru failed with the kick, and the score was 17 —three. With the call of time nearly due Tuarua, were making a great effort to score and from a scrum in the Hauiti twentyfive Sidney gained possession, and sidestepping the" opposition, scored a pretty try. Taking his own kick, Sidney added the major points and the game ended with the score Hauiti 17, Tuarua eight. For Tuarua, the best forwards were Brown, Pera, and Tuhiwai, with Robertson also playing a heady game, while Sidney, Glover and Thatcher were the best of the backs. In the Hauiti pack Ngaera, Hicks, Poutu and Milne were always prominent, and Marino, Kutia, and W. Amaru were outstanding in the backs. Marino is a much improved player this season and unless someone really exceptional is to be found further up the Coast his chance as half-back for the East Coast representatives would appear to be assured The game was refereed by Mr. J. Loekwood. In the junior division Hauiti won by default, from Country, who failed to field a team.