TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 191, 14 August 1931, Page 3

TAIHAPE

POWNALL TROPHY MATCH Taihape successfully defended the : Pownall Trophy on Wednesday, defeating Kangitikei (chal.cngers) by 17 points to 11 in a match played on tho Recreation Ground, Taihape, in the presence of a satisfactory number of spectators. A fairly strong wind blew straight down the field and Kangitikei having won the toss, elected to play with the wind behind them in the first spell. Play was rather ragged in the opening stages, but improved considerably as the game progressed, and the spectators witnessed many bright incidents. Taihape owed their victory mainly to the excellent efforts of their forwards, who were more than a match for the opposing vanguard. Beiliss played a great game as wingforward and scored a brilliant try. The Taihape pack played as they have seldom played before, and too much praise cannot be bestowed upon them. McCarthy and the Pine Bros, were outstanding. Taihape had much the better of the game and thoroughly deserved their win. In fact, on the general run of play, their victory should have been more decisive, but they lost some golden opportunities. On one occasion Kingi broke away with two Taihape players in support, and only the Kangitikei full-back (D. Cameron) to beat, but instead of passing Kingi kicked over Cameron’s head and the ball went over the visitors’ line and Harre forced. Once Collier knocked on a few yards from the challengers’ line when he had two Taihape nlayers alongside him, with only one Kangitikei man to beat. On another occasion McCarthy, who played an excellent game, lost possession on the visitors’ goal line. Several movements amongst the Taihape backs were nullified as the result of a knock-on. Kangitikei, of course, lost opportunities to score, but they did not miss tries by such a narrow margin as Taihape did in the three cases mentioned. The Rangitikei team included some excellent players, but as a combination the visitors fell short of the standard reached by Taihape. Cameron and XX'aldin played well for the visitors. The teams lined out as follows: Rangitikei (Green) D. Cameron Anderson G. Harre M. Downs G. Hartley (Ist) Peina (2nd) T. Hartley Waldin (Capt.) Ross Polaka Bush Mclntyre Walker Taiuru Gronn Taihape (Maroon) D. Thompson Hall Collier Hekcnui Hawkins (Ist) Fuller (2nd) Kingi Beiliss (Capt.) McCarthy Wm. Pine Whai Pine Sinclair Heise W. Thompson Tomo Kangitikei won the toss and Beiliss kicked off for Taihape against a strong head wind. The ball was fielded by D. Cameron, who found touch. Taihape infringed soon afterwards and Waldin’s kick was smartly fielded by D. Thompson, who gained little ground with a kick into touch. G. Hartley secured immediately after the line-out and passed to Peina, who punted high. Kingi secured and passed to Hawkins, who failed to take the pass. The visitors pressed hard, but a free kick brought the home team relief. Kingi received from a scrum in the challengers’ twenty-five and transferred to Hawkins but the latter was caught in possession. Gronn, Waldin and T. Hartley figured in a passing rush which gained much ground. McCarthy headed a forward rush into the visitors’ territory, but Cameron picked up the ball from the feet of the Taihape forwards and kicked into touch. G. Hartley kicked to D. Thompson, who dodged three Rangitikei players and then found touch in the visitors’ twenty-five. Kingi, Hawkins and Fuller handled in quick succession, but the movement broke down when the last named knocked on. The local backs moved into action again, but this time Collier knocked on. Kingi gained possession in neutral territory and passed to Hawkins, who darted through an opening, but was tackled by Harre. G. Hartley initiated a. passing movement in which J. Potaka and M. Downs figured. The last named passed forward to Waldin, thus nullify-

