RUGBY FOOTBALL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 214, 31 July 1939, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

BAY NARROWLY DEFEATED; WAIKATO’S 3 POINT , WIN SPLENDID BAY FORWARDS The Waikato Rugby representatives scrambled home against Bay of Plenty when the- nuitch was played in a sea: of mud. at Hamilton on Saturday, states the Waikato- Times. The forward play wa.s really excellent, with the visiting van showing the great Waikato pack many points on the day. It has long been recognised that Waikato’s strength is in its great pack but- on Saturday it must he admitted that great as the pack is it was no better than the Bay pack. In. fact- in many plumes of play the Bay eight showed Waikato how tilings, should he clone and it-was only a lastminute rally with superior physical. , fitness that re-won for Waikato a hope to compare with tire Bay forwards, ing and concerted rushes that the Bay ing and concerted 1 , rushes that tht Bay „ was clearly superior. As in previous, matches the Waikato forwards wouid. persist in kicking the hall too hardin dribbling rushes and time and agaiu allowed the Opposing fullback to

score. The Bay forwards, in contrast, dribbled the hail in excellent fashion, one man being at the apex cf a triangle and the others following on if the leader over-ran the hall. The leather was never kicked more than it. foot or two, and in many irresistible rushes the- Bay swept- the held. When a Bay forward broke away he was always well supported, and agaiii individual Waikato forwardsmade breaks that came to nothing, owing to lack of support. The visitors held the territorial advantage for over half the iirst spell, and in the last 2d minutes ol the second spell Waikato was only over the half-way line twice. The home team came with a final dash, however, that gave it a somewhat- unexpected victory. It was really unfortunate that .conditions were so much against good football. The Bay team fielded a big, heavy and fast hack line and the few movements they were able to hi ing. to fruition'gave promise cf a fine -attacking unit. The Waikato hackline also showed to advantage before the ball became too .greasy and their first try was a really brilliant effort, all handling well for Taylor to cut out a man, Aitken to straighten up the line with - a fast penetrating dash and! Perkins, to cap it off. The hacks then tried similar tactics throughout, the first half and with conditions, such as they were it was little wonder that the fast-breaking Bay forwards were able to pick holes in the defence from the’many mistakes. Waikato proved that it would have had a big share of the hall en a dry day. The Bay forwards were lighter and. faster than the Waikato pack and under the exceptionally heavy conditions they were more at home. Waikato appealing to find- tlie going a little too heavy lor their weight. In the Bay team, McNeil, Farrow and Nicholson were outstanding in. tlie forwards with Payment the lullhack also playing a grand game. ?d_ Lees, the big centre, was also impressive as also was Gregory. Ensor played a sound game as the last- line of defence for Waikato and he saved his side time and time again with good handling and long accurate kicking. Phillips raised the crowds to. its tees by several 'dashes, while Perkins, who also liadl few opportunities, making no mistakes. Aitken again went well at- centre, backnig up and kicking splendidly, while Cole and Taylor were the two best five-eighths fielded.for some time. When J. Everest- came on he did well for the littletime he was playing. Tctlaff, at half., stood uj) to a hard gruelling surprisingly well and was quite sound. In tlie forwards Thomson went as well as any of them in the heavy going with Wymvard. Warrender and Maeky also prominent. Ehmnagaw was in the limelight- on several occasions witii Catlev and Taylor doing, their share of the light- work. Thunder and lightning greeted theBay team as it filed out on to the held. Gregory opened the score for the Bay of Plenty and M. Lees converted. Cole then opened Waikato’s, account bv a brilliant penalty g/irL Farron was the spearhead tiii.l? and again in the visitors’ defence. Payment was giving a wonderful display as fullback in the Bay team. Waikato took the lead when Perkins outpaced the speedy Gregory to score a brilliant

try in the corner. The kick Jailed. On .resuming tlio Bay team set- out to take the lead and Hayward broke through and scored an unconverted try. Farroii and Nicholson, two of tlic best of a great Bay of Plenty pack, were carrying the day with resolute dribbling and running through to retaliate a- ' gainst- similar Waikato tactics. The . Bay forwards had infinitely more control in the short work with the ball at .j foot. Shortly before time Stewart, {who had replaced Taylor, who had jbeen injured, followed up a ltd scored a neat try. Atkin’s kick was a glorious conversion. j Thy’game ended v with the scores: Waikato 11 j ' Bay.; of Plenty 8 I- b ■ ! > b GAMES AT OPOTIKI WAIROA TEAM BEATEN I tj WIN FOB OIjOTIKI HIGH. SCHOOL Although there nbis very little rain a cold'] north-westerly wind made condition! very /trying for players and spectators,.alike in the Rugby matches plarotj* at Opotiki on Saturday. No senior’'club games were played in view of tld 1 ) representative .Maori fixture and the absence of Opotiki players at Hamilton. A Ci.ty senior team visit*ed Matawaijt■ and played tlie .Motu team.] A th/rcl grade and also a juni.u game were also played on (.’onpaddock. I The] eurtapi-raisor on the Reserve was j between/: Opotiki High School and ! ' ''s I

