EASY FOR THE BAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20045, 18 September 1939, Page 9

EASY FOR THE BAY

WAIROA OUTCLASSED VISITING SIDE WEAK SCORING BY WINGERS RUGBY AT THE OVAL Poverty Bay 41pts. Wairoa 4 A sadly-depleted Wairoa fifteen offered very little resistance to the Poverty Bay senior Rugby representatives at the Oval on Saturday afternoon, when the final representative game of the season was played before a fair crowd of spectators. Last-minute defections in the Wairoa team left the visitors a weakened i side and they did not present much of a- problem to the home fifteen. Neither side showed much form and the only bright movements came in the closing stages, when the home rearguard struck form with a vengeance and rattled on the points. Poverty Bay’s best scorers were the wingers, Read and Short, the latter scoring four tries and Read three.

The teams were:— Poverty Bay.—Backs, B. Malone; A. Read, A. McAneney, R. Short; P. Haisman, T. Smiler; W. Morrison; forwards, R. Rogers, G. Phillips, W. Johnstone, W. Holmes. F. N. Twigg, J. Robinson, G. Shanks, G. King. Wairoa.—Backs, M. Unwin; D, McKenzie. A. Beckett, B. Finch, M. Campbell, W. Powdrell; P. Christy; forwards, W. Pilmer: C. Hawea, B. Helean, C. Spooner C. C. Wrightson: W. Huata. J. O’Rourke, J. Lewis. Poverty Bay opened with a good forward passing rush, Robinson and Rogers combining well, but Unwin checked the latter with a high tackle. Robinson was working well in the Bay pack, with Wairoa trying to keep the game tight. Christy made a good break from a scrum, but a movement started by Short saw Smiler send 'Short over under the posts, Malone goaling the sitter.—Poverty Bay 5, Wairoa 0.

Home Backs Opening Up

McAneney made a good breakthrough for Poverty Bay, whose backs were opening up well, but Unwin checked him with a good tackle. The Wairoa full-back was injured in the tackle and came off for attention, but returned to the field. Mishandling by Malone let Wairoa take up the offensive, but the Bay came back, Short, Rogers and King taking play to the green line, where the latter missed a pass in a good position. Poverty Bay were awarded a penalty close in and Malone accepted the chance to make the score Poverty Bay °, Wairoa 0. Hfiata, who was playing well in the

Wairoa. pack, forced play to the red |;i line, where the former Poverty Bay representative forward almost sent a green forward in for a try. Phillips tried to relieve, but Unwin sent the attackers back again. Wairoa were on the offensive at this stage and were testing -the home defence soundly. Poverty Bay .were lucky to clear when Malone was badly bustled and the visitors kept hammering away at the line, their 'backs trying to get the game opened up, gaining their reward when Campbell potted a goal from close in.—Poverty Bay 8, Wairoa 4.

Hawea had an ambitious attempt at a penalty from half-way, just falling with a .good attempt, and when Poverty- Bay attempted to take play upfield Unwin drove them back with a good line kick. Breaking well from a sebum, the Wairoa pack went close to sending Powdrell across, but Morrison saved for the Bay with a typical run.

'Back on the attack came the greens, but Haisman changed the venue of play, with a sharp midfield thrust. An interception by Wrightson put Wairoa in the hunt until a bad off-side by a Wairoa forward spoilt a good opportunity. Read opened up a movement whidh paid a dividend when he sent the ball infield to Smiler. The latter kicked well ahead and Short and McAneiiey combined well up the left wing for the latter to score an unconverted try, the half-time score being Foyerty Bay 11, Wairoa 4. A fine line-kick by Short placed the Bay iii a favourable position from the drops-but, but a series of scrums on the Wairoa line checked the offensive. Not to be denied, Poverty Bay went further into the lead when Short scored close in, but Malone failed'to goal : a gift conversion.—Poverty Bay 14, Wairoa 4. Fed by Haisman, Short was almost in again, but Christy stopped him with a fine low tackle and a penalty relieved Wairoa. Robinson led a good dribbling rush, but was tripped near the line,- McAneney failing with the resultant penalty. From a blind-side movement by Morrison and Haisman, Short scored again between the posts. Twigg took over the goal-kicking and found the uprights—Poverty Bay 19, Wairoa 4. Read Passing Well A penalty attempt by Hawca went, .close and Malone saved well for the Bay with a mark. Morrison opened up an attack along the right wing and Read sent in a long infield pass for Twigg to score a try which he converted himself.—Poverty Bay 24, Wairoa 4. Although play was favouring Read’s wing, the Bay winger was being closely watched. Poverty Bay went further into the lead when Phillips went over from a line-out, but Twigg (missed the kick.—Poverty Bay 27, Wairoa 4.

Short scored his fourth try when the Bay backs, opening up play well, made a left wing thrust. McAneney gained a lot of ground before sending a difficult pass to Short for the latter to score an unconverted try.—Poverty Bay 30, Wairoa 4. Beckett, the Wairoa centre, came off with an injury and Poverty Bay went further into the lead when all the backs handled for Read to score in the corner, McAneney’s kick, a good one, . just missing.—Poverty Bay 33, Wairoa 4. McAneney. who was playing well at centre, sent Head over for another try in the ebrner, but the latter failed to convert.—^ Poverty Bay 36, Wairoa 4. The game Was now a debacle, McAneney being next to score for Poverty Bay, placing the ball well between the posts. Smiler goaled and the ttyial score was Poverty Bay .. 41 Wairoa • ■ • • • 4

The refere was Bjtf. K. R, W#ite.