Athletic is poised to take shield

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 54, 9 July 1974, Page 14

Athletic is poised to take shield

With only two match days left in the final round of the Garrett Shield competition, Athletic looks poised to win the trophy.

If it does, Athletic will break the tight hold that Tihoi and Taupo have had on Rugby competitions for the past five years or so. On Saturday, Athletic staved off a strong second - half challenge by C.O.B. to narrowly win 10-9 after leading 7-0 at half-time. Taupo, which poses a major threat to Athletic's chances, ran out easy 25-6 winners over United. This gives Athletic a one point lead over Taupo in the Garrett Shield but the latter has a lead of 11 in the points trophy. Next Saturday is 'D' day for both these teams because they will meet in the much awaited main game on Taupo Domain. It is especially important for Taupo which, if it does win, will then have to face another classic battle with Tihoi the following week. The curtain-raiser will be between C.O.B. and Tihoi, and this game will also draw its fair share of interest as well as supporters. TAUPO V UNITED This game showed that the Taupo pack is still a fairly formidable force to contend with. It proved far too strong for its lighter and more inexperienced opponents. The team was able. to dominate all phases of play up front, with the result that it had the United defence sorely tested for much of the game. The Taupo backs how-

ever will, have to really lift their game in the next week or two if they want to win games. With the amount of ball possession they had they should have run in many more tries. United was continuously set back by the many penalties awarded against if for infringements. The side's forwards were no match for the Taupo pack and its backs far too inexperienced to cope with the untidy ball they received. For Taupo, the tight core of Bremer, Delany, Harawira and Myers were a solid form, while K. Darlington stood out in the backs. M. Wood, the fullback, had his best game this season and was well on target with his kicking, too. For United, Palmer, Dewes, Rakei and Hurae toiled hard in the forwards and C. Rameka was the pick of the backs. Carter, Donaldson and Yates scored tries for Taupo and Wood kicked three penalties. G. Baker scored for United and C. Rameka converted. ATHLETIC V C.O.B. It looked at one stage as if Athletic's winning-trot had come to an end. With time running out, C.O.B. led 9-7. However, Athletic was awarded a penalty in the dying stages and K. Murphy kicked a good penalty to give his team a win. This game had its rugged moments, especially among the forwards but referee JL. Watkins kept the game developing into anything other than a hard, driving forward battle. ^

In the first half it was always Athletic and as its forwards kept up a continual pressure on the C.O.B. defence it was able to lead 7-0 at half-time. In the second half, and by using the wind in its favour for high up and unders, C.O.B. was able to maintain the pressure and so have the game won until the last minute or so. C.O.B. has never realised what a match-winner its winger Mike John is. Once again he was left lamenting. Had the C.O.B. backs elected to run the ball to his side more often, the score would have been much different. Instead, they chose to try and break through near the scrum each time — and with a loose trio like Marriner, Kuggeleijn and Van der Leden opposing them it was sheer folly. For Athletic, McGill, Dagger, Story and Rupapera were a solid, tight core. Marriner and Van der Leden and Kuggeleijn were tenacious on defence. Foden, Clarke, Murphy and Gardinen looked the pick of the steady back line. For C.O.B. G. Wall, Tawera, Northcroft, Mc- . Lean and Carrington were the pick of the forwards and Simon, Broughton and John the best backs. Murphy scored all Athletic's points with a try and two penalties. G. Wall scored for C.O.B. and Carrington kicked a penalty and a ^ conversion.

The ooints table for the senior Rugby teams is. —

p W L D For Agnst Pts Athletic 6 5 1 — ^ 53 10 Taupo 6 4 1 1 97 56 9 Tihoi 6 3 3 -- 68 86 6 C.O.B. 7 2 4 1 73 69 5 United 7 1 6 — 74 134 2