PIRATES v WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 99, 15 August 1944, Page 8

PIRATES v WHAKATANE

WIN FOll HOME TEAM A good fast exhibition of football was witnessed at the Domain on Saturday when the Whakatane Junior team defeated Rotorua Pirates by 9 points to 3. Play Avas, very even on both isides, the: Pirates back line if anything being slightly superior. For Pirates, Costello was prominent while Hunt (wing) and Back (fullback) initiated a number of good movements for Whakatane. Teams were as under:— Pirates (black): Clark; Costello; Corb'ett; Middleton; Gracie; Campbell; Patterson; Soloman; Fitzgerald; Knowles; Henderson; Narby; Claude; Tuhukarina and Mcllwraith. Whakatane (yellow and black): Walker; Dines; Green; Ward; llivet.t; Clark; Skclton; Beveridge; Ben Hudson; Bluett; F. Stewart; Hunt; Bob Hudson; Beaumont and Back. The First Spell The game opened at a fast pace With the Pirates line well to the fore. Fitzgerald initiated a good back movement which took play to Whakatane's goal line but. a penalty against Pirates eased the situation. At half way the Rotorua line got away again and things looked dangerous for Whakatane. The ball found the line 10 yards from Pirates goal line. In it came and a scrum on the l'ine was ordered. Both teams packed hard, and a penalty kick for Pirates square in front of their goal resulted. Clark made sure of it and converted nicely giving the lirst 3 points to Pirates. Play centred at midficld far a time. Gathering in Beaumont kicked to the wing. The ball failed to find the l'inc and Tuluikarina took it nicely. Hunt, tackled him but failed to catch him in possession. Both teams packed and another penalty kick on the*2s line was awarded Pirates. Clark's kick was outside the posts and play came back to midfield. A set scrum went down. Out came the ball and Hudson gathering in w,caved his way downlield 30 yards and the ball went into touch on the black team's goal line. A penalty eased the situation for Pirates but Whakatane kept them on the* defensive. Suddenly Rotorua sent the ball downlield. Back gathered in and took it to the goal line where it found touch. In it came. The Whakatane line gathered in. Straight across went the, leather in a passing rush to Hunt who swept on over the line to score nicely wide out. The kick was short and the score was even at 3 all.

Play immediately swept down to! Whakatane's 25', where Pirates were awarded another penalty from an easy position. The attempt at conversion was outside the post and Whakatane rushed to Pirates quarter, where, the whistle declared halftime. The Second 1 Spell The change-over saw Whakatane in a better position with wind and sun behind them. Beveridge led the first rush to Pirates quarter but hard pack work by the black team soon had play in Whakatane's 25. A penalty kick for Whakatane brought, play back to midfield but Pirates kept the home team on the defensive. Rivett took another penalty for Whakatane. and initiated a fast forward rush which took the ball to Pirates' 25. Fifteen yards from the goal line Whakatane was awarded a penalty kick. Bluett's attempt at conversion was short but Rivett followed through fast and dived over the line on to the, ball for Whakatane's second try. Whakatane C, Pirates 3. Back at half way the iWhakatane pack took possession again and rushed to Rotorua's quarter. The leather went out to the back line, which swept on to the goal line. A scrum went down. Pirates, hooked and forced. Whakatane took possession again from the 25 and rushed to the visitors goal line where the, leather went into touch. In it came and a penalty was awarded Rotorua. A good kick which found touch at hallway resulted. Ln came the ball and a free kickwas awarded the yellow team. Hard pack work followed at midlield. Suddenly Hunt broke, away and fairly Hew down the held. It looked like a clear run but Mcllwraith was sale and tackled. Play camc back to Pirates 25 line. Suddenly F. Stewart gathered in raced round the opposing pack and over the line touching down wide out at the corner llag. Hunt's kick was low and the final whistle went, the scoreboard showing Whakatane I), Pirates 3. Mr F. Darvill was successful with the whistle.