TE AUTE'S THIRD WIN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 191, 30 August 1937, Page 13

TE AUTE'S THIRD WIN

Our Own Correspondent,

Week-end Inter-CoIIege Rugby at Waipukurau 'VARSITY BEATEN

From

WAIPUKURAU. Last Night. At Central Park yesterday the Te Aute College feam continued on their (vinning way, takmg down Yictoria College to the tune of eix points to three. In last year's fixture Te Aute piled up the convittcing score of 29 to five. This year they might well have gone the same gait had they heen able to finish off many of "the promising moves that took them right to the goal line. Though slow on attack, however, the Wellington team proved hard to get through, tackling well and gping down on the ball gamely to stop rushes. The weather was fine but overcast, and the field tended to heaviness on aecount of recent rains. Speetators saw one of the best games of the season. The teams were:— Te Aute (red)s A. Bota, C. Taite, Murray, Jforthcroft, Whaanga^ L. Kainamu, K. Kaanga, Tamahori, A. Wanoa, G. Marsden, M. Karaka, W. Haimona. Rang^ M. Raiireti (capj;), and Bangawhenua. 'Varsity (green) : A. Hoy, T. Robertson, McElhinney, R. Hermans, Lee, T. Mulvey, J. Williams, T, Jowett, R. Adams, T. Berendsen, L. Ward, R. Webb, J. Bullock, C. Gates, A. Gordon (capt). All the Te Aute backs played. well. but it is almost certain that the score would have been greater in tlieir favour had not Kaanga, the half, struck a bad patch of wild passea iu the second half. True, Kainamu was standing a bit far out, but Kaanga's passes to the five-eighths were far too low and often badly directed. Taite and Northcroft, the wingiers, both showed speed and tackled hard and low when necessary. In fact, low, clean tackling, was a pleasing feature of the match. It is rare enough in local Rugby to win the hearty applause of a Central Hawke's Bay crowd. Kaanga and Whaanga were outstanding in the first half, with Murray doing a lot of solid work atv centre. The forwards, as usual, were trained to concert pitch, and went the full distance without a sign of flagging. Marsden, Wanoa and Raureti were the leaders 'Varsity's Dour struggle. 'Varsity staged. a dour struggle against a lighter and altogether brighter team. By comparison with the speedy thrust of their opponents tlieir backs were painfully slow. Williams, 'Varsity's half, and Mulvey (second five-eighth) were the best attacking players, and one cannot help thinking the side would liave gone ■ mucli better had Mulvey beeji brought in beside the half in place of Lee, who was far too slow off the mark for his position and whose irresponsible kicking- spoiled a lot of useful opportunities. Further along the line, with less responsibility, Lee would probably have heen much more usefult but the fast-moving Maoris obviously had him bustled. Adams .was doing a splendid job of hooking in the front row of the scrum, gettirig his side much tlie greater share of the ball. Berendsen was the outstanding loose forward in the Wellington pack, with Bullock, Ward, and Webb also prominent at times. Taken all round, however, the forwards lacked the sting that has characterised their opponents in all their inter-college games this 6eason. Out to win, and pressing hard all the time, Te Aute started at top pace, and the first fivo minutes showed that their backs were on form and xueant to give a bright display. Away they went, in sweeping style, to carry play almos.t t.o the goal-line. Less than ten minutes from the kick-off, Taite, gathering a rolling ball, sent Whaangja over near the corner, but Hai mona's kick falled. Then the forwards took a hand, and the whole team combined in a passing movement reminiscent of the style of play of English touring sides. Several attempts were made to get across, but he defenders knew how to stop rushes, and held out well nntil the attacking forwards dropped the ball at their toes and dribbled it across for Marsden to score. Again Haimona failed to raise the flags. With the 6core agiainst them piling up, things looked bad for 'Varsity, but they rallied splendidly, Mulvey and McElhinney combining well to work play upfield. A scrimmage within the Te Aute 25 gave Williams a scoring eliance. He slithered through thq ruck with Mulvey and Berendsen iu close attendance. Mulvey took a short pass and carried on till ltota brought him down. Berendsen dived for it as Mulvey let go, and scored 'Varsity's only try, Avhich Hoy failed to convert. Play Iniproves in Second Half. Afler halftime 'Varsity went better, and Williams doing great defepsive the forwards playing with more life, work. His rush-stopping abilities, together with a tendency to wild passing that Kaangia was developing at this stage, were the factors that stopped Te Aute from adding to the tally. With Berendsen in the lead, the heavier 'Varsity pack was now holding its own in the loose play, and consistently getting the ball from the loose scrums. Tho greens managed to hold the territorial advantage for a time, and sliould have scored but fnr many tactical blunders in a backline who seemed to lack the quick appreciation of a scoring opportunity. Mulvey and Williams were doing great work, and Herman was showing fiashes of form now that he was getting more of the ball. Williams, Mulvey and Berendsen were tlie only opportunists of the side and the latter very nearly equalised the seore when he broke through. the defence and tore for the line witb Taite and Bota in liot pursuit. Within five yards of his obieetivt> tfi© hfid-

worked forward "punctured," to be overtaken and downed before any of his team-mates could get up In eupport. In the closing stages, condition told, and Te Aute regained the ascendancy in all departments. The forwards were now getting pienty of the hali from the set scrums, but Kainamu was standing too far out to take Kaanga's passes, which were dropping too low. The second half yielded no further score, and the game closed with Te Aute doservingj winners. Te Aute 6; 'Varsity 3. Mr D. Frederickson refereed. Junior match: In a junior match. Porangahau 14 beat Te Aute 8.