RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 99, 17 August 1943, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

GOOD WIN FOR BAY WALK ATO OUTC LA SSED In showery weather with a cold Avind blowing at Arawa Park on Saturday, the Bay of, Plenty Rugby football representatives defeated Waikato b.y 17 points to three. There was a fair crowd present, and the standard of play was disappointing, both sets of backs showing little combination and, understanding. The teams were:— Bay of Plenty (blue and yellow): Slverlodk, G. Childs,, B. Davis, Jacobs, Steven, Mortimer, Hooper; Steevens (capt), Rope, Jacobs, Mills, Moore, Ross, S. Hapeta, Muir. Waikato (red, yellow and black): Higginson, Gooseman, D. Ensor, Carroll, Dons, Haliburton, Tyrell, Watcrson, Warrender (capt), Thomson, Brott, Green, Duncan, Vatley, Brown. Bay of Plenty flacked off into the face of a keen northerly wind, and quickly carried play into the Wai-i kato twenty-five. Three minutes after the kick off Sherlock took a shot from a fair way out but ball just fell short. A few minutes later Steevens landed a penalty goal from right underneath the posts, to put the Bay three points ahead. Bay of Plenty 3, Wai'kato 0. Higg,i*nson made a fine effort. 10 minutes later from about five yards in from the side line, but the ball went just outside. Penalties were coming fairly frequently, but the strong wind made, kicking direction difficult. Ensor then secured the ball on the half way marlk and made a strong run j>ast the Bay's twentyfive, but. lie kicked, far too hard, the ball going into the dead ball area, and a likely try was lost. Bay of Plenty were being hard pressed, but in a forward push down-field in which Hapeta and Rope and Steevens were prominent, the latter snapped it up and, making 20 yards, sent it on to Hooper, who kept it going for Rope to finally dive over wide out. It was a fine .try. Half-time came soon after the .score board read: Bay of Plenty 6, Waikato 0. With the wind behind them in the second half, Bay of Plenty were definitely on top,, the forwards employing fast bustling tactics which had the Waikato team bewildered. The next try was the result of a brilliant, piece of work b.y Mortimer. Snapping the ball up from a setKcrum, he raced round the blind side, beat his way past two men, and sent a long pass to T'e Kani, who scorcd in the corner. Sherlock made a gre.it effort with the kidk, but it went just outside the post. Bay of. Plenty 9, Waikato 0. Excitement ran high when Gooseman,, the. Waikato wing., taking a long pass on the half way, sprinted hard for the line. Tei Kani came across fast and pushed him into touch five yards from the goal line. The Bay of Plenty forwards dribbled the ball downfield, and from a loose scrum Mortimer snapped, it up, sent, it on to Davis who was going at top speed and made a great effort to reach the line, but was tackled and lost possession. Te Kani came up fast, however, and battled his way over wide. out. Sherlock failed to convert.Bßarj r of Plenty 12, Waikato 0. Play was now becoming fast and willing, with Wai'kato making strenu ous efforts to reduce the leeway. Higginson avus last successful when he landed a penalty goal from a fair way out, but he was ludky as the ball hit one of the uprights and bounced, in between the posts. Bay of Plenty 12, Waikato ?>. Bay of Plenty went further into the lead a few minutes later, when Jacobs secured possession and after a determined run battled his waj* over in the corner. Steevens added the goal points with a beautiful kick. Bay of Plenty 17, Waikato 3. Time was called, a few minutes later., with no change in the score. Mr J. Richardson was referee.