Rugby Football

Taupo Times, Volume 11, Issue 79, 22 July 1953, Page 2

Rugby Football

COLLEGE OLD BOYS WIN

(By

Kick-off)

In the first mateh of the Garrett Shield competition played in the Taupo Domain on Sunday, July 12th. College Old Boys (formerly Waitahanui) m(et and defeated Tongariro (Tokaanu) by 14 points (three tries — one converted — and a penalty goal) to 3 points (one try). Tries for the winners were scored by Wall (2), and Habib, and Wall kicked a penalty and also converted one try. Fotr the losers D. Eru scored the only try, The game was more evenly played than the scores indicate, especialiy in the first half when Tongariro mor.e than held its own. In this spell College Old Boys were able to score only one converted try, whilst Tongariro obtained their only scoire and missed three other opportunities by knock-ons and forward pass.es. In the second half, Old Boys, who had played more practice games than theiir opponents gradually got the upper hand. Prominent among an crdinary lot of backs were the two Walls, N. Rickit and R. Habib, whilst in the forwards the two Maniapotos were always in the pieture. In the Tongariro team the half, D. Eru and the two five-eighths E. Grace and J, Tunui always iooked dangerous when in possession, and had the centre been at all reliable the result could quite easily have been different. The forwarods, although much lighter than their opponents battled gamely until condition began to tell. It was then that the winn.ers put on two more tries to elinch the match. The game as a whole was fairly spectacular — as spectacular as games are in Taupo. Both teams endeavoured to give the ball plenty of air and threw it about very weli. However it was irather noticeable that some of the players resorted to iJiegai tactics now and again. Late tackling and tripping opponents when running at top speed were prevalent, The coaches should impress upon players to irefrain from these iliegal and dangerous practices and referees should not hesitate to penalise any oif ending player. Mr K. Rameka, although suffering from an injured foot was always up with the "game and as usual gave a good and imnartial exnibition of refereeing. The ground is becoming more and more a nightmare to players and officials and never a game is played without several players finishing with cutse and bruises caused by stones and gravel patches on the playing area.