Representative Rugby

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 28, 22 August 1949, Page 5

Representative Rugby

AUSTRALIAN TOURING TEAM HELD TO HALF TIME DRAW BY BAY: RUNAWAY WIN IN SECOND HALF

Unable to match the superior speed and brilliant backing up of their opponents, Bay of Plenty fell to pieces in the second half to let Australia go away with a runaway win of 35 points to 8 in the representative rugby match at Whakatane on Saturday. Although they played equally as well as the visitors for much of the first spell, the home side could not keep up the pace on resumption and the Australians went away to score 27 points after being 8 all at half time.

Played under ideal conditions before a crowd estimated to number over 6,000 the game produced some scintillating football at times with Australia continually moving to the attack. For the Bay of Plenty the defence was sorely tried and, but for Welch, the imperturable fullback, the score against them must have been higher. Fielding cleanly throughout, Welch was always in position and his line kicking averaged at least 60 yards all day. • The teams:—

Australia (green)

B. Piper. R. Garner, T. Allan, P. Fogarty. J. Solomon, J. Blomley. R. Cawsay. • C. Windon. R. Cornforth, R. Brockhoff, N, Shedadie, K. Gordon. B. Wilson, D. Furneiss, J. Baxter Bay of Plenty (Amber and blue)

E. Welch. S. Morrison, F. Martin, B. McGougan. J. Goldsmith, K. Sullivan. L. Raureti. J. Ririnui. S. McLaughlin, H. Ranapia, P. Ratahi, W. Moses. J. Gabolinsky, R. Goddard, W. Trotman.

It was obvious from the start that Australia intended to play open football. They whipped to the attack from all positions of the field and whenever someone was tackled there was always another player to carry on. It was this continual backing up that beat the Bay and the defence was kept up to it always. At full back Welch played a lone brilliant game saving his side continually, and on Saturday’s display he must surely be considered for

higher honours. He overshadowed Piper on the day, although he was called upon to do much more. The three-quarter line had few chances. Morrison tried to get away on a number of occasions but like B. McGougan was unable to get going. Martin, the centre, had the same opportunities but always some infringement brought play back. The inside backs were not impressive. Sullivan failed to tackle cleanly and appeared prone to accept a dummy or cut in and these were not rare.

Goldsmith jigged his way through the opposition two or three times, one of them resulting in a try, but for the remainder of his performance he seemed sluggish. At the back of the scrum the Maori All Black, L. Raureti, had a torrid time from the fast breaking Australians but he did all that was asked and displayed again his sound cover defence.

Bay Pack Not Fit As a pack the Bay of Plenty forwards were obviously not as fit as the Australians. They lost the scrums and lineouts by almost three to one and did not try much backing up. In the loose they more than held their own early but were unable to carry on. McLaughlin and Ranapia were the pick of the bunch and toiled hard, but Gabolinsky and Moses showing well in loose movements. The remainder of the forwards were not disgraced, but did not combine well at all. Attractive Football In the second game of their tour Australia played attractive football

and literally ran the Bay team off their feet. They took charge of the lin’eouts and, using the Springbox method of hooking in the scrums, were also on top here. Although he did not have so much to do as Welch, Piper was sound at full back and made few mistakes. The threequarter line was always dangerous with J. Fogarty showing as a determined and hard runner. Allan was restricted somewhat by Martin but made several openings for Garner, who lost ho opportunities. J. Solomon and Blomley were quick to sieze openings in the five-eighths, but Solomon was inclined to resort to kicking when his outside men had room to work in.

The scrum was well served by Cawsey who was always about to pick up the dropped pass, but in defensive play he was overshadowed by Raureti. Mobile Pack

The forwards were probably the most mobile pack seen at Whakatane for many years. At' times they played like backs and at every chance kept the ball moving, but they were held in the rucks and loose forward movements. Carnforth, Brockhoff and Shehadie were the pick.

Flay commenced at a very fast pace and it appeared that Bay of Plenty were going to keep the game open too. Ten minutes after , the start Goldsmith cut through brilliantly, sent on to Martin who touched down in a handy position. Welch made no mistake. Almost immediately Carnforth opened the Wallabies points when he ran from halfway and handed to Windon, who scored between the posts. Piper equalised. Play moved about in a scintillating fashion until Morrison got away, beat the defence and then kicked over Piper’s head. Trotman backing up won the bounce and passed to Goldsmith who scored far out. The kick missed. Just before half time Piper brought scores level again by kicking an easy penalty. Half time: Bay of Plenty 8, Australia 8.

From/ the resumption Australia scored with almost monotonous regularity and the further the game proceeded- the worse Bay of Plenty went. Play became willing and until the end there was, some hard work going on in the forwards. The Australian tries seemed easy but'it was obvious that the Bay was getting tired. y

McGougan brought the crowd to their toes when he ran 20 yards, but Piper tackled solidly. Towards the end Bay made a last desperate rally but this faded out and the final whistle blew with Australia 35, Bay of Plenty 8. Scorers: Australia: Tries Allan, Bromley, Brockhoff two each, Windon one, Piper converted four tries and two penalty goals. Bay of Plenty: Tries Martin and Goldsmith one each, one converted by Welch. Referee: Mr L. F. Walker, Tauranga.