KEEN RUGBY BATTLE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 65, 11 August 1947, Page 5

KEEN RUGBY BATTLE

AUCKLAND’S DECISIVE VICTORY BAY TEAM OUTCLASSED MARGIN OF FIFTEEN POINTS Fluctuating fortunes characterised Saturday’s Inter-Provin-cial rep. fixture, Auckland v Bay of Plenty, which took place in the Whakatane Domain before a large attendance from all parts. The fifteen point margin by which the visitors eclipsed the Bay reps, was not by any means a fair indication of the relative merits of either side, for the last ten points came within ten minutes of the final whistle and until well into the second half Bay led by a comfortable margin.

Auckland owed its win mainly to 'the fact that its men were fitter and gave a noticeable improvement in combination as the game advanced. This was due to the fact that it was the first time the team had played together since its selection. Another feature was the splendid goal kicking by the fullback Bowden, who notched no les than 11 points for his side. Auckland’s inner backs were spectacular in the second half, with Glemming playing a wonderful game at half. The forwards seemed unable to cope with the Bay pack until well into the second spell when they asserted themselves with conspicuous success in the face of the tiring opposition. For Bay, the forwards played splendidly until the final stages. Using stock tactics they hunted well and as a rule, had the visiting vanguard worried when defending. In the first half Auckland backs fre■auently saved the day for the sore-ly-tried forwards. * Raureti played in spectacular manner throughout, doing more than his share of hard work. Wickham and Goldsmith were sound colleagues but Delamere consistently ran into trouble and did not give his winger McGougan a chance.' This was doubly unfortunate as many promising openings presented themselves. There was little to offset the ’fine exhibitions put up by the Auckland backs apart from the tireless marking- which was consistently ;good at all stages of the game.

The curtain raiser between the two leading junior teams in the Whakatane and Rangitaiki Unions, saw a spectacular clash between Te Teko and United. The game was at all stages open and willing and had the crowd well on its toes throughout. It was a worthy prelude to the bigger game.

RUN OF THE PLAY AUCKLAND TEAM RESHUFFLED The teams lined out as under: — Auckland (blue and white): Bowden, Clarkin, Gumley, W. Taylor, Lewis, Harrison, Glemming, Pearse, Dilly, Cullington, Te Puni, Bourke, Hall, J. Bourke, McLaren. Bay of Plenty (blue and yellow): Clarke, Burt, Delamere, McGougan, Wickham, Goldsmith, Raureti, Tibbie,' Roigard, Ranapia, Jacobs, Hall, Grey, Seton, Woods. Auckland kicked off but the Bay forwards quickly dominated play, sweeping the blue and white defence behind its own 25. Harrison sought to relieve but made little progress. ' An early free kick gave the visitors good country but the Bay pack returned. A head injury forced Dilly to retire to be replaced by P. Bourke. A clever piece of work followed the next line out. The Bay attacked and Raureti securing in the ruck sidestepped his way through to score near the upright. Clarke had no difficulty in converting. Bay 5, Auckland 0. The pace was clapped on as the visitors swept into attack. Bowden taking on the full all but cleared the defenders and only a fluke kick by Clarke to the line saved the day. Bay secured from a hotly contestBustling through, the Bay fora machine made great ground. Lewis taking advantage from a dropped pass drew the attackers and delivered to Clarkin who outpaced the -opposition and scored in the corner in spectacular fashion. Bowden’s "kick failed. Bay 5, Auckland 3. Blue and yellow jerseys now figured deeply in Auckland’s half and a persistent scrum infringement gave a grand opportunity to Bay which Clarke capitalised to the full. Bay 8, Auckland 3. Bustling through the Bay forwards were'again dangerous. Auckland accepted a force. In succeeding play Jacobs a Bay forward sustained a leg injury but carried on. •<Glemming behind the visitors’ ; scrum sent his backs away time and

again. Auckland was shaping better and the blue and yellows stoutly defended. It was a bout of hard scrummages for some seven torrid minutes until Wickham who was playing a grand game found the line to Bay’s advantage! Flinging the leather around, the visiting backs were" pretty to watch. In a good position a penalty was awarded and Bowden found the bar with a beautiful kick. Bay 8, Auckland 6. Sound marking continued to upset Auckland’s attacks. A long shot penalty kick was taken by Clarke, who missed widely. Back in Bay’s 25 a hard forward battle took place, the Bay pack gradually clearing until half-time. Bay seized the initial advantage in the second half, the pack taking charge once more and carrying through to the goal line, where altain try. In successive play Pearse, infringed and Grey lobbed a neat, goal.

