ANNUAL RUGBY MATCH

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 39, 8 October 1952, Page 1

ANNUAL RUGBY MATCH

WIN FOR NATION AL PARK There were plenty of National Park supporters at the Taupo Domain on Sunday for the annuai match, but the visiting team were four players short and four local lads — L. Waldron, I. Strange, L. Blamforth and D. Rameka donned the light blue jerseys and were definitely instrumental in helping to wTin the game for fchem. All four performed extremely well in their various positions in the back line. The Taupo XV also' did not appear as originally selected and •it least seven men naa zo be replaced at short notice. It was a beautiful day, the ground was hard and fast and the game was played before a large crowd of specators among which the feminine element was more prominent than usual owing to the simultaneous attraction of a girl's marching demonstration on the ground. The teams seemed to be evenly matohed at the start, but even though it was a hard match it v/as not a bright spectacle from the spectators viewpoint. Taupo opened ihe scoring when the captain S. Habib slipped across the .line from a serummage. The kick failed and Taupo retained their lead of three points for some time. As the game progressed the National Park backs obtainecl more of the ball and Rameka at half fed them extremely well. The visitors' first score came when Waldron on the wing received from a passing rush, and proving too fast for his opponents scored wide out. H. Poole converted to give the Park the lead. Shortly after this Park's No. 3 B. Milray crossed the Taupo line to give them a lead of 8 points to 3 at half time. The second half remained even for a long time and as the end of the game approached it seemed that

Taupo's position wras hopeless. The game livened up,' however, when Jensen placed a beautiful penalty kick between the posts after an infringement to shorten Park's lead to two points. The- visitors returned with some good passing in the back line and Balmforth made an opening for Strange to dash over. National Park then led by 11 points to 6. Ajiother infringement afforded W. Jensen an opportunity for a kick at goal and in spit of a fairly strong cross wind he brought the Taupo score up to nine. The game e n d e d with the score National Park 11, Taupo 9. It was most unfortunate for the Park that TI. Poole who plays fuli back for ihe King Country 1 representatives had to retire early in the game as great things had been expected of him. On the same day another Taupo team suffered defeat at the hands of Murapara by a converted and an | unconverted try (8 points) to a penalty goal and a try (6 points). Jensen opened the •scoring for Taupo by placing. a good penalty kick between the posts, but it was not long | before Hall of Murapara serambled | over the line with the ball and Hohua j converted to put the visitors ahead. ! Shortly before half timeR. Rakei j touched down in the corner and as the kick failed Taupo held a narrow lead of one point at the interval. Midway through the second half Proctor of Murupara obtained the ball in loose play and ran forty yards to socre on the wing. This kick also lailed. Murupara attacked often in the closing minutes of the game and only an infringement prevented them from. adding to their lead from a break-through in the centre. Taupo succeeded in holding up all the other at.ta.cvs and the final whistle came with the score Murupara 8 Taupo 6.