Bunnythorpe Win Rowlands Cup

Chronicle (Levin), 23 September 1946, Page 4

Bunnythorpe Win Rowlands Cup

WANDERERS ACCOUNTED FOR The final competition games of the 1946 rugby season in Horowhenua was played at the Levin Domain on Saturday between Bunnythorpe, Manawatu junior champions, and -'Wanderers, the Horowhenua junior champions, and it resulted in a win for the former by 11 points to six. The match was for the Rowlands perpetual challenge cup, which was last held by an Air Force team stationed at Weraroa. It was evident at the beginning of the match that Wanderers would have a hard game, as the Bunnythorpe team had a definite advantage in weight, size and experience. The game, which was a little willing at times, was fast and open and the spectators have seldom been treated to such an exciting exhibition. The Bunnythorpe backs were very fast and quick to exploit any weakness which they found in the Wanderers team. Wanderers were extremely unlucky on several occasions not to score, and if they had tackled low instead of high the result may have been different. The most outstanding forwards for Wanderers were Winiata, Short and Hughes, and these three fastbreaking boys were a constant worry to the Bunnythorpe inside backs. The Wande.rers back line did not have a chance to function as well as usual, and their high tackling enabled the Bunnythorpe line to seore. Bunnythorpe's points came from a converted try and two penalties and Wanderers' points from two penalties by Ropata. The teams were: — . Bunnythorpe: A. Wood, Anderson, P. Wood, A, O'Donnell, Walshaw, J. O'Donnell, Wild, Hodgson, Guy, Waugh, Kerrison, Sporle, T. Wood, G. Hyde (captain) and Rowan. Anderson WaS later replaced by Armstrong. Wanderers: Broughton, Paki, Graham, Juno, Ropata (captain) , T. Winiata, Sciascia, Short, C. Winiata, Simeon, H. Winiata, Jones, Eparaima, Hughes and Marshall. Following some indiscriminate kicking Bunnythorpe forced to Wanderers' line and Wild, the halfback, sent the ball along the line, enabling O'Donnell to score in a handy position for Guy to convert. Bunnythorpe 5, Wanderers 0. Soon after a Bunnythorpe man was penalised for holding on to a tackled ball too long, and Ropata converted with an excellent kick to make it Bunnythorpe 5, Wanderers 3. Five minutes later Guy kicked a penalty for Bunnythorpe from straight in front of the posts. Half-time sounded with the score Bunnythorpe 8, Wanderers 3. Ten minutes following the kickoff, Wanderers .were awarded a penalty and Ropata sent the ball over from a handy position. Bunnythorpe 8,» Wanderers '6. Following some hard play, Bunnythorpe were awarded another penalty and Guy's kick was successful raising the score to Bunnythorpe 11, Wanderers 6. The game ended soon after with Wanderers forcing the pace. Mr. F. G. Carrington was the referee. At the eonclusion of the game Mr. W. C. Hannan, on behalf of the Horowhenua Rugby Union, presented the cup to G. Gyde, captain of the winning Bunnythorpe team. congratulating them on their success. Cheers were then exchanged by the two teams.