RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 172, 12 June 1940, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SATURDAY'S GAME WHAKATANE EARNED THE WIN Considering that the respective teams had not had the opportunity of developing a combination as rcpresentatiA r es, the Parata Cup match betAVcen Opotiki and Whakatane produced some good football. The pace was on from the outset and there was no letting up by cither team. In fact Whakatane appeared to be going better at the finish than at any other stage. Though a light rain fell it did no more than make the ball somewhat greasy, and apart from the tAvo slight showers, the game AA'as played in comparatively good football Aveatlier. A pleasing feature Avas that the match started on time and the benefit of this, apart from the satisfaction afforded spectators, AA'as seen later. With an oA r ercast sky and the sun due to set at 4.41 in any case, visibility AA*as by no means one hundred per cent Avhen time Avas called. Better Combination. As Avas the case in the junior game, the Opotiki backs had a better understanding than the Whakatane rear-guard. Some improvement was effected in the latter in the secojid .half, after a re-shuffle and it appeared that the local selectors Avould do Avell to keep .this order providing that a good centre is secured to take the place of McGarvcy. An alternative Avould be to play another first five-eighth and alloAV McGarvey to fill his usual position at centre. At fullback Menzies performed satisfactorily and Avas safe. Tlv? tAA*o 'wingers had little scope but both played well, Mitchell putting in one spectacular run and Boynton, AA r ho is the ideal type for a winger, did not loaf. At centre, McGarvey did all thai Avas expected of him and lie did well in the second half at first fiveeighth. Courtney's Sound Display. Courtney was responsible for a splendid display. On one or tAvo occasions he failed to mark Moore, and the latter Avas dangei*ous at any time, but he retrieved the position for the Blues several times. He Avas fast off the mark and tackled Avell. and his tAvo tries Avere no flukes, although the second folloAA'ed a great side-line gallop by Mitchell. Hotenc took some time to settle down and for the greater part of the first half he did not play up to his club standard. He played a nice game in the second spell, AA'hen he Avas behind the scrum, and it looks as though the half-back position

was made for him. Oswald had an off day. His passes from the base of the serum in the first half were wild and the same applied in the second spell. He missed badly once or twice and was the weak link in the rear chain. A Good Pack. Fitchett was not on his game in the initial spell but improved and got through some solid work in the second half. Hughes was sound with out being prominent. Dodd gave a good exhibition of hard and consistent forward play and was on the ball all the time. He is fairly fast, and possessing Aveight, is s good type of forward. His try rewarded his efforts. Cleland"showed up to advantage and was prominent throughout and Moore gave a particularly good display. He was tireless and broke through well on several occasions. On the day he Avas the best of an excellent pack. No fault could be found Avith Tahae Tu, Merito and Hayward, all justifying their selection. Opotiki Backs Shine. Mihaere Avas inclined to be uneasy under pressure. The wing threequarters Avere Avell marked and Avere not giA'cn opportunities, but Sheeran showed up to effect AA r ith one or tAA r o good dashes and his was a splendid try. One of the best backs on the ground Avas Lendrum, at centre,.although he by no means over-shad

owed the two five-eighths, C. Walker and W. Moore. Lendrum went up to first five-eighths in the second half and he demonstrated his versatility by turning on a 'firstclass exhibition in that position. C. Walker showed up at times with brilliant efforts but the pick of the back line, Avas W. Moore. Possessing a tricky SAverve, and being exceptionally fast off the mark, he AA'as dangerous at all times. The Avhole pack worked well, with 11. Walker, Jacob and Poiliipi shoAving up, especially Jacob, who was in the thick of everything. AN AMENDED SCORE "Opotiki supporters Avere greatly disappointed at the results of the senior representative match played at Whakatane on Saturday in the first round for the Parata Cup. The Whakatane team had an easy Avin, the Opotiki team failing to score," says the Opotiki NeAvs. The supporters must have been very disappointed to communicate such a statement* which is true in its reference to Whakatane's easy Avin, but fails to account for Opotiki's three unconverted tries.