Football

Putaruru Press, Volume XX, Issue 1185, 6 June 1946, Page 1

Football

PUTARURU SUB-UNION Tokoroa v. Atiamuri In a match between the Tokoroa and Atiamuri senior tean» during the week-end Tokoroa were winners by 16 points to nil. Down went the Tokoroa team to meet their old friends at Atiamuri. Whether it is the sipread the ladies always? put on, or the climate, that makes everyone happy there is hard to say. In any case, it rained cats and . dogs, the ground was .slippery and Atiamuri started with 12 men, three more coming later. Tokoroa fielded a great team. Their pack was solid, Judd hooking very cleanly as he rested on the on the shoulders of the lineout breaking, Brodigan andi Johnny Edmunds (that versatile footballer who plays equally well as forward, half or back). They were locked by their able skipper, Stevenson, and the goal kicking Balfour, whcoe boot accounted for 10 points and his hands for three of the 16 points compiled by Tokoroa that day. Douglas as last man down held the scrum tight, while being flanked by O’Sullivan, who broke well with the ball at toe, and that veteran breakaway, Wishnow«?ki, who played one of his best games, following the greasy ball through to score a good try. - Puckey played safe at fullback. Before him stood the low tackling Boyd and chain lightning Gilbert as wingtt J. Dunham (after a long illness) played soundly at centre. Digger Evans, an ever improving second, five-eighth, added weight and strength. This .hack line hinged on the straight running penetrating first five-eighth, G. Mcßwen, and ■nerved by the rugged, covering up solidly defensive back feeding halfback, Dowling, looked unbeatable. How it rained!

Led by their popular skipper, Douglas, Atiamuri did well to keep the number of tries scored against them down to two. Shute hooked with Douglas and Mahunga, in the front line. Ututonga and Dodd locked, Bramley and Watts played breakaway, with Hoey lant man down. These forwards hunted in a pack and fully extended the Tokoroa forwards. R. Stringer (home on leave) played, halfback with Gundey, G. Dunham, Crawford, Moses and Dufty as good backs, and with Ron Terei as fullback.

Much could be said of the potentialities of these backs who at times, cut through the defence with lightning speed. Crawford was unlucky not to be awarded a try on one occasion when he appeared to press the ball. 'Gundey received the ball well at first five-eighth and Bunham at second was always dangeroix> Crawford handled the greasy ball as well Or better than any man on the field, and. Moses was always there in support-—even though the light was dim at times. Terei (jurjt a hoy) saved on several occasions. Dufty was fast on the wing. The true spirit of football prevailed; all played as they should—with a smile on their faces. ARAPUNI v. PINEDALE After four drawn matches,. Pinedale managed its first .win of the seatK?n in a match against Arapuni bn Sunday. Arapuni kicked off in teeming rain which lasted until half-time, and which made the game a struggle between the opposing forwards. Pinedale forced the game during most of this half, and Arapuni was on the defensive, having to force down three times. Withing three minutes of half-time Arapuni with a spirited forward dash put Pinedale in jeopardy, and Pedley, Pinedale’s fullback, had to force down. *

Prom the kick Pinedale followed up smartly, the ball going out on Arapuni’s five-yard line. Hard play in a loose scrum saw Pickrang tKCure the ball to go over for t

first try of the day. Petley failed to convert. Pinedale 3, Arapuni 0. Half-time came with the score unchanged. Pinedale again forced play from the kick-off and within a few minutes forward play gave Pickrang another chance, which resulted in Pinedale’s second try. Petley missed the shot. Pinedale 6, Arapuni 0.

•Poliowing a period of up and down the field play, Arapuni, battling hard in the Pinedale twenty-five, jr.nt failed to score, Pinedale forcing down. From the kick Arapuni again took the ball into Pindale’s ter-itcry and a free kick allowed Guthrie a shot at goal which failed. Pinedale followed- up smartly, and a free kick on the Arapuni line averted what looked like a certain score for Pinedale.

Play surged into the Pinedale f area and an ■ infringement by the defenders gave Guthrie the first succesaful goal kick of the match. Pinedale 6, Arapuni 3. The play ripened up after this with both learns striving hard for a try but the game ended with no further sccku.

In the first half the Pinedale pack had the better of the hooking but the greasy ball eluded the hands of the backs?. In the second hooking honours were about even, and back play slightly better on both sides. Par Arapuni,. Guthrie and Simmons we-e the best of an even set of forwards, and Dunstan, at fullback, with P. Stever.oan, first fiveeighth, saved time and again. The Pinedale forwards were fortunate in having Pickrang as breakaway, while Yate s gave good support, but there was not a sluggard in the pack. Petley, at fullback, played his usual cafe game. Whetu, first five-eighth, was always dangerous. Two newcomers, Burrell arid P. Debar, will bear watching. Hot showers and a welcome cup of tea rounded off a game played in the bci;?t spirit of” Rugby tradition.

