RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 80, 12 June 1945, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

I DUNDERDALE CUP MATCH RANGITAIKI DEFEATS WHAKATANE 3—o The largest crowd to witness a football match this season was present on Saturday at the Whakatane Domain when representative teams from the two rival districts (in the field of sport) Whakatane and Rangitaiki j met to play the first match this year for the Dunderdale Cup y at present held by Rangitaiki. The day was fine but and a fresh breeze made kicking diffcult. Play was very even all through some excellent 9 football was seen and Whakatane was very unlucky in not at being able to call the game a draw. Teams were as under:— Whakatane (blue): Wells (lull), T. Riini G. Mitchell Tawera Ben- * f 5 nie t Simpson D. C. Wharewera Brown, Hughes Harawira, T. Crapp and Marra. Rangitaiki (blue and black): Villis (full) } Murray R. Lees ? M. Lees Raureti, Linsell Pearce Kakahou Nathan Burke Lambert > 5 J J Campbell and Black. Play commenced 5 Rangitaiki taking the kick and Whakatane facing the wind. Passing on both sides was ragged at the start but picked up as the game developed. Rangitaiki had most of it tlieir own Avay during the first but in the second spell Whakatane took over and the plainsmen found their Avor'k cut out defending their own line. The first and only points of the game. , went to Rangitaiki from a penalty,kick. Black led a good dribbling rush upfield. Wells saved and kicked, but failed to find the line. The opposing backs took control. The ball went out but Dodd intercepted. He was tackled and through playing the ball Avith the foot Avhilst on the ground, a penalty kic'k was awarded to Rangitaiki. Lees converted froina handy position to put his side 3 ahead.

Penalty kicks which followed were anything but few and far but Dodd who did Whakatane's J kicking, did not convert a single one out of the many attempts he made. Following Lee's successful conversion the blue and black's worked under a full head of steam throwing in the whole weight of their pack. Wha'katane's main, defence was in the back but it was. not till after half time that it became really effective. Awarded a penalty R. Lees* tried a shot at goal from well but the ball fell a good 20 yards short. Wliakatane took control again and carried it downficld but lost possession and a passing rush took the leather in the hands of Murray (wing) down to the other end of the field. Whakatane returned it to centre where play carried on for a stretch. Suddenly taking the ball from the lineout j the home catching the opposing side off balance rushed through the blue and black pack. It looked like a sure try but at the last moment the winger mishandled spoiling AVhakatane's. only really good demonstration in the firs I

spell. The second half told a different story. The home team was aggressive right from the outset. Penalty kicks were numerous and Whakatane? had if anything the lion's share. Dodd attempted conversions from all distances and angles but the Gods were against him and home supporters were disappointed time after time'. A dangerous moment for the blue team came halfway through the second spell when C. returning a kick ? failed to find the line , and Rangitaiki rushed right through to just miss scoring in a good position. The best display of the <lny was given by playing on the wing for Whakatane. The leather came in from a lineout.- The half shot it out to from Simpson to Bennie—to Tawera and on to Mitchell who made a great run up the line. R. Lees came across and

with a great tackle grassed him just a few feet short of a certain try. ' But the Whakatane line was still with the leather. Across the field it went to the other side ? but Riini fumbled and once again a try was lost. Towards the. end, play became harder and faster —Whakatane determined to score, Rangitaiki - determined to stop them. The ball stayed in the plainsmens' 25 } and, although the home lads all but crossed time after they were al-i ways hurled back at the last moment. The whistle beat them to the points they needed—-this time Meanwhile fans are looking forward to ' the next contest, for it would" appear that the rival teams are much more evenly matched this and front the looks of things, Rangitaiki will, really have to fight to maintain it% supremacy. Curtain Raiser r A junior curtain raiser match was? played betwen two Whakatane teams. This resulted In a win for the A team by 1.3 points, to 8. . Tries for the A team were scored by T. Green j E. Hunt and M. Teipa. M. Tie pa converted the first and the last. Points for the B team were gained by Hakopa (Tiina Riini converting) and Best who converted, a pen-* alty.