Paroa Now Well Ahead In Senior Rugby Competition

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 58, 19 June 1950, Page 5

Paroa Now Well Ahead In Senior Rugby Competition

With their 14-3 win over United at Whakatane on Saturday Paroa just about clinched the final result of the senior rugby competition. They went further up the ladder while Wairaka defeated Taneatua Ly a big margin on No. 2 Field. At Taneatua Poroporo had a close call from Ruatoki when they scraped home by one point. In the junior competition United remained unbeaten with a win over Paroa while the rapidly improving Wairaka team took a hard fought win from Poroporo. Only one third grade match was played with United defeating Paroa.

PAROA v UNITED

While Wairaka trounced Tane-;-.tua on the No. 2 Field Paroa played good football to take a convincing win from United. Better handling and placing to a plan froir which they never swerved were •he main factors in Paroa's win The backs took the ball cleanly and raced with only one intention and that was to score. The forwards worked as a pack and although their play may not have been top class rugby many spoiling moves unsettled the United eight. There wore many reasons for United’s loss, not the least being the failure of the pack to work together. Time and again Ruffles hookta for the ball to be held and then lost. In rucks it was the same story. One or two would attempt to hook back or.ly be to stopped by some player behind kicking aimlessly. The backs were hampered by poor handling and a slow service from the scrum. At second five-eighths an Auckland player, Peek, showed knowledge of the game but he must have been amazed at what he was expected to do with the ball when he received it with two Pa-< roa men on top of him. He had few opportunities but displayed a fine cover defence. On the wing Taylor had a torrid time but made the change from the forwards to the backs creditably. Of Paroa it was hard to pick out any player. All played together with r.n obvious will to win and the team went well without their leader Ranapia. They won the lineouts and rucks and although outhooked in the scrums often won the ball here too. Their points came from three tries, one converted and one penalty goal. For United Gardiner kicked a penalty. Referee, Mr J. Keepa. WAIRAKA v POROPORO

Fast bustling moves by both packs with quick heeling out to the backs characterised play in the Wairaka-Poroporo junior match, playing more as a team Wairaka won. Although their forwards played- as a pack the backs had a difficult time. The Poroporo set worked like a machine handling well and penetrating often. But their moves were more of an individual nature and broke down through lack of support. The inside backs were fast and nippy and were sent Eway with a good scrum service. At first five-eighths Tunui showed out as a promising player.

For Wairaka the forwards went through a lot of hard work with Hudson prominent in the loose. Jaram ran strongly on the wing while Penny played a particularly safe game at full back. Referee, Mr B. Norman.