RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 165, 27 May 1940, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FURTHER ROUND COMPLETED SATURDAY'S RESULTS The Whakatanc Union's competitions were carried a stage further on Saturday in perfect football weather. At the Domain a fair crowd saw Poroporo defeat a heavy Ruatoki fifteen in the principal match after Whakatane Star juniors had prevailed over Poroporo by a substantial margin. A good game was witnessed at Waimana between the local seniors and Whakatane Star and good football was the order of the day at Taneatua, where Waimana A juniors met and defeated the Taneatua boys. At Ruatoki, Paroa met tho newlyformed Ahuwhenua side and ran out easy winners. The Ahuwhenua fifteen, composed mainly of ex-League players, should improve. It was their drawback that they had an insufficient grasp of Rugby rules and they lost many opportunities through this. A feature of the games at Ruatoki and Whakatane was the exceptionally neat appearance of the Ruatoki teams. Many of the players were wearing new boots, but all had. new jerseys and socks, and the uniformity was pleasing. THE SCORE BOARD Seniors Paroa 19 v Ahuwhenua 0. Poroporo 8 v Ruatoki 0. Waimana 21 v Whakatane S Juniors Ruatoki defeated Waimana B by default. Waimana A 11 v Taneatua 0 Whakatanc Star 25 v Poroporo 5. BASKETBALL RESULTS Games played under the control of the Whakatane Basketball Association resulted: Paroa 33 v Taneatua A 11 Poroporo 25 v Taneatua B 3 Matata 9 v Whakatane 8. HOME MATCHES The Major Clash. Both Ruatoki and Poroporo fielded heavy teams, especially the packs, the Ruatoki van having the advantage in weight. Teams Avere: —■ Ruatoki (Royal Blue and Gold): Hiko, Biddle, Rangi, Pokai, Rangiaho, Te Ruki, Tnpaea, Ponika, Wickcliffe, Paul, Uatuku, Rangitane, Te Tihi, Riini and W. Uatuku. Poroporo (Light Blue): Lawson, |lVuku, P. Merito, Te Kororiko, P. Rangi, Hotene, M. Merito, Tunui, K. Merito, B. Merito, Richard, Apiata W. Merito, Mason and Taylor. The game was contested at a fast j pace throughout but Ruatoki, fiekli ing a team composed mainly of last [year's League players, lost many | chances for Avant of knoAvledge of J the Rugby rules. Many of the players forgot that they Avere no longer playing the League code. The team has a fine set of forwards, heavy and fairly fast, and the backs shoAved promise at times of developing a combination. Considering that it Avas the team's first match, Ruatoki performed exceptionally Avell and will not be long in opening its Avinning account. As has been stated, many opportunities Avere lost, players seeming to have no idea of offside rules and those against passing off the ground, hanging on to the ball Avhen tackled, and so on. On some occasions Ruatoki players, Avhen tackled and brought down, expected the opposition to stand back while they rose and played the ball with their feet, according to League rules. Play for the major portion of the game was confined to Rualoki territory, but occasionally the fastbreaking ex-League forwards Avould sweep away. However, the rushes usually lacked direction, finish, or any co-operation from the backs. Poroporo played a consistent game and the back line flashed in a fe.AV brilliant movements.

It was fortunate for Ruatoki that the play Avas not opened up. On the few occasions it was, Poroporo's speedy backs did almost as they pleased, although it was only in the last two minutes oi so that they were able to add to the unconverted try scored earlj' in the game. Hiko, Ruatoki fullback, got through a hard afternoon's work in satisfactory style. The three-quarter line lacked cohesion but individual efforts were good, although spoiled to some extent by failure to get rid of the ball. Tupaea, at half, showed ability. The whole pack worked hard, with Wickcliffe, Koti and Rangitanc showing up, especially Wickcliffe, who has plenty of weight and used it well in the tight. Lawson, custodian for Poroporo, was very safe when tested. P. Merito, at centre, was the best of the three-quarters. M. Merito, Kotua and Hotene combined well. Hotene was the best back on the ground, and his try was a smart effort. The pack played well, with Tunui, B. Merito and Apiata putting in some solid work. Tries were scored by Apiata and Hotene, P. Merito converting one. Poroporo earned the points but with the expected improvement ol Ruatoki, may find it hard to repeat the performance at the next meeting. The game was controlled by Mr Bert Norman. AT RUATOKI PAROA 19 v AHUWHENUA 0 The teams were:— Paroa (black): WTells, Old, August, Rore, Courteney, Hohapata, Wharewera, Reneti, Bluett. Dunstan. Simpson, Dodd, Jacob, Moore, Hollis. Ahuwhenua (green and white): Wharetapu, P. Naiti, M. Tawera, W. Mokomoko, P. McGarvey, B. lurei, M. Tihi, Toki, P. Rehu, C. Makamaka« J. Mita, G. Walker, T. Uga-" huru, T. Tarakawa, T. Poko. The Ruatoki boys attacked from the outset making the going hard and open. T. Makamaka made a good individual effort by dribbling through to the line with Poko in support. Dodd and lioliis headed the counter attack which carried the leather back to Ruatoki's quarter line where a keen exchange took place. A free kick to the visitors saw Dodd miss narrowly. Fumbling by the Ruatoki fullback let the black jerseys through on three separate occasions. The j greens however managed to defend until the black forwards commenced to bustle. Only an infringement saved Ruatoki and Tihi cleared nicely to half. Paroa came again and August by a brilliant cut in went across to touch down without opposition. The try went unconverted. Paroa 3 Ruatoki 0. The greens were penalised for hanging on but again Dodd's kick at goal just failed to reach. Ruatoki's disinclination to pass out tied the game up to some extent and gave Paroa endless openings. Half-time arrived with the visitors still in the green quarter. The second half opened promisingly for the green jerseys who started to fling the leather about in great style. MeaGrvcy made a great opening by sprinting clear and racing half the field till grassed by Wells. Ruatoki were well on their game when Wharetapu attempting to find the line kicked into Old's arms who outpacing the opposition touched down near the goal. Hohapata had no difficulty in converting. Paroa 8 Ruatoki 0 Once more the greens' chances looked bright when MeGarvev went, through with no one in front. Hohapata with a surprising burst of speed overtook and managed to force. Back in Ruatoki's quarter, Hohapata kicked a nice penalty goal. Paroa were now definitely asserting themselves. The back line swung nicely into action and Old after a handy sprint scored in the corner. Dodd's kick hit the upright am' bounced, over the bar. Paroa 10, Ruatoki 0.

