WHAKATANE HOLDS THREE RUGBY TROPHIES AS RESULT OF MATCHES PLAYED DURING THE WEEK-END

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 91, 4 September 1950, Page 5

WHAKATANE HOLDS THREE RUGBY TROPHIES AS RESULT OF MATCHES PLAYED DURING THE WEEK-END

Three Rugby trophies were held by Whakatane after play had concluded on Saturday. In three matches played at the home union retained the Te Hurinui Apanui and Shalfoon Shields from \ challenges by Tauranga while, in a third grade game for the Black Shield, Opotiki lost by three points. , In all it was a successful day for Whakatane but only in the third frade and junior games could Whakatane be said to have deserved to win. In the main game Tauranga were unlucky not to have won although the margin between jthe two teams was not as great as that when Whakatane took the shield from Rotorua a fortnight ago.

LUCKY TO DRAW Facing their first challenge 'or the Te Hurinui Apanui Shield since they won it from Rotorua "Whakatane were lucky to draw three all with Tauranga in a representative Rugby match at Rugby Field. Whakatane did not play up to the standard of previous games and for much of the second spell were defending desperately. However,- Tauranga were much in the same position in the first haf although they settled down soon after.

It was not a bright game to watch. There was no spectacular football. Rather it was hard, dour Rugby in the tight and ragged and u/icertain in the loose. The sets of backs marked each other hard and there were very few openings given. But the only try of the game came from one of these when Tauranga secured from a scrum near their line. The ball came to Ryan, who went past T. Riini aC second five-eighth, passed on to Gardiner, who* ran the length of the field to score. It was Riini's failure to tackle his man that gave the try. The unattractive quality of the game was due in no uncertain measure to the poor standard of refereeing set by Mr L. Adams, Rotorua. He showed a definite love of the whistle and the frequency which he used it soon told on the

ployers and it was not long before play began to deteriorate. Some of his decisions were puzzling to say the least. Rarely did he allow the advantage rule to apply. Early in the first spell Whakatane were hammering at the Tauranga line and on several occasions were unlucky not to score. It was hard work by the forwards but they could not keep the pace in the second spell. They were led by H. Ranapia, who, although obviously ill, was prevailed upon to play and gave a solid performance. He was still recovering from a badly poisoner leg. Opposing him on the other side of the scrum Smith played a fine game in the loose. Some hard work was done in the tight by Ratahi, Ngahuru and Aukaha while Walker and Ruffles were also prominent.

The Backs Among the backs the two wings McGougan and Biddle played good football, especially the former, whose penalty from just inside half way to equalise the score was a fine effort. At full back Welch was safe but he failed to find his kicking boot until late in the game. At first five-eighth Carter was strong on defence while Riini and Bluett outside him played safe football. Stewart was rather sluggish behind the scrum.

Tauranga were dogged by bad luck. Although they had victory within their grasp it always seemed to elude them at the last moment. The forwards won the ma • , : ,ority of scrums and line outs and. later, were ton top in the loose. Werohia and Trotman were hard men in the tight while Raymond, Beston and McMaster, the loose forwards, worried the opposing half continually. Ryan was their btist back at second five-eighth. He was dangerous every time he got the

ball. Inside him Ellis made few mistakes while behind the scrum Gilpin saw a lot of the ball and made good use of it. Smith had an eye for anM&giening at centre but uncertain handling robbed him of a few opportunities. Gardiner and Kakau were speedy wings. The game was watched by a large crowd in fine weather and it was the first time the Te Hurinui Apanui Shield had been successfully defended at Whakatane. The teams :-^j Tauranga (blue and gold): Full back, Turei; three-quarters, Gardiner, N. Smith, Kakau; five-eighths, Ryan, Ellis; half back, Gilpin; back row, Beston; middle row, Raymond, Penney, Murray, McMaster; front row, Carson, Werohia, Trotman.

Whakatane (blue and white*): Full back, Welch; three-quarters, McGougan, M. Bluett, J. Biddle; five-eighths, B. Carter, T. Riini; half back, G. Stewart; back row, P. Gardiner; middle row, H. Ranapia, Ratahi, Ngahuru, Smith; front row, Walker, Ruffles, Aukaha.

WHAKATANE JUNIORS BEAT TAURANGA Playing better football and taking more advantage of their opponent's mistakes Whakatane defeated Tauranga 11 points (3 tries, one converted) to 5 (converted try) in a junior representative Rugby match for the Shalfoon Shield. Since they took the trophy from Opotiki earlier this season Whakatane have remained unbeaten.

For Whakatane tries were scored by Tawa (2) and Chadwick. Hunia converted one. Aitken scored for Tauranga and Borrell converted. Borrell later left the field with a fractured collar bone. He was admitted to the Whakatane Hospital.

THIRD GRABE WIN Superior in most departments Whakatane defeated Opotiki by 11 points to 8 in a third grade representative Rugby match for the Black Shield on Saturday.