Rugby

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 64, 3 July 1950, Page 5

Rugby

STRONG BAY TEAM TO PLAY NORTH AUCKLAND E. Welch, the Taneatua fullback, is the only Whakatane player selected in the Bay of Plenty representative Rugby team to play North Auckland at Tauranga on Thursday. Two Rangitaiki players, K. Sullivan and H. Potae have made the team, which has been changed considerably from the one that met Poverty Bay last month. The Opotiki centre, M. Delamere, has been brought back to face J. B. Smith, while P. Kapua, Rotorua, has been moved to the wing. New additions to the pack are the Rotorua lock, P. James, and the Galatea hooker, P. McDonald. Last year’s Galatea representative, W. Isaacs, has been returned to the side of the scrum. The referee for Thursday’s match will be Mr A. Mitchell, Whakatane. The team: —

Full back, E. Welch (Whakatane); three-quarters, F. Martin, Captain (Rotorua), M. Delamere (Opotiki), P. Kapua (Rotorua); five-eighths, K. Sullivan (Rangitaiki'), A. Douglas (Rotorua); half back, L. Raureti (Rotorua); back row, H. Potae, vice-capt. (Rangitaiki); middle row, W. Isaacs (Galatea), P. James- (Rotorua), J. Ririnui (Tauranga), S. McLaughlin (Opotiki).; front row, W. H. Trotman (Tauranga), P. McDonald (Galatea), W. Moses (Rangitaiki). Reserves: Backs, J. Himona (Rotorua), R. Gardiner (Tauranga); forwards, W. Kerei (Rotorua), N. McMasters (Tauranga).

RANGITAIKI HAS NARROW LOSS TO OPOTIKI

Because of heavy rain all day Saturday no Rugby matches were played in either the Whakatane or Rangitaiki Sub-Unions. However the weather cleared y .-sin-day for a number of unofficial fixtures to be decided. At Matata Rangitaiki had their second defeat for the season at the hands of Opotiki, who took a narrow win by 9 points to 8 in a practice game.

In the morning both Whakatane shield teams had a combined practice in preparation for next Saturday’s matches. At Matata the Rangitaiki junior' team had a practice run prior to the senior game.