United A Shade Ahead Of Wairaka In Bracken Cup Knock-Out Series

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 97, 20 September 1948, Page 5

United A Shade Ahead Of Wairaka In Bracken Cup Knock-Out Series

United finished two points ahead of Wairaka (8 —6) in the Bracken Cup knock-out match at the 7 Whakatane Domain on Saturday. United established an early lead, but had to struggle to hold it in the later stages of the match. ' Teams:— United: Rowson; Goodall, McGougan, Booh; Rutherford, De Lacey; Kahui; Rolfe, Ruffles,. Cassidy, Gardiner, Mundy,' Butler, Dines, J. Shapley. Wairaka; R. Crapp; M. Riini, T. Riini,* Bob Hudson; , Lawson, Rip Crapp; Ben Hudson; P. Kingi, T. Crapp, Dodds, Dennis, Simpson, L. Stewart, J. • Hudson, S. Mokai. Wairaka, as usual, had a dangerous back line, and did their best to. play an open game under conditions that were definitely against that type of play. However'- they produced some bright movements, with Rip Crapp and Lawson, five-eighths, making good use of what Ben Hudson gave them. Roily Crapp, full back, played possibly his best game this year, proving himself absolutely reliable with a greasy ball, and. a somewhat weak pack. United’s backs had plenty of dash, with McGougan giving a good account of himself at centre, outside Rutherford and De Lacey, both of whom played fair Rugby. Boon worked hard on the. wing, but was a bit light. United’s half tirrfe lead of B—3 was mainly due to the consistent work of the forwards, who stuck together well and rucked solidly. Dines had much the better of the hooking on the day, and was always well up with the ball in the loose. Gardiner, who scored both United’s fries, proved himself a solid toiler, with Ruffles and Mundy also showing to advantage in a hard-working pack. Wairaka’s pack lacked-weight and sting, particularly after they lost two men (one ordered off and the other injured) only one of whqm.. could be replaced. Kahika, the junior who came on as emergency, played solid football, as did J. Hudson, another young player. S. Mokai was often prominent in the loose rushes, but generally speaking, the . forwards were weak compared with their opponents until the last 15 minutes of the game, when they held their own with credit. With the score at B—6 and less than five minutes to play, T. Riini 1 sent a penalty kick just outside theposts. But for that bit of hard luck, Wairaka might well have won. Scorers: — ■ ,f United (8 points): ?. Gardiner, 2 tries; B. McGougan, a conversion.. * Wairaka (6 points): T. Riini and Wano, a try each.