REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 239, 30 May 1932, Page 5

REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY

ROTORUA DEFEATED taupo secures six roints victory qn home " ground VISITORS' FAULT-Y TACKLING . The Rotorua Rugby represeqtatives were defeated hy Taupo Taupo, in the first representative fixture of the season on Saturday, by 18 (three converted trjes and a try)" to 12 (three tries and a pepalty). " The teams lined out as follpws : — ■

Tau|Jo (Light Blue) Baclcs: H. R.ameka, J. Reid, A. Garlick, L. Seott, L. Pitiroi, 'G. Reid, - S- Poi. ' , ; " Forwards: K. Rameka, C. Dennett, D. Maniapoto, E- Jones, N. Tepara, I. Montgomeri&, T. Pitiroi, S.~ Tu^ para. "L v Rotorua (Black) Backs: Sutherland,' T. Morrisop, T. Waerea, Sullivan, P. K-ukume* N. Steele, T. Thompson. Forwards: R. Waerea, Heke, Te Ngaio, Leonard, B. Rogers, Poland, ' , R. Thompson, Archer. Rotorua's paclc was heqvier than Taupo's and was also superior, gaining possession of the ball in the majority of the scrums. But this was off set by a superiority in-Tqupo's--back line, who showed a semhlance ' ; of combination and taekled exceed? ingly well. Taupo is also fortunate - in having the services of L. Scott, an ex-Auckland League represepta? tive, who scored three tries out of a total of four, all in good pOsitions. Tauno's fast baclcs at times, too, Iiterally over-ran the Rotqru'x team, . and once Scott got away, none of tke Rotorua hacks could get, near him. Disgraceful Tackling Another factor which allowed Taupo's score to mount was the disgraceful tackling by Rotorua. AImost without exception Taupo's four tries could have been prevented if the visiting side's defence had been *- up to the mark. The sooner the Ro- " torua team learns that round the • neck is not the place to taelde an op- ■ ponent, the better for its chances of winning representative fixtures. Taupo also excelled Rotorua in . following up, and were often enabled . to gain possession by bustling the Rotorua backs, so that their passes went astray. It took the Rotorua team all of the first half to get settled down, although. this, of course, was largely due to the fact that they got off the bus just before playing. In the second half they played with more combination and far greater determination. The forwards all played well and battled Jiard._ The •* backs were greatly hindered by offside play hy the Taupo forwards, who time and time again came round the scrum before the ball came out and were on to Thompson before he could get the hall away, the referee showing an unf ortunate laxity in not penalising these offenders. In this way the Rotorua backs never seemed to get going properly, although they did quite well in the' second half against strong opppsition. But the tackling was so bad that several times Tauno scored when , good tackling would have prevented it. If the Rotorua backs had even reproduced their form in club football, the result might have heen different. For the winners, L. Scott and the Reid brothers were outstanding in . the backs. Garlick's place-kicking * was good, but otherwise his play was not out of the ordinary. In the forwards, E. Jones and K. Rameka played well. Hard-Working Pack For Rotorua, T. Waerea and Morrison were always prominent, and both were unfortunate not to score. * Kukume and Waera would probably have been seen to greater advantage if the ball had come out better. T. Thompson (half) did his best, although continually harassed 'by the Taupo forwards who played off-sidp. Of a hard-working pack perhaps Leonard and Brennan were outstaxjding. Archer and R. Thompson did good work in the second spell, whileTe Ngaio did his fair share of the tight work.

Taupo won the toss. There was a stiff breeze across the field, and in the first half, the sun was also shining across the field. After some- play in Taupo's twenty-five, G. Reid (Taupo), at second five-eighth, received the ball, and had tackling ql- t iowed him to get the length of the - field. He touched down, but was called back, as he. had run out near •* the twenty-five line. From the lineout, Poi (Taupo) set his backs go- #- ing, and a painful exhibition of ta'ck- " ling by the Rotorua backs allowed k. Rameka to score after being taekled by Sullivan right' on the line. Garlick was suceessful with the easy kick. Taupo 5, Rotorua nil. Shortly afterwards another Taupo passing rush brought play down the field, but J. Reid -was forced out when within a few yards of the- goalline. Ragged Play At this stage, Taupo were playing a much brighter type of football than Rotorua, who had not settled down properly. Rotorua's play was very ragged, and the ground gained by the forwards or by line-lcicking was soon lost hy indecision and weak attempts to taekle the speedy Taupo thre'enuarters. whose promising looking

