FROM DISTRICT PLAYING FIELDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 47, 18 May 1948, Page 5

FROM DISTRICT PLAYING FIELDS

GOOD FOOTBALL IN REP. TRIALS: JACKSON SHIELD TO PAKEHA

Saturday’s rep. trials produced some good fotball, particularly in the Jackson Shield game between Maori and Pakeha, in which the Pakeha team succeeded for the first time in many years by 11 points to 8. In spite of the heavy rain during the week, the field was in great order and not unduly heavy. The gate takings for the /

benefit of injured players, exceeded £3O.

Pakeha Build Up Early Lead: Maori Team Fails With Late Sprint

Staging a devastating sprint over the closing stages of the Jackson Shield match, the ( Maori team went down to its first defeat in years by 11 points* to eight after a hard game in which the Pakeha side owed 8 of its points to McGougan’s boot. » Teams were:—

Maoi-i: Huta; Hakopa, T. Riini, Hohua; Bob Hudson, R. Crapp; Tahi Takau; H. Bluett, Ranapia (Capt), T. Crapp, P. Ratahi, Gardiner, Hona,' K. Merito, Te Pou. Pakeha: Welch; Laurie, Cave, McGo.ugan; Gbodwin, De Lacey; Debreceny; Mundy, Ball, Semmens, Cain, Crofskey, Rawson, Ruffles, Jensen.

From the outset it was apparent that the Maori side had an advantage so far as possession from the scrums and line-outs was concerned. Merito clearly shaded Ruffles as a hooker, but the latter showed up in the loose .as an enterprising forward, fit and reliable. In the early stages,, though Takau served well from the base of the scrum and played coolheaded football behind the line-outs and the rucks, the Maori backs failed to develop the understanding of each other’s play that makes for sound combination. Good movements frequently broke down in the five-eighths, where R. Crapp showed an early tendency to take too much responsibility and to run across field, crowding the threequarter line. Later in the game he played splendid Rugby in flashes that indicate he is on the point of striking top form. When given the chance, Riini and Hohua showed to advantage but the latter’s performance was patchy at times. Riini’s kicking contributed five points. Hakopa lacked opportunities to show real form.

The forwards, on both sides, were workers but the Maori pack owed a shade of advantage to the leadership of Ranapia, Merito’s hooking and Bluett’s opportunism. After half-time, there were some minor changes in positions and some variations in tactics, with the result that Bluett was more carefully marked by Mundy, and Debreceny had a better chance to feed out to a back line that worked reasonably well, with Goodwin, Laurie and Welch prominent. Cave, Pakeha captain and centre, was not at his best, his handling being below his usual standard. Though Huta, the young Maori Mil back, deserves full credit for a good display of sound football, Welch was undoubtedly his superior on the day, showing evidence of greater experience. Maybe a little more strength with the left boot would help, but otherwise there were few faults to find with the Pakeha custodian’s play. McGougan proved his worth with two fine penalty goals and a conversion, contributing eight of his side’s 11 points off a boot that must be valuable to any team. Laurie should have earned the electors’ consideration for 4 dashing game in the true wing three-quarter tradition, with a safe pair of hands and an uncanny sense of kicking direction. All the forwards Moiled well, with Semmens, Ball and Jensen often heading the rushes. Scorers:— Pakeha, 11 points: De Lacey, a try; McGougan, two penalty goals and a conversion. Maori 8 points: T. Crapp, a try; Riini a penalty goal and a conversion. Mr A. Mitchell was the referee.

Curtain-Raiser Spoiled By Lack Of Players

Failure of a number of the selected players to turn out rather spoiled the senior curtain-raiser as a rep trial. Both teams took the field three men short, a condition of affairs hardly fair to the players themselves or to the selectors. It is possible, however, that some of the absences were due to circumstances, outside the players’ own control. That, and only that, would make their staying away on such an occasion excusable. The A team won by 15 points to 5. Teams were:—

A Team: Goodall; McCready, Sisam,,Rust; Forbes, D. Black; Atarau; Dodds, Hunt, Fergusson, Bell, Butler.

B Team: Black; Rutherford, Martin, Merito; Lafferty, T. Takao; Hotene; R. Hakopa, Kopae, Linwood, Dines, Haldane. ~ The game was clean and open, but the five-man packs robbed it of a lot of its value from a selection point of view, changing the whole style of play.

Junior Rep Selections

The trial match for the Whakatane representative Junior team on Saturday showed up a lot of good players though the game itself was fairly ragged in patches. The combination of the Blue forwards with their weight and solid packing in the rucks gave them an advantage, over the white forwards. Superior play all along the Blue back line also told its tale. The team as it stands is a fair selection of the best in the junior grade in the SubUnion. The team will have its first read training run on May 30 and will be practising every Sunday from them on. It has been decided to give preference to any players that .attend the runs. The team selected is:—Chadwick Brown, T. Hohapata, Martin Shapley, Thatcher Goodwin Back Row, Sandham Taylor, Howat, Carling, Alcock Andrews, Hudson, Petty. Emergency backs: L. Henderson, H. Hohapata; forwards, Takotohiwa, Goodall.

United Senior Team

United’s Senior team to play Paroa at Whakatane on Saturday will be selected from Goodall, Rutherford, Cave, McGougan, Hohua, De Lacey, Debreceny, Gardiner, Stewart, Butler, Crofstey, Rolfe, Mundy, Dines, Ruffles, Goodall, Hollis, Collins, Morpeth, Boon, Hunt. The above players must all attend practice tonight.

Rangitaiki Rugby Results

Senior: Edgecumbe 6 beat Matata 3, Matahina 3 drew with Te Teko 3, Otakiri defaulted to Thornton. Junior: Edgecumbe 18 beat Otakiri 3, Matata 0 drew with Thornton 0. j Following is the points position to date:—■. Senior: Te Teko 7, Edgecumbe 5, Matahina, Matata, Thornton 4 each, Otakiri 0. Junior: Matata 6, Te Teko 4, Edgecumbe, Thornton 3 each, Otakiri 0.

Bay Of Plenty Rugby Union Discusses New Scrum And Potted Goal Rules

The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union discussed two matters that are of importance to local Rugby players at its annual meeting in Te Puke last week. One was the number of points allowed for a “potted” goal and the other was the new scrum rules.

A “potted” goal is now worth only three points in the place of the four allowed previously. The new scrum rule which the Union is leaving in abeyance until it is ratified by the N.Z.R.U. is as follows: —

Law 15 (1): It is illegal for a foot of any player, in either front row to touch the ball until it is fairly in or for a player to raise either foot or advance it beyond the line midway between and parallel to the lines of feet forming each'front row until the ball has left the hands of the player putting it in.

The far foot of the second player of each front row on the side on which -the ball is being put in and the 'feet of the player beyond may be raised and advanced as soon as the ball has left the hands of the player putting it in. The outside foot of the first player of each row on the side on which the ball is being put in shall be permitted to follow the ball into the scrummage,, but shall not touch it until it has been touched by one of the first-mentioned feet.

No other foot may be raised or advanced until the ball has been touched by one of those same firstmentioned feet.