Top teams suffer losses in new round

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 60, 30 July 1974, Page 14

Top teams suffer losses in new round

Both the winners and runners-up of the Garrett Shield competition lost their initial games in the Rahui Shield first round on Saturday.

At Taupo, Athletic went down 9-0 to United. At Tihoi, Taupo was beaten 13-10 by the home side. The Athletic - United game was played in wet and unpleasant conditions. United deserved its win because it played the better wet weather Rugby. Athletic sorely missed its two giant props, McGill and Dagger — and its forwards were never able to control 1 the much livelier and solid pack that United fielded. United elected to kick and chase and use its forwards for hard drives and dribbling rushes. These tactics paid dividends on the day. Athletic tried to run the ball on most occasions and, although its handling at times was exceptionally good, its much faster backs seemed anchored in the very muddy conditions. The result was that play often broke down or a dropped pass was immediately snapped up by a United defender to be kicked well back into Athletic territory. Players who stood out for United included K. Hurae, C. Kingi, B. Subritizky and T. Pitoroi in the tight. The pick of the backs were C. Rameka, R. Brown and D. Rolleston. For Athletic, F. Storey, F. Clarke and K. Marriner were the pick of the forwards and R. Foden, T. Ciarke and T. Daly looked the most dangerous of the backline. For United, S. Dewes scored a try and B. Subritsky kicked a eonversion and a penalty. TIHOI v TAUPO At Tihoi, Taupo was down 13-0 at half-time. With the score still the same half-way through the second spell, Taupo staged its usual all-out bid to save

the game. It almost did, too. At the final whistle the score was 13-10. Taupo did not settle down in the earlier stages of the game and allowed Tihoi to play good Rugby without offering any resistance of much substance until far too late in the game. For Tihoi, P. Tahere, K. Rewiti, Boydy Albert and J. Cassidy played exceedingly well in the forwards. Cassidy was in devastating form in both the loose and

tight. The midfield backs of B. Rota, J. Brown and B. Albert were also in good form. For Taupo, E. Harawira, C. Crowther and I. Myers played well in the forwards and K. Darlington and D. Sharrock showed out in the backs. Points for Tihoi were tries by B. Andrews and B. Albert, and R. Skiffmgton kicked a conversion and penalty. For Taupo, R. Patikura kicked two penalties and C. Murray scored a try.