rugby FOOTBALL

Te Puke Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 52, 11 July 1939, Page 4

rugby FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S GAMES

There was an atmosphere of satisfaction pervading Jubilee Park at the conclusion of the football, on Saturday. Two matches had been played between the . Te Puke and Rangitaiki representative teams. The first one resulted in a win for the. visitors by 11 points to 3, and the main game, ended in a draw, 6 all. The performance given by the two teams in the second fixture was the best seen on the local ground for many seasons. The public, present in pleasing numbers, fully appreciated their efforts and went away 'satisfied that the afternoon spent at football had been well worth while. The members of the respective ‘ Unions also rejoiced, the locals because of the promising combination that has been assembled, ■ causing ■"hopes for future fixtures, and' the ivisiting officials because their “reps.”, long supreme in Bay foothall, are by, jio means a spent j force.

JUNIOR REP. GAME M The play fluctuated from ( one end of the field to the other and wa? interesting. Early loose‘rushes by the, Te Puue vanguard saw Borrie score wMI-but. The kick failed Te Puke 3, Rangitaiki Of The outstanding back of eithei 1 side was Rangitaiki’s- first five-eighth,R. Laurie, who experienced a field day and scored three tries, one of which was converted by Rarity. Latiri was fullback for the A team last season and is a versatile player as lie showed when he appeared as wing three-quarter in the second match. His efforts might not have been so successful had the tackling of Te Puke been more decisive. The Perarara Bros., one at full-back, and the other in the forwards, were, in good form. For Te Puke, Tapsell and Hickey as an inside combination, functioned successfully. The forwards were better in the loose than in Ithe tight. Altogether the exhibition was a decided improvement on the last senior B game staged as a cur-tain-raiser. • REPRESENTATIVE GAME The Rangitaiki players took up their positions in the town end of the field, and Donovan kicked off. The hall was rushed out just inside the visitors’ territory. From the ensuing line-out Oxenham sent Ahomiro and Valder away smartly, McConnell’s dropped pass was quickly picked up by R. Lees who raced as far as the Te Puke2s before being forced into touch. Kaipara swung his backs into action but they were smothered. Donovan found the line at the 25. The same player intercepted a pass from Kaipara to Lauri on the blind side and .faced down field and short .punted, Howell anticipated cleverly and found touch'"on-the half-way mark. The Rangitaiki forwards travelled up-field and heeled 'to Kaipara; who passed to his outsides wildly. G. McClure handle 1 the ball for the, first time in the mlceland found touch. R. Lees placed Rangitaiki on attack-* with a long kick and Graham covered McClure and brought relief with a line kick. Donovan and Ahomiro sent the attackers back with safety kicks. Both sides attempted to play good open football. " McConnell, at centre, was well up to the play hut was experiencing a lean tune .as regards his handling and dropped one or two pas >- or. Te Puke concentrated their forces in the far corner of the field and Graham made a powerful run and when the ball was returned Oxenhan made a solo run To bring relief the Rangitaiki forjvi down for the first time' in the match. From the drop-out play switched to the grandstand side and R. Howell \ v*ith Laurie in support ran deeply into ie Puke territory. Once again Donovan was on hand and with a confident interception tore down-field and kicked ahead. E. Howell -covered up in a*. masterly fashion. - At the half-way line Sathevlv, who was in great form, sent the hall cleanly to Oxenham. The movement collapsed and Donovan made a tricky solo run :m the near side. Lennard was in the picture and carried on from the centring kick. A melee followed arid Te Puke; were awarded a free kick. Satherly missed. From the drop put Rangitaiki launched a rapid attack, and on the far flank R. Lees secured and raced goalwards for a certain try. J. Graham, however, gave chase and nabbed the fleet-footed Lees,, just short of his objective. A scrum resulted and a freekick eased the situation for Te 1 uke. McClure was undergoing the fire of his first representative match . very well. Close play at half-way saw Oxenham and Whitely collide and the Te Puke player was forced to retire to have a scalp wound attended to. Oxenham had been performing credtably and was replaced by Wilkinson. Te Puke Jvere on top at this stage. An up and wilder kick byWilkinson saw Donovan under-

neath* and die; g°M line 1 ‘Here Phillips made strenuous efforts to dive over, from a ruck. The ball worked away from the corner and efforts on- the. part- of ■M. Lees j and Kota to clear were smothered effectively by Barker, Hughes and Donovan.: R, Vaidei made a nice run on the far flank and his centring kick was correct play. Both sides swarmed around and Rangitaiki were penalised 1 in front of their own- goal mouth and Satherly raised the flags. Te Puke 3, Rangitaiki 0. Then followed a period in which Te Puke forwards, hunting as a pack, lead by Barker, Hughes and Nicholson,. dominated the scene. E. Howell was a tower of strength and pulled them tip often. In their own 25 the visitors wheeled a .scrum and threw the opposing pack out of action. Lees and Thompson came away with the ball at toe and travelled past the half-way line. Another scrum and Kaipara transferred neatly to E. Howell who kicked across in Ids’ ’tnevitable way and M. Lees capped off the movement with a brilliant piece of dodging and scored in the far! corner. The kick was too far out.

