TE ARAWA BEATEN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 343, 3 October 1932, Page 6

TE ARAWA BEATEN

MORRINSVILLE HAVE TWO POINT MARGIN IN FAST GAME A BRIGHT EXHIBITION Billed as big football, the game between Morrinsville and Te Arawa, at Arawa Park on Saturday, lived up to the name. A very large attendance of spectators witnessed the match which was a sterling exhibition of vigorous rucking and spectacular back play and produced many thrills. Both sides played clean and interesting football from the first kick-off to the final whistle, which found the visitors with a narrow margin to win 8-6. The losers should have scored at least three more tries in the first half for on three occasions, scoring chances were thrown away through knocking on. The visitors showed great team work and combination with mutual understanding of each other's play; a notable feature was the fine spirit in which the game was played. The teams lined out as follows: — Morrinsville: A. Cameron, J. Harnett, J. Aitken, M. Anderson, A. Robson, W. Cameron, G. Bowden, A. Carter, G. Reynolds, J. Headley, Alex Cameron, G. Frear, C. Roach, C. Cameron, G. Leeson. Te Arawa. R. Waerea, Moses, K. Corbett, T. Waerea, N. Steele, H. Potaka, G. Mitchell, P. Taiapa, Te Purei, Solomon, W. Scott, H. Mackie. The Play For the first ten minutes of the game, play remained in Morrinsville's (blue) territory with neither side gaining any material advantage until Mackie broke through from a lineout and supported by Moses took play to the visitors' 25 where the latter was run out.

Offside pl&y °n both sides, saw a duel of line kicking between W. Cameron and Taiapa which' ended by R. Waerea finding the line in Blues' 25. From there, Potaka started a Te Arawa (white) passing rush which reached the visitors' line but the movement was spoilt by Corbett knocking on. Smart tackling by Steele, frustrated an attempt by Aitken to intercept and offside play gave the Whites a shot which went wide. Carrying on, the visitors quickly transferred play to half-way where Mitchell secured from a scrum and sent to Potaka who kicked and fast following up by the White forwards compelled the visitors to force. Whites continued to press and from a scrum in their opponents' 25 Steele secured and sent a pass to Potaka who with a well judged kick found the line in the corner. The Whites won the ensuing lineout but Corbett failed to hold his pass and allowed the blue forwards to break through with the ball at the toe. Mackie, however, went down to a rush and held the play at halfway. Mitchell received from the scrum and sent to T. Waerea who was responsible for a great dash but an infringement terminated the movement, a scrum being ordered five yards from the Blues' line. The visitors hooked the ball, W. Cameron clearing with a nice kick, which was taken on the full by R. Waerea who transferred to Steele who was quickly grassed, losing possession of the ball. Led by A. Cameron and Roach the visiting pack broke away with the ball at the toe and took plfry to Whites' territory where offside play by Allen saw W. Cameron make an unsuccessful attempt at goal. From the twenty-five kick the White forwards with a great dribbling rush carried play to the visitors' line where the ball was knocked on. The First Try An 80yds kick by. Cameron transferred the play to the home 25 where from a lineout, Bowden received the ball and sent to-W. Cameron to Robson to Aitken, the latter making a brilliant eut-in to score behind the posts. W. Cameron added the minor points. Morrinsville 5, Te Arawa 0. White retaliated with short passing rushes started by Potaka but lack of support in finishing off, caused the movements to terminate, Blues being compelled to force. Following up a kick from half-way, Potaka gained possession but was brought down in front of the posts. Offside play by Blues saw R. Waerea make no mistake with the kick. Morrinsville 5, Te Arawa 3. Just before half -time, the visitors backs initiated a passing rush which reached Whites' territory. Failing to go low, Corbett allowed his opponents through and Whites were forced back to the line where hard scrummaging ensued. However, the Blues knocked on and a scoring chance was lost, R. Waerea receiving from the scrum and clearing with a nice kick. Second Spell In the second spell, Blues started vigorously and were responsible ,for many .snappy passing rushes but good tackling by the home side nullified their efforts. A good kick by Waerea which found the line in Blues' corner commenced a scoring movement and after hard scrummaging on the line, Scott went across. Taiapa's kick was a good effort but fell short. Te Arawa 6, Morrinsville 5. The visitors second try was the result of a passing rush in their 6pponents' 25, the opening being made by Aitken who drew the defence - before transferring to Anderson, who scored. The kick failed. Morrinsville 8, Te Arawa 6. There was little, between the teams in the remainder of the game although the visitors showed cohesion between the backs and forwards while their opponents' pack dominated in the open play. The visitors kicking was more effective and often found the opposing full-baek out of position. ■Of the Rotorua backs, Potaka, Mitchell, Steele and R. Waerea were the piek, while in the forwards, Mackie was the leader of a fine pack. For the winners, Aitken, W. Cameron, Bowden, Robson, Leeson, A. Cameron and Roach were always prominent. Mr. R. G. Webb had control of the game.