REP. RUGBY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 1, 28 August 1945, Page 5

REP. RUGBY

WAIKATO DEFEATS BAY 6—3

HARD GAME AT AiRAWA PARK

Be Tore the largest crowd of the season the Waikato Rugby football representatives defeated Bay of Plenty at Arawa Park ? Rotorua. on Saturday afternoon by'six points to three. Although a number of light showers tended to make conditions greasy, both set 3 of backs threw the ball about well } with the Waikato fifteen showing slightly the better combination. The outstanding feature was the play of the Waikato forwards. For the greater part of the game they limited and played as a pack and their dribbling and following up was first class. The Bay forwards played very indifferently in the first spell and were repeatedly beaten for the ball both in the scrums/and line-

outs. They more than came into their own in the second half, however when with better packing and less individual play .they had the heavier Waikato forwards rattled.

The teams:—

Waikato black and yellow): R. W. Watty D. Ensor, J. Sladc-Guliy, F. McMillan, H. BorreU L. T. Russell; J. Forkert K. Rogers, W. H. Warrender (capN. Johnstone, C. Wright GLeeson, A. Arnold K. Waterson.

Bay of Plenty (blue and yellow): Mtiehell, Moore, M. Delamere (captain) Laurie, J. Parkinson Seton D. Ahipene; Woods, Koopu Phillips Hughes, Poihipi W. Delamere,' Black, McLaughlin. Missed 1 Opportunities Play opened with a fast thrust downfield by the Waikato forwards led by Warrender and Rogers, Bay of Plenty was penned in its own 25

or a period until Ahipene broke

from the ruck and sent a long pass to Seton who, taking the ball at top, gained ground before kicking for the

line near the halfway mark. Bay of Plenty had a chance to open the scoring a few minutes later with a penalty goal, but M. Delamere's kick was well short. Things looked dangerous for Waikato a few minutes later when the Bay forwards broke

through with ball at toe but MqGregor rose to the occasion and relieved the pressure with a long kick which found touch near the halfway mark. Ensor took a snap shot at a field goal from in front of the posts but the ball went wide. Russell sent his backs away near the halfway mark and the ball traveled right through the chain till it reached SladerGully who appeared likely to score in the corner but Mitchell the Bay custodian, came across bril-

liantly and crashed the Wai'kato winger into touch a yard short of the line.

the Bay of Plenty halfback, was sending out very poor passes to the first five-eighths Parkinson but on one occasion the ball travelled right through the back line until it readied M. Delamere who

clapping on the pace, made a lot of ground before transferring to Moore, Unfortunately, the pass went astray. The Bay forwards broke clear again and brought play down to the Waikalo goal line where xVhipene snapped up the ball and exploited the blind side. A golden scoring opportunity was lost here as Ahipene only had one man to beat but there was nobody in support. The ■ Wai,kato forwards quickly brought play back and Ensor attempted- a penalty from an easy angle, but it went wide. Half-time came with no score.

Waikato Opens Acaouni

Two minutes after the resumption

McMillan took advantage of a wide gap in the front of the goal to dash through and score an easy conversion. Wai'kato 3 Bay of Plenty 0.

Stung by the reverse, the Bay fifteen forced play back, but Moore overran the ball with the fullback out of position and another scoring chance was lost. Delamere who was playing a good solid game at centre, flashed into the picture soon afterwards, and after cutting in brilpassed on to Moore who made a game effort to score but was pulled down by McGregor a yard from the line.

The Bay team was definitely on top at this stage, with the forwards packing magnificently and the hacks playing a line spoiling game. Waikato went further ahead, however

when Slade-Gully, after a great solo

run from his own 25 beat Mitchell/ badly and scored in a handy position. Ensor's kick was wide of the posts. Waikato 6, Bay of Plenty 0., Shortly, afterwards the Bay's efforts were rewarded with a well de-/ served try. From a forward' melee near the Waikato goal line, W. Delamere raced through to gather in the } ball and go over alongside the posts. Koopu failed to convert. Waikato 6, Bay of Plenty 3.

Bay of Plenty made desperate efV.y! forts in the final stages to equalise but the Waikato defence held.! Two \i minutes from time Laurie brought - 1 the crowd to its feet with a snap <■ shot at a field goal from just the posts, but the ball hit the crossbar and rebounded back into play.. The end came with the Bay still attacking. Final score:. Waikato 6, Bay of Plenty 3.' ■' " ' • Mr S. G. Still was referee.