TAUPO BEAT RANGITAIKI AFTER EXCITING GAME LAST SATURDAY

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 286, 1 August 1957, Page 10

TAUPO BEAT RANGITAIKI AFTER EXCITING GAME LAST SATURDAY

THOUCtH at haif-time Rangitaiki led the visiting Taupo representative teain by 18 points to 16 at Matata last Saturday, and added six more points early in the second spell, within the last 25 minutes of the game Taupo overpowered them, with the result that they won by 32 points (four goals, three tries and a penalty) to 24 points (three goals, two tries and a penalty).

Tlie Taupo forwards went exception- . ally well playing a very loose game and keeping up with the ball. J. Habib has never gone better, and he was a real strength in keeping the forwards up to their work. C. Breecls came into his own as a loose forward and was always up with the ball. Keeping up with him was D. Woodward, who revelled in the looseness of the game. P. Ilay and P. Haurini were not so prominent, but they were there to give the necessary support and to add that touch of tightness to the forays.

NEPIA WAS SOUND The backs took a long time to settle down, and it was not till Malcolm moved out to second five-eightlis that the Taupo attack sharpened. With Malcolm cutting through cleverly, and Fisher replacing the injured Purcell on the wing, the backs really functioned, and threw the ball about. M. Nepia played a very sound game at fullback. B. Simon kept feeding the ball out along the line from the feast that he was given by his forwards.

The game was played at a fast pace, with the wind jnaking the ball travel downfiehl very quiekly. Both packs of forwards played loose, and on many occasions combined with the backs to keep the game open. Whenever the opportunities were there, the backs tossed the ball about, to the spectators' delight. The Taupo team* was : M. Nepia, W. Purcell, R. Grace, L. Erickson, T. Bameka, .1. Malcolm, B. Simon, R. Hoko, J. Ilabib, P. Haurini, P. Hay, N. Wa 11, A. Grey, D. Woodward, C. Breeds. Iteserve : II Fisher.

RAPID SCORING Taupo began qpickly with N. Wall breaking away with the ball and barging his way over. Rangitaiki came back to score and convert. Taupo iminediately replied when Breeds and Woodward made a foray with the ball at toe for Woodward to score. Malcolm converted. The Rangitaiki centre cut through and seored, and this too was converted. A penalty was taken by Rangitaiki^ No. 5 to raise the flags and place tlie local team further in tlie lead. Taupo missed with a penalty, but Hay iiad followed up fast and he seored for Malcolm to convert and even the score at 13-all. J. Ilabib came to light when he forced his way over for a try. Rangitaiki's wing seored with two minutes to go, and this was again converted to rnake the score at half-time: Rangitaiki 18, Taupo 16. TAUPO CALLS TUNE The local forwards swamped Taupo at the beginning of the second spell. Within six minutes the first fiveeightlis had dropped a goal, and in a further six-minute interval he converted a penalty. Taupo then ea 1 led the tune and doubled 111611* score. Malcolm placed a penalty on to the inside of the upright, and it went over. The forwards were on top and from oue of their forays Breeds went over. He made anotlier break-through, then passed to Malcolm for the latter to score and convert. With five minutes to go Ilabib went over from a iive-yard scrum and Malcolm again converted. This was the final score in a very exciting match.

JUNIOR MATCH The Taupo juniors were superior to the Rangitaiki juniors in a game wliich was upset by a very high wind. Taupo won by 8 points (a goal and a penalty) to 3 (a try). The Rangitaiki backs never appeared to settle down, and many seoring opportunities were thrown away by mishandling and knock-ons. Their only try came from an intercexition after 26 minutes in the first spell. Taupo forwards then assumed control of the game and retaliated when Darlington crashed his way over. Hetaraka converted.

Taupo were playing a crafty game against this strong wind, whereas the opposition frittered away their chances by poorly-placed kicks. After seven minutes in the second spell Hetaraka placed a difficult penalty through the posts to make the score : Taupo 8 Rangitaiki 3. The local team staged a strong defence in this spell, and stemmed the many attacks mounted by Taupo.