RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 36, 4 June 1947, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SENIOR GAME PAROA’S NARROW WIN The senior game played at the Domain on Saturday was between United and Paroa. Followers expected this match to be “the game of the season” and judging from reports all expectations were fulfilled. The teams were:— ~ Paroa: Laurie, K. Wana, M. Harawira, J. Ratahi, Hohua, E. Martin, Umuhuri, T. Hona, W. Wharewera, D. Pirini, R. Cleland, J. Dodd, P. Ratahi, B. Harawira, W. Honana. United: Rowson, McGougan, Cave, 'Hunt, Stewart, De Lacey, Kahui, -Cassidy, Butler, Francis, Campbell, Gardiner, Wilson, Hollis, Green. Paroa kicked off against the wind, Campbell took the ball and passed to Green who failed to take the pass. Wilson picked up the ball but was -off side. Dodd opened the score for Paroa with a good kick from just •outside the 25 and about 20 yards in from the side line.

Paroa 3, United 0.

From the kick off the ball went through to Laurie who found touch with a good kick. From the line out United attacked but knocked on. Paroa was penalised for putting the ball in the scrum unfairly. McGougan’s kick just missed. From the drop out there was an •exchange of kicks until Laurie knocked on and a scrum resulted. Kahui was penalised for picking out •of the scrum. Dodd’s kick missed -and United forced. Paroa attacked with loose dribbling and Stewart .saved with a good kick. Paroa started a passing rush which broke down. From the scrum United started a passing rush. Hollis was offside and Paroa found the line with the kick. From the line out Harawira broke through, kicked again, picked up the ball, ran down field and passed to Campbell who threw a long pass across field. McGougan came up travelling at top, took the pass, outpaced the opposition and scored a great try. The kick missed. Paroa 3, United 3.

Soon after the drop out Paroa rstarted a pasing rush but the ball was knocked on. At this stage both ;sets of forwards were working hard and giving the backs no chance to • open up. Honana and Harawira broke through but Hollis and Camptfoell dribbled through for United. Paroa came again and a good passing rush ended in Wano being pushed out at the corner. From the loose Honana, who was playing a great game, picked up the ball and dashed over between the posts. The •charge at the ball was disallowed jbut Hona missed an easy kick. Paroa 6, United 3.

Led by Honana Paroa threw the ball about and had United defending desperately. Ratahi kicked high and United were able to force.

Kahui was injured and Morpeth took his place. From the drop out the ball found the Jine near halfway. United' got the ball and Morpeth -set his backs going but good tackling broke up the movement. Paroa attacked again and Morpeth passed back to Rowson who found the line at halfway.

The second half produced betted football than the first. Both sets of backs had more of the ball and the Unitbd forwards had their Paroa .opponents very tired. Paroa missed a chance when Laurie ran round and down to the 25. He kicked in field when he had two men in support. This could be excused as he played a wonderful game and saved his side, many times. The Paroa backs were dangerous when they were given the ball and Hohua showed his ability to dummy and side step when he made a brilliant run down the field and was unlucky not to score. Paroa would have been a much more dangerous team if the forwards would put the ball out to the backs more. They ran well and passed crisply. Some rushes broke down through the backs going too far. Paroa has a fine set of forwards well led by Honana. If there are eight better Maori forwards in New Zealand than Honana they will have a good team. Laurie at fullback was brilliant. He gives confidence with his handling and kicking.

United forwards played a great game to hold Paroa. Hollis, Campbell and Butler were the pick of a hard working pack. At times it appeared as if more weight could have been put into the scrum. The United batiks did not play as well as usual.. The outside backs did not get the ball through the inability of the inside backs to hold their passes. Morpeth opened up the game much better than Kahui but the fiveeighths either ran too far or dropped their passes. With men like McGougan outside there should be one idea to get the ball out to him.

JUNIOR PLAY UNITED 14 WAIMANA 3 In a very fast game United Juniors succeeded in gaining a fairly substantial win over Waimana. Up to half time the game was mainly a struggle between the opposing forwards with both packs working hard. Bell, for Waimana, hooked well, securing more than a fair share of the ball. It was unfortunate that his back line could not take advantage of this. The half time score was 3 all but United gradually gained the upper hand.

Chadwick (United) joined in some good passing rushes and scored a good try. On another occasion he gave Carling an overlap and he showed the opposing players a clean pair of heels. For Waimana Tapi scored. Rackley, the fullback, played a very safe game and Andrews and Fleming were never far from the ball.

Addison, on the wing, had few opportunities but showed a great turn of speed. For United Carling and Chadwick scored and Goodall made one conversion. Shapley and Carling each kicked penalties.

It was evident that the United pack missed their usual hooker but all played well nevertheless. Mr White was referee.

UNITED SENIORS TEAM FOR SATURDAY The United senior team to play Wairaka on Saturday next is as follows.' Players are to assemble at the A. and P. shed not later than 2.15: McKenzie, D. Stewart, McGougan, D. Morpeth, Cave, Boon, De Lacey, Green, L. Stewart, Campbell, Wilson, Berg, Goile, Butler, Shapley. Reserves: Hollis, Francis, Gardiner, Hunt, Rowson. UNITED JUNIORS The following is the United junior team to play Taneatua at Taneatua on Saturday:— Mundy, Dines, Taylor, G. Goodall, Edmondson, Quigg, Chadwick, Howat, Laloli, Mickell, R. Goodall, Armstrong, Patterson, Shapley, Carling, Inder, Henderson, Rutherford. Bus leaves Domain at 12.45.

RAN GIT AIKI SUB-UNION SATURDAY’S RESULTS The results of matches played under the Rangitaiki Sub-Union on Saturday were as follows: Seniors Matata 12, Thornton 5. Otakiri 6, Matahina 3. Juniors Te Teko 33, Thornton 3. Matata 9, Otakiri 0. Rep. Fixtures The results of representative -fixtures played on Monday were:— Senior A Te Puke 6, Rangitaiki 5. Senior B Rangitaiki 14, Opotiki 12. Juniors Opotiki 14, Rangitaiki 6. Junior Draw The junior draw for the third round is:— June 7: Otakiri.v Thornton; Matata v Te Teko. June 21: Thornton v Matata; Te Teko v Otakiri. t June 28: Thornton v Te Teko; Otakiri v Matata. Next Saturday’s Games Matches for Saturday next are as follows: — Seniors Matata v Otakiri at Matata, 2.30 p.m. Matahina v Te Teko at Te Teko, 2 p.m. Thornton a bye. Juniors Otakiri v Thornton at Otakiri, 1 p.m. Matata v Te Teko at Matata, 1 p.m. WAIRAKA SENIOR TEAM The following is the Wairaka senior team to play United at the Domain on Saturday: H. Bluett, K. Merito, B. Merito, Kaha Merito, P. Shortland, T. Crapp, K. Fraser, K. Wahapango, J. Crapp, M. Bluett, Tina Riini, M. Riini, T. Riini, K. Lawson, H. Back, C. McCausland, S. Mokai, R. Crapp.