MANGAKINO REPS BEAT TAUPO 6-3

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 178, 24 June 1955, Page 3

MANGAKINO REPS BEAT TAUPO 6-3

The Sub-union representative match between Mangakino and Taupo, played at Taupo on Saturday last, resulted in a win for Mangakino by six points to three, an unconverted try and penalty goal to one penalty goal. The game drew the largest. crowd of spectators of .the season, and ex~ citement rose to fever pitch in the closing stages, when the hardest and fastest football of the current season was seen. Play was clean throughout. The game was the third match played this season by the Taupo representatives, the first two, against Central ITawkes Bay and Rotorua, having been won by Taupo, the scores being 13—9, and 11—8. J. Habib, who was Ko. 8 and captain, and ."D. Macken, who played wing threequarter, in the two earlier representative matches, were not available for selection owing to injuries. The teanis were alT follows : Taupo: 1, R. Seymour; 2, J. Bicldle ; 3, R. Bredenback ; 4, D. Rameka ; 5, M. Gavern ; 6, D. Panapa ; 7, C. Baker; 8, G. Kopu, captain; 9, R., Henry ; 10, G. Vedder ; 11, F. Biddle ; 12, B. Thomas; 13, J. Wall ; 14, I). Woodward; 15, A. Grey. Mangakino: 1, N. Gillespie ; 2, C. Wilcox ; 3, .T. Aoake ; 4, K. Reeves ; 5, T. Te Maari ; 6, M. Whaanga ; 7, K. Tekano; 8, R. Goulin ; 10, W. Casperson ; 11, * L. Whitaker ; 9, D. White; 12, M. Wilcox; 13; R. Pratt; 14, W. Tatana ; 15, M. Turner. In the first half Taupo defended the eastern goal, playing with a fresh south-westerly wind against them. FoT most of this half Mangakino had the territorial advantage, and their heavier paek dominated most of the set scrums and rucks, from which timo and again the ball came our. to the Mangakino bocks. The first score came about lialfway through the first spell when W. Casperson got a fine goal frorn a penalty kick for Mangakino, from the centre of the field and about 10 yards inside the half. Four minutes later there was a scrum a few yards from . the Taupo line, the ball coming to J. Aoake, who went through on the blind side for a neat try. Casperson's kick failed, making the score 6 — 0 against Taupo. Shortly before half- ti me Taupo were in Mangakino's territory when an infringement gave Panapa a chance to kick a penalty goal, with which lie made no mistake. Manga- - kino 6, Taupo 3. Taupo made a better showing in the second half, and for the first 15 minutes were in Mangakino's half. The forwards got the ball oiit to the backs on a number of occasions, but several times ,the handling was not the best and the Mangakino defence was sound. The Taupo forwards at this stage were taking the ball along at their feet on occasions, as was seen in their matches against Central Hawkes Bay and Rotorua. A fine kick by Panapa from a penalty hit the lefthand post and bounced out. For a period about the upddle of the second half Mangakino attacked flercely and were in the Taupo twenty-five for soine time, the tougli Taupo defence then going over to attack. During this latter part of the game play was very fast and both teams rose to the occasion, with the crowd tense and vocal. Just before the flnal whistle Mangakino were again attacking, but the score remained at 6 — 3Amongst those with the Mangakino team were Mr Clyde Barnes, formei'-j ly of Mokai, manager, well-known to older Taupo residents and* a life-i member of the Taupo Rugby Subunion ; Mr R. Gamble, formerly of Mokai, an exTaupo representative, and Mr Mick Mikaere, co-selector; and Mr P. Shaw, president of the Mangakino Sub-union. An unusual circumstance was the fact that the Mangakino team's hooker, M. Tatana, is the son of Mr David Tatana, selector for the Taupo sub-j union.