RUGBY

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 17 September 1952, Page 1

RUGBY

TAUPO BEATS MANGAKINO There was a large crowd at the Taupo Domain on Saturday, September 6th., when a representative team from Mangakino played the Taupo representatives. The visitors included several players from Tihoi and other parts of the Western Bay, and the game therefore attracted many supporters of both teams. Mangakino arrived with a good record, and it was hoped by some supporters that Taupo would not be beaten too heavily. However the visitors startled everyone by scoring within the first few minutes when Gamble crossed the line for a try. The kick failed, but Mangakino held J on to this slender lead for threequarters of the game in spite of strong pressure from the home players. Taupo played hard fcotball and constantly pinned Mangakino in their own 25. They were unlucky not to seore before half-time, and it was mainly lack of combination in the baek line that caused the failure of several promising efforts.

The forwards gave Tomoana at half back a major share of the ball and he showed up well throughout the game. The pack performed very well and kept the game fast and, open. This might easily have been to the advantage of Mangakino whose second five - eighth was the best man on the field. However he lacked support from his colleagues to capitalise on his ability. The Taupo defence was good, an| movements of the visiting backs were quickly smothered. One of the Mangakino wingers hardly touched the ball throughout the game. At fuil-back for Taupo Beale proved thoroughly safe, and midway through the second half he rose to great heights when he scored a spectacular try. The whoie of the Mangakino team were pour'ng down the field towards him when he collected the ball and kicked high and centre-field. Fok'owing up he eoliecied it aga'n oi« the bounce and raced 25 yards to rcore between the' posts. Andrews converted and Taupo took the lead at 5 points to 3.

Th*1 final try for Taupo came from a back movtment when after severai of the backs had handled the bad, P. Rameka crcssed the line. The kick lailed and the game ended with the si-ote9 Taupo 8, Mangakino 3. Mr K. Rameka was the ref ereer The Taupo representative team took the field as follows: — Fuilback: R. Beale; three-quarters : D. Rameka, J. Habib, R. Seymour; fiveeighths: S. Andrews, A. Grace; half-back: D. Tomoana; forwards: M. Wall, J. Shelford, T. Wall, J. Rakei, G. Jensen, Maniapoto, A. Gray, S. Habib.