RUGBY FOOTBALL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 226, 28 August 1939, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

BIG REPRESENTATIVE GAME

WIN FOR POVERTY BAY

FINE HANDLING BY WINNERS

There was a good crowd present oil the reserve on Saturday afternoon to witness the representative match between Poverty Ray (red) and Bay of Plenty (blue and gold). The game was a very good one to watch, play being of an open nature with, many fine back movements. Only good defence by the Bay of Plenty prevented the winners from securing a much bigger score. The winners played a much better combined game than the losers, both forwards and backs showing good combination. The losers in contrast played more of an individualistic type of game in the backs, this being mainly due to a definite weakness in the inside, one of the Bay of Plenty men continually failing, to take the ball. When tho winners secured the ball from the scrum or line-outs they immediately ran the hall out to the wingers, but there was far too much running sideways, resulting in the outside men being cramped lor room. The Bav of Plenty forwards played well lnit there was not- the same hacking up as seen in the winners’ vanguard. The red forwards followed up well and were very good at dribbling, continually beating the opposing backs by tricky movements. The led forwards had a distinct advantage in height in the lineouts andl the players always jumped high' to, take the throw-ins. Bay of Plenty gave a- good account of themselves in the scrums and started several good movements by securing a very good share of the hall. The final effort made l>v Poverty Bay was too much for the Bay cf Plenty men who crumbled up towards the end of the game and the reds were commencing to overrun the losers. The Poverty Bay team thoroughly deserved to win, despite the fact that- they appeared to he down until near the end of the match. ’Phe only replacement during the game was AlcAnenoy. the crack Poverty Bay winger, who was playing at centre, and who damaged a knee. The Came Bay of Plenty kicked off against-the sun and the ball bounced out. From the line-out Jones kicked down iu Liu Poverty Bay lull-back who was bustled. The Poverty Bay backs secured from a line-out m their own 25, and McAneney put in a good run down into the Bay quarter. I lie ball was kiokeu too iiai-j Dy the attackers and went over the corner hag. Bay ol Plenty invaded tho red territory but the opposing forwards secured and the whole pack swept clown the field. Short secured and put in a run to he well tackled by Oswald. Bay ol Plenty were penalised and O’Brien took a shot at goal Imt the ball went wide. Play was in the home half but Poverty Bay were forced hack. Hughes again got offside, the resultant kick going out- just- 1,) ast half-way. '.Phe reus were penalised for a scrum offence, the kick gaining 50 yards for the blues. An attempt to drop a goal was made by Lees but- tin* ball went wide. Raiment, the home full-back, placed the ball nicel\ clown the line. Offside play by tho reds helped the blues hut the reds set up an attack and invaded the home territory. Malone the Poverty Bay lull-hack, placed a good kick down near the* corner flag. Hard play followed the line-out-,, the defenders pressing the rods hack temporarily. Poverty Bay broke away and again .reached the home 25. where Rodgers, a red forward, obstructed and the attackers were penalised 1 . Flay, however, .remained in the Bay of Plenty half for some time and tho home- side got into difficulties, to be finally helped hv Raiment who cleared cleverly to the 25 flag. The blue's attacked hut the reds swung hack and moved down the field to the blue line where an obstruction was given against the attackers. A blue man got offside in the home half and O'Brien took a shot at goal, the hall going very close. Bay of Plenty invaded the opposition's 25, hut a penalty kick against the attackers took play to half-way. 'Phe hall was sent a cross-lie Id andl a B'ny ol Plenty player got offside. From a lino-out- in the red half the Poverty Bay backs secured and put in a good run. A long kick was put in, the bull going out near the blue goal-line- and a force finally resulted. Thtv reel backs again attacked, the effort being spoilt by a knock-oil. From a line-out the reds obviously had the blues hustled. The reds were penalised in the serum and hall-time was called after the kick, neither side having managed to secure points.

On resuming the blues carried play into the red half, bub the reds kicked a grubber back, the ball going well into the blue half. Play hung Hear the blue goal. Offside play by the; reds enabled Raiment, to kipk v t3 the line. A Poverty Pay rush swept the whole length of the fieldi and a scuffle took place in front of the blue goal. Offside play again'spoilt the effort by the reds and Raiment found the line well up the field. The reds were again penalised, this time for offside play in the line-out. The kick went out and then the reds again rushed into the blue territory. There was .only a temporary respite for the blues, and the reds were again attacking strongly compelling Raiment to force.. Jones pot in a good solo run and after swerving past several opponents he kicked to the line well up the field. From a serum Lendrum secured and passed to Jones who handed on to Francis. Francjs dashed up to the full-hack, and Jones, who had run around on the outside, took a pass from Francis and ran over at the corner unopposed, ’'capping off a really clever piece cl' work. Raiment converted from a. difficult angle. Pay of Plenty 5 Poverty Pay O Poverty Pay formed down near the Bay. of Plenty goal-line, ■, Whiteley finally clearing to the 25 flag. Play went across-field twice and the Pay of Plenty forced. The Pay backs broke away, for Donovan to make a. clear break and run around to a good posi-

tion before touching; down. Raiment's attempt to,- convert went a little wide. Ray of Plenty .............. 8 Poverty Riay 1 0 The Poverty Bay side opferied their score immediately afterwards, .when a blue man got offside in a handy position for O’Brien to goal. Bay of ’Plenty . 3 Poverty Bay 3 The kick off saw the ball bounce over the goal-line and Poverty Bay forced. From play in midfield the Bay for-wards-dribbled down the field but the ball was kicked too hard and a force, resulted. Poverty Bay attacked, for Lees to mark and return the ball to the line. Wliiteley ..kicked out to lvalf-way. Lendrum. secured and kicked out at the 25 hag. Offside play in the scrum by Bay of Plenty gave the reds a. chance, to recover and play went to the Bay of.plenty line, where, from a scrum, the attacking hack.s secured for the ball to go out to Short, who dashed over at the corner. The kick missed!. Bay of plenty 8 Poverty Bay 6 Poverty Bay set' up another attack, for Raiment to save. The attackers were over-eager and got offside but the blues again set up a hot attack and were nearly over. A scrum was given and play remained in the blue quarter. From a serum the reds secured, and the hall was quickly passed out to Short, the winger, who dashed over for his second try. O’Brien added the extra points. The game ended! shortly afterwards with the final scores : Poverty Bay 11 Bay of Plenty 8