THE DUNDERDALE CUP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 40, 24 July 1939, Page 8

THE DUNDERDALE CUP

JROPHY GOES TO RANGITAIKI HARD FOUGHT TE TEKO GAME WHAKATANE'S KEEN STRUGGLE Fifteen hundred spectators watched the thrilling game between Whakatane and Rangitaiki representatives in the first game for the Tom Dundcrdale Memorial, Cup which took place last Saturday afternoon at Te Teko. The weather was fine but dull, with a stiff westerly blowing across the field. Both sides were at full strength, the only gap in the Whakatane team being the absence of Trainor at half who recently left for Rotorua,. Keen from the outset, the game was principally confined to the forwards who governed at last 75 per cent of the play. When however the backs of either side came into action, they were definitely dangerous. The winners were on the running of the game the better team, though Whakatane did most of the attacking. The first half was definitely in the concluding stages when the blue and blacks were well bustled. Rangitaiki enjoyed the best part of the second spell, particularly during the interval when Renata snatched an easy three points with no opposition.

THE GAaiE. Rangitaiki 6, v Whakatane 0 The teams lined out: Whaaktane (blue): Old. Hohajpata, Oswald,, Rayner, RlinS, Rangikotua Brown, Lambert, Dodd, Best, Hughes, Wilson, C. aierito aud Hayward. Rangitaiki (black and blue): Rota, ai. Lees, R. Lees ? L. Renata, E. liowell, ai. Howell, Kaipara, Gardiner aioore, T. Lees, Tama, Schoon r er, Whitely, Raerino and R. Howell. The initial forward skirmish soon gave way to a swift exchange in which Whakatane was awarded a free kick, Best however mistaking lis mark. Rangitaiki secured from the scrum and the backs were away, Ren ata however losing possession on the wing. Raerino swept through, but was called back for obstruction. Whakatane was assisted by a brace of free kicks but the local backs were in excellent fettle and time and again worried the .all-blue defence. Keen marking alone held the play and Rayner by cutting in would have: broken through to the full but for the'alertness of Kaipara who grassed him behind the scrum. Hayward now shone in a lone but the ground gained was lost when played offside. M. Howell's attempt to bueak through "was quickly annul, led when the opposing line fenced in and with the leather at toe carried dangerously into Rangitaiki's half. E. Howell saved by finding the line.

Ruri at full was fooled by the bounce and the black and blues were through before the gap could be filleel. Best marshalled his forwards and saved brilliantly. Back in the open the packs tested their relative strength, till half the Whakatane boys were caught offside. M. Lees' attempt at goal went wide. Whakatane's chances were heightened when Merito went through but lost the ball. The Rnngitaiki counter offensive was spoilt through the hack line standing llat footed. Wilson reversed the position, opening up well and winning half the field. So intense were the scrums at this juncture that after repeated warnings the referee awarded a free kick to Whakatane, Oswald making good country. Whakatane was right on top and pressing with a vigoif, v.h.n Mac Howell breaking away burst through. Ilohnpat-a-. tried using his thigh in. st:-.n(l of taking low. Oswald mw Huri converged but flowcl! delivnv-.1 to Renata who scored in the corner. M. Lees' attempt at conversion fell -h ">rt by a few vary is. llnlftime ar_ "ived with the crowd at a high pilch of enthusiasm . Playing with the sun in iheir e\ Whakatane had <!iiTie:;!!y i;> adjusting themselves and gave ground. Tne weslerlv wind did r'if Irvp'nv I•** rs . nV.'nMjnt-i tde: l .!"-! t•. huH h'-r.» \\ Mu'itaiki were penni is:".:. • JojlcLj' kl:k f;:ll!ng sliori.

ai. Lees now supplied a thrill for the spectators ■ by- speculating ' from the scrum and outpacing the WhuJ'.atanc fullback who went in pursuit. A race for the line ensued, the ball rolling into dead territory, ai. Howell received from the new kick ofr and was penalised for hanging on»_ Dodd's kick going anywhere. Swift play whipped the spectators up to a fine show of enthusiasm. Oswald saved by finding the line in the facd of a dangerous attack. A free Kick to the blue and blacks was missed narrowly by T. Lees. Penalised again for scrum infringements Ran. gitaiki lost good country in the open field. Whakatane were definitely on the attack till Hohapata kicked too far behind and provided yet a new kijtk off. T. Whitely dribbled through but was beaten by Old to the force. A terrific forward battle inside the twcnty.fivc was relieved when M. Lees Hashed past two tacklers on tho wing. He was grassed by aierito a few yards from the line. Whakatane were having an anxious time till R. Howell was penalised for tripping Brown. Dodds' kicked to the line. .Fierce forward ruckiug now' took place at midfield Rangitaiki slowly making leeway. Rota, the staged a solo piece of work by penetrating almost the entire scrum and emerging to kick to the line. Once more a free kick came, to Whakatanc's assistance, Dodd missing narrowly from a beautifully directed drive. Whakatane were caught napping when from desultory play the ball went out to the wing where a group of black and blues received. Renata with a great burst of speed dashed over the line unopposed. ai. Lees failed to convert. The game ended with the scores Rangitaiki 6, Whakatane 0. air Leo Anderson very capably .?on trolled the match.

FORM OF FLAYERS

E. HOWELL'S KICKING ■ Played at a fast pace in a cold, strong breeze f the match was interesting throughout, and in the second half as Whakatane took their turn at attack the three point margin of Rangitaiki did not look too secure. Ri. Lees on one wing showed hi 3 usual dash, but he had a hard man to elude in D. Old avlio marked him well. M. Howell made some good runs including one far- t sprint to open the door. M. Lees was in good form. E. Howell was very well watched by L. Ravner who bottled him up in rare style, but Howell kicked with his usual accuracy to the line and, aided by the wind in the second half, lobbed balls down to the corner flag to pen Wliakatane up. W. Kaipara was elusive round the scrum f?nd. picked up well frwrj rucks. He should, however, have been penalised much more for his method of putting the ball into the scrum and this was, perhaps, the only 11 aw in Mr L. Anderson's refereeing. In the pack Schooner, Gardiner 'and Tam a were often prominent. Moore hooked well. For \\ hakatane Ruri at fullbaclc gave many anxious moments but lie generally got through somehow. Hohapata was not as solid as usual at centre, but Riini played an improved game at five-eighths and kick ed well. Rangikotua was plucky at halfback but he is very slow. ' Hayward and Hughes were nseiul packmen and so was Brown. G. IV erito did not have the best of serums behind him and could not monopol--ise the ball. Best was still sluggish from his cold. In the second half Rangitaiki had the sun and wind and they made full use of them. Dodd did not have his kicking boots on though none of his shots were easy and they included a couple from over half-way. He would probably have gone close to goaling on 'h? shot with which Hohapata failed. The game was clean and Mr Anderson controlled it well. JUNIOR TRIAL The following junior players a.e requested to be at the Domain Saturday 'Jfith inst to play an A and B trial at l.IH) p.m:— A TEAM 'vow-on; Wilson, G. Moore, Brown; Chambers, Miles; Morpeth: A. • Mil:hell Brit ton, Giapp, Riini, C?el::u1 De Lncev, G;-dd:<rd n Juri. B TEAM S;- Kcror-Uo, S:i!!!vrn Rrl Hotene, llotc'ne: S. Mnkai; L. Ma on deCi aci;en Kelly, Gee, Tiion<;i-;on Green, Wharewcra, Back. Emergencies: Backs, R. Stewart, . sci.dw in > Katalii. I' orwa.rds, Eit'*!iett '' : v I'. V }av i .. \ i immediately.