TOLAGA BAY GAMES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19030, 2 June 1936, Page 3

TOLAGA BAY GAMES

HAUITI BEAT TAWIIITI GEAGUX'S BRIGHTEN!. GAME t Herald (Jumit>iiuink>ut.f Despite the bitterly cold weather on Saturday a. good crowd attended al lolaga Gay to see the second Rugby muU'it in l.im Larsen Cup series between Tawhiti (Tokomu.ru I lay) and Ilaui ti, which provided the fastest and brightest game seen here this season. There should have been a senior club mutch between Country and Tuarua also, but tile wet weather during the past week made it impossible for the latter club to held a team. It is probable that, rather than penalise a club so adversely situated, the sub-union will ask the Country club to accept a bye, as was dune by Ilauiti earlier in the season.

Saturday’s junior game, between Hauiti and Country, which resulted in a win for the latter team by six points to three, was disappointing, neither team being able to produce anything like their previous form. There is no doubt that this was due to the fact that it was their first game on a wet ground and with a greasy ball. The first half was mainly a ragged forward struggle confined almost entirely to Hauiti territory, and it was due only to a solid defence that the half-time score was no bigger than 6—nil. The Country score was made up by two tries scored by Bartlett and Henry, the former’s being the result of a clever opening made by A. Waru. During the second half, Ilauiti, who now had the benefit of a strong southerly wind, tried hard to equalise the score, nut. with the exception of a goal from a free kick by Te N 1 ilia their efforts were unavailing and the game ended 6 —3 in favour of Country The referee was Mr. .1 Lockwood.

Although, in the senior match, Hauiti came out the winners by 15 points to 3. the game was not nearly as uneven as I !m disparity in the scores would seem to indicate. The teams were as follows: Tawhiti (Tokomaru).- —Mellroy, Manuel, Rare. Haig, Tuliou. l’outu, Clark, Beale, Mellroy. Crawford. McDonald, Hauraki, Tibbie, Ilarrison and Tawliana. Ilauiti —Thatcher, Brown, W. Amaru, Maunsell, Ngaora. IT. Amaru. Marino, Gray. Milne, Atkins, llaukamaii, Kutia, Scott, Sayers, and Hicks. EAST .RACE SET.

Erom the kick-off Hauiti went straight tu the attack and looked dangerous until a free kick.allowed Tawhiti to relieve. Endowing up fast the visiting pack took flic ball at their feet righL through to tin: home team’s territory, where 11. Amaru kicked into touch. Erom the line-out off-side piay gave Tawhiti a tree kick, but Boutu's kick failed. The game travelled up and down the field at a great pace and many of the onlookers were of tlm opinion that it could not last, but from start to finish it was tho fastest game yet seen in Tolaga Bay. Through over-eagcrncss both sides were frequently penalised for off-side play, but with fast-following forwards always on the ball the free kicks did not. hold up the progress of the game. Both fullbacks had plenty of work, ami played steady games. A dangerous looking at-

tack by Ilauiti saw Mellroy save with a beautiful kick which found touch well down the line. Tawhiti gained posses siou from the line-out and their half set ids backs in motion when suddenly the crowd came to their feet with a roar as \V. Amaru, anticipating the movement, came up from the rear to intercept a beautiful pass and break clear on Lhe hall'-vvav line. With a great burst of speed be beat tho Tawhiti fullback, who was coming across field and scored first blood for Hauiti . H. Amaru’s kick was charged down and the score stood 3—nil. Tawhiti came straight back to the attack to be awarded a free kick within striking distance of the Hauiti goal. Eoulu’s kick fell just short of tho bar and Thatcher forced. Kicking out with a very short kick, Marino snapped up the ball and set his backs moving again, in a. prel.lv rush which saw the winger ITown forced out. Considering the greasy slate of the ball both teams were handling well, I heir worst fault being an inclination to run across field and thus destroy their wingers’ chances. Play became exciting and a score seemed imminent when Marino saved bv a beautifully placed kick which found touch just outside the 25yd line. Shortly after half-time If. Amaru, from a. free kick, sent the ball down and across the field, where Atkins, following up fast, took it. on the full and dived across for a spectacular try. Amaru missed with the kick and the score stood Hauiti 6, Tawhiti nil.