movements more than once nearly resulted in seores. Rotorua's forwards did some good worlc when R. Waerea gained possession in a loose scrum and punted toward the line. Following up kard Jie caught Taupo's fullback witli the hall, and the pack swept up the field with the hall at toe. A passing rush ensued, but a eertain try was lost hy a forward pass in front of the goalposts. Play went from one end of the field to the other, hoth fullbacks using their line to good effect. „ Taupo's rearguard were then associated in a good rush, but, Gaylipk ran out when in sight of a try. Fj-om the line-out, the hall went oqt to L. Seott (on Taupo's wing), who cleverly dummied his way past Sullivan and Sutherland to seore in a good position. Garliclc again eonyerted. Taupo 10, Rotorua nil. ■ Shortly before half-time two Rotorua players were injured. Heke sustained a kick on the knee and had to go off, Brennan taking his place. Jqst afterwards, Archer received a kick (Continued pn Pa^e 6, Column 1) ... J

REP. RUGBY

(Continued.) on the back of the head, and was knocked out for a few seconds, but was able to continue. Waerea put in a great run just before the whistle, going the length of the field to be tackled near Taupo's line. The spell ended with the score 10 — 0 in favour of Taupo. More Determination In the second half, Rotorua played with more determination and combined to better effect. The scrum was changed round to allow Thompson to act as a free lance, to combat the tendency for off-side play of the Taupo forwards, but even this change did not prevent the latter from clustering round Thompson and Steele before the ball was properly out of the scrum. Play was even faster and more willing than in the first half. When near half-way, J. Reid (Taupo) cross-kicked to the open field, brit Morrison came up hard, and taking the ball on the full raced down the side-line and punted tne ball over the fullback's head. Waerea followed the ball over the line to touch down in the eorner. Sullivan had no chance with a difficult kick. I Taupo 10, Rotorua 3. Rotorua further increased their score a few minutes later, when Taupo were penalised for an infringe- i ment in their own twenty-five. Morrison cross-kicked, Leonard followed up fast, and, the ball going across Taupo's line, beat several of the opposing backs to touch down for Rotorua's second try near the corner. _ Morrison's kick against the wind | went wide. Taupo 10, Rotorua 6. At this time, Rotorua were playing with great dash and spirit, and it seemed quite likely that they wonld turn the tables on Taupo. T. Morrison and T. Waera were outstanding, both on attack and defence. Lead Increased From a scrum in Rotorua's twentyfive, Thompson passed to Steele, who punted down field, followed up and tackled Taupo's fullback (H. Raureka) in possession. Rotorua's pack took the ball into Taupo's territory, and made repeated attempts to score, ' Morrison being held up when almost over. The situation was saved when a Taupo forward punted well up the field, Sutherland finding the line. Determined serummaging followed, but play returned to half-way, when several Rotoroa forwards broke through with the ball at toe. The Rotorua backs got going but a dropped pass gave L. Scott a chance which he had been eagerly watching for. He snapped up the ball, 'easily evaded Sutherlands weak attempt to tackle, and scored in a good position. The kick -Po-nori Tmrnn 13. Rotorua 6.

With only a few minutes to go, another try by Scott placed Taupo in a strong position. The Rotorua pack had Taupo penned in their own twenty-five, and it loked as if the visitors must score, when Scott brilliantly intercepted a pass from Kukume, and with a friendly pat on the shoulder from Sutherland to speed him on his way, easily outran the Rotorua rearguard to score his third try right under the posts. Garliclc made no mistake with the kick. Taupo 18, Rotorua 6. Rotorua's supporters had now lost all hope of victory, but in the last four minutes a determined effort to reduce the margin resulted in six points being added to Rotorua's score. From a scrum near half-way the Rotorua backs got going, and T. Waerea made an excellent opening to pass to R. Thompson, who grounded under the posts. Morrison missed the easy kick. Taupo 18, Rotorua 9. Shortly afterwards, Sutherland managed to land a great goal from a pen-!, alty well out, a difficult kick in the;; fading light. A few moments later ; ihe game ended, making the final j score:— j Taupo «■ 18 | Rotorua - 12 i Mr. Lionel Dixon was the ref eree. J