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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22339, 26 May 1947, Page 5

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WAIKOHU—GISBORNE DOUR FORWARD BATTLE BACK PLAY FADES EARLY After a superior display in the opening stages giving promise of an easy victory, the Gisborne Rugby representatives were extended fully by the Waikohu sub-union team at Te Karaka on Saturday and one of the keenest struggles seen on the ground in many seasons ended in a draw, 14-all. The Gisborne backs scored three tries, one of which was converted, in the iiist spell, but could add only a penalty goal after the interval. Waikohu registered two penalty goals in the first half rod in the second pierced the Gisborne defence for two tries, one being converted. The teams were: Waikohu, Maroon and White.—B. Hollis; J. Casey, J. Graham. J. Haronga; S. Hollis (vice-captain). J. Chartens; P. Allison; G. King (captain); P. Clayden, W. Pevreal, G. Campbell, H. Trafford; V. Hata. H. Kirkpatrick, A. Wills. Gisborne, Scarlet. —R. Clay; E.. Carrington, R. McKinley (vice-captain), Jack Barbour; J. Richardson (captain), J. Blane; S. Lee; G. Sceats; J. Cleary, I. Shaw. M. Rogers, G. Elliott; N. Summersby. T. Donovan, W. Brown. Ten minutes before full time Richards retired with an injury. Clay moved up to the five-eighth line and was replaced by I-I. McMillan as full-back. In the opening stages the visitors had a liberal share of the ball and flashed into a series of bright passing bouts surpassing anything so far displayed this season. Already heavy with previous rain the condition of the ground became progressively worse and the ball treacherous, however, as a result of intermittent showers during the period of play and the second half became a forward batle. In this the Waikohu forwards maintained combination and exploited the conditions to better advantage. They worked as a pack, hunting together and relentlessly breaking up the necessarilyslow endeavours of the visiting backs to take the initiative. Keeping the ball on the ground, they controlled it well in combined dribbling rushes. Whereas in the early stages the home forwards were mainly penned with their backs in a desperate defence, the latter half of the second spell found them consistently threatening the visitors’ defence. Visiting Backs

In speed, individual.ability and combination the visiting backs shaded the home rear-guard, but under the conditions were unable to reap the benefit of that advantage. At first five-eighth, J. Blane was the star back of the day. He usually moved straight forward before transferring the ball, fielded and tackled surely and when he punted did so with accurate placing of the ball. J. Richards was a good second five-eighth and shone in the Gisborne defence. The most experienced back of the two teams, R. McKinley, at centre, had difficulty with the slippery ball, but effected openings for his wings and accounted for five points with goal kicks. S. Lee was a good attacking half-back. He was particularly notable in the first spell for his long well-delivered passes from the scrum when his supports, standing deep, were able to develop pace before encountering the opposition. On the left wing E. Carrington played his best game of the season so far, using his power as a runner in some determined bids for the scoring line and getting through for two tries. Both he and Jack Barbour, who scored a try on the other wing, excelled their opposite numbers in the home team . For his first attempt to hold the last line R. Clay was given exceedingly difficult conditions. As was to be expected his positional play lacked judgment and he made mistakes, but his tackling generally was reliable and his left-foot kicks were a very useful contribution to the Gisborne defence. H. McMillan played a very sound game during his brief period in the full-back position. N. Summersby, J. Cleary, G. Sceats and I. Shaw were notable forwards in the Scarlet pack. The hooker, T. Donovan, was successful, but did not have a monopoly of the ball in the set scrums. Noted in Home Team The first five-eighth, J, Charteris, was the most useful of the Waikohu backs, who. however, had comparatively few runs in the attack. J. Graham was an eager centre in the attack who also showed ability to tackle surely, but was inclined to hesitate and try for interception. S. Hollis was less impressive in the second five-eighth position than he has formerly been as full-back, though he was generally very sound in defence and kicked well with the heavy ball in converting two penalties and a try. J. Casey was the better of the Waikohu wings and was notable for his determined efforts to oppose the hard-

running Carrington, besides consistent endeavour in attack which led to a try. B Hollis showed promise as a full-back. The Waikohu captain, G. King, was the outstanding forward on the field. He was a consistent worker in line-outs, rucks and dribbling rushes and his Radeship produced the combination with which the home vanguard shaded the visitors as a pack. The hooker. H. Kirkpatrick, also stood out in the home pack. W. Pevreal and G. Campbell were also notable, the latter particularly in line-out play, though the pack, as was the case with the visitors, contained no slackers. Opening Try A Waikohu forward saved the line with a force-down in the first three minutes, but before another three had elapsed the Scarlet backs opened out in a fast movement and McKinley sent Carrington over in the corner. Cleary failed to convert.

Following two unsuccessful attempts by S. Hollis with penalties. Blanc made a long punt to a corner and Barbour shot up to spoil Haronga's clearance and go over for a try in a good position. McKinley converted and Gisborne were eight points up. A White forward attack was defeated by a force-down, but results came when a Gisborne player was penalised for obstruction in front of the goal and the kick proved easy for S. Hollis. Shortly after the White forwards penetrated, but were recalled for a knock-on. The next incident was a timely check by Haronga, followed by a Gisborne forward thrust in which W. Brown was narrowly beaten for the touch down. t

In a following Red assault McKinley smothered the home clearance and again sent Carrington in for a try in the corner. McKinley missed the goal with a difficult kick. Just before half-time. S. Hollis converted another penalty given in front of the goal and the score showed: Gisborne 11. Waikohu 6. , Scores in Second Spell The lead was increased after 10 minutes of play in the second spell when McKinley raised the flags with a penalty kick awarded straight out from the goal. Almost immediately King went through a loose scrimmage close to the Red goal, collected the attempted clearance and scored under the bar for S. Hollis to convert. Ten minutes before time a Red defender went down on the slippery ball, but failed to complete the force and Casey won the ensuing scramble to make the scores level with the concluding try of the game, S. Hollis being unable to convert from the wide angle. In the melee preceding the score Richards suffered a facial injury and was forced to retire. Mr. W. T. McKeague was the referee. Appropriate toasts were honoured at an assembly of the teams following the game. Congratualtions were extended to both teams by the chairman of the Waikohu sub-union, Mr. W. S. Picken, who, in voicing thanks to the Poverty Bay union for arranging the visit, said it was appreciated particularly at such a comparatively early stage of the season before the demands of farm and station work meant the loss of a proportion of the sub-union players. The manager of the visting team, Mr. W. E. Bullivant, one of the selectors. Mr. J. Gillespie and the referee, Mr. McKeague, voiced suitable replies.