LOCAL B TEAM MAKES POOR SHOWING

Te Puke Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 50, 5 July 1949, Page 1

LOCAL B TEAM MAKES POOR SHOWING

OPOTIKI SCORES GOOD WIN AFTER BEING DOWN AT HALF-TIME Except during the first 15 minutes when they put on their eight points, Te Puke made a very poor show against a much, better Opotiki team in an elimination match for the Moore Shield on Jamieson Oval on Saturday. Only a dogged defence saved the local team from a much worse defeat. Opotiki fielded a lively pack of forwards supported by a back line full of thrust, and ever dangerous. Koru opened Te Puke’s score with a penalty. From the kick-off, Opotiki pressed heavily and were nearly over but the reds managed to clear their lines. From midfield play, Jack Kokere came through a gap, Mortenson carried on, and from a little kick, Pattie went over. Koru converted to put Te Puke 8 points up. From this point Te Puke were on the defensive. Opotiki were taking the ball from most of the scrums, and it was from one of these that ball went out to Beatty who cut in and went over. He converted his try and within minutes kicked a penalty. The visitors kept up the prsseure and tossing the ball about freely soon put Abbott, at centre, over. Abbott also kicked a penalty. Every time the visitors received the ball, the backs went into attack, a great contrast with Shepherd’s slow service from the scrum, and the flat-footed efforts of the backs who repeatedly lost ground with passing movements. -Of an unhappy lot of backs, Jack Kokere, at full-back, saved his side by well-placed kicks. In the forwards, Pattie was always prominent but A. Ross was the most impressive with his neat dribbling, sure handling and good kicking. For Opotiki, Boynton, at full-back, was outstanding with his fielding and kicking, Beatty and Abbott only just shaded a fine back line. It wo«ld be very hard to single out one forward from the Opotiki pack. They were all good. Final score: OPOTIKI 17, TE PUKE 8