Paroa 11 Beats Poro Poro 0 In Only Senior Game At Whakatane

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 79, 9 August 1948, Page 5

Paroa 11 Beats Poro Poro 0 In Only Senior Game At Whakatane

Opening well with fast forward and back work the Poroporo-Paroa Rugby football match played at the Whakatane Domain on Saturday finished in a most unimpressive style, with Paroa the winners by 11 to nil. Play for the first half was open with plenty of passing, which tended to make the game fast. However, this did not last. Teams were:— Paroa: R. Laurie; Hakopa, M. Harawira, A. Martin; J. Forbes, JT. Dodd; D. Aukaha; J. Lafferty, J. Hona, A. Nathan, N. Whenua, N. Wharewera, P. Ratahi, R. Hakopa, B. Ruru, R. Cleland. Poroporo: B. Huta; J. Kingi, R. Kingi, P. Merito; Rangikotua, Hotene; Tunui; B. Hikitene, S. Paul, B. Merito, I. Clay, K. Kopae, Brown, Moeke, Romanis. Both teams started play at a killing pace and maintained it for the first part of the game. In the. forwards both sides were fairly even, though Paroa had, a slight advantage in weight. Poroporo however made it up in speed. The tackling by both sides was weak. Ruru and Hakopa went well for Paroa. Hotene, the two Paul’s and Moeke played well in the Poroporo pack. The backs for Paroa were a little weak in the first half, very erratic, passing stopping a lot of good moves. Poroporo was well served in the backs by Rangikotua - and Romanis, but were not fed enough by the half. Poroporo, for the second spell of the first half, had Paroa bustled and they were unlucky not to score. The half ended with Paroa 3 and Poroporo nil. Poroporo opened with a great effort in the second half in an attempt to even the score, but the Paroa defence held. Moeke for Poroporo was outstanding at this part of the game, and his attacking was a constant danger to the Paroa defence. After this effort the Poroporo team subsided and did little for the rest of the game, and were mainly on the defence. Paroa were able to score on two occasions and Harawira converted one. The last spell of the game turned out very unimpressive and ended in a win for Paroa by 11 points to nil. No positional play was seen in the closing stages and the forwards were very ragged in both teams. Scorers:— Paroa (11 points): B. Ruru, J. Lafferty, Hakopa, a' try each, M. Harawira, a conversion.