RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 06, Issue 96, 6 August 1943, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FURTHER WIN FOR RANGITAIKI hard game at edgkcumbk

A good crowd from all parts of the district turned out on Saturday last at Fdgecumbe to witness yet a further battle between those rivals ol long standing, Wliakatane and Rangitaiki. The score at the end of* the match icad I.'} to 3 in Rangitaiki's favour, showing that the plainsmen have not deteriorated since the last encounter. The teams were:— Whakatane (blue): Dunstan., Angus. Dotld,, .Moore, Haumati, Tawera, Cleland, Marra, D. Boynton. W. McCready, L. McC ready, H. Boynton, Mitchell,, Hill and Sykes. Rangitaiki (blue and black): Powell, Kakalio, Laing, Campbell, Phi]--lips, Gardiner, Hall, Anderson, How— ell, Ratima, Barr,. Sutton, L<?es, Ren— eta and Ivaipara. The game opened carefully ,both sides playing warily. Anderson opened up jjy a (kick to line and a good run which carried the play into Whakatane's 25 before the local lads realised it. With the blues on the defensive the play grew tighterSeveral times Whakatane managed to carry play downfield but always it returned aided chiefly by Phillips who all through played an excellent game. With both packs fighting desperately the Rangitaiki line managed to secure the. ball and passed right across- the field till Phillips cut hack and dived across the rims' to give Rangitaiki first blood-. Phillips' kick was sound. Play resumed at half, way with the score 5 to nil in Rangitaiki's favour. f J lay became, faster, both sides struggling lor possession till suddenly Moore cut through with ball at toe, dodged the opposing wing, and beat the i'uli-t back giving Whakatane a chance to even the score. Dodd's kick just* missed,, and the board read 5-3— Rangitaiki still leading. Till halftime Whakatane Avas fully occupied, defending their goaL line, Sykes being responsible for saving a number of imminent tries by well placed line, kicks. For the lirst 'few minutes after the change-over play went very much lis before'. At one stage however the Whakatane hacks secured the leather hut. with a surprising, burst of speed Gardiner intercepted . and fairly Hew over the line. to. bring. Rangitaiki's score to 8. Phillips' kick went anywhere. Rangitaiki then opened up, and play became fast and furious, the blue and blacks keeping Avell inside Whakatane's quarter. A penalty kick against Rangitaiki relieved the situation and 'Carried play down towards half way, but Gardiner, coming from nowhere, gathered in and raced down the line and behind the goal scoring his second '-ny. Phillips toed the ball gently over the goal bringing the score the plains boys favour. half way again, a by Dofld. jus£ goili lincT: gave tto blues a brief respite by a good kick towards half way, but Whakatane was still kept, on the defensive. A few minutes before the linal whistle Whakatane. put on a fresh spurt and forced the blue and blacks, right back to their own 25. Whakatane fought hard to get another score before time. For an instant the ball rolled over the line,, to be. followed immediately by the majpr portion o-f. both teams. A fierce light'which was brought to a halt a few minutes later by the referee, took place. When the pile of bodies had been disentangled, a small portion o£ what had once been.a blue and blaA. jersey was found, covering the baitand "the score remained at 13-3. ia Rangitaiki's favour. The game refereed by Mr L. Anderson.