The green defence weakened in the face of repeated attacks, Dodd shooting across without opposition. The try went unconverted and the game ended with the score Paroa 19, Ruatoki 0. Mr F. Wedercll was referee. Waimana 24, Whakatane Star 8 Before a fair crowd at Waimana, the home team defeated Whakatane Star by 24 points to 8. The main factors contributing to the success of the winners were the keen fol-! lowing-up of the fast, vigorous pack, the sound backing-up of both backs and forwards, and an excellent exhibition of fullback play by N. Mcnges, whose handling and line kicking were almost faultless. Whakatane, on the other hand, although obtaining a slight advantage in set scrums hooking especially, lacked th<* dash of their opponents, were guilty of surprising lapses of poor handling and failed to make use of several promising opportunities. Summed up, it may be said that it was a game made for opportunists, and that Waimana "produced the goods" Waimana's points came from R. McKenzie 3 tries, R. Bell, 2 tries and N. Menges 3 conversions and a penalty goal. Clarke who converted his own try and Cleland, a try, secured the visitors points. Mr F. Darvill was referee. WHAKATANE JUNIORS TOO STRONG In the curtain-raiser at the Domain, Whakatane Star juniors had something in reserve when defeating Poroporo juniors by 25 to 5. The latter team had .no chance against more experienced opponents and the play was mostly in tlio light blue territory. Thorburn, Coutts and Brown were the best of the Whakatane backs and Thompson, Chambers and Brittain worked well in the van. Hoev, Nuku and Paul were prominent for Poroporo. Tries were scored for the winners by Brown (3), Coutts Thom, Sullivan and Chambers. Thorburn converting two. For Poroporo Nuku scored a try which he converted. The Rev. C. P. Lucas was referee. Matacli at Taneatua. In the junior match at Taneatua, for which Mr Thomas was referee, some good football was witnessed. The game was even for the most part, Waimana's degree of superiority being indicated by the points margin. Tries for the winners were scored by Whiti, Maara, Paul and O'Brien converted one. RACING DATES AUCKLAND DISTRICT. FIXTURES The Auckland district committee has recommended for approval by the dates committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference the following dates involving 52 days of racing, for meetings in the Auckland district for the season 1940-41:— 1940: August 17. Papakura Hunt; September 14, 1(5, Avondale Jockey Club; September 28, 30, Ohinemuri Jockey Club; October 12, 14, Auckland Racing Club; October 19, Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt; October 28, Waikato Hunt; November 1. 2, Whangarei Racing Club; November 9, 11, Avondale Jockey Club; November 16, 18, Waikato Racing Club; November 23, 25, Auckland Racing Club; December 14, Waipa Racing Club; December 2G, 30, Auck land RaV'ing Club. 1941< January 1,. 2, Auckland Racing Club; January 18, 20, Thames Jockey Club; January 25, 29, Auckland Racing Club; February l,Mata mata Racing Club; February 8, 10, Rotorua Racing Club; February 15, 17, Waikato Racing Club; February 22, 24, Te Aroha Jockey Club; March 1, Franklin Racing Club: March 15, 17, Ohinemuri Jockey Club; March 22, 24, Bay of Plenty Racing Club; April 4, 5, Whangarei Racing Club; April 12, 14, Auckland Racing Club: April 19, 21, Avondale Jockey Club: May 3, Franklin Racing Club; May 17, 19, Waikato Racing Club: June 2, 4, 7, Auckland Racing Club; June 14, Bay of Plenty Racing Club; June 21, Waipa Racing Club. at Toledo —far more than Joe Louis or Max Schmeling ever suffered in their two fights where both were knocked out." Which brought to my mind thcremark Tom Sharkey made to me when I spoke of his broken ribs in ■lie Jeffries fight: "What are a few broken ribs or a broken jaw? What i(j thrv matter?" he said.