COAST REP. FOOTBALL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19374, 12 July 1937, Page 14

COAST REP. FOOTBALL

PETHERBRIDGE CUP TO LAO A BEAT WATAPU STRENUOUS TUSSLE (Herald Correspondent.) Tolaga Opts Waiapu 3pts Tolaga Bay met Waiapu in the Petherbridge Cup representative match on the Domain, Tolaga Bay, on Saturday, and after a strenuous tussle emerged the victors by nine points to three. Winning the toss, Tolaga kicked ofl with the sun at their backs, but a scrum was ordered, as a player was in front of the ball. Tolaga immediately set up a hot attack and forced the greens (Waiapu) to seek relict by kicking out. Shortly after Tolaga were awarded a free kick, but the attempt at goal was a poor one. Following a further attack Moana. for Waiapu, got possession, and put in a clearing kick to Glover, who essayed a pot from a little within Waiapu's half-way and made a very good attempt, which fell short. After a series of loose rushes and exchange of kicks, Tolaga instituted a nice passing rush, which, when looking dangerous tor Waiapu, was pulled up by a knock-on by Lincoln. So far,, Waiapu were having the better of the set scrums, but their attempt to get their backs in motion was spoilt by the smothering tactics of Tolaga Bay. An infringement by the greens gave Tolaga a free kick, but Lockwood's attempt was a poor one, and Waiapu forced. Attempts at passing by both sets of backs had been spoilt by knoek-ons and faulty handling. Moana, the Waiapu fullback, who was playing a very safe game, got his side out of trouble time and time again. Field Goal Just Missed

Lockwood narrowly missed a pot al goal, after a splendid passing rush by Tolaga, which was again spoilt by a knock-on. Waiapu rushed the ball to Tolaga’s twenty-five, where Glover, who had been playing safely, got in a good kick, which sent the greens back into their own territory. Waiapu pressed strongly, but hard play by Tolaga carried the game over the Waiapu line, and the greens forced. Following the drop out Tolaga instituted a dangerous passing rush, which ended in V. Kutia knocking on when a score for Tolaga seemed imminent.

Keeping up the pressure, Lockwood was pushed out when close to the line. A free kick to Tolaga from an awkward angle saw Tibbie make an abortive attempt at goal. Waiapu rushed the ball upfield, but Bruce Tuheke put Tolaga in safety with a good line kick. Coming back determinedly, Waiapu again nullified their chance of scoring by bad handling. •Just before half-time Pepere, for Waiapu, had an unsuccessful kick at goal, the spell coining with no score. On the resumption, Tolaga immediately assumed the offensive and following a sweeping attack, during which the ball passed through many hands, V. Kutia went over the line to draw first blood. The angle proved too awkward for Tibbie.

Forwards’ Willing Exchanges Waiapu made a desperate effort to even up and the game became very willing. J. Smith (Waiapu) received a hard knock and had to retire, his place being filled by an emergency. Glover, who had been playing a cool, safe game at fullback, caused some uneasiness to supporters by soft kicking. Pomare Kutia got away in a fast rush, and the ball, passing through different hands, went to Lockwood, who with characteristic dash, scored at the corner. Glover took the kick, but failed.—Tolaga G, Waiapu nil.

Play alternated from one twentyfive to the other, with Tolaga Bay showing just that amount of superiority that enabled them to keep the upper hand, and take advantage ot an opportunity. As the result of open play following a loose forward rush, the ball went to P. Kutia, who when tackled, passed in to Glover, who had come up fast, and the latter dashed over the line in a good position. Again the shot at the posts failed. Tolaga resumed with a promising dash for the greens’ line, but Moana, who had played a wonderfully safe game right through, effected a save.

In the final minutes Waiapu came away with an irresistible rush, which ended with Manuel going over at tnc corner. Taking the kick himself, Manuel failed to improve the score. The whistle went almost immediately after, leaving Tolaga the winners, with the score at 9-3.

Though strenuously contested, the game was played in a good, clean

spirit on both sides. There were no passengers on either side, but among .he visitors Tuhoro, Pepere, the veteran, George Ferris, and Moana attracted attention. All the Tolaga Bay forwards gave a fine aggressivedisplay, and won about an even share of the scrums. J. Carr, behind the 'scrum, served his backs well, but, and the same applies to the visiting back division, the handling at times was defective.

Mr. Nuia Rungarunga controlled the game impartially. The line umpires were Messrs. F. Manuel, Waiapu, and 11. Hale, Tolaga Bay.

RETURN MATCH RUATORTA FEAT TOKOMARU EVENLY CONTESTED CAME (liel-nld Correspondent.) Ruatoria . . 18pts Tokomaru . Opts The return Rugby match between Tokomaru Bay and Ruatoria was played in Ruatoria on Saturday afternoon under ideal weather conditions and after an evenly contested game Ruatoria prevailed by 18 points to 6. The difference in points was by no means a fair indication of the merits of the two teams, the losers at times looking particularly dangerous. The game on the whole was extremely interesting and at times exciting. Movements changed with dramatic suddenness, and the forwards kept up the pressure right up to the call of time. The speed never slackened and some of the players showed visible signs of distress towards the end.

The two outstanding forwards were Goldsmith and T. McClutchie, but both forwards were even in the line-outs and in scrums.

The local backs were doing most of the attacking, both J. Reedy and Wi Repa being prominent. The visiting inside backs defended soundly. Morrell at half gave a good exhibition and was game in stopping rushes. The teams were:—Tokomaru (white

and black).—Newton, Tipuna, Pipi Newton, Mcllroy, Atkins, Morrell Pewhairangi, Manuel, Kouka, D. McClutchie, Maraki, Te Runa, J. Mcllroy and C. Ryland. Ruatoria (red anc black). —H. Nepe, B. Hati, Tuheke Rangiuia, J. Reedy, Wi Repa, Baker, T McClutchie, K. McClutchie, C. Nepe Morrissey, Goldsmith, Geo. Reedy, and W. Hogan. Ms'. W. Morcle was the referee.

In the previous match between these teams, the game resulted in a draw, each side scoring nine points.

WAIKOHU SUB-UNION WIN BY 'WMATATUTU (Herald Correspondent.) The only match in the Waikohu Rugby Sub-Union’s competition on Saturday was played at Whatatutu, where Whatatutu secured a decisive victory over the Waioaoa team.

There will be no club games this week as the Waikohu representatives will meet the Poverty Bay colts at Whatatutu on Saturday afternoon. The names of G. Askew (Puha> and Larkin (Waipaoa) have been added to the list of players published last week, from which the representative team will be selected.