TOLAGA BAY GAMES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22341, 28 May 1947, Page 8

TOLAGA BAY GAMES

FIRST ROUND CONCLUDES SUCCESS OF TAKAPAU The last matches in the first round of the Thornton Cup competition were played at Tolaga Bay on Saturday. In an evenly-contested game, in which solid tackling on both sides broke up some fine passing movements, Takapau defeated Tauiti by a converted try to one unconverted. Country accounted for Tauwharcparae by a converted try to nil. Takapau-llauili Struggle Both Takapau and Hauiti had hitherto been undefeated, Hauiti were certainly unlucky to lose as they showed better cohesion and initiative than their opponents ancl won the ball from the majority of the scrums. A fairly heavy shower shortly after the commencement tended to slow up the game, and although conditions underfoot were fair with the sandy nature of the soil, yet the ball soon became greasy and difficult to control with the result, that many mistakes were made in handling. Hauiti on every occasion endeavoured to make the game open and had it been a fine day their tactics would have had better results. Actually on the trend of play a draw would have been a better indication of the merits of the teams. A feature of the game was the sterling back play of B. Brown who. together with T. Blakely, made a formidable combination that cut through the Takapau defence on many occasions. lan James for Takapau was called upon frequently in a defensive roll and it was to his credit that several likely movements bv the Hauiti inside pair were smothered. Con Nelson was not so prominent as usual, but his try under the posts left the opposition standing, and he had. no difficulty with the conversion. B. Brown scored for Hauiti but missed with an easy kick. All the noints were scored in the first spell. Mr. Bert Stewart was the referee. Country v. Tauwharcparae

Another keenly contested game was witnessed between Country and Tauwhareparac. The only score occurred in the first spell. It resulted from a movement initiated by Tautau. who passed to Mauiarore for the latter to make a fast sprint into the White's 25, draw his man and inpass to Tuheke, who ran around behind the posts to score. ,J. Crawford converted. Country 5. The rest of the game developed into a duel between the Country backs and the hard-working Tauwhareparae pack who upset many Country passing bouts by interception and dribbling tactics. The green backs tried to handle the creasy ball in some snappy movements, but over-eagerness spoilt their efforts. ,T. Mauiarore, Rangi Brown, and M. Tuheke had the crowd on their toes at different periods in their attempts to cut through the defence, but they could not make any impression. The Country backs were well supported by their forwards from whom it was difficult to pick out any one who shone above their team-mates. R. Lincoln played his usual versatile game for the Whites and he was well supported bv Hooper and Donald. D. McNeil led the Tauwhareparae pack inspiringly. Mr. Bert Moles was referee