FOOTBALL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 241, 14 June 1928, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

Putaruru 11, Tokoroa 0. Referee: Mr. A. Henderson. The above match, played at Tokoroa, was fast, open and willing from start to finish. Tokoroa were greatly strengthened by the inclusion of Harrison, Douglas, Wereta and McCrea. Putaruru kicked off and after an exchange of kicking, offside play by Wallace gave Putaruru a free kick which put Tokoroa on the defence, where play lingered for a time. Douglas set the black and white backs going, carrying play upheld. Brown followed a long punt, which the black and white fullback failed to gather, and taking the ball neatly cn the bounce at full pace, and running from halfway scored behind the pests. Morton added the extra points. Harrison fielded the ball after the restart, and set a sparkling passing rush in motion, but what looked like a score j for the black and whites was mar- j red by Taylor, who failed to hold Me- j Crea’s pass. Quarter time: Putarufli i 5, Tokoroa 0. The second quarter opened with ! fast and willing play, the passing rushes on both sides giving the spectators something worth watching. The Putaruru forwards packed their scrum on the three-four style and were thus getting possession of the ball, and W. Rossitter, who played a j great game at half, was able to set | the light and speedy backs going. The : tackling of the home side, however, ! was so good that there was no score in this quarter. Second quarter: Pu- • taruru 5, Tokoroa 0.

This quarter, like the second, warplayed with plenty of dash, Tokoroa making great efforts to score, and indulging in some good passing rushes. In this spell Putaruru had three attempts at goal from penalties, but were not successful in getting the ball between the uprights;- With the play in Tokoroa 25, Rossitter picked up out of a loose scramble and after cutting through several players passed to Taite, who scored. Paterson failed with the kick. Third quarter: Putaruru 8, Tokoroa 0. The last quarter was full of interest throughout, the ball travelling up and down the field, with both teams all out. Sound tackling on both sides nullified many promising movements. Brown put in a great run from halfway and when clear of all opposition kicked. The ball, however, went into touch, when it looked like a certain score for the blacks. Tn the closing stages of the game a bPck passing rush saw Paterson score the final try which W. Rossitter failed to convert. Putaruru, 1 converted try, 2 tries, 11 points; Tokoroa, nil. Arapuni 12, Pacific 6. Arapuni gained a meritorious victory over Pacific on Saturday, on the second meeting of these teams, thus reversing the result of the first game. The teams lined out as follows: Arapuni.—Fullback, Penny; threequarters, Rapson, Logan, Cullen; fiveeighths, McDonald, Lee; half, Robertson; rover, Balcher; forwards, Logan, McPherson, Redfern, Smith, McClelland, Brown and Parker. Pacific.—Fullback, Bullot; threequarters, Tanirau, Sol, Puku; fiveeighths, Waretine, Nuku; half, Bellringer; rover, Kerr; forwards, Kiri, Wheatley, Otene, Scotty, Urlich, Hodge, Barry. Referee: Mr. A. Graham.

Wild passing by Robertson and McDonald lost a good position for the greens at the commencement, and Tanirau securing, ran strongly from 25 to 25, bumping several players off on the way. From a free the same player failed with a good attempt from the touch line. Bellringer from a scrum served Waretine, who cut in and gained 40 yards. The green pack worked back to the line, but the Maoris wheeled the scrum and rushed play to midfield. Waretine and Sol then interpassed cleverly and got to the comer flag, where a touch down

resulted. Good following from the kick by Belcher and Logan saw Arapuni attack, Logan having a couple of shots at goal without success. Logan and McDonMd interpassed and a score seemed likely when Tanirau intercepted to halfway. The spell then ended without score.

A barging run by Taute Brown opened the second quarter, and following a free which Logan missed at midfield, the forwards set up a rush. Bullot badly misjudged the bounce of the ball and Belcher following fast scored. Logan again failed to augment.

After desultory play at midfield Ware tin • inched up in the loose and with a sharp swerve beat half-a-dozen c. fenders. Running Resolutely from h: iVn\, he had sufficient pace to read the line and scoie. Bullot missed a a easy kick. In the blue 25, 'Waretine pick* d up and served Tinarnu, who ran 50 yards, but had not sufficient pace to got clear. At the ether end Belcher set his backs in motion from a line-out, but the cetitro dropped his pass at the critical moment. Following a miss at goal by McPherson, Logan took another free and goaled. Half-time: Arapuni 6 points, Pacific 3. The blues opened out on the restart and the ball shot along the line to the left, where Sol cut in but his pass to Hodge was forwaid. Belcher next intercepted a pass from the line-out, but was overhauled when dangerous. The greens kept at it, and Robinson set his backs going to see the ball flash along the line for Belcher to

take the final prss and score. Th • same player failed to convert. Shortly afterwards Belcher again

got awry, by taking a wild pass, and serving Brown the latter crossed. This kick was also missed. The spell then ended with the score: Arapuni 12, Pacific 3.

Barry marked the kick-off, but lacked out. Offside play by Hodge saw Penny fail with the kick. The Maoris were now playing very erratically, and a back amazed everyone by running the ball out from behind and then politely centreing put most of his team offside. In the last few minutes the blues rallied somewhat, and Tanirau made desperate efforts to force a win. From a free near half way he goaled, and later he ran from his own 25 to his opponents’ line, where he was caught with the ball. Time was called with me score: Arapuni, 1 penalty goal, 3 tries, 12 points; Pacific, 1 penalty goal, 1 try, G points. Comments. The Pacific team started the game in fine style, the ball being kept well in the open and it looked as if they might win by a fair margin. At this stage the passing of Robertson and McDonald was very wild. The latter, however, settled down somewhat, while the Maori passing went to pieces and far too many passes were intercepted. There is no doubt that the blues are handicapped by having such a light pack, and it is to the forwards that Arapuni owe their victory. Led by Logan and Belcher they proved tireless workers, and frequently barged their Way through those opposed to them. Robertson and McDonald made a welcome reappearance for the greens but their form was much below that which they showed last season.

For Pacific, Bullot was not as impressive as usual.' Waretine improves with every game, and with Tanirau stood out throughout. Both gave the impression of being not quite fit, however. The team as a whole appeared to be too eager and while some sparkling play was indulged in there was much bad play which was taken full advantage of by the more stolid Arapuni team.