WIN FOR NUHAKA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20033, 4 September 1939, Page 11

WIN FOR NUHAKA

FINAL OF KNOCK-OUT WAIROA RUGBY GAMES j WAT PAPA BEATEN BY 5—3 (Special to the* TloraM.) WAIROA, this dight. A last-minute try by Pakirnana and a brilliant conversion by Whaanga enabled Nuhaka to defeat Waipapa by • r ) points to 3 and thus win the final of the Wairoa County Rugby SubUnion’s senior knock-out competition on Saturday. The final score was a fair indication ol the merits of both teams, but on the day Waipapa were a little unlucky not to win. Fought at a terrific pace right throughout, the game did not produce Rugby of a spectacular nature, both teams, however, excel ling on defence. Hard tackling was a noticeable feature of' the game, and both teams kept right up on the ball, with the result that the majority of the back movements were nipped in the bud.

The Waipapa forwards, with Huata and P. Smith always prominent, toiled hard all day, particularly in the tight. Smith used his weight and height . advantage in the line-outs and on seevral occasions sent his backs away with a long pass to the five-eighths. The Nuhaka full-back, G. Harvey again proved sound on defence, and •lis long line-kicks relieved many as ■mbarrassing situation for his team. Opening: of Scoring After play had been in progress for I 20 minutes, Waipapa were afforded an easy opportunity to open their scorm , account when a penally was awarded them well inside the opposition 25 and almost in front of the posts. Hira’s attempt, however, veered tc the side of the uprights. Soon after the re ■ v 'm of play after half-time, two Waipapa players, T. Gemmell and Rakete, collided in an endeavour to secure possession of the ball, and were forced to retire with facial injuries. They were replace, by Pohatifand P. Gemmell. From a scrum almost under the Nuhaka goal-posts the Waipapa forwards hooked the ball out to their backs, but rough tactics on the part of Nuhaka saw the referee award them a penalty kick right in front of the posts. Kuril secured an easy three points with a good kick.—Waipapa 3, Nuhaka 0. Nuhaka launched attack after attack in an endeavour to equalise, but the Waipapa defence held. Their efforts, however, were rewarded just before the final whistle sounded, when Palcimana took a good pass in the Waipapa 25 .and after a determined run down the side-line went over to touch down in the corner. Whpanga added the extra points with a beautiful kick from almost on the sideline. The final whistle then sounded with the score: Nuhaka 5, Waipapa 3. Mr. M. G. Mackay was the referee. The teams were:—

Waipape.—Hira, Kuru, T. Gemmell,■ Ruru, Kainamu, D. Huata, O. Tumataroa, T. Rakete, J. Tumataroa, P. Tumataroa, Spooner, Greening, W. Huata, P. Smith, P. Kena.

Null aka. —Harvey, Boynton. Pakirnana, H. Smith, Whaanga, J. Te Ngaio, P. T. Ngaio, S. Whaanga, W. Walker, T. Walker, J. Mataira, T. Smith, Manuel, C. Hawea, R. Smith. JUNIORS. In the only junior fixture played in Wairoa on Saturday, Athletic beat Waipapa by 17 points to 9. A feature of the match was the display given by H. Cook (Athletic), who has only recently left High School after playing third-grade football. This player was responsible for securing 11 of his team’s 17 points. He scored one try, potted a field goal, and converted two tries, Athletic’s remaining Points were the result of tries by J. Cook and Harvey.

For Waipapa, tries were scored by Putaranui, Bayley and S. Keefe. Mr. R. M. McDonald was the referee.