WET-DAY RUGBY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 41, 16 June 1947, Page 5

WET-DAY RUGBY

DUNDERDALE CUP MATCH WHAKATANE WINS 16—3 In the first sub-union representative match of the season Whakatane proved too good on Saturday for their old rivals Rangifaiki, winning by 16 points to 3 and retaining the Dunderdale Cup. . Heavy rain, which had started during the curtain raiser, continued until near the end of the game. For the onlookers conditions were decidedly uncomfortable-. However, they were rewarded for their patience by a first-class exhibition of Rugby. Both teams threw the ball about on every occasion. There was a complete absence of dull tight play, and the forwards were tireless in pursuit of the ball. Though the ball was wet and heavy it was passed and fielded almost as well as might have beep the case on a dry day. Both teams rose to the occasion and turned on the type of football that the public likes to see.

Whakatane established a lead of B—o after 20 minutes play. Rangitaiki livened up after halftime and made the scores B—3, but Whakatane came again and added eight more points. Whakatane’s points came from tries by McGougan and Biddle, both of which McGougan converted as well as kicking two penalty goals. For Rangitaiki Pope kicked a penalty goal. There were several changes in the Whakatane forwards, Wilson, Butler and Ball replacing others. In the Rangitaiki team J. Pope was fullback B. Peni, while J.. Marks replaced W. Schuster at five-eighths. The teams took the field as follows:

Whakatane: R. Laurie; B. McGougan, R. Cave, J. Biddle; K. Hurran, R. Hohua; R. Crapp; M. Campbell, K. Hollis, H. Honona,'R. Ratahi, E. Wilson, R. Hona, Butler, Ball. Rangitaiki: J. Pope; R. Lees, W. Beazley, R. Billings; G. Burt, J. Marks; L. Raureti; Bidois, S. Rota, L. Gardiner, Waldegrave, Falwassa, Pinkham, K. Woods, A. Black. Referee: Mr Witty. ' , Exciting First Half

The opening exchanges were in favour of Rangitaiki, who started off as if they would justify the hopes of their numerous supporters. Play took a dramatic turn about five minutes after the kick-off. First Hurran broke through to the Rangitaiki 25. Then the ball came out to McGougan on the right wing, and, finding the direct route to the Rangitaiki goal blocked, he ran diagonally for the other corner with the defending backs expecting him to pass to two men .outside him. Brushing off tackles he ran through to score five yards from the left corner flag. From a difficult angle he converted his try. Whakatane 5, Rangitaiki 0.

A minute later Rangitaiki went close to equalising. They rushed the ball over the Whakatane line and the home team appeared lucky to force down. Rangitaiki supporters had cause to be disappointed. -(-

, There followed a shell of even * ■ play, with the Whakatane forwards going better than before. They continually came through the scrums and rucks giving Raureti not enough time to get his passes away cleanly. Hona and Hollis started a bit of passing that roused the crowd. Then the ball travelled across to McGougan who was well marked and forced into touch.

Hurran showed up when he tried to hurdle over opponents in a dash for the goal line, but a drop-out was ordered.

On the Whakatane left wing Biddle lost what appeared to be a certain try, dropping the ball on the goal line after Hona, Honana and Cave had handled it.

Just outside his 25 a Rangitaiki man was penalised for offside and McGougan kicked a goal to make the score after 20 minutes:

Whakatane 8, Rangitaiki 0. Once again the hopes of Rangitaiki supporters were raised when the visiting forwards swept down the touch line and there was exciting play in the corner. A minute later they followed up to have Whakatane defending in a scramble near the potfts. Whakatane had a turn on attack when McGougan made a good run from midfield and there was an exciting mix-up on the Rangitaiki goal line. Just before halftime Rangitaiki had hard luck in not scoring from several scrums .on the Whakatane line. Rangitaiki Opens Their Score Rangitaiki started off the second half as if they were a new team.. Rangitaiki backs handled for the last man to be pushed into touch in the corner. Whakatane were hard pressed until a free kick' was awarded

Rangitaiki during play near* the posts. Pope kicked a goal from close range. Whakatane 8, Rangitaiki 3.,-. Hopes .that Rangitaiki would even y the scores faded when Whakatane worked past halfway and were awarded a free kick. McGougan kick . ed another goal, this time from 40 yards out in front of the posts. Whakatane 11, Rangitaiki 3. A minute or so later it was Whakatane’s turn to be penalised,, but , Pope’s kick from wide out missed. Rangitaiki kept up the pressure but could do everything except score. Then Hurran started a rush, that ended at the Rangitaiki line. Rangitaiki had to force. Once again Rangitaiki returned to the attack. Hollis had to leave the field for a few minutes with a shoulder injury, but resumed later. \ '

Two unsuccessful free kicks by McGougan from near the 25 flags were the next incidents. Whakatane had another turn on attack and from a scrum the ball went out' to Cave, who Accepted a long pass, beat his man and sent the ball to Biddle. - The Whakatane left winger broke through tackles to score right in the ' corner. McGougan converted with, a kick that was perhaps the most difficult of his four goals. Whakatane 16, Rangitaiki 3. The final whistle' sounded a few minutes* later with Whakatane still going well. V

SENIOR B REPS. RANGITAIKI 6, WHAKATANE 3 As a preliminary ,to the main event the B.teams played an even game that ended with Rangitaiki wining by 9 points to 3. The scorjes were 3-all at half-time. Rangitaiki went close to scoring several times early in the game. The first try came when M. Davis received the ball from a scrum and kicked ahead for Dodunski to follow up and score near the Whakatane posts: The try was. not converted. Whakatane evened the scores when E; Hunt kicked a penalty goaljust before half-time. Early in the second half Rangitaiki jcombined well for Newdick to pick up the ball and score in the corner., The kick failed.

Play was fast and even, with both, teams having to force in turn. Rain { set in, but the game continued at a fast pace. ,' T;. Just on time Newdick snapped up the ball from play in the Whakatane 25 and ran through to scare his second try. Again the kick missed, making the final scores: Rangitaiki 9, Whakatane 3. Mr Mahy was referee. ■\■ ' ' - JUNIOR REPS. DRAWN GAME, 6 ALL Whakatane led by 6—o at halftime in the junior game but R,angitaiki made the scores 6 all in thesecond half. It was a good open game, with plenty of passing between the backs and good tackling that kept down the scoring. For Whakatane tries were scored by Carling and Skelton. For Rangitaiki Davis kicked a penalty goal and Beazley scored a try. Mr A. Mitchell was referee.

BAY REP. TEAM TO PLAY AT GISBORNE A strong team has been selected to represent Bay of Plenty , in the first representative match of. the season against Poverty Bay at-Gis-borne on Saturday. The team is as follows: Fullback: Clarke (Tauranga). Three'-quarters: McGougan (Whakatane), Delamere (Opotiki, Capt.), Tapsell (Te Puke). Five-eighths: Hurran (Whakatane), Wickham (Te Puke). Halfback: L. Raureti (Rangitaiki). Back row: W. Delamere (Opotiki). Side row: Barrow (Te P.uke), Brown (Galatea). Locks: Jacobs (Te Puke, vicecapt.), Ranapia Whakatane). Front row:. Woods (Rangitaiki), Gage (Opotiki), W. Murray (Rotorua). i- ' Emergencies: Backs, Shepherd (Galatea), G. Burt Rangitaiki). Forwards, Ball (Whakatane), M. Gardiner (Tauranga).