RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 34, 7 October 1946, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PILE CUP GAME PAROA’S NARROW WIN Striking evidence of the sustained interest in football this season was borne out by the large crowd of enthusiasts which gathered last Saturday in the Whakatane Domain to witness the challenge by JWaikite for the Pile Memorial Cup. The trophy was once again defended successfully by Paroa, but this time by the narrow margin of only one point.

The game was clean and hard and can be described as the best of the series to date. It was marred to some extent by the sudden easing up in the second half by both sides when Waikite’s prospects appeared hopeless in the face of the holders nine-point lead. The junior knock-out game was a well earned win for United against a particularly lively Poroporo fifteen.

In the friendly game between Paroa and Waikite Juniors the homesters likewise had a win by 18 points to 3.

THE CUP GAME CHALLENGERS UNFORTUNATE The teams were:— Waikite (yellow and black): Anaru, Waetford, Laurence, Hubbard, Morrison, Webby, Midwood, Garlick, Rogers, Hakarai, James, T. Jacobs, Kerei, Tekiri and Albert. Paroa (black): Laurie, Butler, Goodwin, Tai Riini, Tina Riini, Simpson, Goldsmith, Dodd, Ranapia, Ratahi, Harawira, Cleland, Pile, Wharewera and Aukaha. Paroa kicked off with the sun. The forwards invaded at once. The black backs immediately started flinging the oval around but Waikite marked well and quickly returned, aided by a timely penalty kick. The visitors broke through from a short, kicking exchange and. with Laurie caught out of position a knot of yellow jerseys cleared Morrison going over to score in the corner. Waetford converted from an acute angle. Waikite 5, Paroa 0. The black jerseys retaliated by a swift invasion which resulted in Goldsmith dummying his way round the scrum and sprinting over to score in the corner. J. Dodd’s kick went wide. Waikite 5, Paroa 3. Swift and hard the game seesawed up and down field with the visitors showing to advantage in all tight play. Paroa attacked and held the visitors well inside their quarter but the yellows reversed the tables when Jacobs, Hakarai and James went through ball at toe and the whole team swept into Paroa’s half. At this juncture the Waikite side was weakened by the retirement of G. Brown who was injured and who was replaced by H. Jacobs.

Harawira and Ranapia made a brilliant dual run to the Waikite line where Anaru forced in the nick of time and saved. Again the yellow forwards returned flinging the leather round like veterans. Hubbard on the wing put in a brilliant solo run from which' Morrison scored again near the corner flag. The same man failed with the kick. Waikite 8, Paroa 3. Within, three minutes the blacks returned and T. Riini after opening beautifully went on to score in the corner. Dodd’s kick again failed to reach. Waikite 8, Paroa 6. With the sun in their eyes Paroa were momentarily dazzled in the second half but the whole team went forward in a passing rush from which T. Riini secured and tossed to Goldsmith who scored. T. Riini failed to convert. Paroa 9, Waikite 8.

A minute afterwards from a line out Tai Riini worked the blind side and shot across in the coi’ner. Dodd’s kick from an acute angle was perfect.

Paroa 14, Waikite 8,

The game was all Paroa’s at this juncture, the forwards tossing the ball around with a freedom which was pretty to see. From one of these sweeps Goodwin shot across in the corner. Dodd’s kick missed narrowly.

Paroa 17, Waikite 8*

Maintaining the pressure Paroa penned the game in the visitors half. Penalty kick awards only saved Waikite from giving away further points. Ranapia was ordered off for a serious infringement. The yellows rallied momentarily but were, only half hearted in their scoring attempts which invariably broke down. The whole tone of the game deteriorated at this point when Paroa let up and both packs lost most of their sting. Suddenly the visitors staged a surprise attack which caught Paroa off guard. T. Jacobs went through to touch down near the upright. Rogers converted. ■ , Paroa 17, Waikite 13.

Succeeding play now increased inpace the visitors exerting their most strenuous efforts to repeat the performance. The opposition however proved tough, but was not sufficiently strong enough to prevent another snap score by Rogers who crossed after a splendid solo run. Morrison’s kick missed by inches and the game concluded with the scores

Paroa 17, Waikite 16 Mr J. Keepa was referee.

WILSON CUP GAMP In the Junior knock-out game for the Wilson Cup United beat Poroporo in an interesting and hardfought game by 6 - points to 3. Poroporo were aggressive from the outset but could not discover the same standard of combination in the back division. United fielded a sound scrum but Poroporo had the edge on them in most of the tight play.

The first half was remarkable for some snappy back movements by the Blues against which the Poroporo team countered by fierce individual tactics. Before half-time United had notched six points from two unconverted tries by Hunt and Taylor. Poroporo had been most unfortunate.

The yellow jerseys redoubled their efforts in the second half and gave United plenty to think about. Early in the piece, H. Nuku shot over for an unconverted try making the points 6—3 still in United’s favour.

Heavy forward work on both sides featured the concluding stages with Poroporo still forcing the pace but • unable to provide that finish which would have evened the score. Mr G. Oswald was referee.