COLLEGE RUGBY

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXV, Issue 6, 23 July 1937, Page 3

COLLEGE RUGBY

BRIGHT DISPLAY AT PUKEHOU TE AUTE DEFEAT WANGANUI. A very large crowd of Rugby enthusiasts assembled on the College ground at Pukehou on AVednesday afternoon to witness the annual match between AA r anganui and Te Aute. The weather conditions were ideal, and the exposition of the game was bright and interesting, Te Aute winning by 26 points to six. Ably led by J. Raurete, the side’s captain, and A. AA r anoa, the Te Aute forwards broke through time and again to bustle the opposing defence. They fed their backs well, and, in all the line-outs, had much the better of the hall throughout. In line-out play the visitors used tjieir superior height to advantage, but, so fast were the home forwards, that the AVhites seldom were able to get their backs into action.

Beaten almost from the start by a team that outclassed them in all departments, the AA r anganui boys played a courageous, sporting game, and kept plugging right to the final whistle. Although the final score went up at 26 to six in favor of Te Aute, the match, from a spectator’s point of view, was well worth watching, being bright, clean football throughout.

The home team owed their victory to the opportunities given them by a strong pack of aggressive forwards, of whom the roost conspicuous were J. Raurete, A. AA'anoa and M. Karaka. AA r anganui fielded a good even pack, but they seemed to lack sting, and were on the defensive almost from the start. Individually, McKenzie and Mackie played well in the loose, while Hyslop’s powerful kicking often saved an awkward situation. A little more “devil” and a little more combination forward, and the seore might well have told a different tale. Both half-backs played well, though AVilson (AVanganui) had to put up with a meagre share of the ball. His tackling was a big help to the side’s defence. AV. G. Nolan, at centre, and G. Earner on the wing, did good work and were the leaders of the visitors’ attack. Earner, unfortunately, had to go off before the end of the match, when he was downed heavily and took an accidental blow over the kidneys. On the day’s play, the Te Aute hacks had much -the e better opportunity to show their'capabilities, and took full advantage of every chance. They handled better and shdwed more penetration than their opponents. A brilliant turn of speed made the Maori winger an outstandingfigure on the field, and he was consistently fed by liaanga, the half, and AA r . Mataira, who showed himself to be a second five-eighth of some class. In a curtain-raiser between the second XV.’s of the two schools, AVanganui won convincingly by virtue of superior weight and more aggressive tactics. The score was 31 to three.