SOLID BUCKING PLAY. Some solid rucking play now took place in midfield and from a line-out Tawhiti gained possession and Chirk set bis backs going in a pretty passing rush, but the defence was too solid and they failed to score. From midfield H. Amaru got in a beat liful kick which found touch near the corner flag. Haukainau got the ball in the line-out and bullocked bis way over the line to score Jlauiti’s third try. Thatcher's attempt at goal failed and the score was 9—nil. Following the kick out H. Amaru sent his forwards after another long kick, but the Tawhiti fullback was ahead of them to force. Play was still moving up and down the field at a great pace. The visiting backs broke through the home defence for what must have been a certain try bad they been a little less selfish and made their passes a little earlier. Marino started bis backs attacking again and 11. A muni goaled from a free kick on the Tawlii.fi twenty-five line.—Huuiti 12, Tawhiti nil.

Tawhiti returned to the attack in a determined effort to score. Poufu made a splendid attempt to goal from a penalty, but was unlucky, the ball flitting the upright. From a linc-out on the ITauiti 25yd line Clark got. possession. and shot the ball out to Haig, who side-stepped bis opposition and dived across the line. Poutn missed the kick.—lTauiti 12. Tawhiti 3. Marino, who was undoubtedly the star back on the field, again started bis backs attacking, but faulty handling saw the game settle down to solid rucking play

in midfield. Tawhiti attacked, but 11. A mum saved with a mark. The light was failing rapidly when W. Amaru, intercepting a | ass, bruin- Hear from uutsidc (he Tnwhili Iv.enly-live aud raced away lo score (lie final try of (lie nialeli jusl before the last whistle blew. Thatcher missed with the kick, and the game ended will'* the score Hauiti 15, Tawhiti 3.

For Tawliti the last forwards were Beale, Grawlnrd. McDonald, and .Mellroy. while .Mellroy, (Mark, I’oiilu and Haig were the best of the backs. (V the Ilauiti pack V. Kutia. .Sayers, .Milne and Scot ( were always prominent, and Marino. \A . Amaru am I 11. Am rim were outstanding in the backs. The game was refereed bv Mr. G. Calvert..

HANGAROA RUGBY TE KEINGA MEET TAHUNGA GAME ENDS IN A DRAW TV Iteinga met Tahunga on the Tiniroto ground on Saturday. A very even game marked by phases of good handling of ii greasy ball, ended m a draw, 6-all. The TVReinga pack made good use of their extra weight, and, led by Kershaw, provided the spectators with thrilling dribbling rushes by which, at times, half the length of the field was covered. Though a lighter team all round, Tahunga held their own, and the scores indicate the territorial play. For Te Reiuga, Kershaw scored with a good run from a line-out 20yds from the goal-line, and S. .Stone made good use of a penalty in an easy position. Tahunga’s scores were both from penalties, kicked by Kuki Green. The most, outstanding players for Tahunga were Green, Araroa, Houhou, Baker and Thompson, and for Te Reinga the two Puki brothers, Kershaw', Carrington, Stone and Thompson. The whistle was held by Mr. Harvey. PLAY IN THE MUD WAIROA MATCHES (Heralit Currospuiidunf.) The comiit io.u.s for playing Rugby on the Liinibton ’ sports ground, AVaii.oti, on 'Saturday were very bad, and mud-plunging was the order of the day, but it. was largely in favour of the Maori players. Waipapa, in the second round of the senior competition, defeated Old Boys by six points In nil. At Nuhiika, the home team beat Whakaki by eight points to six. Senior games resulted: —Owing to ;he nou-al tendance of Pirates, Old Joys won by default; Nuliaka 11. beat iVaiau (•; Druids (>, beat Mamma nil.

'l'he points in the senior eoinpeti ; ion now arc:—Old Boys 7; AVaipap: 'i; Nuliaka o; Whakaki 2.