tlu: Gisborne High School second lifteon. In the first halt, the visiting team had the local hoys demobilised, but in the.' second hall’ the Opotiki side staged a good Comeback iuid ran out winners by 19 points to 111.. Conditions had become worse when tin senior game commenced and by hair-time a good sprinkling of. the spectators decided to leave the ground, tlu. bitterly cold conditions being too much for them. A short scvoii-a-sido schoolboys’ game was played amt pro?, duced some interesting play. .' The Senior Cams , ~ Opotiki .Maoris kicked off against M’airoa .Maoris and had the wind in their favour.- Opotiki secured the advantage from the start- and took play into the Wairoa 25. Here the Opotiki hacks handled hut a Maori player intercepted a pass and broke away Imt tiie hall was thrown forward. The visitors were awarded a Tree 'kick Tor offside play by Opotiki, ail'd a rather hopeless attempt was made to./go aI ficm well out against the.strong Wind; tin: ball tailing tar short-.. The Opotiki backs attacked well: ad id reached the 25 line, finally forcing. Opoti.ki kept 'up the x ( y.Uaek and the visitors*.,, mamvgC(f v -to fene. Offside play by Wairoa gav'ft fs- - chance ~!/>-goal by Opotiki, but a,fairly easy'ckjick missed badly. \Yab * * * JP) . roa then took .sptunYSnt attack but t!;o team get going properiv and tliv effort broke flown.. For picking out of the ruck the home side was penalised. When on attack Mainisi 11 had a drop, at Is»e goal but failed. ;i

A penalty against Opotiki did not help the visitors and play remained in the Wairoa half. A penalty was given against Opotiki in front of the visitors’ goal-posts and soOn alterwar.ds the, home .side was again penalised. Offside play shortly afterwards gave . Wairoa bechance to open the scores, and< a splendid kick against adverse conditions saw the hall go cleanly over the liar., Wairoa <1 /Opotiki 0 ' Sin’llfoom made a nice run and then **.} , t handed out to Ifeocli who ran down the wide-line Imt was tacked near the corner. I’lav went to the centre where Wairoa infringed. The kick by Opotiki gained fully half the length ol tin' Held, going out near the corner flsig. Shalloon next tried to drop a goal Imt the ball went wide and a force resulted. Opotiki was unlucky not toi score when Sbalfoon followed a kick up fast-"to be just beaten lor tfie touch down; ■ The visi.tors*;wero compelled to force again soon afterwards.'; Tlftre; was no. further score at half-time.

Play in the second half became rather strenuous at times, and in the ruck boots were seen to flail in a rnilior reckless manner, regardless of enn.seC|ii( ncesf The vim being displayed 'hot-without its humorous side, ■especially when one player was pulled about and was finally stood on his head in the .midst of the struggling mass of forwards..

Opotiki was penalised soon’ alter resumption of play but a long kick.at goal fell short. Play .swayed up and down the held to finally result in Opo‘tiki equaling the scores. Monitn Dolnmere secured and -passed out to Beech who „ bad a clear run in to tench down near the corner. /.jWairoii 5 .•/Opotiki 3 Waft-pa ’attacked vigorously and the bail went line for Op/fiki (vr^rce. The visitors returned to the Attack hut were and' Opotiki invaded Wairoa territory. An Opotiki player hung on to the long to save a rush, and the* visitors had an unsuccessful kick at goal, the ball falling just .short.

Opo'tiki pressed for some time: ami '•’sCrenTtfuffe nlay took place both packs striving for the hall at a rattling pace. A penalty against Wairoa saw Shalloon goal and put Opotiki in the li ad. Opotiki b Wairoa 3 Play continued to he strenuous up to the final whittle'.Avith the visitors having an advantage. .Mr, J. Parkinson was referee. CAMES AT TE KARAKA l . Last week junior and senior teams j’i tin the Tc Huia Club visited Te Kara k a and played teams from that district. The juniors had a comfortable win but the seniors bad a hard battle to come out on top with a narrow margin. A team of lady basketball players also made the trip, beating the Te Karnka team. The- managers of the Pay of Plenty team were Messrs. W. I . Barrett (Opotiki) and G. Peebles (Taneatua). MATCH AT MATAWAI The City team which .visited Maia- • wai on Saturday secured a win over the Motu team. Maui Pelamere who was put into the team to make up the loqtiired number, secured! eight ol Citv’s eleven points.