Rugby

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 87, 16 May 1949, Page 5

Rugby

MAORI AND PAKEHA TEAMS • SELECTED, Teams for the Maori v Pakeha, game to be played at the Whakatane Domain at 2.30 p.m. Saturday for the Jackson Shield have been announced by the selectors, Messrs F. Harawira and P. Bryers. Maoris: Full back: B. Martin; three-quarters: M. Bluett, M. Harawira, B. Hudson; five-eighths: T. ftiini, G. Stewart; half back: T. Ho- . tene; back row: B. Ruru; side row: K. Merito, P. Gardiner; locks: Ratahi, Ranapia; front row: R. Dodd, S. Paul, T. Wahapango. Reserves: forwards, H. Bluett, Kopae; backs, R. Crapp, K. Wana. T. Kororiko. Pakehas: Full back: E. Welch; three-quarters: L. McCready, ' w! Rutherford, B. McGougan; fiveeighths: A. Martin, T. De Lacey; half back: K. Hurran; back row: G. Goodall; side row: J. Semmens, L. Ball; locks: S. McMillan, J. Hayward; front row: S. Parsons, S. Ruffles, A. Mundy. Reserves: Forwards, L. O. Stewart, Foreman; backs, J. Forbes, D. O. Stewart, A. Sisam.

POROPORO SCRAPES HOME FROM PAROA

In one of the best games seen at the Whakatane Domain this season Poroporo scraped home narrowly by a margin of two points, B—6, over Paroa in the main Senior Rugby match on Saturday. Solid football chartcterised most of the play and although Poroporo shaded Paroa in some phases the game was as even as the score indicates.

Poroporo: Kopae, Brown, N. Paul, S. Paul, Tunui, Clay, Ngoungou, Kingi, Martin, Hotene, Rangikotua, Merito, Biddle, Nuku, Kororiko. : Paroa: Ratahi, Ranapia, Hona, Mokae, Wahapango, Tutua, Tokoto-

hiwi, Harawira, Forbes, Martin, Wana, Hakopa, Ngatai, Ruru, Wahapango.

Urged on by a large enthusiastic crowd both teams settled down to hard football from the start. More experience by the Poroporo players gave them a distinct advantage but Paroa played honestly throughout. As the game wore on it came more exciting and five minutes from the end it became very willing. Two points down Paroa tried every way they knew to go over and at the whistle they were still hammering at the Poroporo line.- ' UNITED GOES DOWN TO WAIRAKA

Overwhelming United in . both forward and back play Wairaka gained a big win' of 31 points to 3 in the first senior Rugby match at the Whakatane Domain on Saturday. Watched by a large crowd in ideal conditions United disappointed supporters by their poor showing while Wairaka delighted with football that was exciting to watch. United: Paton, Olsen, Goodall, Rutherford, Kahui, De Lacey, Hudson, Mundy, Ruffles, Parsons, McCormick, Dines, McMillan, Koea, Cruse. Olsen retired injured and was replaced by Boon. Wairaka: M. Riini, K. Martin, M. Bluett, T. Riini, G. Stewart, R. Crapp, H. Bluett, C. Wharewira, R. Dodd, P. Gardiner, T. Crapp, K. Merito, R. Hudson, P. Kingi, Lawson.

Unable to play together as a pack, United, although backing up hard, could not continue against the combined efforts of the Wairaka forwards. In quick suuccession Wairaka piled on points and their fast backs kept hammering at the United defence so that in time they had to score. With the United forwards breaking under Wairaka the brunt of the defence fell on the United backs.

The second half was almost a repetition of the, first except that United changed tactics completely and started spoiling movements. This they carried out with some success but unlike Wairaka they could not continue and the pace faded near the end.