REP. RUGBY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 99, 21 August 1945, Page 5

REP. RUGBY

TAINUI MANIAPOTO CUP MATCH EAST COAST DEFEAT MATATUA 20—12 LARGE CROWD ATTENDS A large percentage of the crowd which was present at the Auckland j v Bay match last week, turned out again on Saturday to Avitness the game for the Tainui Maniapoto Cup which was contested for by an East Coast team (challengers) and. the Matatua Maori team (holders) at the Whakatane Domain. Although a steady downpour was falling during the curtain raiser, the rain lifted in time for the big match. It a lleld sodden and muddy, Avhich, together AA-itb a lieaA-y greasy ball hampered many of the faster movements. The main feature of the match was the sudden, reA'ival of the Matatua team toAvards the end of the second half when 12 points Avere reared in under 10 minutes to the immense enthusiasm of the. sideliners. Up till then the score for Matatua had stool at nil. The game itself AA'as essentially a forward one as far as the Matatua side was concerned, Avbercas the East Coast team relied mainly on its fast and efficient back line, which threAV the ball about Avitli confidence. Owing to an injury received at Opotiki last Aveek, George Nepia did not take the field much to the disappointment of the spectators many of whom had come expressly to sec him play. His position at fullback Avas filled by J. C. Peedy, the ex-Maori All Black. Teams The teams as published on the programmes Avere. subject to a number of changes, and those actually fielded. were as follows: — East Coast (blue): J. C. Reedy; B. Riccard; G. Pepere; B. Tibbie;, N. Williams; Wirepa; W. Reedy; R. Peters; R. Albert; Waenga; S. Dues; B. Roland; S. Jensen and B. McClutchie.

Matatua (blue and gold): J. Koopu; Ngahau; Hohapata; T. Riini; T. Koopu; P. Ratahi; Wairau; Gardener; T. Simpson; B. Delamere; W. Poihipi; S. McLaughlin; J. Dodd; B. Ivakaho; B. HaraAvira. The Match

A display of kicking dominateil play for the first few minutes j while both teams settled down, Then East Coast began forcing the pace. Matatua held them for a stretch and then suddenly in Matatua's W. Reedy initiated a movement which swept across the back line like wildfire to Tibbie on the wing who just made the line before being grassed. . The referee awarded the try and first blood fell to the visitors. Pcpere was unlucky with the the ball striking the bar and bouncing back. East Coast 3, Matatua 0. Tibbie was again prominent on the wing in the next rush whfch carricd ! his side back to the opposing 25, where the ball found touch. Matatua defended well but the blue back line was too good and a passing movement led to a scrum on the line. Matatua hooked and a jjenalty kick in their favour resulted. East Coast returned, and J. Koopu found the line with a kick which drew applause from the side line. In came the ball and the Coast men in a body went straight through the opposing pack. They

were checked on the try line, but W. Reedy finished the movement to cross near the corner Hag. - Dues' kick was short. East Coast Matatua 0. Matatua took the initiative l'rom the kick off but suddenly Tibbie, coming from nowhere with ball at toe made a good 30 yards of ground. Matatua checked the rush and then T. Koopu intercepted a wide pass in the East Coast back line and made ground. A knock on at halfway resulted in a set scrum. Out came the ball and once again Koopu was away booting the leather ahead. It crossed the line, but his dive carried him to one and borne supporters were disappointed as a 25 resulted. Then East Const was away again and their rush took them to Matntua's 2."). Suddenly Jensen gathered in and nnvle a great run straight through the thick of the Matatua pack to score between the posts. To

W. Reedy the kick was a gift } ancl the scoreboard read ! East Coast 11 Matatua 0. y After this score, the blue ancl gold team took the initiative but J* Reedy was safe, and J. Koopu, In the van, was grassed short of thei line. Another promising movement initiated by Matatua ltil to the ball being forced. At this stage Waenga was injured* and replaced by Kerer. Further play till half time rei suited in concerted rushes by the blue s'fide with playing ia the front row for Matatua noticeably sale. Half time score was East Coast 11, Matatua 0The Seeondi Half Play opened in the second half with East Coast facing wind and sun. After some preliminary work at halfway, in which pack work was the main feature, the East Coast line tried several movements all of which collapsed before complete. The packs again took control arid then suddenly Williams and Poland appeared and with a beautiful exhibition of dual passing broke away leading Roland to touch down mid-* way between the post and the corner flag. Wirepea's kick was wide audi the scoreboard read East Coast 14 Matatua 0. 9 Back again at halfway, the blue side set out on another rush whichk quickly led to Dues' crossing in the corner to add another 3 points. Pe-» pere faileid with the kick. . East Coast 17 Matatua 0. •5With East Coast on the defensive the blue line was away again. Pepere had the ball. He was tackled and long passed to Tibbie who raced on. over the line, but the whistle intervened, and a set scrum was called. Out came the ball, and McClutcMe gathering in crossed the line 15 yards to one side of the post. Tibbie's kick was short. With 20 points East Coast still forced the play, success-* fully smothering most of the moves initiated by.the blue and gold men. Then the leather went out to tfcte Matatua back line and the visitors found themselves defending' their own try line. Hard pack and suddenly the ball rolled out, and P. Ratahi dived over to the immense enthusiasm of the spectators- to notch, the first 3 points for Matatua. The kick failed but the next minute; :J. Koopu delighted the crowd with a perfect field goal.' ; .

East Coast Matatua 7. Not content with this IRatahi fol-* lowed up almost immediately andledt. his side over the line again this time 1 between the posts. T. Koopu's kick was good and Matatua with. ° 9 12 points on the board were well'on. their way to equal the 20 gained by thei Coast men. At halfway again Matatua tried another rush which was smothered and, the blue side showed imminent' signs of breaking through. Matatua. fought back however and held play: at halfway till the whistle declared' time ? and a win for the East Coast team by 20 points to 12. Mr L. Anderson was referee.

JUNIOR FINAL PAROA v WHAkATANE The. Paroa v Whakatane Junior curtain raiser game was a display* of quite good but of course unavoidably marred an,d slowecl down to a great extent by the mud and rain. Botb teams played well and the ball was mainly in one or other of the 25's > rarely seeing the halfway line except iro passing. Final score was 6—o in favour of Paroa, whose points' came from a try (Ngatai) awl a penalty ldck (Riini). ! Mr A. B reward was referee.