PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1933, Page 7

PRIMARY SCHOOLS RUGBY

TARANAKI WINS AT LEVIN RANGITIKEI DEFEATED 26 TO NIL. HOROWHENUA TEAM RUNNER-UP. (By Wire—Special Reporter.) Levin, Last Night. Taranaki with five points won the quadrangular primary schools football tournament that ended to-day. Taranaki had two wins and a draw, not a point being scored against the team in the three matches. Horowhenua had a win and a draw, and Hutt and Rangitikei a win each. To-day’s matches resulted:— Taranaki 26, Rangitikei 0.

Hutt 3, Horowhenua 0. Though the match was played in fine weather the ground was slippery and the ball wet; Taranaki nevertheless threw the ball about. Rangitikei, below form, allowed the Taranaki forwards to break through repeatedly. The Taranaki pack was too fast and Elusive and quick to seize opportunities. Rangitikei secured supremacy in hooking but that was nullified by the fast smothering tactics of the breakaways. The Taranaki pack was more virile in the tight and loose and hunted together throughout. Every forward was constantly on the ball, but Robb, Mills, Riley and Bamford were particularly prominent. Riley’s try was a beautiful piece of work; he was across the line like a flash. Of the backs Prime was easily the best of a good, sound set. Prime showed uncanny ability in sensing and exploiting openings. Whyte was dashing. The handling by all the backs was good. The Taranaki team was the same as Monday. Against sun and wind, from the kickoff Prime broke through and put in a clever run and lined well down. Two penalties enabled Rangitikei to clear. Taranaki returned with a penalty kick but it was not allowed as it was not over the mark. From the loose Robb broke through with the ball at toe and gained valuable ground. A period of scrambling forward play followed, in which Riley broke through. Lampshire with a good kick gained ground. Shortly afterwards Prime received from Crowe and zig-zagged through the opposition to score an unconverted try. TARANAKI OFFSIDE PLAY. Upchurch (Rangitikei) put in good defensive work. A lewse Taranaki rush was spoiled by Riley. The kick was returned well by Cronin but the Taranaki forwards -were offside and Rangitikei relieved. Crowe was injured but resumed again. Upchurch stemmed a hot attack. A Taranaki passing rush gained ground. A penalty was awarded Taranaki in front of the goal posts and Bamford made no mistake with the kick. A hot Taranaki attack had Rangitikei in sore trouble but a forward was caught offside. A passing attack by Taranaki broke down when Whyte was tackled. From loose play near the Rangitikei line Riley flashed through to score. The try was not converted. Another passing rush by Taranaki pushed Rangitikei into the twenty-five where play remained for some time. A bad pass by Harvey almost let Rangitikei through but the forwards rallied and broke through. Rangitikei retaliated but Prime saved. Whyte received 'in a passing bout and ran fifty yards to score an unconverted try. RANGITIKEI USES BLIND SIDE. After half-time Rangitikei repeatedly gained ground by working the blind side. The Taranaki forwards broke through with ball at toe again and again. Mills was nearly over but knocked on. A great run by Reynolds put Taranaki in danger but Crowe saved. Prime snapped up and cut through the whole Rangitikei defence to score at the posts. Crowe converted. After great rucking in mid-field, particularly by Taranaki, Whyte despatched Oner to the line to run around and touch down at the goal. Crowe missed an easy kick. From a cross-kick by Lampshire Bamford broke through the ruck to score an unconverted try. Rangitikei put in a good passing rush but Riley and Bamford broke through and a passing rush was finished by Whyte’s score at the goal. The ball hit the bar and bounced back.

Hutt Valley defeated Horowhenua three nil, giving Taranaki the tournament.

The Hutt Valley v. Horowhenua game was a forward tussle with Hutt in Horowhenua’s area almost the whole of the game. The boys visited the hydro-electric works at Mangahao yesterday and were guests at a dinner to-night.