SHALFOON SHIELD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 12, 16 August 1946, Page 5

SHALFOON SHIELD

TAURANGA LOSES TROPHY RANGITAIKI TEAM’S VICTORY The Shalfoon Shield has changed hands. Playing on the Tauranga Domain on Saturday last, in greasy conditions, the Rangitaiki junior representatives decisively defeated Tauranga to the tune of 17 points to nothing. There was not a big attendance of the public. On the general run of play, the solid Rangitaiki team was superior to the Tauranga side which was never in the hunt, failing to cioss Rangitaiki’s line. With an aggressive backline, Rangitaiki held a weight advantage in the pack, this standing them in good stead and, despite the fact that the Tauranga forwards kept the ball in Rangitaiki’s territory for a greater part of the time in the second half, their piay was not as effective as one would wish.

Despite Rangitaiki’s nine-point lead in the first half, Tauranga had held this team fairly well, except for od patches of play when Rangitaiki players were definitely to the fore. Only on a few occasions could Tauranga be considered dangerous in this period of play.

One of the best solo efforts seen on the Domain for some time was turned on by J. Marks, the first fiveeighth, when he scored after five minutes of bustling play by Rangitaiki. From the half-way mark, the bal was booted towards Tauranga’s line and Marks, with a fine burst of speed, got his toe to it, the ball sailing over the head of the full-back, T. Reweti. Marks secured and raced for the line to score between the posts. The kick was disallowed. J. Ahipeme, last man down in Rangitaiki’s pack and playing loose on occasions, was responsible for his side’s next try, 25 minutes after the start. He received the ball from a scrum near the halfway mark and raced round the blind side of the scrum. Meeting no opposition there, Ahipene, who was a formidable force throughout, raced for some distance passing to Ihaia, a winger, with only a few yards to go. Ihaia scored, the kick missing. Ahipene’s turn came a few minutes after Rangitaiki had been presing for some little time. He scored, the kick missing. Nine points down, Tauranga did not let up in the second half, but Rangitaiki’s score was increased to 12 halfway through when this team again broke away. Reweti tackled the player with the ball and it was thrown out to another Rangitaiki player who, following up well, faced no opposition to score. The kick, a difficult one, missed. Tauranga still fought back. However, with onl a few minutes to go, the ball was booted into Tauranga’s zone. A. Tata, who had moved out to fullbackk position, gained posession of it, but in an attempt to get clear was tackled. Tata threw the ball back kto R. Wells who chased the ball in the direction of Tauranga’s goal line. He failed to get his hands to it and Newdick, the centre three-quarter, who was there by this time, kicked the ball into the goal area and in a short dash forced it to score. The kick Was successful. The final score was;— Rangitaiki 17 Tauranga .... .. 0 Mr L. Walker, was referee. .