Rugby

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 91, 25 May 1949, Page 5

Rugby

BRIEF POST MORTEM ON SATURDAY’S MATCH (Ey “Kai ti tiro”) Although the standard of play in Saturday’s Jackson Shield match was higher than most of the season’s club games it was not the football expected. The Maori team started well and at times, played the open game popularised by the Kiwi Army team in England but it did not last. Later when the Pakeha team took over play was fast but there were too many silly mistakes, for attractive football.

Let us take a glance at both teams. First the Maoris. They were keen and the forwards toiled hard but the backs, with the exception of G. Stewart at first five-eighths, were not good. Mishandling, half hearted tackling and running across the field marred some promising movements. Undoubtedly the best inside back on the field was Stewart. Hik backing up, tackling and general all-round play were up to representative standard and he has only to continue his present form to be in the running for the Bay XV.

Now the Pakeha side. It is a source of mystery to me why McGougan and McCready. two good wingers, rarely had the ball come to them. Their inside backs accomplished very little themselves and if it had not been for the' outstanding game played at fullback by

Welch the score might have been Very differ exit. The forwards worked hard as a solid pack and although appearing to be beaten /in the first half came back well, after, to pave the way Tor a good win. Summing up it is obvious seeing the game that there is plenty of talent in the Whakatane Sub-Union. However, the general impression is that there is too much rough play with some players ignorant of the very elementary principles of the game. As a matter of curiosity it would be interesting to know how many players are conversant with the rules of Rugby. , GAMES AT WHAKATANE & TANEATUA SATURDAY

Rugby competitions in the Whakatane Union continue with matches at the Whakatane Domain and at Taneatua on Saturday with two matches at both centres. At Whakatane at 2.45 p.m. in the senior round Poroporo meets United and at 1.30 p.m. as the curtain raiser the junior competition will go into the second round when United plays Paroa. , At Taneatua there are two senior games. At 2.45 p.m. Taneatua meets the strong Wairaka side while at 1.30 p.m. Paroa plays Opotiki United in a senior curtain raiser. In both centres there will be ample football for tire enthusiast. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY United seniors to play Poroporo on Saturday, Players to assemble at A. and P. shed at 1.30 p.m. Punctuality is important. Ruffles, Parsons, Rolfe, Loney, Parkinson, Olsen, Stewart, Oborn, Meikle, P. Olsen, Mundy, McCormick, Goodwin, De Lacey, Adams, Flint, Rutherford, Kahui, Boon, Paton, Koea. United juniors to play Paroa at Whakatane on Saturday: S. Shapley, L. Goodall, J. Taylor, W. Sandham, D. Carling, B. Needham, G. Butler, R. Littlejohn, J. Chadwick, A. Taylor, W. Goodwin, P. Seebeck, A. Edmondson, H. Stewart, E. Dockray, W. Brown, G. Skelton, C. Goodwin, P. Comiskey. All players to report at dressing shed at 12.45 p.m.