COLLEGE OLD BOYS DEFEAT SHANNON

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 1 October 1954, Page 5

COLLEGE OLD BOYS DEFEAT SHANNON

MAORI QUEEN CANDIDATE OPENS CAMPAIGN The football match between the Shannon team from Horowhenua, and College Old Boys, the Taupo Champion-of-Champions team drew perhaps the largest crowd seen at a football match in Taupo this season, and marked the opening of the Maori Queen Candidate's campaign in the Sports Ground Queen Carnival contest. Prior to the match, Mr Te Takinga Arthur Grace, Chairman of the Tuwharetoa Trust Board, briefly welcomed the visiting team on behalf of the local tribe, expressing the hope that their visit would be enjoyable and that it would be the forerunner of many more. Mr J. M. Stanley, chairman of the Taupo Rugby Sub-Union, extended a warm welcome to the visitors. Mr A. H. Reid, at Mr Grace's invitation then welcomed the team as a former Sub-Union secretary. Mr Grace then introduced the Maori Queen Candidate, Miss Keren Rangikawatea Reid, to the teams, following which Miss Reid, dressed in traditional Maori garb and accompanied by her maids of honour, led the two teams onto the field and performed the ceremony of "kicking off." I

The teams were as follows: Shannon: Fullback, G. Rauhihi; threequarters, R. McGregor, J. Wade, M. . Tutara; first five-eighth, S. Tauhopa; second five-eighth, B. Nepia; half, B. Hill; forwards, K. Rauhihi, H. Tua, D. Taylor, L. Te Tomo. T. Rauhihi, B. Ropohama, B. Poutu, L. Cootes. College Old Boys: Fullback, P. Northcroft; three quarters, J. Biddle, W. Turetahi, Smallman; five-eighths, R. Ham, R. Biddle; half, T. Hepi; forwards, N Maniapoto, H. Maniapoto, G. Kopu, M. Maniapoto, C. Wall, J. Wall, S. Ham P. Mariu. Within two minutes of the kickoff, a penalty goal to Old Boys, kicked by G. Kopu, opened the scoring. For a short time Shannon pressed into Old Boys territory, but play was rather scrappy. Despite this there were flashes of fast play, and though for most of the first • half Old Boys were on top the game was never monotonous. Tries by Reg Ham and W. Turetahi gave Old Boys the halftime score of 9— nil.

In the second half, Reg Ham scored a quick try two minutes from the kick-off. A little later Shannon were pressing on Old Boys line, and from a scrum the ball came out to the back line, B. Nepia going over for a dashing try without a hand on him. He converted his own try to make the score 12 — 5. Following another try by Reg Ham for Old Boys, G. Rauhihi kicked a penalty goal for the visitors, to make the score 15 — 8. A final try for Old Boys by H. Maniapoto made the final score 18—8 in favour of the home team. During the game refreshments from a Maori hangi were on sale in support of the Maori Queen, while a soft drinks stall was operated in support of the! Sports Queen. In the evening a dinner was tendered to the visiting team at the Waipahihi Dining Hall, the Maori Queen Candidate being a guest of honour. Mr J. M. Stanley, president of the Taupo Rugby Sub-Union, proposed the toast of "The Visitors."