Paroa Has Lost The Pile Cup

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 5, 9 October 1950, Page 5

Paroa Has Lost The Pile Cup

Uncertainty and lack of combination in the first half cost Paroa footballers the Pile Cup in a game against Opotiki United. United, showing great speed and penetration in the backs scor-d eight points in the first ten minutes, and though hard pressed from then on managed to maintain their defence to win by 11 points to 5. While not denying the versatility of either Aukaha and Ranapia, neither could claim to be five-eighths and the belated changing of K. Wano to that position cost Paroa the game. Compared with the preceding game the match appeared to be rather uninspiring and seldom rose to any great heights but both packs of forwards toiled hard all day. In the first half United taking full advantage of the weaknesses in the Paroa back line scored . tries first by Koopu ''then by Kingi almost straight away. Stainton managed to convert one and the score was soon 8 nil. Several optimis.ic attempts at goal by Uatuku were unsuccessful and then Moore flashed down the wing to score for United. The kick failed and the spell ended United 11, Paroa 0.

In the second half Paroa revived and launched attack after attack on the United goal line. After 20 minutes Ruru broke through to pass to Harawira who scored under the post. The kick was unsuccessful and Paroa pressed again. From then on the ball was rarely out of the United half but the defence was too solid and there was no further score.

For United Kingi, Koopu and Moore played well while Stainton was always safe at full back. For Paroa Aukaha, Ranapia and Uatuku worked hard while Ruru and Ingram made the most of the opportunities that were offering.