ing the movement. Anderson “carried behind” after fielding a kick by Hail. Prom the resultant scrum Kingi gained ' possession and passed to Hall, who raced over near the corner and touched down. Collier’s kick was wide of the mark, obviously being affected by the strong wind.—Taihape 3; Rangitikei 0. Encouraged by their success, Taihape rushed play into their opponents’ territory. Whai Pine broke away with W. Thompson in support, and passed to the latter at the right moment, thus enabling him to score. D. Thompson failed to convert. —Taihape 6; Rangitikei 0. William Pine headed a forward rush, which was stopped by D. Cameron. Taihape kept up the pressure and Fuller tried to “pot” a goal, but the ball failed to rise. A free kick to Taihape near half-way saw Collier just miss the cross-bar. At this stage Waldin put in a great run. and then passed to Anderson, who evaded Hawkins’ tackle, ind scored behind the posts. G. Hartley’s kick hit the post, but a Taihape nlaver charged a second or two before the ball was on the ground and so Hartley was allowed another kick and this time he made no mistake. —Tai’’ape 6; Rangitikei 5. The visitors attacked again with great, vigour, and D. Cameron unsuccessfully tried to “pot” a goal. Hckenui fumbled badly and Downs nearly scored, being tackled a few yards from the Taihape line. Rangitikei kept hammering away at the maroons’ line and their efforts were rewarded when Walker got over near the corner. G. Hartley failed with the kick.—Rangi‘:kei 8; Taihape 6. McCarthy broke away, but was topped bv Cameron and threw the <*’ll forward. Rangitikei were awarded a free kick from the half-way mark, and G. Hartley’s attempt at goal missed by the narrowest of margins, the ball hitting the cross-bar and bouncing back.

r efe r co. Half-time sounded immediately afterwards with Kangitikei leading by 8 points to 6. Upon the resumption of play, Kingi, Heise, Fuller and Collier were associated in a passing movement which broke down when Collier knocked on a few yards from the line, with two Taihape players alongside him and only one Kangitikei man to beat. Taihape thus lost a golden opportunity. Soon afterwards Taihape infringed in their own territory and G. Hartley landed a goal.—Rangitikei 11; Taihape 6. G. Hartley passed to Peina, who raced through a gap in the. defence, but hung on too long before transferring to Harre. Heise, AlcCarthy and Kingi handled in rapid succession, but the last named knocked on. Waldin was responsible for a run which gained much ground. He looked like scoring, but Hall brought him down with an excellent tackle. Hekcnui broke away and punted high in the air. Tomo and Kingi followed up and bustled Cameron. Tomo gave Kingi a forward pass just when the latter appeared to be “set” for a score. Taihape kept up the pressure

and D. Thompson tried to “pot” a goal, but the ball failed to rise. Kingi secured from a scrum and broke away with two of his team mates in support. Instead of passing Kingi kicked over the head of the Kangitikei full-back (Camerou), but was beaten in the race for the ball by Harre, who forced. Collier marked a few yards inside of halfway and landed a beautiful goal. Rangitikei 11; Taihape 9. Beiliss secured from the ruck in Rangitikei ’s twenty-live and broke through the visitors’ defence to score a brilliant try. He was collared on the line but managed to throw himself over and ground the ball. Deafening applause greeted “Aloke’s” fine effort. Collier had no difficulty in converting.—Taihape 14; Rangitikei 11. D. Thompson increased Taihape’s' lead when he “potted” an excellent goal.—Taihape 18; Rangitikei 11. Kingi received an injury to his head and started to leave the field with Beiliss in attendance. XVhen near the grandstand Kingi changed his mind and rushed back t join his team mates, greatly to tho amusement of the crowd. At this stage Kingi (half-back) and Hawkins (first five-eighths), changed places. Heise retired with an injury to his arm and was replaced by Rauhina. During the second spell XX aldin, wing-forward for Rangitikei, and G. Hartley (first five-eighthsV also changed places. Beiliss, who was playing a great game, broke away and passed to AlcCarthy, but the latter lost posses- ; sion on the line. Taihape renewed th,e attack, Tomo Hawkins, Fuller, Collier, Hall. Collier handling in that order, but the last named hung on too long. G. Harre re tired hurt and was replaced by P Harre. Hawkins marked in front of the goal posts, but made a poor attempt at goal.