Rugby

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 53, 7 June 1950, Page 5

Rugby

Rangitaiki Wins Cup Rugby Match 23-6 From Whakatane

Lack of team work and an apparent ignorance of the elementaryprinciples of Rugby lost Whakatane the.Dunderdale Cup when they were defeated in a rather dull representative sub-union match at Te Teko on Monday by Rangitaiki to the tune of 23 points (4 tries, one converted, three penalty goals J to six (two penalty goals). While one team played far below a standard ever expected of it the other, Rangitaiki, showed fine team work and players were not slow to take advantage of opportunities offering.

The brains behind the Rangitaiki team was obviously the first fiveeighth, Sullivan, who showed amazing speed and a brilliant sidestep. He was a constant danger and at least two tries came from moves started by him. The other backs were very sound and generally made more of what was given them than their Whakatane counterparts. At full back Schuster was safe and very sure while in the three-quarters Newdick was the star and showed his value to any team by scoring a fine opportunist try and kicking four goals. Mexted had a tussle with Rutherford and both came out about even. Savage linked well with Sullivan while behind the scrum N. Raureti, brother of the Maori All Black, showed glimpses of really fine pfay and was more impressive than G. Stewart, the Whakatane half. The forwards outplayed Whakatane. They won lineouts, scrums and rucks and hunted together as a pack. Moses and Falwasser supported .by Lang were hard workers while the hooker, B. Pryor, showed promise when he outhocked the Bay of Plenty hooker, Anderson.

Of the Whakatane team it was difficult to find where the trouble lay although trouble there was. The forwards failed to combine in scrums, lineouts and rucks and generally showed a lack of understanding. There was no attempt to hook the ball in rucks and when the ball did come out service from the scrums was very slow. Hurran had a djfficult time marking Sullivan. Qp the wings Rutherford was a keen trier but he was closely watched by Mexted. McGougan had few opportunities while Welch at full back was not the player that Whakatane people know. He was off his game through a painful injury to the ribs received in previous games.

Among the forwards Gardiner and Ratahi worked hard while Howat and Tait kept on the ball. However, most forward moves were more of an individual nature and often lapsed through lack of support.

The game was not particularly inspiring to watch and while no credit can be taken frbm Rangir taiki’s deserved win the big difference in scores could probably be summed up in the remarks of one spectator: “It is not that Rangitaiki is so good but that Whakatane is so bad.”

The match was played before a large crowd in fine weather. Scorers for Rangitaiki were: Tries, Mexted (2), Newdick, Lang, one converted by Newdick, 'three penalty goals by Newdick. For Whakitane McGougan kicked two penalty goals. Referee, Mr B. Smith.