GAME ON DOMAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 61, 11 September 1939, Page 5

GAME ON DOMAIN

POROPORO BEATS CITY JUNIOR PLAYERS FIELDED V . Poroporo beat Whakatane -on the Domain on Saturday by eight points to three in a quickly changing and interesting game played in bright sunshine on a hard and dusty ground Knocks were frequent and there were occasional private wars with more attention paid to the man than to the ball. Whakatane was actually mainly Star, fielding only three senior backs and one senior forward. The forwards were a little shy at times but generally went well. The backs were handicapped by the ball being held up close to the scrum, ( P. Hollis running a good deal and G. Jackson at first fivo-cightli holding on and thereby drawing the sideline's abuse. How evcr ( both men would often have put the men outside them in the fii'c nad they unloaded, for Poroporo was coin ing through fast all the time, and they were looking for interceptions. Tunui for Poroporo was sent oil b% r the referee Mr F. Darvill for questioning his rulings after an earlier warning. The teams were:—• Poroporo: Kororiko, Merito (2)> King, Hotene, Walker, Cooper, Rangikotua, Mate, Wharcwera, Maui, Tunui (2). Whakatane: Moore, Sullivan, Brown, Jackson, Hoi lis, Thorny Green, D. Stewart, Brit, ten Crapp. Wilson, Henry, Best. Even exchanges marked the opening and Merito failed with a long shot from a penalty. Poroporo were almost in when Oswald tripped and was caught while clearing, and they rushed to the but a penalty sent them back. The game was loose but interesting. Crapp was getting through a power of work for Whakatane on defence. Poroporo eventually scored Avhen Hotene capped a good movement from the 25 Avith a burst round behind the posts. Tho kick succeeded (5-0). Poroporo nearly scored again and kept the pressure up though Best, Jackson and Thom saA*ed in turn. Whakatane finally scored Avhen Jack, son kicked to the line after a scrum and BroAvn, made a good run to send infield to Chambers. The kick missed (5-3).

jStewtorfc was going well as a loose forward and he was nearly clear. With Whakatane press ing Oswald sprinted over to stop a ball from going out and scooped it back into the field of play. Next moment S. Merito had it over his own 25 and he sped down the line. Oswald was well out of position and Merito scored. The kick missed (8-3) This was the hajf.time score. In the second spell Oswald failed with a longish kick at goal. Wilson gathered in a kick and started off a rush that might have meant a try but Poroporo cleared. The game now was quite fast but far from cleancut. Poroporo were in the fire but they cleared. Tunui was getting away when he was recalled for a forward pass. The referee and he had words and Tunui was sent off. Poroporo hoed in and they were unlucky to miss tries. For much of the rest of the spell they hammered at the City Siegfried line, but it held, and the game ended with the score unchanged. Paroa beat Taneatua by 17 points to o at Taneatua. JUNIOR GAME. In the juniors Poroporo defaulted to Star.