BAY OF PLENTY WIN FIRST REP MATCH BY ONE POINT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 70, 19 July 1948, Page 5

BAY OF PLENTY WIN FIRST REP MATCH BY ONE POINT

Under good weather conditions on a field that was inclined to be a hit heavy, Bay of Plenty Rugby representatives, in their first match this season, defeated Poverty Bay 10—9 at Opotiki on Saturday. Though it had its exciting moments, the game generally was not spectacular. Bay of Plenty had a team that should develop into a formidable combination if the five-eighths can be strengthened and a bit more sting infused into the pack. Unless Poverty Bay can play a considerably better brand of Rugby than on Saturday, Gisborne’s chance of collecting the Ranfurly Shield this year looks thin. Teams:— Bay of Plenty Welch McGougan, Fraiike, F. Martin Hahotea, D. Moore Raureti R. Fitzgerald Roigaard, McLaughlin, D. Hughes, K. Rangi Gabolinski, E. Moncur, J. Grey Poverty Bay I. James G. Harris, W. Edwards, J. Barbour R. McKinley, R. Clay S. Lee K. Bullivant B. Birrell, I. Shaw, G. King, G. Elliott J. Ferguson, T. Donovan, N. Summersby (Bullivant retired injured in the first half, and was replaced by L. Gibson). Poverty Bay lost through lack of a good goal kicker. With three tries against Bay of Plenty’s two, even one conversion would have turned the trick, and at least two of the positions would have been certainties for a man of McGougan’s kicking calibre. Generally, the Poverty Bay backs were a smoother combination, mainly on account of the better handling and straighter running of the five-eighths. With a reliable and safe half in Lee, Clay and McKinley definitely outplayed their opposite numbers, particularly in the first half, but the centre, Edwards, was often caught in possession, with the result that a couple of fairly classy wingers lacked the chance to do their best. Welch’s defence in the first 25 minutes of the match gave Bay of Plenty the chance to win. Beginning raggedly, the back line played clumsy, unimaginative football for a start,, and Welch was called upon time and again to make dramatic saves. Of the winners’ 'backs, he shared honours with Raureti and Franke for heady play, but the hero of the day so far as points-getting was concerned was McGougan, who played his best game this season, to score 7 of the side’s 10 points. Fed by a clever centre with an eye for an opportunity, the big United winger made the best of everything that came his way. The fiveeighths handled a bit roughly and were inclined to crowd the threequarters with cross-field running. The whole line went much better after half-time. Of the Winning forwards, R. Fitzgerald, of Te Puke, was outstanding. Moncur, hooker, settled to his work well after a patchy start and,, in the second spell, the Bay of Plenty pack consistently won the set scrums, thdugh Poverty Bay had a shade of advantage in line-outs. The winners fielded a fairly hard-working pack which could have done with a bit more fire in the loose. B. Birrell, fast Poverty Bay breakaway, played a grand game in the loose, with Shaw, the skipper of the side an able leader of a pack that wore down as the match progressed. Scorers:— Bay of Plenty (10 points):: McGougan, a try and two conversions; Raureti, a try. Poverty Bay (9 points): Harris, Barbour and Birrell, a try each. In the curtain raiser, Opotiki seniors drew with the Te Araroa, neither side scoring.