RUGBY FOOTBALL

Te Puke Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 54, 18 July 1939, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

JUNIOR REP. MATCH ROTORUA BEAT TE PUKE Rotorua defeated Te Puke by 11 to'* 9 points in a close game at Jubilee Park on Saturday. Scores for the visit* ors were scored by Douglas (two tries), Walker (one try), and one converted, while the Te Puke scorers were Tai Paul and McClure (tries), and a penalty by Maxwell. Play was ragged until half-time, when the scores stood at Rotorua 3, Te Puke 0. ■ ■:Yd ■;<rv'-.-V; Smart passing movements by the Rotorua backs in the last half-hour saw them save the game brilliantly. Outstanding players in this division were Gedge, as half-back, and Rogers, at centre. In the forwards Rotorua were shaded. Valder, Maxwell, and Tai Paul played solidly for Te Puke. Gordon, full-back for Te Puke, played consistently. J. McKenzie and McClure were the best of the other backs. The game was refereed by Mr E. Morton.

PARATA CUP MATCH ROTORUA DEFEAT TE PUKE A TWO-POINT MARGIN What must have been a record crowd for this season at Arawa Park turned out on Saturday to witness the Parata Cup match between Te Puke and Rotorua, resulting in a win for the latter after an exciting but ragged match, by 14 points to 18. The weather was good, and while rain threatened during the afternoon it pased away and left a clear sky. ’ First Spell Te Puke (red and black), took the initiative from the start, making a forward rush right down to’ the Rotorua (black) line. The attack was stemmed by Rotorua, but illegal tactics in the scrum brought a penalty against them, the first of many, and Satherly put it over, a penalty for Te Puke in the first five minutes of the game. Te Puke 6, Rotorua 0. Stung by the rapidity of the first score against them, Rotorua retaliated in kma, and took play into the red terr.tory The visitors however, stood their gro m.cl and made a fresh attack. A forw-.v rush by Rotorua took the ball downfield to the Te Puke goal-line, where a melee ensued, and Hapeta finally dived over. Rooke 'converted the try, and put Rotorua in the lead.

Rotorua b, Te Puke 3. Very shortly afterwards Rotorua attacked again, following a spell of midfield play, and, made a strong loose " forward rush, obliging Te Puke to force. From a scrum almost on the line, Ahipene scored in his usual man, ner, an almost incredibly swift movement as soon as, the ball was out of the scrum. Rooke was unsuccessful with the \ kick, as it hit one post and bouncei off. Rotorua 8, Te Puke 3. Te Puke again made a strong forward movehient into Rotorua’s 25, the ball going into touch. There followed some hard rucking slightly to the advantage of Rotorua, who returned to the centre of the field. Red again made ground, and were awarded a penalty Tor obstruction. This was also taken by Satherly, but failed to reach the posts. A determined effort to score was made by Te Puke and Rhubie was brought down by Rooke right on the corner, the referee ruling a touch-in-goal. There was an anxious moment for Rotorua supporters when a scrum was gfven almost on the goal-line for an off-side, but smart work by Ahipene and R. Jacobs saved the situation, and gained ground up the touch-line. '‘A back move by Rotorua was stifled right on the red line, Te Puke forcing. Repelling the black attack, red rucked hard for several minutes, overcoming the defence and culminating in a score by Rhubie. Satherly was unable to convert the try, and the score at halftime '-was : Rotorua 8, Te Puke 6. . , Second Spell The second half opened .with a further attack by Rotorua, this time playing against the lie of the ground. There was tight play in the Te Puke 25, followed by a back movement which nearly was completed. A solo scoring effort by Hapeta barely failed to come off, and he was forced into touch near the line. A good chance of scoring was missed here by Rotorua, when the backs fumbled the ball a tew yards from the goal-line. Te Puke took the advantage, and Graham led a long run down side-line. Awarded a penalty, Rooke sent a long raking kick into touch. From the ,line-out the Ro&orua back-liu)b functioned well, and Meta Francis was left with a short sprint to the line,

which he reached, Rooke missing (lie conversion kick. Rotorua 11, Te Puke 6. The next try was .scored about two minutes alter this one, Emery gathering up the Te Puke kick-off, making a short run, and sending a long kick into the red 25. He followed up fast, gathered it up again, and passed out to . B. Jacobs, who sent a fast pass to Hapi. Hapi was left with a short run and dived over the line, Rooke again missing the kick. Rotorua 14, Te Puke 6. Te Puke, eight points behind, made a strong effort to reach level with the home team, and irfstituted a strong attacking movement;. When within striking distance the'back's made a nice move, Donovan taking possession and scoring in convincing fashion after dummying and side-stepping his way through the Rotorua defence. The kick failed to cross the bar. Te Puke 9, Rotorua 14. . A few minutes later G. Jacobs was obliged to leave the field with an injured shoulder, aud Bramley took his place. Rotorua was on the attack, but committed the mistake of bunching on one side of the fieid, and consequently Te Puke gained possession of the ball, it was sent out to Graham fast, and he made a splendid run to score as he was tackled on the line by Rooke. The kick was also missed by Satlieriy, and at the call of time the score was Rotorua 14, Te Puke 12. Mr J. D. Coogan was the referee.