RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 4, 29 July 1946, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OLD RIVALS MEET WHAKATANE DEFEATS RANGITAIKI The win which Whakatane registered over Rangitaiki in the recent Dunderdale Cup match was repeated, but by a much wider margin, at the Whakatane Domain on Saturday when a representative team from the home Union notched a victory by 14 points to 3 against the Plainsmen. A good crowd turned out to witness the match and spectators were not disappointed, for play was willing from the opening whistle to the ‘last time out.’ The home side thoroughly deserved its win. For at least three-quarters of the game, the Rangitaiki men were defending their own quarter although the same side was unlucky not to score from some of the torrid spells on the Whakatane defence line. Teams which took the field were as under:—

Rangitaiki: Penny, Burt, Schuster, R. Lees, Ngaheu, Simpson, Ruareti, Gardiner, Murray, Anderson, Hall, Moko, Mitai, Burke, Black. Whakatane: Laurie, McGougan, Cave, Riini, Sisam, Tihi, Morpeth, Wahapanga, Merito, Cassidy, Cleland, Awa, Harawira, Hughes, Moore At half-time, Doolan and Fowell replaced McGougan and Morpeth respectively, whilst E. Wilson substituted in the front row.

Play opened at top speed, and after the packs had tasted the leather the Whakatane back line went into action taking the ball to Rangitaiki’s quarter. A penalty kick and a few minutes later another, relieved the tension, but a good kick from Laurie brought play back again. A Rangitaiki man offside gave Tihi a shot at goal. The kick was wide and Ngaheu forced.

Following up Rangitaiki bustled their way through but Laurie, going down with the ball, managed to find the line. In came the ball and just inside Rangitaiki’s half Whakatane was awarded a penalty. McGougan’s kick, to the delight of home supporters, was over and Whakatane had three points on the board. It was an exceptional shot.

Rangitaiki took the initiative, but Laurie, with a long kick, found the line on Rangitaiki’s 25 yard mark. Rangitaiki cleared, but on the half line, McGougan secured, short kicked, secured again and in-passed to Sisam who completed the move to score in the corner. The kick was short. Whakatane 6, Rangitaiki 0. Rangitaiki took over again, and carried play downfield. Penny tried for a field goal but missed, and a set scrum went"down. Whakatane hooked and Morpeth fed his line which went away in a rush to Rangitaiki’s half. The forwards took over and battled through stiff opposition to the try line, but Raureti forced.

Rangitaiki followed up the ‘drop out’ but Laurie, playing a faultless game was in position and found the line back in the Plainsmen’s quarter. Morpeth sent his line away but the rush broke down.

Penny (Rangitaiki) gathered in and made a splendid solo run across the field. He passed to Ngaheu who was caught in possession, and Whakatane with Morpeth in the lead rushed to Rangitaiki’s defence line. A melee within eighteen inches of the goal line followed, and when the referee’s whistle sounded it was discovered Morpeth had scored. The referee ruled out McGougan’s kick against the decision of the line umpires.

Half-time came with the score Whakatane 9, Rangitaiki 0, the home side having had definitely the lion’s share of the game.

At the opening of the second half, Rangitaiki took the offensive, but Whakatane’s defence was set. A

penalty kick took play« to Rangitaiki’s quarter, but Penny brought the leather back and a period of indecisive play followed, the defence men on both sides proving equal to all attacking thrusts. Three time Whakatane lost possession right on the line.

The fourth time they came exceptionally close, Laurie making a solo run half the length of the field from his position at full. At the last moment he lost possession to Rangitaiki who forced.

By degrees play came upfield till Whakatane was defending their own quarter. A local man standing offside gave Burke a penalty shot at goal. The leather sailed just outside the upright. Play came down field at a fast pace. From a scrum in the Rangitaiki half, Fowell sent his line away. The leather went to Tihi, to Sisam, to Cave who jinked through the opposing defence and notched an excellent try by the post. Wilson’s kick was good, and the score stood at

Whakatane 14, Rangitaiki 0.

