RANGITAIKI'S WIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 99, 15 July 1946, Page 5

RANGITAIKI'S WIN

HEAVY PACK SMOTHERS WELL i The two senior teams which took the field at Te Teko were:— Rotorua (black): Webby, Fox, Laurence, Hubbard, Shepherd, Morrison, Hooper, Gabolinsky, James, Hakaraia, Kiel, Jacobs, Murray, Seton and Northcroft.

Rangitaiki (black and blue): Pope, Ngaheu, R. Lees, Pinker, Burt, Schuster, Rariti, Black, Hall, Burke, Waldergrave, Woods, Gardiner, Murray and Nathan. Both teams wasted no time in setting the pace. Fine forward work set the blacks attacking in the first five minutes and Hooper carried through, but his touch down went into dead territory. In the Rangitaiki counter attack Pinker returned the compliment and missed with the force. A bright flash of individual play

occurred when Morrison the visiting team’s snappy five-eighths intercepted and looked like scoring until Pope overtook and crowded him out in the corner. In a later free kick Laurensen’s long shot went wide. The Rangitaiki pack now took a hand and working in concert swept the black jerseys into their last quarter. Heavy scrummaging in front of the goal saw Burke snap up and score. The same man failed to convert. Rangitaiki 3, Rotorua 0.

At this juncture Pope’s line kicking was pretty to see and he proved a tower of strength to Rangitaiki on attack and defence. A penalty to the blue and blacks saw Burke lob a beauty over the bar from an acute angle. * Rangitaiki 6, Rotorua 0.

With the back lines exchanging high kicks a duller period intervened but the home forwards were always dangerous and initiated some dribbling rushes which never failed to make good ground.

v Rotorua clapped on the pace and came dangerously near scoring till Pinker cut in and tossed to R. Lees who carried to half. Here a Rotorua man was penalised for hanging on and Burke kicked a perfect goal from barely 10 yards inside the half line. Half-time came with the homesters nine points in advance. Rotorua showed improved form in the second spell. Northcroft missed a comparatively easy goal from a penalty award. The game hung at midfield for a long period with Rotorua having slightly the advantage in the scrums and tight play. Action started when Woods headed the Rangitaiki pack and ipvaded strenuously. The visitors penned against their last line fought back and finally found the open. Rangitaiki however improved with the progress of the game and from some heavy play near the line Waldergrave paved the way for Black to score in a handy position. Pope converted with a beautiful kick. Rangitaiki 14, Rotorua 0.

Burke retired at this juncture with an injury and was replaced by Edwards.

With the game shaping well in the homsters favour, Rotorua appeared to find the going hard. The Rangitaiki pack’s quick smothering tactics withheld the leather from the waiting Rotorua backs and as the forward game became more intense, the Rotorua backs took matters into their own hands and played close. Obtaining a momentary overlap half a dozen black jerseys poured through. A score seemed certain but Rareti cutting back wrecked the movement in the corner a few feet from the line. Rangitaiki was hot on the attack again as the final whistle blew. Mr J. Thomas was referee. THE JUNIOR GAME This was willing and keen. Up till half-time either side could have won, but as the game settled down the winning side was obviously Rangitaiki. Scoring for the winners were Savage (2 tries and 1 conversion) and Law a penalty goal. For Rotorua Fitzgerald kicked two penalties. Mr J. Hyland was referee. WHAKATANE UNION GAMES UNITED v WAIMANA United established a victory over Waimana at the Whakatane Domain on Saturday by 5 points to 3. The match was hard, and although the aggressive Waimana pack came dangerously close to breaching the United defence and scoring, on a number of occasions, each time they were thrown back.

An opening rush by the United forwards took play to Waimana’s quarter. Two penalty kicks relieved the situation, and Waimana, settling down, began to establish their defence against the home team’s thrusts.

A tense ten minutes followed whilst United defended their line against a determined attack. A penalty kick finally relieved the situation, and a passing rush swept play well out of the danger zone. The ball came in to a line out and Francis, gathering in, dived over to notch first blood for United.

McGougan’s kick was sound and raised the points to 5. Half-time came with no change. United opened the second spell with a penetrating attack which took play to the-opposing quarter. Waimana countered with a back movement; the forwards took over at half way, and a rush to United’s defence line had the home tegm worried. Before the position could be properly relieved, the ball went out to the Waimana backs, and Mitchell dived over to score between the posts. McKay made the fatal error of taking the easy kick for granted. The bairiilt“l>hg right-hand upright, / \

and the points remained at United 5, Waimana 3

Another rush by United took play to Waimana’s 25, but that side was prepared, and swooping in on the leather, soon had the position reversed. But the United defence proved sound, and held safely against all opposition till the final whistle sounded. Mr A. Breward refereed.

RUATOKI v POROPORO A HARD EARNED WIN ;• The Ruatoki Senior team established a hard earned victory by one point, gained right on time at the Whakatane Domain last Saturday. The opposing team, Poroporo, held the lead by 8 points to'6 till up to just a few seconds before the final whistle, when Rangitane slipped over the line notching the victory for Ruatoki.

The first ball had hardly been kicked, when Poroporo suddenly found themselves with their backs to the wall holding off a determined Ruatoki attack. Recovering, Poroporo took possession and against the aggressive opposition of the Ruatoki pack, fought their way down to midfield. Suddenly Kingi appeared and in an excellent solo dribbling rush took the leather right on down the sideline, beating two defenders to score in the corner. The kick went unconverted, and the score board read

Poroporo 3, Ruatoki 0.

A period of ‘move-for-move’ play followed till Ruatoki began thrusting into the Poroporo defence. Three times they lost possession at the crucial moment, and half-time came with no further score.

But the change-over, brought Ruatoki more luck. Two tries'in the corner by Stone and Makamaka followed in quick, succession, and the Poroporo defence was kept fully employed, staving off dangerous attacks.

Suddenly, at midfield, Bishop (Poroporo) emerged, ball at toe. Right up the side line he took it before centring. Kingi took over, and completed the move by diving over the line to score. Merito’s kick was successful and the points stood at Poroporo 8, Ruatoki 6. Right on time, Rangitane crossed to score for Ruatoki again, giving his side victory by one hard-earned point. Ruatoki 9, Poroporo 8. Mr F. Peebles refereed. JUNIOR FIELD POROPORO v RUATOKI An interesting match was witnessed when Poroporo and Ruatoki Junior teams met. The former side claimed a victory by 21 points to 0. The game was fast and open, both back lines opening up with some splendid displays of passing. The Ruatoki side actually played a much better game than the score would indicate, but the sound Poroporo defence spoiled too many of Ruatoki’s moves before they became properly advanced. Scoring men for Poroporo were Trau (2), Jaram, Penny and Watarawi who notched tries, whilst Paul and Tiepa added 6 points with a penailty kick apiece. Mr A. Mitchell refereed.