Hard-Working P.W.D. Forwards Fail To Hold Wairaka Backs In Check

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 43, 4 May 1948, Page 5

Hard-Working P.W.D. Forwards Fail To Hold Wairaka Backs In Check

Though a hard-working pack kept an unpolished backline out of trouble most of the way, P.W.D. seniors found themselves unable to handle the penetrating attacks of Wairaka’s better-trained backs and suffered defeat by 6 points to nil at the "Whakatane Domain on Saturday. Up to half-time, there was no score. Wairaka collected a try and a penalty goal in the second half. Teams were:— P.W.D.: Kau; N. Rangiaho, -P. Kruger, M. Maui; F. Mokomoko, H. Biddle; J. Atarau; P. Teepa, T. Tawera, T. Ngahuri, T. Rangiaho, E. Haumati, H. Haumati, P. Paruru, K. Poneka.

Wairaka: W. Biddle; T. Green, K. Merito, W. Thompson; Bob Hudson, R. Crapp; Ben. Hudson; P. King, T. Crapp, C. Green, H. Bluett, R. Dodd, L. Stewart, C. Merito, C. Wharewera. Faced with a dangerous back combination, and against bright sun, P.W.D. played the safest game for an inexperienced team that has not developed much combination yet, and kept the ball down with a fastbreaking, hard-rucking pack carrying most of the burden of play. T. Tawera, the skipper, combined personal dash with sound generalship and, ably backed by the Haumati brothers and Poneka, hammered consistently at the Wairaka goal line. Tawera’s retirement with an injured knee towards the end of the first half of the game left the side noticeably weaker, though the replacement, A. Kaita, handled some solid work. Wairaka, with a lighter pack, were at a disadvantage in the set scrums and the rucks, but their backs showed pace, fair handling ability and a disposition to throw the ball about in marked contrast to their opponents’ smothering tactics. R.‘ Crapp, first five-eighth, played with dash hnd penetration, and was unlucky that at least two of the movements he started in the first half of the match did not end in tries. -

In spite of the disadvantage of facing a glaring light, Wairaka •backs warmed to their work and played even better in the second spell than in the first. Well served by Ben Hudson at half, Crapp played less of an individualistic game than he had done earlier and gave Bob Hudson the only try of the day as well as providing the initiative for most of the side’s attacks. P.W.D.. still had the better of the set scrums, broke faster and stuck together better in the loose, with Poneka and H. Haumati often heading the rushes. Atarau was given a generous share of the ball from scrums and lineouts but his somewhat wild passing often spoiled good chances for the P.W.D. backs, best of whom on the day was the full back, Kau, whose handling was absolutely safe and kicking accurate, though sometimes lacking distance.

Scorers:— Wairaka (6 points): Bob Hudson a try, unconverted; H. Bluett, a penalty goal.