Thrilling Game On Domain When Taupo Beat COB

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 41, 27 May 1965, Page 2

Thrilling Game On Domain When Taupo Beat COB

It was indeed a thrilling 80 minntes o£ Rugby when lowly-ranked Taupo triumphed with a convincing 17 — 9 win over competition co-leaders COB in Saturday*8 Domain fixtnre. Scoring three tries, a penalty, a field goal and a conversion to their opponents' three penalties, Taupo played their most gigantic Rugby for over two years; hard, rugged football to topple a COB team which never surrendered the initiative in a tenacious struggle. The score oscillated until it reached 9 — all; the halftime score of 6 — all left spectators pondering deeply as to the outcome following an even first spell. Taupo's three tries contained a blending of intelligent following-up and grim determination, with flanker R. Darlington, lock R. Fish, and winger P. Hobdell, starring to complete exceilent movements. The game swayed from one end of the field to the other with startling rapidity. Crashing, dribbling bursts from fit, mobile forwards jolted the cover defence of each slde in turn. Hard tackling and close marking encouraged some handling lapses in the backlines, but it was good to see both chains throwing the ball around with purpose in an effort to penetrate. COB's pack were slightly heavier and taller, but the closely-knit Taupo eight showed no weak link and this advantage was more than cancelled out. COB dominated the lineouts with Taupo winning seven tight heads in the scrums. There were several fine

kicks at goal, P. Harrison landing three penalties for COB, M. Gibbons kicking one of the most awkward conversions seen this season, and P. Johnston coolly landing a 30-yard field goal from the sideline. Taupo's win was due mainly to its courageous forwards as L. Draper hooked with his usual swift precision and props, R. Shaw and J. Skeen, played their best Rugby since joining senior ranks. Locks R. Fisher and G. Gower, were a tower of strength in the vigorous rucking, the former showing brilliant speed in scoring his try. Fisher's example gave loose forwards L. Erickson, R. Darlington and A. Walker a chance to shine in the fluid style of play.

Half-back, K. Darlington, and wingers, P. Johnston and P. Hobdell, augmented the solid work by their pack, the last-named scoring a sizzler of a try in the corner. Young five-eighth, R. Chase, covered intelligently, while Harrison and K. Wall stood out in the COB rearguard. Harrison had a lucky day with his trusty right boot, scoring all his side's nine points. T. Ngamutu, J. Wall and G. Koopu held the COB pack together in their valiant attempts to save the game. Koopu showed glimpses of his old Maori All Black form with builocking runs in the loose and agile jumping in the lineouts.