TAURANGA LUCKY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 32, 5 July 1939, Page 8

TAURANGA LUCKY

——: o — HURINUI SHIELD GAME DUCK WEATHER FOILED APANUI Apanui's retention of the Te Hurinui Apanui Shield was brief for last Saturday at Te Kaha the Tauranga Sub_Uuion's challenge was successful, and the shield changed hands by a score of 9 to 3. The Apanui team Mas a good one, and really better than Tauranga's. It had had a week's solid training, and the forwards had been well drilled in dribbling and ball control. However, in the blinding rain and or- a bog-like fitld, these were not the most successful tactics and with hard kick and chase methods, were more at home. Apanui pushed Tauranga over the field in the scrums, and the backs impressed as better. Their great lack was a good goal kicker and one would have held the shield for them. On a dry day, the scores would possibly have been reversed. Considerable confusion was caused by t-lie blue and gold and black a.d gold jerseys of the two teams., When these Avere sodden and muddy, as they soon were, the players could not be told and there were cases of men tackling team mates. The game was played in very hard rain and it was watched by a very small crowd. The referee was Mr F. W. Wederell, of Whakatane, and Bay of Plenty selectors were present. THE GAME. The teams were:— Apanui: Stainton; Crawford, K. Delemere, T. Topi; P. Tekani, W. Rae; K. Ngamoki; W. Waenga, W. Walker; H. Matchitt, W r . Poihipi, W. Paliau; Tepurei, S. McLaughlin. (One forward omitted). Tauranga,; Rayment; , Tangitu Joyce, Bartlett, Barnes; Bidois; Kuka Rolleston, McNeil, Bell; Horrocks, Murraj' Clay, Tamahori; Kakau. Apanui packed a 2.3-2 scrum with a wing forward and Tauranga a 3.4-i with four three-quarters, a scrum half and a fly half. Apanui Avon the toss and decided to play against the Avind-. From the kick off Tauranga carried play to the Apanui 25, hue the Apanui forwards rucked well ana worked the ball back to the Tauianga tenitory, side play by Apanui forwards ga\*e Tauranga relief Avith a penalty. Both sets of forwards Avere going well and play AA'as carried backwards and forwards* Apanui looked like scor ing but Avere checked by a good saA'e by Rayment Avho lined to half-way. Apanui were haA'ing the best of the scrums, but the greasy ball and the slippery ground Avas against gcod back plav. Tauranga missed a shot at goal from r penalty. The visitors took up the offensive and from a hard forward drive Kakau diA r ed over to score for Tauranga. The kick failed (3*o). .From the kick off Tauranga looked like scoring again, but a free kick to Apanui relieved. The Tauranga forwards kicked and chased through to the line, but they kicked too hard and Apanui forced. A penalty for a scrum infringement was taken by Tamahori for Tauranga, and he goal. (6-0). There Avas no further score to halftime. SECOND SPELL After the change oA r er Bartleit (Tauranga) Avas hurt and Short came on. Hard forward play took Apanui to the Tauranga line where, from a scrum near the posts, Ngamolu. the Apanui half-back, nipped The kick failed (o-3). Tauranga Avorked the line and scrummed down to the Apanui 25. Avhere they scored. The kick missed (9-3). Only off side play by Apanui in<-n saA'ed Tauranga in the next feAV iniru utes. SeA'eral times the shield holder* came doAvn on the line, but penalties droA r e them back each time. Tauranga forced a little later, but from the kick off Apanui Avere back again and once more they looked like vent, ing, but they could not finish off the attacks. They were haA r ing all the best of the game and continued to do so until the final Avhistle, V»ut their luck Avas right out. The Tauranga AA'orked well McNeil and Kakau being the best. Rayment Avas very safe at fullback. The Apanui forwards and backs played well, and on a dry ground would have put on a lot of points. Mr F. Wederell controlled the game very well, his job be'ng made much harder by the similarity in jer. says. On Tauranga's shoAving they will not hold the shield very long, and a guess at this stage is that the end of the season A\*ill see either Rangitaiki or Whakatane holding the trophy.