In a final effort to score, Rangitaiki clapped on the pace and a battle ensued in Whakatane’s quarter. The Plainsmen just missed a try, but a free kick right in front of the goal gave Burke his chance. He made sure of it, sending the ball squarely between the uprights. The final whistle a few minutes later declared time, with the score board showing the points as Whakatane 14, Rangitaiki 3. Mr J. Keepa refereed. THE JUNIOR GAME FURTHER WIN FOR HOMESTERS The Whakatane Junior representative side scored a victory by 6 points to 0 against the Rangitaiki Junior reps. The match which was a curtain raiser to the senior game was fast with good Rugby to the fore, the home side, in defence particularly, proving very sound. The teams lined out as under:— Rangitaiki: Mexted, M. Davis, Marks, F. Wetini, Wilson, L. Newdick, Ihaia, Rama, Black, Hunia, Ahipene, Gardiner, Anderson, W. Wetini and Tihere.

Whakatane: Riini, Trau, Addison, Harawira, Horne, Rutherford, Takao, Butler, Bell, Fraser, Lafferty, Ruru, Hakopa, Martin, Armstrong. After the usual period of settling down, Rangitaiki showed their mettle with an attack which took play to Whakatane’s quarter. The two packs clashed in a scrum, and the leather went out to .the" Plainsmen’s line. The home side smothered the rush but another started on the opposite side. This time Whakatane just succeeded in forcing. From the ‘2s’ two, good runs by Rutherford put Rangitaiki on the defence, but not for long. Back in Whakatane’s 25, Marks attempted a penalty kick at goal. It missed and a scrum went down on the Whakatane line. Out came the ball. Rutherford took it away down the line, but Ahipene initiated a passing rush which again put the sound Whakatane defence on guard.

Half-time came with no score on either side. Whakatane attacked on the opening whistle of the second half. A penalty kick gave Lafferty a shot at goal from inside the home half. The ball went wide and Rangitaiki swept into an attack. Losing possession, Whakatane took over. The leather went to Harawira, to Rutherford, to Horne and out to Trau on the wing. In the act of being grassed, Trau passed to Lafferty who dived over to make Whakatane’s first three points. The same man’s kick was just outside. Whakatane 3, Rangitaiki 0.

Rangitaiki swept away on another rush, but when things were beginning to get dangerous, Rutherford gained possession. A long run took him into Rangitaiki’s half. Mexted (full) blocked him and the forwards packed. Suddenly Addison appeared, and with the leather under one arm scaled for the corner. Mexted caught him two inches too ate and the home side was awarded another three points. Again the kick was short. Whakatane 6, Rangitaiki 0. Rangitaiki pressed another attack immediately, and play swept to Whakatane’s defence line. Suddenly Wilson, gathering in, shot the ball out to Marks, to Davis, to Wetini, to Mexted and to Davis again who just made the corner flag to touch down for Rangitaiki’s first arid only try. The kick was short, and the match ended shortly after, with the final score at Whakatane 6, Rangitaiki 3. Mr G. Oswald refereed. TE PUKE v UNITED HOME TEAM’S VICTORY A fair display of Club football was witnessed in the Te Puke United v Whakatane United match which

took place at the Whakatane Domain on Saturday. On the game, the Whakatane side displayed "a better finish although Te Puke now and? !-then brought to light really good moves. Scoring men for the home side were L. Henderson, P. Ward, \ C. Reid, J. Buddie, Kahui and E. Hunt (conversion) whilst Newman and Hunter took a try apiece for Te Puke. Whakatane 17, Te Puke 6. Mr J. Whitehead refereed. WHAKATANE REP TEAM The following is the Whakatane rep. team to travel to Opotiki for the Hurunui-Apanui Shield at Opotiki next Saturday:— Fullback: Laurie. Three-quarters: McGougan, Sisam, Cave. Five-eighths: Goodwin, Tihi. Halfback: Fowell. Forwards (two to act as reserves): Ranapea, Awa, Wilson, K. Merito, Wahapanga, Cleland, Hughes, Moore, Harawira, Cassidy. Reserve Backs: Morpeth, Doolan, Rini. The team is to assemble at Band Room, Francis Street, for final training and lecture on Wednesday evening at 7.30 sharp.