RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 70, Issue 81, 13 June 1944, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WEEK-END GAMES A large crowd of spectators gathered at the Domain on Saturday afternoon to witness the two Rugby matches played between Poroporo Juniors and A.T.C. and Paroa and Waimana Seniors. First class football was the order of the day, the Poroporo Juniors especially giving an extraordinary exhibition of speed and handling which had A.T.C. properly "up in the. air." The Senior Game Teams were as under: — Paroa (Blue): Jensen; C.. Wharewira: T. Wharewira; Riini; Ratahi; W. Wharewira; Cleland; Lawson; Merito; Dodd; P. Merito; Tuta; P. Ratahi and Wano. Waimana (Assorted): Hay ward; Brown; Rakuraku; Bettleheim; Te Uaua; Barlow; Marra; Spanhake; H. Boynton; N. Gallagher; Mitchell; Takalio; D. Boynton; Robertson and Taia. Play commenced at 3.30' p.m. Paroa facing the sun. Some hard pack work at half way followed, the Paroa pack forcing Waimana back to their 25. A penalty kick relieved the situation, and Merito found the line. With the ball in play again Paroa packed hard, taking the play by degrees to Waimana's end of the field. Suddenly the. leather went out to the Waimana line which took it down to Paroa's 25. A penalty kick by Boynton went wide and a 25 resulted. In the exchange of kicks which followed a penalty was awarded to Waimana which Boynton converted nicely. Waimana 3, Paroa 0. Merito led the next rush, taking play to Waimana's quarter. A good penalty kick by Dodd from half way just- missed the goal, and the leather found the line from Jensen's boot. In it came, and, gathering in, Hayward raced downfield scoring between the posts. H. Boynton made an easy conversion, and brought the score to 8 nil in Waimana's favour. The change-over saw play become •looser, Paroa using more speed in their devastating rushes. Out went | the. ball to the Paroa line, but as a result of mishandling,, a 25 resulted in place of what was nearly a spectacular try. The kick failed to find the line and Mitchell attempted a feeble shot at goal. Still .in Paroa's 25, Hayward gathered in and dived over the line, mid-way between the posts for a good try. The kick bounced back from the bar, and the scoreboard read Waimana 11, Paroa 0.

Back at half way, Dodd attempted another penalty 'kick which went jusit under the bar and a scrum on the. line followed. Out came the ball, and Ratahi dived over the line for Paroa's first score.

Dodd's kick was low, and the final whistle went leaving the score at Waimana 11, Paroa 3. The Junior Match Teams w 7 ere as under: — Poroporo (Blue): Wano; Maxwell; Thompson; Paul; Roraana; Kespa; Lavetty; C. Keepa; Tie pa; Riini; Harawira; Martin; Kingi; Ruru; Huta. Air Training Corps (Yellow): Bawering; Sloane; Laloli; Malmanche; Sharman; Mickell; Ranby; Candy; Brockett; Henderson; Torrie: Stewart; McDonald; Howat and Meyer. The teams took the field at 1.45 p.m., Whakatane, taking the kick. Straight up in the' air it went and into the waiting arms of Tiepa (half) who ducked downfield like a fantail scoring a try within the first 10 seconds of play. Following this, the Whakatane forwards packed more tightly, but a penalty converted by Tiepa brought Poroporo's; score to 6. Back at half way, the ball was scrummed. Out it camc, and Tiepa passed to his line. Riini mishandled but Tiepa dived round, caught his own pass, and raced across the field, downing the ball at the. corner post. The kick fell short, and the scoreboard read 9—o in Poroporo's favour. Taking possession, Whakatane forced the game to the blue's '25, but Riini broke away, jinked his way past the opposing backs., and dived over the line. Tiepa converted and brought the score to 14—0. The change-over saw the ball in the hands of the Poroporo line, and taking a snappy pass, Riini made the line and succeeded in adding a further three points to the blue teams score. The kick fell short and the scoreboard show r ed 17 points to Poroporo with A.T.C.'s slate still clean. following this, Harawira intercepted a nice pass from Torrie to Stewart, and with a clear iun in front of him, led the field to another try bet wen the posts. The kick was easy, and Kingi's conversion brought the score to 22 nil. Back again at half way, a penalty kick by Tiepa went straight up. Meyer failed to find the line and Kingi shot over for another try. (Continued in next column)

Pulling the hat trick, Kingi took another nice pass from Harawira, and dragged half the Wha'katane pack over the line for another scorc between the posts. Tiepa converted, and the final whistle blew leaving the score at 30 to nil in Poroporo's favour. Throughout the match, Tiepa was the star, showing up time and again in his brilliant solo rushes which completely fogged the. opposing backs. Huta (fullback) was also, very safe. For A.T.C. Torrie (Capt) held the team together, while Stewait and Henderson did great work In the back line. SATURDAY'S DRAW Seniors: Taneatua v Waimana, at Waimana 3 p.m., Mr J. Brown referee. Juniors: A.T.C. v Waimana at Waimana, 1.45 p.m., Mr V. Miller. Poroporo v Wha'katane at Wha'katane, 2 p.m., Mr J. Whitehead.