WHAKATANE WELL BEATEN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 37, 17 July 1939, Page 5

WHAKATANE WELL BEATEN

OPOTIKI WINS 15-6 PARATA CUP SEMI-FINAL The Opotiki Rugby Sub-Union representatives, by viituc of a team which could handle the heavy going,, and a penetrative player in R. Jones : at beat Whakatane on Sat--urday by 15 points to six. A feature •of the game was the very poor goal kicking on both sides, the scores being made up of seven unconverted tries, and a number of easy penalty kicks going astray. Whakatane had no fire in the for. -wards. They were' outhooked for mucn ■ of the game, Merito being handicapped by a badly packed scrum. Best forward was B. Hughes, though Hayward was useful. 'Wilson »resei'\ et> most of his energies for the tight work, and Best, handicapped by a very bad cold, could not do much. In the backs Rayner stood out both on attack and defence, his work in the latter department being particularly good. Oswald also covered up well, and Old, with limited opporwas dangerous on the wing. Whakatane was handicapped by Mer. ito's bad pi ay at half-back. He held • on too much and though he made ? good openings had no idea what to do The Opotiki forwards played with • zest. Farron, and the Delamares were • good. Jones cut the Whakatane back line to bits and scored or had a hand in every try. He went to half-back when Lendrum was hurt. S'nalfoon -was tricky at centre.

The teams were:— Whakatane: Riini, Old, Oswald, Rayner, Hotene, M. Merito, Brown, Walker, Best, Hughes, LamWilson, C. Merito, Hayward. Opotiki: Buche, C. Walker, N. Shalfoon, McKenzie, Miliaere Jones Lendrum ,Farron, Ashdown_ I. Walker, M. Delamere, Mansell Walker, Delamere, Ashdown,. Mr H. Hawkins was referee. No referee ever escapes criticism, but Mr Hawkins got more than is custom «rv. He was easy on knock.ons which "helped Opotiki and missed much offs;de play. The opening exchanges were lethargic. Whakatane worked down to the Opotiki 25 after Rayner had cut through and. in front of the posts Riini missed an easy penalty. Hayward kicked down to the fullback ■who returned the ball/ tane backs messed about on the line till Starkie fell on it a try. Shalfoon missed the kick. It was a gift try. Whakatane retaliated when M. Mer_ 7to kicked neatly, Rayner following "im the bouncing ball and scoring. When Oswald was to kick an Opotiki man ran out and Best placed th e ball instead o.f picking it up. Oswald's kick was blocked (3_3). Whakatane quickly came back to "the Oootiki country and Oswald caught their fullback, but the Whakatane forwards were on vacation and Opotiki cleared. Hnvward was the next to chase the fullback. This "tiiTK he threw the ball out, but Best missed the penalty. From a line ou f Jones rushed through the rabble and scored. N. Shalfoon's kick swung out. ffi-3). Opotiki given a Tot of latitude by the referee, were all over Whakatane. Opotiki missed a free kick and the score was 6-3 at halftimc. It was undoubtedly Opotiki's game so far. From the kick off Shalfoon found touch well, down and Ferron carried on. Rex Jones slid through a tackle and scored after a scrum, Shalfoon missing the goal (9.3). Opotiki lashed and stowed Whaka.

ta-ne in the loose and the tight. Rayner was conspicuous but he was unsupported and Whakatane forced a little later. G. Walker was hurt in, a hard rush. C. Walker was hurt in again, but Oswald snapped up and k'eked to the Opotiki 25 where Shalfoon cleared under the toes of the forwards. However, headed by Wilson, Whakatane came again. M. Delamere and Ferron took the ball down field, but Oswald upset the run and Rayner forced. Much of the play was aiound halfway, but Opotiki were always dangerous, and as the brunette behind me.said ''Whakatane he tired'' From a scrum over the 25 Jones ran nicely, handing to Mihacre and Shalfoon taking the ball for the try. (12-3). Old had a tricky little run but Opotiki were soon back and Riini after left-footing to touch several times had to force. Rayner cut through and Merito handed on to Ho. tcne Old going away for a good gain. Rayner was hurt when an Opotiki man tried to kick the ball out of his arms, but he carried on. Jones found the gap again and sped round Merito, slicing straight through the centre, and/side-stepping Riini, scoring just as Oswald flashed back to tackle him. (15-3). Oswald found the corner with the drop but Jones eleared and ran Mihaerc into a good position, brt Oswald blocked the movement. Brown wa s hurt. From a loose ruck Hotene secured and gave to Kingi who went down the sideline like a car. On the line he gave to Hotene who scored. Oswald's shot was good, but not good enough, (15-0). Winning scrifms now, Whakatane .showed improvement. Hotene ran well and the forwards carried on to crowd Opotiki in their 25. The de_ fences Avas solid and Jones and Shal. fcon cleared just in time. ROTORUA BEATS TE PUKE Rotorua beat Te Puke by 14 points to 12 at Rotorua on Saturday. Te Puke were unlucky in losing their first .string halfback and other key backs. The Rotorua forwards speedily settled dewn to hard rucking Pipy., the pack giving its best performance for some time. Ahipene was valuable at halfback and proved very penetrative. Te Puke scored early, but Rotorua took the lead and 20 minutes before the end of the game were leading by 14 points to six. Te Puke then gained the upper hand and scored two unconverted tries. but time beat them. HIGH SCHOOL The Whakatane High School under nine stone team played at Rotorua on Saturday, the home team beating them 6-3. The girls basketball team beat Rotorua A by T. 3-18. Owing to Whakatane picture night being held on Wednesday Old Boys team will practise on Thursday at 7 p.m. RANGITAIKI JUNIORS The Rangitaiki junior team to play Whakatane next Saturday will be selected fro'ji the following: H. Mason, H. Thompson, J. Hyland, K. V llis Penni J. Pierce, Leckie, H. Clothier, H. Fowells, F. Hall, H. McKenzie, A. Evans f H. Hohepa, F. Mansell F. Hona, T. Gardiner, Dodunski H. Fowell. Players will meet at Kokohinau Pa on Tuesday night promptly at 7 p.m.