RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 199, 14 August 1940, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SOUTH AUCKLAND TOO GOOD CONDITIONS TROUBLE RANGITAIKI Conditions upset Rangitaiki on Saturday when they went down to a 0-13 defeat at the hands of South Auckland. The holding ground, although it was in excellent trim after the heavy rain on Thursday and Friday, knocked' the customary sting out of the Plains representatives and only twice did they look like scoring. The conditions, however, cannot be accepted, and would certainly not be made, as an excuse for the Blue and Black's first defeat of the season. Football is an .uncertain game and anything could have happened in different circumstances. But all appearances pointed to the probability of the boys, from the North coming out winners even had conditions been of the type to which. Rangitaiki have been accustomed. Major contributing factor to South Auckland's win was their threequarter back line. Both wingdrs, Grant and Dunn, were fast and determined runners, and being heavy men, had an advantage over tlleir lighter opposite numbers. ; Dunn appealed as a shade better than Grant. The former also revealed his talents as a place kick, his conversion of the first try,, which', incidentally, he scored himself, being a great effort from two or three yards inside the side-line; The fact that the ball Avas very heavy seemed to raise no difficulty to Dunn. The ccntre three-quarter, Loughrin, skipper of the team, was an excellent connecting link, showing up in attack and defence. Bright also played a good game. Outstanding forwards were Mcßobbie and Chipman, both putting in an afternoon's solid work. Rangitaiki's backs were mediocre on the daj r and the reshuffling in the second naif after R. Lees had gone off did nothing to improve things. The forwards were once again a tireless pack of workers, with Kakaho, Woods and Schooner being prominent and all the others playing their consistent games. The teams lined out: Rangitaiki (Blue and Black): Fran cis; Renata, R. Lees, E. Gardner; M. Lees, Ratima; T. Lees; Woods, Phillips, Schooner, Whitely (Capt), Tama, Conn and Kakaho. South Auckland (Black): Boyce: Dunn, Loughrin (Capt), Grant; D. Thomson, Bright; J. Thomson; Chip man, C. Thomson, Kelsey, McCarthy Mcßobbie,, King, Wilson and Dean. - For the firs't quarter, of an hour play was solid without being spectacular and was for the most part confined to Rangitaiki territory. Various South Auckland attempts to push through, led by Mcßobbie, Chipman and Bright, were repulsed, the homsters holding the Blacks and individual efforts by T. Lees, R. Lees and Kakaho returning the ball in brief rushes. A movement which spelled danger for the Rangitaiki line saw J. Thomson,, Bright, D. Thomson and Grant handle, Rangitaiki luckily forcing. Woods led a loose forward rush but the Blue, and Blacks were repelled and, per medium of a free i kick, play was again returned to their territory. Headed by Dean, McCarthy and Chipman., the visitors pressed, the ball going to Bright, who passed to D. Thomson, to Loughrin, to Dunn, the latter galloping over in the corner. The scorer converted with a splendid kick. From the centre kick play swung into the visitors' half, but luck was against Rangitaiki and Francis, attempting to turn a penalty to account from ten yards inside halfway, found the distance too great for the heavy ball. South Auckland were not resting on their lead and made every effort to increase the margin. Bright intercepted and streaked away on his own but was pulled down. Then J. Thomson broke through, to hand on to Bright when pressed. Bright sent on to Loughrin, but the visit-

ing skipper was grassed, and halftime found no alteration in the score, 5-0 in South Auckland's favour. Rangitaiki continued on the defen sive until,, with the assistance of a strong clearing kick by Francis, and led by Whitely, Schooner and T. Lees, the Blue and Blacks penetrated deep into the visitors" lines. R. Lees went off and the home ■ team had a rearrangement of the backs, Francis going to second five- • eighth, Gardner dropping back to the rear berth,, M. Lees to ccntre and Jones, vice R. Lees, taking M. ' Lees' position. Subsequently Jones - went to half, Howell taking the inside. The new arrangement failed to add sting to Rangitaiki's back line r and South Auckland were able to ; surge up-field again. As the result 1 of the best movement of the game, in which all the visitors' backs handled, Grant went over to score near the posts. The home men charged too soon and with the free place, Dunn had no difficulty in ' raising the flags. Give and take play gitaiki attacking determinedly but 1 the thrust lacked finish and the ' Blue and Blacks were thrown back, Loughrin, D. Thomson, Loughrin and Dunn all handling in a movement which threatened the defendr ers' line again-. 1 Schooner, Phillips and Kakaho 1 broke through and excitement ran ' high as M. Lees, following up, secured and made ground. Blocked, he handed on to Ratima who was " taken low, and Rangitaiki's chance ' of reducing the lead vanished. ' Coming again, South Auckland pressed, Grant, J. Thomson and ' Loughrin, making ground but tfhe ' effort Avas pulled up Avhen Francis went' back fast to force. 1 Continuing the attack South Auck 3 land increased their lead, J. Thoms ' son going oA*er. Dunn narroAvly missed Avith a great attempt at goal in g and the final whistle found the score unchanged.

Should be Good. J. H. Jeffard, a leading Hawkc'? Bay mentor, who in his time b\as led in many winners, has just taken in hand a two year old half brother to Wotan, Peter Jackson and Gaine Carringtoh, that with ordinary luck should emulate the fine performances of her three relatives. One thing certain is that if he satisfies Jeffard in his track work he will be placed to advantage to enable him to gain a high place in respect to winning totals. Conditional Licenses Only. In the list of jockeys' licenses issued for the 1940-41 season conditional tickets for three months only have been granted to the fol'owing: W. Broughton, A. Didham, S. Tattersall, H. N". Wiggins, P. Atkins, J. W. Dooley, W. Jenkins and P. Burgess. Conditional licenses are ! granted under such conditions asmay, from time to time, be Imposed in each cas2, by the executive committee of the N.Z. Racing Gonferenc3.