RUGBY FOOTBALL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 220, 14 August 1939, Page 1

RUGBY FOOTBALL

GREAT DAY FOR OPOTIKI RETURN OF THE “SHIFid)” OPOTIKI G: TAIII.LNOA o. The Opotiki Rugby representatives journeyed to Tauranga on Friday evening, to lie fresh for the game against Tauranga for To Hurinui Apanui Memorial Shield game on Saturday afternoon. At the commencement ef the game the ground was wet and slippery although overhead conditions looked favourable. However, a heavy, downpour 10 minutes alter starting spoilt what promised toi be an open game. Tauranga won the toss a lull pjayed with the wind and sun behind them. Shortly J-Tom .a scrum Shalloon sent Jones away with a nice pass. Jones cut through and a try looked certain. Imt Milmere was tripped, ; ml Walker coming up last ■from centre, to take the pass was going in the wrong direction and rau into trouble with Starkey waiting for the pass. The heavy shower now changed conditions, the ball becoming wet and slippery, and the ground greasy. From new on tin* game was practically a lorward one with Tauranga having the advantage. During the first half the home side scored near the posts, and converted, making the "Core o— U. On changing over Opotiki woke up a I>it. and excepting one or two da.-di-es by Tauranga, they had much the best of tlie play. iFarly in the spell AI aui Delamere goaled from a penalty, making Tauranga 5. .Opotiki. J. The Opotiki forwards were playing well in the loose and made repeated dashes to laiirauga’s line, and only want <4: <ontrol at the critical moment hot them good chances of: scoring. A tew minutes before time the ball, came to Jones from a tight scrum near Tauranga’,s line and it was -passed 'across held until dropped by C. Walker who dribbled across tor Shalloon to score in a handy position. The kick; missed, making the score, Opotiki l>. 'I auranga 5. Tauranga rushed up to kick-off hut when the hall found tench time was ip, and great excitement amongst Opotiki supporters made the team realise they bad won the Shield. “Excitement” does not express the outburst of fooling as Opotiki supporters were under a tense restraint until right on time. No member of the Opotiki team, can he singled cut for special mention, each man doing his best under the conditions. There was a noticeable difference in the typo oi game usually played! by the Opotiki iorwards. 'I hoy did not combine sc> effectively in the si rummaging in rucks and line-outs, lotting Taiiranga’s fast-breaking forwards down on to our hacks as soon its the hall, with the consoi|nonce that the hacks took sonic' hard humps, and were unable to show their best. I here will need to In' a change in tactics if Opotiki is to successfully defend the Shield against Rotorua and Rangitniki as both teams have good sets oi iorwards, and only good foam work on the part of our forwards will lioldi the Shield.