Rugby

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 19, 1 August 1949, Page 5

Rugby

lEATE SUPPORTERS ATTACK REFEREE IN WHAKATANEROTORUA SHIELD GAME

(Special to Beacon) ROTORUA, Saturday. A great game of football for the Hurinui Apanui Shield at Arawa Park, Rotorua, on Saturday ended on a riotous note when the referee, Mr J. Donovan, Te Puke, was sur-» rounded by an argumentative crowd. He was actually assaulted by a couple of outraged Whakatane supporters arid had to be escorted by the respective managers and ether officials from the field. The Whakatane challengers ap-< peared to have scored the deciding try two minutes before the call of time, when the ball came from the Whakatane fullback, E. Welch, to Hurran, through Rolfe to Ball and back to Rolfe, who appeared to many to touch down safely before the ball rolled away from his hands. But the referee ruled a knock on in goal. So the match ended with the score 11 all and Rotorua still the holders of the trophy. Although the Whakatane team was not at full strength, feeling particularly the absence of B. McGougan on the wing and although three emergencies were promoted to the field, Stewart, Geodall and Craig, it

may be said that it was the better team. The individual brilliance, of E. Welch at fullback and of Hur- - ran, the half, and the deadly defensive tactics of the forwards, especially H. Ranapia and P. Ratahi, got the visitors out of a good deal of trouble. There were fewer individual : weaknesses in the Rotorua side but it did not play with the same determination as Whakatane showed, especially in the early and late stages. At half time the score was 6—3 in Whakatane’s favour and the majority of the large contingent of blue supporters were confident about the outcome. Soon afterwards however, a try to Rotorua and then a converted try made the score "• 11—6. With 15 minutes of play left Whakatane again drew level .and—the disputed incident came just near the end. : , The ground was in good order and the weather was fine. Whakatane: Tries by M. Bluett and L. Ball, E. Welch converted one and a penalty goal. Rotorua: Tries by T. Kapua, S-„. Morrison (2), one-converted by H. T. Paul. Whakatane (blue): Eh Welch, Craig, M. Bluett, B. Carter, T. Riini, G. Stewart, K. Hurran, J. Rolfe, L.. Ball, B. Hughes, H. Ranapia, P. Ratahi, T. Hona, S. Parsons, A. Mundy. Stewart was injured and was re- . placed by Hotene. Goodall replaced B. Hughes. One of the Rotorua forwards was ordered off towards the end of the game. Rotorua (black): R. Kemara, S. Morrison, T. Kapua, F. Martin, N. Lovatt, E. Whata, H. T. Paul, G. Donaldson, G. Lynch, B. Rogers, F. Lemon, P. James, J. Kerei, E. Moncur, J. Gabolinsky.