Te Teko Beats Matata In Rugby Match Lacking Bright Back Movement

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 54, 11 June 1948, Page 5

Te Teko Beats Matata In Rugby Match Lacking Bright Back Movement

If Rugby fans who turned out to see Te Teko beat Matata 3—o on Saturday expected an exciting struggle they were disappointed. The game lacked open back play.

On the few occasions when the respective halves attempted to get the ball away, fast-breaking forwards broke up the movement or prevented; the ball from passing the first five-eighths. The inside backs on both sides indulged in persistent kicking, sometimes badly directed, and the centre and wings seldom saw the ball. Chief offender in this respect was J. Ratima, first fiveeighths for Te Teko. Instead of feeding a fast back line he kicked persistently. Although Raureti of Matata made valiant efforts to get his backs going, they rarely got moving properly, being either smothered by Te Teko forwards or handling badly. In the forwards the struggle, especially in the second half, was very willing, both packs working well in some torrid exchanges. During the first half, Te Teko had a decided territorial advantage and spent most of the time in Matata territory. Play however, -.was very ragged and Te Teko could not finish off any of its attacking movements. After having missed one penalty, Pope, the'Te Teko full back, raised the flags with another in front of the posts. In the second half Matata rallied but play was soon back in their own territory. Penalties to Matata were not taken advantage of, the distance being too great for M. Lees’ usually accurate boot. The last twenty minutes were the most exciting as Matata made frantic efforts to even the score, but the game ended without further points being added by either side. Te Teko 3, Matata 0. In the Te Teko team, players who stood out were Pope, with accurate fielding and long line kicks, and Franks, with speedy running and backing up. The forwards all played well, L. Hall perhaps shading the others.

In the Matata team Raureti, at half, played his usual heady game, Mr Lees gained ground with clever line kicks and G. Burt, at centre, with speedy swerving runs when chances came his way. In the Matata pack D. Schuster and J. Marr were always on the ball and the rest worked hard in rucks and tight. Matata tackling on many occasions was not up to senior standard.

GALATEA RUGBY REPS TO PLAY RANGITAIKI

The following is the senior Rugbyteam which has been selected to represent the Galatea • Sub-Union against Rangitaiki at Te Teko on June 19:— Lamb (Rua) Ruri (Te Wh), S. Higgins (Gal), Biddle (K’roa) Shepherd (K’roa) Capt, Wharepapa (Gal) Carlson (K’roa) York (K’roa) . Rangi (Mur), Smythe (Rua), Hiroden (Mur), Maxwell (Wkao) Christie (Rua), Wilson (Gal), Pouwhare (Waio) Emergencies: Forwards, Honatana (Wkao), Rutene (Ming); backs, M. Hill (Ming), Hata (Wkao). At a meeting of the Galatea SubUnion’s management committee during the week-end, it was decided that a Junior Rep team will go to Te Teko with the Seniors on June 19. Mr Goldsberry, Te Whaiti, was appointed manager. There will be a Junior trial match on the Rangitaiki ground tomorrow at 1.30 p.m. It ' was recommended that the Bird Trophy be played as a knockout competition. Games missed in the first round are to be played at the end of the second round.

Two medals were donated for Senior representatives, one for the best defensive back, the other for the best forward in tight play. Kaingaroa Win Cup In Seven-A-Side Tourney Winners of the seven-a-side senior Rugby tournament played at Murupara on Monday, Kaingaroa A will hold the Creamer Memorial Cup for the season. ScoreS were:—

First Round: Minginui B 3 Kaing,aroa C 0, Kaingaroa A 3. Galatea 0, Minginui A 5 Kaingaroa B 3, Ruatahuna B 6 Te Whaiti 3, Wairapakao B 6 Murupara B 3. Second Round: Kaingaroa A 34 Minginui B 0, Minginui A 6 Ruatahuna B 3, Murupara A 6 Wairapakao B 3, Wairapakao A 15 Ruatahuna A 0.

Semi-final: Kaingaroa A 1.9 Minginui A 3, Wairapakao A 5 Murupara A 3. Final: Kaingaroa A 11 Wairapakao A 9.