RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 11, 26 September 1944, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Mcintosh trophy match RANGATAUA RETAINS SHIELD A large crowd gathered l at the Tauranga Domain on Saturday to witness the Mcintosh Shield match between Rangataua ? the leading Tauranga Club team and the Whakatane Junior team, which resulted in a win for Rangataua by 15 points to 6. Fast tight plas' was. the order of the day with occasional breaks in the. loose around midficld. Rangataua fielded a much heavier team than Whakatane and although the superior combination of the local team compensated for it in the first half the second spell was definitely ruled by Tauranga. Teams were, as under: — Whakatane (yellow and black): Gx*een; Dines; Walker; Ward; Clarke; Savage; Rivett; Beveridge; Stewart; Bluett; B. Hudson; Cameron; Hunt; Beaumont and Back. Rangataua (black): B. Tukaki; K. Brown; T. Walker; J. Ririnui; Kiwi; Walker; B. Walker; Farrell; M. Ririnui; Rewiti; Webster; W. Ririnui; Kakau; Hirama uand Rewiti. The First Spell Whakatane took the 'kick and Rangataua, packing hard pushed the play to Whakatane's goal line. A 25 resulted and play came back to half way where the ball went into touch. In it came and into the hands of the Whakatane line but a penalty kick for Rangataua spoilt the movement. The. ball failed to find the line and the. Whakatane backs took control again Cameron carrying on through to the opposing goal line. He lost control, but Green dived on to the leather and touched down half way between the post and the corner flag giving Whakatane first blood. Cameron's kick Avas low, and the scoreboard read Whakatane 3„ Rangataua 0. Led by W. Ririnui, Tauranga immediately rushed to Whakatane's quarter where the ball went into touch. A line out was followed by a ruck. J. Ririnui broke awaj" and K. Brown completed the movement, scoring wide out. The kick was wide and the score was Whakatane. 3, Rangataua 3. With the honours even { Tauranga forced the game to Whakatane s quarter again, Hirama leading the I attack. The rush carried on over the try line; but Cameron was safe and found touch just inside, his own quarter. In caipe the ball, and a penalty was. awarded the. black team. M. Ririnui's shot at goal was low,

Play resumed at miclfield, where it centred for a time before the lea-i tlier went to, touch. In came the ball to the lineout. Out it went to the Whakatane backs ? and Cameron j already on the run, snapped it in and beat the whole field to score the try of the day wide out at the corner flag. The kick was outside, the post and Whakatane was again 3 points in the lead. Back at half way Tauranga forced their way to Whakatane's quarter. Ka'kau made sure of a penalty kick and curved it nicely between the uprights evening up the points for Rangataua. The half-time score read Whakatane G,, Rangataua G. The Second Half The second spell opened with a period of loose play around midfield. Whakatane took the leather to the opposing goal line, but sound defence on the part of Rangataua averted a try. On the 25 the leather went into the hands, of the Tauranga line. Away they swept. Things looked dangerous for Whakatane. but atf the last minute they '9 lost control and Dmes forced. From the 25, a line out followed but a scrum resulted. Tauranga hooked and fed the back line. Downfield went the leather to the home team's goal line where a set scrum was ordered. A 25 resulted but Ranga taua brought play back to another scrum on the, line. In went the ball and Tauranga's extra weight carried it over the line where W. Ririnui scored. Kakau's kick was. wide and) the score read: Rangataua 9, Whakatane 6. Still forcing the. play, Tauranga drove through again to Whakatane's quarter where Farrell, gathering in, raced on o-ver the line. It looked like a good try but at the last, moment he fumbled and Rive.tt lost •3 no time in killing the. ball. From the 25, Farrell gathered in again and passed to W. Ririnui who fairly flew to the try line. Fortunately Cameron was safe and grassed him. A set scrum on the. line went down. Tauranga hooked, and Webster gathering in, dived over the line to one side of the post bringing Rangataua's score to 12. The kick was Avide. Back at half way Webster immediately took control again, and

lending a forward wedge into the opposing defence pushed straight through to the line again for the last try of the game, bringing the final score to Rangataua 15, Whakatane 6. For Rangataua Farrell and the Ririnuis led the play while for Whakatane Cameron was the star man. Back was also very sale at fullback while Hudson played a good all round game. The whole of the home team worked with excellent co-ordination and there can be no doubt that; but for the opposing superior weight would have scored a decisive victory over Rangataua. Mr T. Milne was successful with the whistle.