THE JUNIOR GAME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 94, 30 July 1943, Page 8

THE JUNIOR GAME

WAT MAN A 6„ WHAKATANE 0 The first match between Wliakalanc and Waimana Junior teams was played at Waimana on Saturday and resulted in a ■win for Waimana, tiie score being 6 to nil. Waimana was unable, to find several oi their players at the start of the game, so reinforcements were called in from the Home Guard. The teams Avere :— Wliakatane (blue): Green, Dines, Theobald, Jane (eapt), Bowering,, Marshall, Langdon, Muir, Jaram, Stewart, Bach, Beaumont, Gaytcr, Hudson and Skelton. Waimana (red and black): Bell, Spanhake, Bell, Gillanders, Luttrell, C. Wardlaw, Bettleheim, Kelson, Gallagher (capt), Addison, Rust, G. Wardlaw, Skipper, Addison,, Kelson. The game opened with a rush by Whakatane which carried them nearly to the goal line where the ball went into touch. Some fast forward wor/k followed, the heavier \\ aimana pack forcing the local forwards back. A penalty kick against Waimana relieved the situation to a certain extent but 'the Whakatane boys were still kept on the defensive. Beaumont saved an imminent try by a good line kick halfway up the held, and the play moved backto centre. From the line out which followed, the reds forced their way by sheer weight right down the field, but a knodk-on scrum gave the blues a brief*respite. Stewart showed up as first five-eighths trapping the ball from the scrum and passing it to the backs, but it was intercepted by G. Wardlaw and carried round the wing. Fortunately Beaumont was safe. A penalty kick by Kelson went wide. A period of line outs lollowcd, till the Whakatane line got hold of the ball, but a forward pass interrupted the makings of a good scoie. Half-time followed with no. score on either side. A few minutes after the start of the second half, Muir started a solo rush which carried the play into the Waimana quarter. He was stopped short of the goal line. A kick to line and a knock-on scrum followed from which the reds secured the ball and carried it badk to half way.A brief scrummage ensued right on Whakatane's goal line till finals ly Bettleheim dropped over the line to score the first touchdown of the game. Waimana 3, Whakatane 0. Following the try, the play was again forced into Whakatane's quarter but a timely kick to line saved the situation again. A good penalty kick to touch by Beaumont carried the play down to halfway once, more but Rust (Waimana wing) count- J ered by a brilliant run down-fiekl and the ball finally found the line 10 yards from Whakatane's goal. An unfortunate penalty against Whakatane followed and although the angle was fairly acute,, Kelson piloted the leather well between the posts bringing' the score to 6 nil in Waimana's favour and marking the close of the match. Mr V. Miller refereed. ✓