Te Puke 3, Rangitaiki 31 On resuming, the visiting backs threw .the ball to each other in great style. M. Lees received on the side-line and Ms effort at a potted goal just grazed /the uprights. Just on half-time Valdei placed a kick in a diagonal direction, .jp* -and Donovan was handy. A hefty kick by a forward oyer the dead ball line unfortunately spoilt a promising movement. Half-time .came With the score unchanged. "3 The teams changed over and the Te jPuke forwards pinned Rangitaiki down •in their own 25,- and eventually Kai para, E. Howell and Reneta passed to : each other - to clear. Te Puke were not to be denied' and came again. Eoi'owa scrum in the far corner the ball cam? loose and Satherly pounced on it. befov; the defenders. The ’ attempt at convcrs ion was a good" one. I : : V 'Te Puke 6, Rangitaiki 3. t

Both on attack and defence, the yuiting backs were using passing movements that were a treat to watch. Iff this way they gained their second try by Laurie from a dropped pass m tht corner. E. Howell made a fine i effort ■■ -to conyert. . ’ : ■ - / ■■', ■■. ' I":. Te Puke 6, Rangitaiki 6. i There was a long period of fast and fluctuating play until, the end of the but no further scores. It. was a tussle in the main between the Te Pu.<o forwards and the Rangitaiki backs. Tffe local vanguard played as a man on- the .. -day. They did their work cleanly , and V effectively, both in the line-outs and the scrums. This had a corresponding eft>d •on the back division who operated, jparticularly- in the early stages, better i hail v any back line for many years. ’The Rangitaiki backs, a seasoned combini--tion, saw less of the, hall on attack th In usual and experienced a taste of defence Their perfect understanding, confidence, and backing up' extricated the side from •several tight corners. *

PARATA CUP SEMI-FINAL

TE PUKE v. ROTORUA

The Te Puke Representative team to play Rotorua in the semi-final of the Parata Cup, at Rotorua on Saturday, 15th July, is as follows; Donovan, McClure, Graham. Richmond, McConnell, Valder, Ahoniii’o, Tapsell, Wilkinson, Oxenham, (backs). , Satherly, Rhuhie, Lennard. Johnstone, Barker, Hughes, Wickcliffe, Phillips, Kingi, (forwards).

bus leaves the Post Office ot 12-30 p.m sharp. Players are requested to attend training on Thursday night at 7-30 p.m. sharp/* ■: JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES ! MATCH WITH ROTORUA The Te Puke Junior Reps, to play Rotorua at Jubilee Park on Saturday next will be chosen from the following players, all of whom are requested to attend a practice at the Park this (Tuesday) evening at 7-30:— ! McNaughton, Mortensen, McClure, McKenzie, Riddell, Bricon, Ranapik, Williams, T. Horne, Te Ante, Roberts, Treloar, Cordon, Rolleston, O’Shanmesy, Pinker, Monday, Valder. •m SHIELD MATCH ■ C 1 * TAURANGA DEFEATS GALATEA . ■ r • s. * successfully withstood a challenge by Galatea on Saturday for the Te' Hurinui Apanui Memorial Shield

\yas secured by the local repve- --- ’sentativeß on the Ist inst. The weather

was 4>us yjie- ground was - Jolnew.iat heavy after - the heavy rains recently. The game was in the main between the forwards. Tauranga were unfortunate in losing the -services -of- 3- Tamahui in the first half, and at half-timeM. Bell had to come off, both receiving injuries which it is hoped will not preclude them from playing in the next Shield mat h with Te Puke in a fortnight’s time.

Although Tauranga won lay 16 points to nil, the scores cannot-be regarded as a true criterion of the merits of the two teams. The visiting players made journeys in the morning of the match varying from 100 miles to 140 miles and rn the whole their showing was distinctly creditable.

Tauranga owed its scoring margin in a marked degree to the fine play of J. McNeile, who gave an outstanding display, while T. Kakau was also' prominent. M. Tangitu, J. Bidois and E, Voice were the best backs. Some changes should be made-in the rearguaTiJ before the next Shield match,a s faulty handling was very conspicuous as regards one or two of the backs. The game was played in an excellent sporting manner. Mr (J. Donovan, ~u? Te Puke, controlled the game in a very satisfactory manner.