RUGBY FOOTBALL

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 26, 9 July 1952, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

IGARRETT iSHIELD Matches played on June 29. United 91 v. Oruanui 0* Waitahanui 9 v. Maroa 8. The game between Waitahanui and Maroa which was played at Maroa proved to be a very even tussle right to the final whistle. Both teams played bright open football with some good back movements on both sides. Waitahanui opened the scoring when from a dribbling rush M. Mihinui scored near the touch line, the kick failing. Half time came with the score unchanged at 3-0. Early in the second half R. Biddle put Waitahanui further ahead by scoring a try after the inside backs had made ,an opening. Maroa retaliated five minutes later with a strong forward rush which resulted in a try converted by T. Tohara. Shortly after this, Ron Crabbe gave Maroa the lead when he received the ball from his five-eighths and potted a neat goal with a long kick. Waitahanui 6, Maroa 8. There was Iittle time left, and Waitahanui was facing their first defeat of the season, but they attacked strongly and shortly before the final whistle a scrum went down close to Maroa's goal .line. The ball came out quickly to Loughlin, who dashed inside his opposing fiveeighths for a splendid try. The whistle went soon after with Waitahanui the winners by 9 points to 8. The match at Taupo between Oruanui and United was a clean game and it resulted in a decisive victory for United by three tries 9 points to nil in spite of the fact that they played with only 14 men throughout. Soon after the start D. Tomoana, the United half stepped round the scrum and dashed through to score. Their second score shortly before ha'lf time came from a forward rush in which Paul Habib scored an opportunist try to make the score 6-0 in favour of United. Joe Habib playing centre-three-quarter for United was unfortunate enough to pull a muscle when downed by a fiying tackle from his cousin George Habib of Oruanui. Thereafter the United player went out to the wing, but this did not prevent him from limping at a good rate down the touch line to score the final try and the game ended United 9, Oruanui 0. It is possible that Joe Habib's injury may keep him out oi the game for a few weekfc.