NAPIER REPS. DEFEAT TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 134, 20 August 1954, Page 1

NAPIER REPS. DEFEAT TAUPO

GAME PLAYED IN RAIN AND MUD The first senior Rugby representative match to be played in Taupo this season, that between Napier and Taupo, unfortunately coincided with the only wet Saturday experienced during the football season. Rain fell steadily all day, and when the senior game started at three p.m. the field was a patchwork of pools of water, which grew in number and depth as the rain increased in intensity. Despite these conditions there were many spells of bright play, and the way in which the Napier backs handled the slippery ball on a number of occasions was outstanding.

During the first half Napier held the territorial advantage for most of the time, showing superiority in both backs and forwards. The first score came after about fifteen minutes, when Napier three-quarter V. Wallis went over the line for a try which was not converted, followed ten minutes later by another try by j J. Lawson, Napier half. A second I try by Lawson, again unconverted, saw the half time score at 9 — nil in Napier's favour. After resumption the rain became steadily heavier. The Taupo team now began to function better, and toward the latter part of the second spell appeared to be standing the strain a bit better than Napier. Taupo's first score came when N. Maniapoto went over the line from a forward tussle. The kick failed. A little later, with Taupo pressing in Napier's twentyfive, J. Rawhiti went over for a second try, also unconverted.

With interest quickened by Taupo's recovery, enthusiasm was roused when three-quarter J. Biddle made a determined effort and went over in the corner, but unfortunately only after he had stepped over the side-line. However, a minute later another similar effort saw Biddle successful, to make the score nine all. With a couple of minutes to go Taupo were pressing in Napier's 25 when the ball came out of a ruck and the Taupo backs attempted to handle it, only to lose possession. The ball came to the Napier first five-eighth, D. Peat, who at once seized his opportunity by making i a fast run toward the side-line, swerved past the only Taupo man barring the way and set sail down field, outdistancing the Taupo backs who tried to cut him off , and scoring the winning try. The kick failed and the whistle went with the final score Napier 13, Taupo 9. It would be fair to say that the fmal score indicated the relative merits of the two teams on the day, the Napier men having the edge over the local players. The handling of the1 Napier backs stood out more than once asi remarkable under the conditions prevailing, while their forwards perhaps retained control of the ball on the ground a little better than the Taupo forwards. The Taupo team stuck to their game tenaciously and their attack in the second half gave the visitors some anxious moments. Mr K. Rameka was in charge of the whistle. i