Athletic and Taupo share shield lead

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 48, 18 June 1974, Page 12

Athletic and Taupo share shield lead

Taupo and Athletic share the lead in the Garrett Shield as a result of their wins over Tihoi and United last Saturday.

Besides becoming a major threat in this competition, Athletic also poses a real danger to Taupo in the Points Trophy as well — it is only 8 points behind. Strangely enough Tihoi, which has inevitably had a mortgage on this trophy in the past, tails the field. C.O.B. is lying third and United fourth. Next Saturday sees the start of the second round and Tihoi has a chance to draw level with the two leaders again when it meets Athletic in the main game. By the same token, Athletic has a chance to go into the lead as Taupo has drawn the bye. C.O.B. will meet United in the curtain- raiser. UNITED v ATHLETIC The United - Athletic game last Saturday turned out to be a real disappointment to United supporters for their side never looked in the picture at any stage. United's far brighter moments were in the first half when, despite playing into a wind, its forwards more than held their own against a much heavier pack. But it was in this half that Athletic scored most of its points and United was no help to itself by giving away far too many penalties for infringements. K. Murphy, the Athletic centre, was in real kicking form and scored four penalties from those awarded to have Athletic soon leading by 12-0. The United forwards fought back so well from these reverses that S. Broughton was able to go over for a try — the side's only points for the day. However, Athletic was able to score again and by half-time led by 16-4. With the wind and rain behind it in the second half United was expected to dominate this half, but the side soon ran out of steam and a much fitter Athletic fmished the stronger to run out easy winners 22-4. For United, K. Palmer and P. Hickey played outstanding games, with P. Kahu and S. Dewes also prominent. Its youthful

backline, however, was plagued with indecision and handling errors and the only back to emerge with credit was K. Rameka, at fullback. The Athletic forwards all had good games, with P. McHill and B. Dagger showing up in the tight and T. Marriner playing exdeptionally well at No. 8. The Athletic backs are now a solid well-knit unit and its midfield backs, T. Clarke, B. Hill and K. Murphy all had good games — especially Clarke at first five, who is thickset and strong enough to take the harder loose forward tackles. Besides kicking four penalties, Murphy also converted a try by Marriner. T. Daly scored Athletic' s other try. The game was ably controlled by Mr L. Watkins. TAUPO v TIHOI What a game the TaupoTihoi one turned out to be. Those expecting another thriller were not disappointed. Each time these two teams meet the struggle that ensues seems to surpass all previous ones and Saturday's was no exception. It also showed referee Mr B. Choat at his very best, for in a game charged with tension and feeling he was in complete command throughout. The refereeing had to be good, too, for this was a stern, relentless, gruelling forward battle in the worst of eonditions that kept supporters and spectators standing out in the driving rain right to the end. They had to stay there until then, for that was where the game was won and lost. Tihoi could consider itself most unlucky to lose because it played into the wind and driving tain in the first half and led 7-4 at half-time. With the wind and rain in its favour in the second half it camped on the Taupo 25 for much of this time and, despite the pressure it had on Taupo, it could not penetrate a solid and desperate defence and so clinch the game. However, it would be most unfair to begrudge Taupo its win. It was not only able to withhold a strong Tihoi attack for most of the second half, but was able to fight back as it always seems destined

to and finish the much stronger, and so pull the game out of the fire in the very last minute. And what a way to pull the game out of the fire. For in that last minute or so a scrum went down on the Tihoi line. It was Taupo's put in, but Tihoi hooker Skiffington took a much-needed tighthead. As halfback Rota bent down to take the ball a Tihoi forward toed the ball back through the scrum to Taupo. Halfback R. Darlington pounced on it with relish and out it went to brother Ken on the blind side. From that moment the try was on, for Dysart loomed up outside him which made the Tihoi winger move in to take Dysart. But Darlington missed him out and shot the ball out to the unmarked Parsons on the wing. Parsons had to reach high to take it but he would have reached it if it were six feet high and a train wouldn't have stopped him once he had the ball. It was that kind of a try — and what a fitting finish to another great clash. The other two tries scored in the game were also by wingers after all midfield backs had handled as well. This showed that both sets of backs were willing to run the ball most of the time and also that the handling of such a greasy, wet ball was exceptionally good. The star player and man of the match was undoubtedly N. Kydd at fullback. His positional play, line kicking and ball handling stamped him »as of real class. Other Tihoi backs who had good games were B. Albert, B. Rota, O. Hepi and B. Winikerei. Its forwards all played well, with R. Skiffington, P. Tahere and K. Reweti revelling in the tight and T. Stewart and T. Cassidy in the loose. For Taupo, the brothers R. and K. Darlington, G. Thomason and B. Parsons all had good games, while K. Delany, G. Bremer, C. Donaldson and T. Carter stood ^ut in the forwards. . G. Thomas scored Taupo's other try and B. Winikerei scored^ for Tihoi. B. Rata kicked a penalty to give Tihoi its other three points.

TEAM P W L D For Ag. Pts Taupo 4 3 1 — 69 47 6 Athletic 4 3 1 — 61 37 6 Tihoi 4 2 2 — 38 50 4 C.O.B. 4 1 3 — 53 56 2 United 4 1 3 — 47 78 2

HOW THEY STAND