HURINUI-APANUI SHIELD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 70, Issue 91, 18 July 1944, Page 5

HURINUI-APANUI SHIELD

ROTORUA TRIUMPHS AGAIN

WHAKATANE BEATEN 11-3

For the. second time this season the Rotorua Rugby football representatives were called upon to defend the Te Hurinui Apanui.Shield at Arawa Park on Saturday. On this occasion the match was played in driving rain and the field, which had received a thorough soaking on Friday and Saturday morning was soon turned into a quagmire. There was a very small attendance. Except that H. Jacobs and H. Curry replaced Timihou and Osborne in the forwards the Rotorua team was unchanged from the one that defeated Rangitaiki a fortnight ago. The change proved a wise one as both Jacobs and Curry played good games, especially the former. It was apparent from the outset . that the match would resolve itself into a forward struggle as the ball was far too greasy for accurate handling and passing among the~ backs. Tlie first spell was 20 minutes old before any points were scored and this fact gives- a fair indication of the play. Then -Ahipene, the Rotorua half-back gathered in the ball on the Whakatane twenty-five, beat his way past a couple of men, passed to Beckett who sent the ball on to the wing, Lawson who sprinted over wide for a great try. Sewell added the extra points with a fine kick. Rotorua 5, Whakatane 0. The Whakatane forwards gradually worked their way up to the Rotorua twenty-five and things looked dangerous for the, home team for a while, until Sewell cleared with a good kick which found the line well upfield. The Whakatane forwards were playing a fine game both In the tight and the loose and frequently the Rotorua pack was getting badly bustled. After a period in which play was confined tp deep inside Rotorua territory the home . team took a hand and following a loose forward rush Ahipene, gathered in well and transferred to Lawson who raced over to score his second try. SeweTl made a good effort with the kick but the ball went outside the. posts. Rotorua 8, Whakatane 0. Half-time came soon after with no change in the score.

On resumption play livened up considerably and despite the fact that the ground .was by now almost a quagmire both teams endeavoured to open up the play. In this respect Rotorua achieved more success than, the visitors, who were standing, most of the time, flatfooted. The home team commenced the second spell packing better and showing improvement in the loose. Then, however, the Whakatane pack gradually began to gain the ascendancy and appeared unlucky not to score on a number of occasions. Early In this spell Robertson scored a good try from a forward melee near the line for Rotorua. Sewell again fail-> ed to convert from a fairly difficult angle. Near the end of the match J. Dodd kicked a penalty goal for Whakatane from in front of the posts but a fair way out. There was no furttier score and the game ended: Rotorua 11, Whakatane 3. Mr H. Hawkins (Opotiki), was referee. \