MAORI RUGBY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19024, 26 May 1936, Page 2

MAORI RUGBY

TAINUI CUP TRIAL MATCH AT TIKITIKI SOUTHERN PLAYERS NAMED (Herald. Correspondent.) The Maori followers of Rugby football on the East Coast—and they comprise practically every grown native in the district—are* looking forward with keen interest to the Trial match to be played at Tikitiki on Saturday, between teams representing the southern nnd northern sections ot the Ngatiporou tribal territory respectively. This mutch is to be a preliminary to the selection ol the laiimi Cup team which will jouriiy to laranaki next- month, taking .with it the cup won two years ago at Rotorua, wlneti will be again in competition at the great hui planned by Taranaki natives in connection with the unveiling of a memorial to the late Sir Maui Pomarc. Saturday’s match is to be one of the features of the Tikitiki hui, which is to extend over three days and will include two dedication ceremonies. Teams from the two sections of the Ngatiporou, between the Waiapu River and Gisborne on the one hand, and between the Waiapu River and Opotiki on tlio other, will provide the principal entertainment feature of the hut, and the game is expected to draw a large attendance apart- from the spectators already gained for the Maori celebrations. The selectors for the southern Ngatiporou team have named 10 backs and nine forwards, from whom will be selected the team for Saturday’s match. These men do not include certain well-known Gisborne players, who will be considered when the final selection of the Tainui Cup team is being made. Such players as Ivaua and Rogers, of Y.M.I’., are bound to secure the attention of the selectors in the final issue, and their form is well established. Hence there is no need to bring them to the Coast for the trial match. Those selected for attendance at Tikitiki on Saturday comprise the following: Backs.—G. Brown (Y.M.P., Gisborne), M. Koia (Waiapu), W. Tampa (Waiapu). G. Peperc (Waiapu), P. Kut-ia (Tolaga Bay), W. Moekr (Ruatoria.). B. Tuheke (Tolaga Bay), T. Wi Repa (Ruatoria), J. Mellroy (Tokomarn Bay), and P. Brown (Waiapu). Forwards. —R. I’aenga (Waiapu). G. Reedy (Ruatoria), K. McClutehie (Ruatoria), D. McClutehie (Ruatoria). ,T. Lockwood (Tolaga Rnv). D. Tuhoro (Waiapu), T. Lincoln (Tolaga. Bay), T. Wanoa (Ruatoria), and IV. Ilongarn (Ruatoria). The personnel of the northern Ngatiporou team lias not vet been determined.

FOOTBALL IN RUATORIA TWO GOOD MATCHES (Herald Corrcspondent.) Two important matches were played at Ruatoria on Saturday afternoon the victors in each case winning by a narrow margin of three points. It- was also a strange coincidence that the teams in each nfatch scored the same number of points—l 7to 14. A large number of spectators occupied the intervening space between the two grounds and enthusiasm was equally divided whenever likely movements commenced unexpectedly to develop. errf v: hikurangi On No. 1 ground' there was a titanic struggle between Hikurangi and City, each side attempting to exploit the open game as much-ns possible and making use of their speedy three-quarters whenever appropriate occasion, demanded. In this particular respect Hikurangi were very prominent, and the big lead they had" in the first spell was due to the speed- and timely precision of the thrust made by their backs. City employed similar tactics and were unfortunate on one or two occasions in not achieving their objective. However, they made up so much, leeway in ‘the second spell that just before the call of time (Sty managed to cross to give them the extra three points in their favour, How City scored the last try was difficult to see from the side line, t-lmre being almost complete darkness at the time. The match was fast and exciting, and in fact it would have been much, faster had the use of the.whistle been less frequent; many trifling breaches could have been easily ignored and the advantage rule move resorted to in: those cases. Hikurangi suffered frequent penalties for various alleged infringements, particularly in the second spell, and City, to their credit, hardly bad any awarded against, them. The last quarter of an hour was played in sergi-darkness. ( ( The teams >vere: City.—N. Tuhou, L Tahata. H. Kniwni, K. fluhou. T. \\ i : Repa. Te Whntn, J. Baker. K. Mr, Glut chic, D. McClutehie. G. Kaiwm, M. Tahata, G. Duff. W. Maxwell. Hogan, and C. Nepe. 1 Hikurangi.—Kingi, S’. ITnua. W. Moekts 55. Mocke, J,. McLean, \\. fantolie. Nacre, : ITonga,raj Manuel, \\. Moeko, Kirikino, W. Pnhau. A. Grace, Karangawai, and G. Reedy. UNITED 17 V. CITY (WAIAPU) 14 The match between United and Citv (Waiapu) was played on No. 2 ground sind after a- close contest the local team emerged triumphant, by 17 points to 14. The teams were:—-United. —Brown, B. Hati, Tuheke, H. Nepe, P v Hat), T. Tningahue, J. Weeks, H. Kaiwai, J. Fletcher, K. Ounce, 1,. Hati, Wanoa, W. McClutehie. Ran gin in, and Martin. Citv (Waiapu).—M. Koia. \\ . Tampa, Yates. P. Hnengji, M. Poi. P. Brown. H. Te Maro, W. Tibbie. Ra Paenga. 1. Tibbie, G. Ferris. .J. Smith. P. Takoko, J. Tibbie, and G. Taiapa.