SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 55, 14 June 1948, Page 5

SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT

Club Rugby Sensation: .United Go Down Before Dashing Wairaka Team

First class sensation in Whakatane club Rugby was the convincing defeat of United, who had . shared the competition lead with Paroa, by a' faster, brighter and altogether better Wairaka team on Saturday, 13—0. Wairaka earned their win, playing an altogether better brand of football on the day. Teams were: —

Wairaka: R. Crapp, T. Riini, T. Rini, M. Riini, R. Hudson, R. Crapp, B. Hudson, K. Merito, K. Merito, T. Crapp, C. Dodds, H. Bluett, T. Wharewera, B. Merito. United: R. Goodall, R. Kahui, R. Cave, B. McGougan, W. Rutherford,. De Lacey, D. Debreceny, Rolfe, L. Stewart, .D. Butler, Collins, G. Goodall, B: Mundy, G. Dines, Ruffles. From the kick-off United appeared to have the advantage in weight in the forwards but the fast working of the Wairaka team soon had them worried. From a ruck on the United twenty-five the Wairaka team threw the ball about and after a short tussle M. Riini went on to score, and T. Riini converted, to place Wairaka in the lead. From this point, United seemed to lose their former system and dash and allowed the opposition to block and benefit by all their moves. "...

A lot of the trouble was the apparent disregard for strict positional play on the part of the United team. The back line appeared to panic

after the opposition gained the first try. From. this point a lot of the players lost their idea of Rugby and, appeared only interested in kicking the ball, no matter where. With, the exception of Cave, who gave a sound exhibition of defensive play, the United backs showed little consideration for their forwards, kicking consistently up the centre of the field against a . baffling light, and making a tired , pack work unnecessarily hard. After half time, United settled better to the job in hand and, with Rolfe, Ruffles and Stewart in the lead, the forwards did their best to stop the rot, but Tacked sound backing, . -

Wairaka backs played an inspired game, and it would be difficult to sort out any for special mention pn the day. They were well served by a pack that toiled consistently well, with Bluett ‘and T. Crapp often shining in .the loose. C Scorers (Wairaka 13 points): M. Riini, K. Merito, T. Riini, a try each; T. Riini two conversions.

Poroporo Shades Waimana In Unspectacular Match

Poroporo beat Waimana 9—o. Generally the teams were fairly well matched but Waimana had an unfortunate series of casualties and finished the game with only 12 men. *' Teams:— . v

Poroporo: B. Huta; J- Kingi, -M. Hotene, R. Kingi; T. Hotene, P. Merito; P. Rangikotua; S. Paul, W. Kopae, T." Clay, Hokianga, N. Paul, R. Ngoungou, P. Watarawi, Hikitene. Waimana: H. Boynton; Ellis, R. Black, J. Rust; P. Rua, H. Maui; T. Takau, Te Wairua, Morell, Poanga, B. Maui, B. Taff, Clay, Te Pou, J. Taff. :

Waimana played gamejy against a slightly better' team on the day. They had a job‘to scratch up'the full fifteen to start with and finished short after three men had collided in an effort to take a high ball against the light. One of the three, R. Black, went to hospital With a bad cut over the eye. The others were unable to finish the ’game. Pick of the backs @n the day were Talcau and Rust. The former played a reliable game behind the scrum, and the latter put in a hard day’s work on the wing, tackling hard and low and showing enterprise when any chances came his way. Of the forwards, Morell was outstanding in a pack that worked hard but lacked the weight and dash of its opponents. For Poroporo Rangikotua was outstanding. His heady play gave his side an advantage in the backs and he got able support from P. Merito. Of the forwards Watarawi and Hokianga were most frequently in the

picture, in a pack that shaded its! opposition for weight . and enterprise. Watarawi hooked' consistently? well. ■_ '• : ' T ■ Generally the match was not particularly spectacular, ’nor scientific.; Scorers: Poroporo (9. points-),. Watarawi, R. Kingi and M. Hotene, a try each, ! • ■;,, . Mr D. Walker was the referee. "'

Rangitaiki Rugby Points

Seniors: Te Teko 13, Edgecumbe 9, Matahina 8, Matata 6, Thornton 6, Otakiri 0. > f

Juniors: Te Teko 10, Matata- 8, Thornton 7, Edgecumbe 3, Otakiri 0.