UNITED TOP GARRETT SHIELD LADDER AFTER BEATING TAUPO SIDE

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 51, 1 July 1965, Page 2

UNITED TOP GARRETT SHIELD LADDER AFTER BEATING TAUPO SIDE

United strode into a commanding four • point lead in the Garrett Shield competition when they had a comfortable 11 — 5 wln over Taupo in last Saturday's leading club Rugby fixture at the Domain. Tihoi moved into second berth with a 12 — 6 victory over a makeshift COB team. After a quarter hour in the big altraction, United lock forward J. Tawera crashed over right in the corner from a fiery burst from a dynamic pack and this try, scored by a forward, set the stage for the final result. United led 3 — nil at halftime and although Taupo replied with a converted try by fleet-footed A. Thompson to take a short lead, a further eight points from try scorers, D. Rameka and T. Rameka, soon re-established United's ascendency. The United forwards played one of the most dominating games of the season, being quicker to the breakdown of play and showing irresistible drive in crashing through the black and white lineout. The ' backs were always solid with half-back T. Rameka cleverly direeting play back to his forwards, while D. Rakei had another very good all-round game at full-

back. C. Williams and J. Tawera monopolised the lineout ball with tight packmen M. Hurae, K. Palmer and H. Wawatai doing solid work in creating eontrol up ! front. No. 8 D. Rameka and flanker K. Hurae shone out more as the game progressed. Taupo's pack were slightly disappointing after previous cohesive efforts, although individuals played well in spasmodic bursts. G. Moana, A. Thompson and A. Walker tried hard to insert some fire, while R. Shaw, L. Draper and R. Darlington had their moments. Taupo's backs received too little possession and could not manage to break a tight defence. L. Tamepo, P. Hobdell and K. Darlington were always perky but were given little room in which to move. TIHOI 12, COB 6 Tihoi and COB fought an even first spell with the score at 3 — all, but Tihoi zipped into top gear in the next 40 minutes to launch a prolonged offensive to pour on another three backline tries. Winger H. Reihana scored two excellent tries, E. Albert (one) and N. Tozer (one) — these scorers all being backs. P. Brown was a deft guiding hand behind the Tihoi scrum, while a hard-driving core of forwards in A. Scott, B. Albert, J. Scott, T. Nixon and J. Rivers proved too fast and strong for the opposing pack. COB suffered two injuries in the first spell and although lacking punch in the forwards, T. Ngamutu and S. Morunga toiled well. First five-eighth J. Retiti kicked a field goal with fullback P. Harrison succeeding with a penalty.