RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 195, 5 August 1940, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

RANGITAIKI RETAINS SHIELD WHAKATANE'S CHALLENGE FAILS FAST AND INTERESTING GAME AT TE TEKO If the Rangitaiki-Te Puke game was described as one of the fastest seen in the Bay of Plenty this season, the Rangitaiki-Whakatane match at Te Teko on Saturday was a faster fastest, particularly in the first half. Play was open for the major portion of the game, and, . as against Te Puke, the bustling tactics of the opposition appeared to upset the homesters' style. Played before a very good attendance, the game resulted in a seven point victory for the consistent Rangitaiki fifteen, the final score being 13-6. The teams Averc: — Whakatane (Blue): Oswald; Old, Thompson, Mitchell; Ropa, Boynton; Morpeth; Moore, Hughes, Cleland, Dodd, Boynton (T.), Robson, Merito and EroAvn. Rangitaiki (Blue and Black): Fran cis; E.. Gardner, R. Lees, Renata; M. Lees, McCracken; Hoavcll; T. Lees Phillips, Woods, Whitely, (Capt), Schooner, Kakaho, Tama and L. Gard ner. Whakatane Avon the toss and elected to play Avith the assistance of a fair breeze and folloAving the kickoff the Blues took the initiatiA'e, Cleland, Robson and Brown driving doAvn Avith 'the help of Thompson but play Avas returned, Rangitaiki surging upheld Avith a likely rush. OsAvald gained applause Avith a touch-finder that transferred play to the lialf-Avay mark and it remained there for some time. Efforts by Kakaho and Phillips were not finalised and Avere ansAvered bj r a determined Whakatane rush, Avith Mitchell sliOAving up. . The leather Avas booted past the dead-ball line and from the subsequent drop-out Hoavell, T. Lees and M. Lees took it along Anxious Moments. The Blue and Blacks looked likely as they pressed continuously on the visitors' line and there Avere many anxious moments for, Whakatane. The Blues broke aAvay but were halted and their line Avas once again threatened when McCracken sprinted through in a solo dribble. Penning Whakatane, Rangitaiki kept up the pressure, but play Avas once more returned and the fastbreaking Whakatane forAvards troubled the home backs. Ropa secured and punted o\ r er the line but Francis' positional play was sound and he was there to force. Rangitaiki, although not warmed up, were given nothing aAvay and carried the ball to the Blues' quarter. E. Gardner secured and endeavoured to force a passage but he was barred and handed on to R. Lees, Avho back-passed to Gardner when his way AA r as blocked, the Avinger going over in the corner. Phillips made a brilliant job of the conversion. Whakatane were not disheartened. FolloAving a line-out on Rangitaiki's 25 the Blues Avere awarded a penalty, Dodd missing narroAvly Avith a splendid attempt. After a bout of line kicking E. Gardner fcnocked-on and fiom the resultant scrum the Whakatane backs handled, a good opportunity going astray Avhen Ropa fumbled. The Lead Reduced. Play Avas now mainly concentrated in the Rangitaiki half. Oswald attempted to pot, but it Avas rather hurried and Avent AA'ide of the mark. Continuing the Blue attack, Morpeth kicked through, Francis being caught in possession and for an infringement Whakatane Avere aAvarded a penalty, Dodd turning it to account Avith a magnificent kick from the sideline. The score board at this stage; Rangitaiki 5, Whakatane 3. Heartened, Whakatane attacked again, Brown breaking through and I pursued a swerA r ing coursc until McI Cracken, in attempting to intercept, knocked on. Three scrums followed vapidly and another infringemenJ

presented Dodcl with the opporUnity of adding to the points, the big forward making no mistake with a straight-on kick. The Whakatane forwards at this stage were playing excellent football, especially in the loose. Merito was proving himself in the hooking department and getting the ball from the majority of the scrums.' Morpeth was doing his part well, sending out some good passes, but the inside men were not on their games and chances Avere lost through too much individual play by Ropa. The Sc-cond Spell. Whakatane commenced the second round with a »>-5 advantage and after an initial rush'by the Blue and Black forwards, the. bustling tactics took them to home territory. But, unfortunately for the Whakatane men, Rangitaiki lived up to the old traditions. The fact that t\e home men Avcrc able to repulse the visitors' attacks did not indicate a developed dash so. much as superior staying power and it was this that turned the tables. The Blue and Black backs showed out in some orthodox passing movements and cariying the play downfield at speed, added to the tally when Howell secured and transferred to T. Lees, who went over nc*r the posts. Phillips had no difficulty in converting. Appearing to let up temporarily, Rangitaiki could not stop the Blues when they surged up field and Merito "was unfortunate when the ball rolled out of bounds when he had no one to beat. Whakatane liopps rose when a further opportunity was presented to Dodd, but the ball did not rise as high as the hopes. Another attempt two minutes later just missed and Tama and Kakaho replied with a burgt. Whakatane were awarded the third free kick within as many minutes and the tempo ol the game increased, Whakatane putting in almost all they knew and Rangitaiki calling on some of their reserve. Midfield was the locale for some time and territorial advantage for either side was only brief. | The Defence Held. McCracken, who is very fast off the mark and who is usual lj r going at somewhere near top when he receives the ball, secured and kicked through, to be right on top of Ropa when the latter collected. Howeli obtained possession and passed to M. Lees, who, in turn, handed on to R. Lees, who. was forced out at the corner peg. The spectators were enjoying it immensely. E. Gardner attempted to force his way over as Rangitaiki applied the screw but the Whakatane defence held and, of the opinion that offence may after all be the best means of defence, the Blues broke through, led by Brown, Cleland and Hughes. Thompson was the next to handle and he passed on to Mitchell, who lost possession when the movement promised well. In the tight forward play that followed no quarter was given. Mitchell secured and tried to get through, handing on to Boynton when press<l. Boynton kicked, Francis fielding -'.11, but he was caught and pulled down. A penalty awarded Whakatane when the ball was handed over the line was too difficult for Dodd. At this stage Robson, Whakatane, and L. Gardner, Rangitaiki, were ordered off. These players had received a previous caution from the referee for making things rather willing in the scrums. The major features of the concluding stags were a magnificent kick from the halfway line by Francis, increasing the Rangitaiki lead, and the efforts of Moore, Cleland, Hughes, Boynton and Old for Whakatane. Mr Wallace, of Rotorua, controlled the match. Juniors. In a one-sided game Whakatane Star juniors defeated a scratch Rangitaiki junior fifteen by 22 points to nil. Scorers for Whakatane were Wilson, J. Crapp, Green and Brown (.')) tries, and two conversions by Boon. Mr B. Norman was referee. 'Conti,ntied at foot of next col>:;n