Bay 11, Auckland 6

Back in the open field the visitors countered with- some snappy back movements which had the Bayites worried and a try was narrowly averted more by good luck than good management. Again the Auckland backs took a hand tossing the ball about in spectacular manner and making ground. Bowden took a long shot at goal from a penalty but missed. Pace was intensified.

From a midfield scrum Glemming launched a single-handed attack but ran into trouble. Territorially the Auckland boys held the advantage though several sorties by the Bay looked promising. The visitors now executed a pretty movement. Strung out in perfect fashion across the field and with Bowden coming in to obtain the overlap every man handled, Clarkin going over to score in the «corner. Bowden converted with a perfect kick.

Auckland 11, Bay 11.

Play was willing from now on. Roigard retired with an injured leg and vfras replaced by McLaughlin. Handling nicely the Bay backs might have achieved something had not Delamere kicked instead of feeding to- McGougan who had been starved most of the day. His kick was rushed down and only Raureti’s speed in racing back saved a certain try. In successive play Pearse one of Auckland’s best packmen, scored single-handed and again Bowden converted magnificently. Auckland 16, Bay 11.

Harrison and Lewis the visiting inner backs were now combining perfectly. They were always dangerous and figured in all the best movements. Bay forwards came again going downfield like a steam roller and were only halted in front of Auckland’s goal. The counter move however came when the whole of the 'Auckland pack poured through on the left wing, leaving the homesters standing. McLaren scored without difficulty and Bowden converted. Auckland 21, Bay 11. The tide had definitely turned. Almost immediately afterwards the same action'was repeated and on the stroke of time Gumley scored under the goal with Bowden converting again. Auckland 26, Bay 11. Mr G. Still, of Rotorua, was referee. CURTAIN RAISER UNITED DEFEATS TE TEKO . The teams were:— United (white): R. Goodall, Carling, Rutherford, Quigg, Edmondson, Skelton, Curran, Patterson, Armstrong, Howat, Chadwick, G. Goodall, Mundy, Dines, Mickell. Te Teko (black and blue): Pryor, Manahe, Savage, Tukewako, Briggs, Wetini, Titioahi, Ngaheu, Inoka, Gardiner, Anderson, Lyon, Hunia, Eivers, Thompson. The visitors kicked off with the sun and took the initial advantage. The packs appeared even in spite of the obvious lightness of the white jerseys. i

Curran at half, fed his backs consistently and figured in most movements. The blues made a determined attack towards the close of the first spell, and were in effect unlucky, a penalty alone preventing a certain try. United found their feet and adopted bustling tactics. Te Teko defended well but a penalty in front of the visitors’ goal gave Carling a wonderful opening, the ball sailing well over the bar. United 3, Te Teko 0. The second half saw the blues pressing. United underwent an an-

xious spell inside its own 25. Weight favoured the Te Teko pack but the white defence remained sound until M. Savage from close in dived in and touched down near the upright. Wetini’s kick missed narrowly. Te Teko 3, United 3. United returned and with the backs showing more cohesion than hitherto the blues retreated. In a sound position United were awarded a penalty kick with which Carling made no mistake. United 6, Te Teko 3. With the white jerseys again attacking a battle royal developed inside Te Teko’s 25. A scrum infringement by a visiting forward gave Carling another chance but the ball failed to rise. Tukewako carried the visitors out of danger with a brilliant run down the line. G. Goodall returned but the blue pack again took charge and gave the white jerseys a desperate five minutes in front of their own goal. Carling initiated a beautiful move when he ran round the badSffjand fed to Rutherford to Quigg who battled across. The absence of the line umpire however resulted in a score being disallowed. Play remained at midfield until time. ' ! Mr A. Whitty was referee.