UNITED v. HUIA In a game played between United and Huia teams during the weekend, United proved winners by six points to five. JUNIORS ; J Athletic v. Maraetai •Out trotted the Athletic juniors, spick arid Span, at Tokoroa on Saturday. A fine even lot of boyo. It was evident that they were well trained and organised. The Maraetai junior team looked their part—rugged and out for a game. These boys live and work out ,in the wilds, harnessing the mighty Waikato’. No mothers and sioters handy to starch and iron their pants, but they can play football individually, needing only to- be welded into a smooth working machine. They scored first when Pu’-ina pressed the ball. Maraetai 3, Athletic 0. Athletic realised they were not in the gymnasium arid unlerohed all they had. A forward rush took Woodgate over to even the score. Burke was playing a great game in the backs, and play surged up and down. Maraetai saved by forcing several times. Graham played well on the wing for Athletic, air did Robertson for Maraetai. After half-time the ball came out on the wing and Athletic followed through for D. Haworth to score a try. Athletic 6, Maraetai 3. A penalty kick was awarded Athletic in a handy position just as (Lloyd Burke was slightly hurt, and Woodgate made no mistake, making the fjeore 9—3 in Athletic’s favour. Maraetai attacked like thunder and were awarded a penalty kick in a handy position and a lovely kick by O’Connell made the score 9—6. Shortly aftei-wards Burke claimed a mark and 1 gained much ground. Woodgate crossed the line for Athletic, making the final score 12—6 in favour of Athletic. United v. Tokoroa In the junior match between United and Tokoroa teams during the week-end, United defeated Tokoroa by 11 points to oix.

FOURTH GRADE Tokoroa v. High School B A match between the Tokoroa fourth grade team and the Putaruru High School B fourth grade team was played at Tokoroa on Saturday, Tokoroa winning by 37 points to nil. The two teams were fai'ly evenly matched, but Tokoroa secured the ball mo.-.-t often. Anticipating thiri, the Putaruru breakaways came around very fast. The Tokoroa half invariably whipped the ball out to thej?ack3, who outweighed the opposition, and many nice movements were seen. Just whether these rrovement.? will be easy when they meet Tokcroa A next week remains to be seen. The Putaruru boys played gamely. Their winger s showed speed and followed through fast. The very best of spirit.? prevailed, and it was good to see these youngsters learning clean, honest, play-the-ball Rugby.

WAIKATO FORWARDS EXCEE Close Game With Auckland Waikato forward's carried far too many gun? for the eight at Hamilton on Monday, and had the team had the services of a reliable goalkicker Waikato must have won by a wide margin of points. However, the goalkicking was poor in the’ extreme, with J. Forkett, of Waipa, the most successful. He kicked two penalties?, his second shot just “limping” over the bar. The Waikato backs' failed as a combination, the weaknesses being with the five-eighths,' neither of whom wao impressive, and on the left wing, where I. Boyes, of Taupiri, was never comfortable. D. S. Enscr, who was unable to play for hi s club on Saturday, gave a great exhibition at fullback until the victim of a late tackle shortly before half-time, following which his linekicking deteriorated, H. Puke, of Hamilton, and J. O’Hearn, of Taupiri, centre and wing threequarter, respectively, were always looking for opportuniticc, the former scoring Waikato’s only try after good following up.

Complete lack .of understanding among the five-eighths, K. Carroll and J. Slade-Gully, - robbed the back line of good chances, the ball seldom getting past the latter in passing rusheo. Behind the scrum L. T. Russell played a sound game, giving good service to his backs, and defending solidly when called upon. Most prominent forward.-? in a really fine pack were V. ‘A. Ensor, N. A. Johnston .and E. H. Catley, all three of whom played at top throughout a gruelling test. H. Johnston made a promising debut in Waikato football, even though shifted from the side of the scrum to the front row, a change necessitated through the defection of J. M. Taylor, of Taupiri. The captain, W. War render, played a useful type of game, but threw away a possible try when, in a passing rush, he cut but H. Johnston only to have the man outside overrun thp ball. R. Clarkin harassed Tetzlaff unceasingly, and altogether his display " was a sound one. A. Arnold, of ■Cambridge, and J. Forkett completed a g. od pack and thoroughly:, justified their inclusion. • ' / " ‘ /’•