RUGBY IN RUATORIA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22340, 27 May 1947, Page 2

RUGBY IN RUATORIA

CITY AVENGE DEFEAT COMING REP. GAMES (Herald Correspondent.) Whakarua Park, Ruatoria, was again the scene of a series of matches in senior and junior grades on Saturday. The ground was very soft. The ball was wet and at times play was carried on through heavy rain. The day’s play brought the respective competitions to the end of the first round. The seniors are playing three rounds for the J. M. Reedy Memorial Cup. Last season’s holders, City, are now in the lead. The three teams in the junior grade are contesting the Kongo Shield, which was donated by Mr. Donald Whakarara, who was a very strong supporter of football on the Coast. Play has now become increasingly keen,' especially in the senior grade, with the approach of a large number of representative fixtures for which the teams have yet to be selected. The first of these is to be held on the King’s Birthday holiday, when the East Coast representatives meet a representative team from Opotiki at Te Araroa. On June 7 a representative fifteen from Te Araroa will play the local representatives at Ruatoria for the Porourangi Cup. This will be the first of a series of representative games between the five sub-unions under the East Coast Rugby Union. Hard Fought Game Last Saturday’s principal match was between City and Hikurangi. It was a hard-fought game, especially since, at their last meeting Hikurangi administered the only defeat suffered bv City in some years. On Saturday City showed better combination. The forwards, much fitter than in the previous game, held a clear advantage m weight and in experience. City’s first try came as a climax to a series of determined attacks by the forwards. From a dribbling rush, B. Maru snapped up the ball and crossed the line not far from the posts. P. Reedy converted. Hikurangi's defences rallied considerably and for some time they held City in check, but late in the second half the Hikurangi pack began to tire against the heavier City forwards. When a Hikurangi attempt to find touch fell short, J. C. Reedy at full-back came up very quickly, beat several of the opposing backs, drew the fullback and sent a neat pass out to B. Maru. who scored his second try well out toward the comer flag. N. Maxwell put in a good kick, but the ball fell just below the bar. Shortlv before time a strong run by the City backs enabled R. Kerr to cross the line for City’s third try, also well out from the posts, making the final score: City 11, Hikurangi 0. The referee was Mr. T. Wirepa. On No. 1 ground the Wanderers proved no match for United, who won by 15 points to nil. Tries were scored by V. Rickard, H. Rangiuia, J. Walker, T. Brown and T. Fox. The referee was Mr. T. Seymour. In the junior grade there was a very fast, though at times rather loose, game beween City and United. In the first half a good try was scored by M. Reedy at second five-eighths. Receiving the ball in a passing rush, lie beat his opponent and crossed the line near the posts. Shortly after half-time the score was equalised when J. Reedy on the left wing for United, crossed the line near the flag. Toward the close of the game play became very keen and several forwards got ahead of the ball. T. Albert put two penalty kicks over the bar for City and J. Reedy kicked one penalty goal for United, bringing the final score to: City 9. United 6. The referee was Mr. W. Goldsmith. BASKETBALL SEASON STARTS The basketball season opened in Ruatoria on Saturday in adverse weather conditions. There is now a widespread interest 1 in the game, as indicated by the fact that eight teams have now registered with the Ruatoria sub-association. The sub-association has expanded considerably since its inception last season, when it controlled only two teams. The Ruatoria Basketball SubAssociation is now affiliated with the Poverty Bay Basketball Association, but the ultimate objective is an East Coast Basketball Association, with subassociations at Te Araroa, Tikitiki, Ruatoria, Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay. This organisation would be similar to the Rugby football system in the East Coast district. Later this season. Ruatoria plans to hold a basketball field day, when all the East Coast centres will be invited to compete. It is hoped not only to stimulate the interest of players and the public in the game but also to hold a discussion among officials of all districts as to the lines along which an East Coast association may be formed. Rain during the week made conditions for play difficult on Saturday. The ground was slippery and the ball wet, but despite the conditions there was a good standard of play.for the first match of the seas On. With the improvement promised there are strong prospects of very good basketball later in the year. Results of last Saturday’s play were: Hikurangi 16 v. Porourangi 6; Uepohatu 15 v. High School (A) 13; Tawhirangi 20 v. High School (B) 9; City 5 v. Te Aowera 5. The referees were Mr. and Mrs. Goodman and Miss L. Morgan.