RUGBY

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 33, 27 August 1952, Page 1

RUGBY

McKAY CUP ■# United 21, Oruanui 3. Taupo 3, Silverdale 0. This match was postponed from the previous week-end, and it provided a runaway victory for United. Oruanui were hopelessly outclassed. There was no bright football except for several hard runs which brought tries to the winning team, but there were niany humorous incidents which kept onlookers roaring vvith laughter and made the game entertaining. United piled on the points rapidly commencing with a penalty kick by J. Rakei. Followir.g this J. Habib scored after a fast follow-up and J. Rakei put the ball betweerr the posts. Then it became George Jensen's turn to cross the line and J, Habib converted. Tomoana shot the ball out from a five-yard scrum and W. Katene went over to increase the lead. From another scrum Tomoana dummied his fway over to bring the lead to 19 and P. Kahia's conversion made it 21. The only score for Oruanui was an opportunist effort by G. Habib, who intercepted a pass and ran Cferough smartly to touch down. Habib was out of his element in this team, a good performer with no backing. Apart from his effort Oruanui were penned in their own 25 for the whole game and tries by United seemed to be imminent at any time. The game finished with the scores United 21, Oruanui 3. Taupo v. Silverdale. Taupo played their second representative match of the season on August 16th. when Silverdale Club brought fheir side down for a weekend visit. When the visitors trotfced on to the field and lined up opposite the home team they looked very spick and span and impressed all by their smart appearance. They looked a fast combination, but the Taupo team was much heavier % and this advantage they used to their ntmost right through the game. From the outset Taupo looked the winning team; they had much oi the ball, but their backs lacked any coinlbination. ' Silverdale was defending for nearly the whole of the fiTst half; any sttpmpts to turn the game into an. attack being spasmodic. For the home team, which had the advantage of the majority of scrum s and line-outs mainly owing to their superior weight, Andrews at half got his backs moving continually and was the best back on the field. Unfortunately lack of combination caused these movements to break down. Contrary to expectations the visitors stood up to the hard tvpe of play usual to Taupo. They certainly didn't look rugged, but theyitook all the hard scrummages and tackiing without faltering. This type of game probably upset their combination, The only score of the match was credited to Taupo after a fine run by J. Habib, who received in turn from Andrews and Grace. The kick failed and when (the game ended Taupo were the winners by three points tc nil. SCHOOLBOY'S MATCH TAUPO V. ROTORUA This match provided a very hard test for the team at present visiting Waipukurau for the Ross Shield

tournament, and the Rotorua side marched on to the field with an -unbeaten record and looked a winning team. The game was played as a curtain-raiser, to the representative match against Silverdale, and the programme proved a bigv drawcard, as the largest crowd to witness a match this season gathered at 1.30 p.m. to cheer the local boys onto the field.. If any of the home supporters felt any apprehensions about the standard of 'jtihe home team, they were quickly dispelled when I. Kirikau scored within a few minutes of the opening of play amidst enthusiastic applause. With Taupo three points in the lead the Taupo lads really settled down to play good football. Each member of the team was in his correct place marking, defending and attacking; their game was faultless. Tries came naturally from food passing movements. Billy Wineera at centre, who proved to be the top scorer of the day, scored his first try after a fast run half the length of the field. He tried the conversion himself and jtist missed. Shortly after thjs Clare retired hurt and was replaced by Tatana, but it was learnt that the injury was not serious and would not prevent Clare from travelling with the team to Waipukurau. Wineera was showing himself to De much too clever for the Rotorua backs, and another passing rush finished with the centre going over the line for another try. Half time came along with the score nine points to nil in Taupo's favour, and whei the teams re-ap-jcaieu Rotorua hau rcplaccd five men in the forwards and backs. Taupo was now held for a time, but a penalty in Rotorua's 25 allowed Wineera to kick a goal. The score was now 12 to nil and so it remained to the end of the game. The Taupo forwards played very well in the loose, but did not seem to have acquired the knack of holding apd combining in the scrums. Rotorua had the advantage here and pushed Taupo wherever they wanted. Crowther however proved very solid, arnong others in the front line*