WAIROA RUGBY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19985, 10 July 1939, Page 12

WAIROA RUGBY

EVEN SENIOR GAME ATM LETTC HEAT WAT PAPA \Y I\N EPS Ll’( 'EY ON DAY (Special to the Herald.) WA.IROA, this day. In an evenly-contested but scraggy game, Athicti-c, one of the leading teams in the club competitions, defeated Waipapa by the narrow margin of (i points to 5, in the only senior Rugby fixture played in Wairoa on Saturday. Right from the outset the game was willing and was fought at a hard pace. Waipapa were unlucky in not scoring on several occasions, the speedy forwards, ably led by Huata, combining well and featuring on more than one occasion in strong dribbling rushes. The backs were always dangerous when in possession, Northcroft at second five-eighths being prominent right throughout.

Athletic were handicapped to a certain extent by the absence of several of their regular players. The team did not display the usual combination ami, on the day, were lucky to win.

After about 20 minutes’ play Athletic opened their scoring account, when J. Boag took a good mark inside tlie opposition 25 and in front of the posts, his drop-kick going well over between the uprights.—Athletic 3, Waipapa 0. Almost immediately off-side play on the part of Waipapa just outside their 25 gave Athletic a chance to increase their score, Brownlie’s effort going to Hie side" of the posts. At this stage R. Powdrell was forced to leave the field with a knee injury. Lovett replacing him.

First Try of the Match Athletic scored the first try of the match when, (picking the ball up nicely from the loose, outside the opposition 25-yd. line. W. Powdrell gained valuable ground before passing to Murray, who in turn sent the ball out to Beckett for him to score a good try in the corner. Brady missed a difficult kick.—Athletic G, Waipapa 0. On the resumption of play after half-time Waipapa launched attack after attack, their efforts being rewarded when ITuata snapped up a good pass and, after a determined run, in-passed 1o Spooner, who carried play almost to the Athletic goal-line before sending D. Stow art. over for a good try in a handy position. Norlhcroft converted. —Athletic G, Waipapa 5. Heartened by this, Waipapa took the offensive and play for the most part was confined to the opposition territory. Soon afterwards, Lovett, who replaced Powdrell, was forced to retire with an injury to his ankle. The final whistle sounded with Waipapa attacking and the score unchanged. Mr. A. E. Ellis was the referee. JUNIORS Athletic 8 beat Nuhaka G..