ROTORUA HAS 19-8 WIN OVER TAUPO WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 289, 22 August 1957, Page 8

ROTORUA HAS 19-8 WIN OVER TAUPO WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE

Under cold, southerly conditions Taupo went down to Rotorua by 19 points (two goals and three tries) to eight (one goal and a penalty). Taupo had difficulty in fielding a team through the defection of several players at the last minute. The selector managed to set off with one emergency.

Rotorua held a marked superiority in all departments. Their forwards were heavier and won 80 per cent. of the scrums and lineouts, tlieir backs were speedier and showed more thrust and purpose. Despite these disadvantages Taupo played well and gave Rotorua a good tryout. Morgan was the best player 011 the field and of the three fullbaeks during the game his was the only faultless performance. Balniforth made two or three good runs but he was not given many opportunities. Pnrcell had an off day. Not Supported Malcolm played as well as the opposition allowed him to, and several times lie made openings, bnt the siipport to flnish off was not there. McAllister shaped well at first-flve and liis tackling was copybook. Simon did not receive mucli of the ball from the scrums, but when he did he directed the backs well. The forwards never functioned as a unit, for there were several "fringe players" who kept their heads up. Most noticeable of these was M. Wall, who was called upon at the last minute. I11 the loose he went better. I. Maher, N. Wall, P. Hay and A. Grey were in the tliick of everything, with the first-named being the best. Tlie two Maniapoto boys and Simpson were the outstanding forwards on the field and really kept Rotorua up on attaek. They never let an opportunity pass, and were ahvays the first after the loose ball. Dangerous Pair Rotorua tried out two back combinations, but it was the one in the first liaif tliat went well. Whatu and Morrison proved a very dangerous pair who never missed making ground and seizing on a gap. Lidgard had a liappy day b'ehind a winning pack, but he had the tendency to dive-pass on every occasion, whicli natUrally cut him out of the attaek, often when he was most needed. Teams: Taupo: T. Morgan, W. PUrcell, J. Malcolm, L. Balniforth, D. McAllister, T. Rameka, B. Simon, R. Hoko, G. Ivoopu, P. Hay, I. Maher, M. Wall, A. Grey, S. Ilemara, N, Wall. Reserve : D. Rameka. Rotorua: H. Parkinson. AV. Mnrray, J. Morrison, 11. Forrest, M. Whata, M. Aitken, R. Lidgard, T. Tapsell, J. Simpson, P. Barry, E. Anderson, II. Maniapoto, P. Ilumphries, J. Kearney, T. Henry. Reserves : A. Douglas, M. Maniapoto, D. Munro. Rotorua attacked from the wliistle and had Taupo penned up uuder their own goalposts. Morgan retrieved with a 30-yai'd kick, but Simpson and Maniapoto brought play back. Erom a scrum Lidgard sent out to Aitken on the blind, who sent Whata over in the eorner. Parkinson missed the conver4 sion. Malcolm dropped-off and a mishandle J by Anderson gave N. Wall his chance : to burst through and pass to Hoko to I Hay and to Maher, who scored beside

the posts. Malcolm converted and Taupo went into the lead. Solid Tackles Taupo had now settled down and were defemling well ti! 1 the ball came from a loose ruck to Morrison and he raced through the defenders to score between tlie posts. Parkinson converted. McAllister made several solid tackles to halt several promising Rotorua back movements, Maher led the forwards through when Aitken missed a pass, but Parkinson managed to kick into touch from beliind his own line. From the lineout Rotorua reeeived a much needed penalty. Play drifted back into midfield. Malcolm set Rameka going and with Koopu racing up the wing Taupo were back in an attacking position. Morrison kicked downfield, but Forrest found no support and Morgan emerged with the ball. Malcolm broke through, but when 10 yards short his pass was for ward ,aml Rotorua eased the pressure. Balniforth dropped Forrest twice when lie appeared dangerous. Rotorua won the liext scrum, Whata slipped through Rameka and broke McAllister' s tackle to set his backs off, but Morrison failed to hold a pass. Rotorua won the scrum and Forrest made 15 yards to score from round the blind. Morrison converted and Rotorua led by 13-5 at the changeover. Morgan Shows Skill Rotorua made three changes. Douglas filled tlie inside berth and the first tinie he reeeived tlie ball he cut right through deep into Tanpo's 25 but Mie movement fell down wTien Maniapoto was held up. Morgan was called upon to show all his skili in liolding up attaek after attaek, but not onee did he ! wilt. From a lineout Lidgard thre'w the ball behind Douglas and Malcolm was off with Balniforth in support. Balniforth was forced out on Rotorua's 25. Tapsell broke clear from the lineout and when taekled by Morgan, Maniapoto immediately liooked the ball, and there were the Rotorua backs lined out for Parkinson as extra man, to score wide out. Parkinson sliced tlie kick. Douglas reeeived the kick off and kicked to midfield where Pttreell dropped tlie ball with no Taupo players near him. The two Maniapoto's and Simpson forayed deep before jMorgan came across to take the ball into touch. Tau[)o Men Hurt Rotorua infringed and the resultant penalty saw tlie 10-yard rule invoked, i and Morgan-i kick brought Taupo to I within 10 yards of the goal. Koopu a'ttempted a penalty but it fell short, and in the melee whicli developed from the clearance Malcolm reeeived a knock and left the field. D. Rameka replaced him. Whata again sliced through and as taekled by Morgan liis throw was taken by Douglas, who scored between the posts. Parkinson again missed. Pureell retired hurt, and Malcolm took his iilace. McAllister gathered in a loose ball and made a fine opening for Balniforth to race 50 yards. Rotorua infringed in the lineout and Malcolm brought the flags up. The Rotorua forwards took charge I and play went deep into Tanpo's territory. II. Maniapoto pioked up and passed to Parkinson, who raced over the line but could not stop before crossing the dead-ball^ line, since Morgan and D. Rameka were with him. Malcolm's kick was charged down, but Malcolm gathered it in and slipped through to send Balniforth off with Koopu outside him, and between tliern they came to within 10 yards of tlie line. Taupo kept up the pressure for the last five minutes, but could not break through..