RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 84, 10 June 1946, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WHAKATANE UNION GAMES TANEATUA NOW LEADS SENIORS Improving standard is still maintained throughout the Whakatane Union. All games last Saturday registered sound Rugby, and spectators are remarking generally on the fine standard set by the Juniors, who are putting up some good exhibitions The hardest game was played at Taneatua where the two claimants to Union honours, Taneatua and United clashed in a hard fought duel in which the home side emerged vieftrious in one of the toughest contests of the season.

At Whakatane three Maori teams were fielded and provided interesting games. Paroa’s defe'.c of Waimana was a surprise game, and it would appear that the victors will be the next serious rivals to Taneatua. The Poroporo-Wairaka game was a somewhat ragged one, dominated by loose forward play and hard scrummaging. At both games large numbers of spectators attended and provided an exciting background. United suffered severely from injured members at Taneatua, and but for the lack of handling by the backs might have at least evened •the score. Taneatua, has produced a hard-fighting, but clean-playing team which will take a power of beating if it continues to improve.

THE SENIOR GAMES

TANEATUA’S FINE WIN Taneatua looked dangerous from the kick off, bustling United’s defence and winning through to quarter way. The packs fought it out in a series of hard scrums from which the blues secured and won back to midfield. United discovered a handy line of backs as the game advanced and the passing at all times was a feature. Taneatua countered with a hard-fighting pack of forwards who more than once had the opposition rattled. The battle of the packs occupied most of the first half but L. McCready relieved with flashes of bright back play which always made the home side look dangerous. Sisam nearly scored in the early stages but was beaten narrowly to the force by Boon. Taneatua did most of the attacking at this juncture and only the magnificent marking by United and McGougan’s swift saves, prevented the points piling on.

Long-shot free kicks taken ; by McGougan missed narrowly. However towards the close of the first spell United launched a determined attack. Once again L. McCready relieved. Boon received an eye injury and retired, his place being taken by R. Goodall, while in the second half Thom who had received a shoulder injury was replaced by Bowering.

These gaps in United’s defence were noticeable in succeeding play when Taneatua redubted their efforts.

United was in desperate defence as the local team pressed home. Bowering was the third casualty, retiring with an injured leg and G. Goodall took the field. The black and white pack made hard going for Kahui United’s plucky half, but the backs playing in close held the game tight. Washer led the forwards clear and United breathed freely again at half way. L. McCready made a spirited dash to the corner, but was beaten to the force by Cassidy. Not to be denied however he again threaded through the opposition in some close play and scored near the goal. Semmens kick was rushed down.

United clapped on the pace and for a moment looked like scoring. However C. McCready at full proved safe. Fowell was feeding his backs like a veteran but the blues came again. Cave heading a promising rush. However with two men outside he chose to run into trouble and Sisam quickly reversing the tables set sail outpacing the opposition to score near the upright. Semmens failed to convert. The game ended with the score 6 nil in Taneatua’s favour. Mr A. Breward was referee.

PAROA DEFEATS WAIMANA Paroa and Waimana Senior teams met on the Whakatane Domain last Saturday, and after a hard-fought match Paroa walked off the victors by 21 points to 11. Packs were fairly evenly matched some slight advantage perhaps being with Paroa who secured the majority of balls from the set scrums. The same side fed the ball regularly to its back line which was neat enough to gain ground on almost every occasion. The Waimana back line was continually starved although on the few occasions they did handle the leather, they showed promise. Had this side made better use of its back men, there would in all probability have been a narrower margin between the points. It was during the second spell that Paroa built up points and on their play generally, deserved to win. Scoring for Paroa were Wahaponga, Hii (3) and Riini, whilst the last named man also converted on three occasions. Waimana men who touched down were Ball, Boynton and Mitchell. Boynton converted Ball’s try. Mr G. Oswald was referee.

THE DRAWN GAME f The senior match between Porojioro and Wairaka resulted in a draw, the score board registering 3—3. The small number of‘points recorded on each side are indicative of the hard, and closely contested match. Poroporo fielded a heavier pack but the fast-breaking Wairaka forwards employed successful smothering tactics and the Poroporo men had to move fast to send the leather out to the back line. From start to finish the game went at top pace. Early in the first half Kororiko crossed the line to give Poroporo first blood. A series of rushes by Wairaka kept play in the opposing quarter, but no gap occurred in the Poroporo defence. The equalising try came from Lawson in the second half, who touched down in the corner. Mr H. Mahy refereed.

THE JUNIOR GAME PAROA v WAIMANA This game played at the Whakatane Domain on Saturday resulted in a decisive victory for Paroa by 14 points to 0. Waimana’s defeat was mainly due to the opposing side’s better combination and knowledge of the game. The teams fielded were evenly matched as regards weight. Scorers for Paroa were Tawa (2),

Lafferty and Hakopa. Lafferty onverted Tawa’s first try. Mr C. Ross refereed. UNITED AND TANEATUA DRAW Played at Taneatua this was one of the hardest and cleanest Junior engagements of the season. With packs evenly matched the pace fr j n the outset was fast and though two good lines of backs served the s n, vm both sides by mutual agreement made the game a forward one. All good movements sprang from light forward play and a surprising feature was the manner in which both packs maintained the pressure and proved tireless even up till the final whistle. The equalising try came on the stroke of time when Rutherford snatched an opening in the line out and slipped over in the corner. Scoring for Taneatua were Hunt and Marshall, and for Whakatane Quigg and Rutherford, all with a try apiece. Mr P. Brown was referee.