MANIAPOTO WON 23–14, BUT WERE ROCKED BY TAUPO'S POINT-MAKING COMEBACK

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 46, 15 June 1965, Page 1

MANIAPOTO WON 23–14, BUT WERE ROCKED BY TAUPO'S POINT-MAKING COMEBACK

After streaking away to an 18 — 3 lead at the interval, the visiting Maniapoto suh-Union repre- , sentative Rughy team had j to withstand a flnal 25 minutes of revitalised fiery Taupo effort at its thrilling hest before going 011 to win 23 — 14. Conditions were cold again. but this did not deter a large crowd from being present to see some bright bursts of attractive play. Even without their two All Black Meads brothers, Maniapoto controlled the match through their forwards for three parts of the game. Taupo's pacy backline looked to he full of promise, but this did not materialise until the brililant. flnal hlow of 11 quick points in the last 20 minutes of play. Lack of possession robbed the backline of much-needed opportunities. Without J. Tawera and T. Nixon in the lineout, the pack was noticeably smaller and lighter, a factor which counted against it heavily in set play. Poor tackling, reminiscent of cannibals going "head-hunting," let the visitors in for nearly all their tries. The home forwards showed pace and alertness in the loose, but often failed to bind and ruck vigorously to gain vital ball in favourable positions. These faults, however, grew minor in stature during the last quarter of the

match when an all-out effort rocked the experienced Maniapoto team back on its heels. Sure handling and quickpassing of the ball allowed Hawke's Bay "B" winger P. Hohdell to flash across in two lightning runs for two tries. Great preparatory work was laid in the execution of these by K. Darlington and A. Thompson, with P. Harrison adding to his two penalties with a conversion. Thompson was the forward of the match, displaying the speed of a stag in solo bursts from loose play. He rpceived able support from A. Walker and G. Blake in the loose sphere. while J. Wall, M. Hurae and R. Rhyder strove gamely to hold the victors in the tight. Centres T. Ruru and Hobdell stood out in the chain, but the link as a whole looked sound on attaek, although suspect on the tackle close to the scrum - in the fiveeighths position. In a junior cluh fixture, a visiting Tokoroa team heat Taupo clnb jnniors 14 — 6 after leading 6 — nil at half-time.