EAST COAST RUGBY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22341, 28 May 1947, Page 8

EAST COAST RUGBY

TOKOMARU BAY ROUND NEARING END LEAD BY WAIMA I Herald Correspondent.) Sliding and slipping on a muddy field Waima and Mata seniors met in Tokomam Bav on Saturday in one ot the most keenly-contested games of the season. Before long both teams were bespattered with mud and the new oall had become a slippery and elusive object Both teams played a sound game and although Waima saw most of the play in the first spell their opponents had most of the second spell in then favour. Waima won by (i points to 01 Waima played with the wind and penetrated in the early stages with a line passing rush. All Inc backs handled to get Tiny Corbett over for a try. Waima gave Mata no quartet and time and time again were on the Blacks lino. Offside Waima were penalised and the kick put Mata temporarily out of danger, but soon Waima were once again within a few feet of scoring. From a ruck near their own posts Mala came suddenly on the attack and look the leather at their toes to the Green's 25. Waima gradually pushed them back and from a melee near the line Jack Corbett dashed over io score near the corner flag. The first spell ended without further score. The second half gave Mata the advantage of a very strong wind. Day For Forwards Walker, the Mata half, had a good scrum and smart line of backs but spoilt much of his own good work by not feeding his supports and a tendency to go alone. Ilis opposite number. Tiny Corbett, made certain of his passes and was admirably backed up by Noel Goddard. Both sides wore playing a very willing game. It was a day for forwards and both packs made the most of it. The fluctuations of the spell favoured Mata, but they were unable to penetrate the defence successfully and full time found Waima still holding the advantage of six points. Mr. Pat Fairlie was the referee. In the junior game Taw'hili defeated United by six points to five. In the first spell Tawhiti scored two unconverted tries. A penalty kick from which the ball crossed the bar was disallowed. Mud was very much in evidence during this match. The Tawhiti jerseys were soon almost indistinguishable from the blue and white of their opponents. In the second spell United got away with a fine dribbling rush, initiated by Prebble, that took them from the halfway line to Trwhiti’s goal line. From a inellce there CbafTey got over to score and Hadfield's kick from far out was successful. Neither scored again. Both teams showed decided improvement on their previous matches and both -were playing more as teams than as individuals. The main fault is still the failure to tackle low'. Mr. Paddy Milne was the referee. How they Stand With only one more game to play in the first round of the senior competition Waima are at present in the lead with two wins and a draw (five points) to their credit. The final game. United versus Mata, cannot alter this lead as whichever side wins will still have one loss against them. In the second round United, last year's winners, will be all out to defeat their old rivals. Waima. and the standard of play should be high. In the junior competition there are only three teams as Mata does not field a junior side. In the first round all three teams have had one win and one loss.