RUGBY FOOTBALL

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 76, 29 August 1938, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PARATA CUP FINAL WON BY OPOTIKI ROTORUA'S FINE DISPLAY The final c f the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Parata Cup conipetiton was played on the reserve on Saturday hejcre* a fair crowd. The ground was in good order and the • wind was not very troublesome. The game was a. very good one to watch and with the fluctuating fortunes, the spectators were kept in a constant state of excitement. The general opinion was that Rotorua were unlucky to lose as they gave the more polished display. The Opotiki- side relied on a good deal of centre peneration while the visiting backs relied a good deal on passing right out to the winners and this gave an impression of better handling than the local side. The visiting team had the advantage in weight and age and outshone the Opotiki vanguard in the scrums and lineouts- The Opotiki forwards showed up better in the second half in the* lineouts and jumped for the ball, whereas in the first half they stood flatfooted most of the time. With one or two exceptions the Opotiki backs played a very sound game and pleased supporters, who look forward to a very fine local representative team in the next few years as most of the present players are very young and with more weight and added experience should build up into a. fine combination. The forwards were a bit on the light side but played very well. The newcomer, McQueen gave a very good account of himself, Avhile M. Delamere, quite apart from his very accurate kicking, is a much better forward player than in the backs and should be a real asset to the Opotiki team in the next few years. All the forwards played well, with I. Walker showing amazing fitness. The chief failing in the Oposide was the lack of backing up in both the forwards and backs and in this respect the visitors gave a very good lesson to the local boys. The tackling on both sides could have been ’ better, too many players not being brought right down. The Play. v % Rotorua kicked off from the eastern end and I. Walker was penalised for offside play in midfield, the kick go v ing to the Opotiki 25. Rotorua, pressed hut kicked too hard, the ball going over the dead lino. The visiting backs secured and with snappy passing got close to the Opotiki line where a scrum took place. Opotiki then worked tip the field and invaded the visitors’ 25. Opotiki again offended by offside play and Rotorua tried a drop kick at goal but the ball landed under the posts, where Miliaere secured and bumped heavily into one of the uprights but managed to clear to the sideline. Play went to the centre from where Opotiki carried the hall over the line and a good chance fo score was lost- A Rotorua man came around the scrum too fast and the kick to Opotiki gained agood deal of ground. Rotorua then broke away and Bennett dribbled up the field and the ball bounced up into his hands aiul lie scored an easy try. The kick at goal went wide and Rotorua lead by*three points. Rotorua 3, Opotiki 0. •. Another Rotorua attack which looked dangerous broke down and then Opotiki retaliated and Maui Delamere put in a good run before transferring to his supporting forwards and a good ■fry resulted. The kick at goal just missed. Rotorua .3. Opotiki 3. Opotiki continued on the offensive and almost reached the Rotorua line, and a scrum was given. T. Walker got offside. Rotorua followed up this, advantage but the ball was again kicked too hard and Opotiki forced. The visiting backs were prominent in a fine passing bout and play went to the home goal-line. Offside play by Opotiki gave the visitors a good chance - to secure the lead but the ball failed to rise and Opotiki forced down. The Opotiki backs made a pretty move- , merit and soon afterwards lost another good chance of reaching the line. From play in the centre K. Delamere picked up and ran right down the centre evading a number of wouldbe tacklers and breaking two more tackles near the line scored handy to the posts. Ruff, who lias proved himself an exceptionally accurate short kicker, put over a difficult hall- jV Opotiki jS. Rotorua 3. y f r^ Half-time was then called. ,

Oii resuming the Opotiki forwards bustled the opposition and reached the defenders’ 25 but Ruff got offside and the visitors found some l-elief. Play, however remained in the Rotorua half, and the Opotiki backs secured but the ball was. kicked too hard and Rotorua forced. Opotiki kept the visitors penned in their own half and then fortunes changed and the home side had to defend, but the attackers were not to be denied-" and* a score resulted between the posts. The kick was successful and the two sides were, equal once more. v :

J. Walker Savedwhen his -side., were in danger and with a beautiful kick ... down - the side-line ...gained half, the length of the field;, -to lino.; .-The. Opotiki;bucksdlierk attacked] but Starkey was ' ‘ pushed but corner- and- Rotorila had to'ifinally' force. Opotiki kicked too hard and another force resulted. The home side were again penalised for offside play and Rotorua broke away to the Opotiki 25. Play then returned to ' the visitors’ half. At this stage the ‘Rotorua backs were throwing the-ball, nbout in great style and looked very dangerous on numerous occasions. Rad tackling near the line then let the

visitors through and the try was converted.

Rotorua 13, Opotiki 8- , Rotorua were ‘ penalised twice in quick time and then C. Walker secured and ran down the sde-linc and* when blocked ran infield ajid evaded a, tackle arid .score<|-^yeir x out. Maui Delamere took -a’ long kick iroiri a difficult angle and the ball hit the bar and bounced infield. Rotorua 13, Opotiki 11. Shortly afterwards Opotiki were awarded a free kick and Maui .Delamere took another ..very long kick and this time put the ball over with something to spare. The effort was greeted. wild enthusiasm by Opotiki supporters and the home side led by the narrow iriargin of one point. The finale bell went as the kick-off was ahoiit. to be taken and Miliaere secured ahd||%hrew over the line. Opotiki secured again and the ball was kicked out, with the final score: Opotiki 14 Rotorua 13 It is interesting to note that Opotiki oti; three occasons reached the final in the Parata Cup competition but the matches were nevpr played for several reasons. ' On the last occasion the Opotiki Union was notified by the Te Puke Union that Te Puke could not

field a team owing to the lateness of the season. For some unknown reason the Parata Cup was awarded to the Te Puke-Union as holders. CURTAIN-RAISER r•> ' ■

The curtain-raiser on Saturday was between the Opotiki third grade representatives and a Gisborne third grade team and this game was enjoyed by spectators, the teams giving quite a good performance. Opotiki won by ten points to nil, the score consisting of two converted tries. The scorers were Jim Sheeran and C. Ran, both tries being converted ,by N. , Sheeran. The visitors played well in the final stages and were unlucky not to put over a, penalty goal, - the hall striking the bar and bouncing infield. BAjY OF PLENTY BEATEN The Bay of Plenty representative Rugby team which visited Gisborne on Saturday last, was beaten by the. ’Poverty Bay representatives who won by 21 points to 11. The home side secured a good lead in the first half, but the Bay team bad the better of play in the second spell and scored two tries to the- opposition’s one.