REP. RUGBY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 95, 3 August 1945, Page 5

REP. RUGBY

HURUNUI APANXJI SHIELD

WHAKATANE DEFEATED

OPOTIKI RETAINS TROPHY

Before a large crowd of spectators Opotiki withstood successfully Whakatane's challenge for the HurunuiApanui Shield last Saturday. The challengers who were only expected to give a mediocre exhibition surprised the crowd by the vim and energy they infused into their game. The scores did not give 'a fair indication of the strength of the visitors. There was evidence of some good Rugby ability but the team required welding together as a whole.. Even with the loss of or three of Whakatane's players as a result of illness another game or two together would have made the Whakatane team a formidable opposition and the visitors should take heart from this and with proper coaching may cau£e a surprise next season. With the object of keeping the score down the visitors right from the start adopted a shallow back line and were usually quickly on the Opotiki backs as soon as they got moving. The local backs failed to counter this move by running up and short punting with onlyt he opposing fullback to beat for the ball.

Whakatane kicked off with the sun in their opponents' eyes and found this a great advantage in the first half. Clouds failed to obscure the sun in the second half and this told greatly against the visitors towards; the end of the game. Early in the game the Opotiki backs swung into attack and M. Delamere cut out two men before handing on to Parkinson who with a great burst of speed scored in the corner. T. Koopu's kick at goal fell short. Opotiki 3, Whakatane 0. In the line-out the Opotiki side was taken by surprise when the bal was thrown right out to a waiting back and the visitors were really unlucky not to score. Opotiki then fumbled the ball and Whakatane carried play to their opponents' Opotiki forcing a minrute later. Exciting play followed the ball going across field to the corner. The ball went over the line and an Opotiki player appeared to fall on it first bitt the referee ruled a force down. Whakatane kicked well downfield and the bounce beat the Opotiki backs badly and the" visitors were unlucky not to get a score. Up to this stage the visitors appeared as if they might easily score before the /bell. Play went to halfway but Whakatane returned the leather into their oppenents' territory. Parkinson secured and kicked well down the line.

In the sccond half and with the sun in their favour the. Opotiki team * got down to business and the backs were soon in action. Moving up near the Whakatane 25 flag the local backs again set up a hot attack but although the ball, passed right along the line the defence saw to it that little ground was gained. Not to be denied the attack was kept up and in a sweep to the liwe T. Koopu scored in a handy position for M. Delamere to convert. Opotiki S ? Whakatane 0. Opotiki now swung properly into their and clapped on the points. Their fitness and team work stood them in good stead. Scores came from Poihipi, J. Koopu j M. Delamere and D. Moore. Whakatane's only try came from a penalty goal by D. Boynton and the game closed with the score Opotiki 25, Whakatane 0. Mr J. Thomas (Te Teko) refcreed.