ROTORUA RUGBY

Rotorua Morning Post, 31 August 1931, Page 4

ROTORUA RUGBY

TEAMS' VICTORY PUTARURU DEFEATED. HARD PLAY MARKS FIRST REPRESENTATIVE WIN OF SEASON. | After a series of defeats in repre- ; sentative matches away from home i Rotorua made good one of the losses j at Arawa Park on Saturday when j they emerged vietorious against PuJ taruru by ;23 points to 9. In spite I of favourable weather conditions pubI lic support was lacking and the attendance was called fair. This ' is the result of playing too many naatehes away from home. The first half of the game was fairly evenly contested. Hall kicked off for Putaruru. Poland received the ball on the full, knocked on and from the ensuing scrum Rotorua hooked, the ball going out to the backs but Hall intercepted and put in a strong run carrying play to his opponent's twenty-five where he lost the advantage by knocking on. How- • ever the visitors received from the scrum and with a passing rush went to Rotorua's line where Otway was successful in struggiing aeross and scored in the corner. Hall just missed with the kiek. Putaruru 3, Rotorua 0. The visitors returned to the at- ' tack with renewed vigour and by means of passing rushes hemmed Rotorua in their twenty-five. Parsons gave the home side relief with a good kick transferring play to half-way. The visitoes were handling better than their opponents who cjntinually mull^d passes and spoilt several chances to improve thedr position. A good run by Steele was ended when he tried to sell a 'dummy" to the whole of the opposition. Papuni was in support and a pass his way would have been profitable. Scott opened the scoring for Rotorua with one of the best tries seen this season. Snapping up the ball from a ruck in mid-field he beat his way past the opposition, fended off sevei'al players and scored alongside the posts. Taiapa converted. Rotorua 5, Putai'uru 3. The line kicking of the visitors was more effective than Rotorua's and by this means lost ground was regaihed on several occasions. Putaruru again surged ahead by means of a free kick. Hall landing a' beautiful goal from beyond half-way. Putaruru 6, Rotorua 5. Apart from occasional flashes of baclc play Rotorua appeared to be mediocre u'p to !halfJtime 'and the visitors never looked liked losing. The visiting forwards wsre keen and and their back combinati m, though making ma-ny mistakes, was equal to Rotorua's. The recond half saw Rotorua go to tba attack strongly and weak tackling allowed them to I'each the goal line where hai'd play took place. Gordon and Boorst were prominent in a home side to force. From the quar-ter-way kick Parsons followed up well a-nd oy means -of passing rushes Rotorua had the visitors defsnding. Play veered, and from a line-out in Rotorua's twenty-five Stephenson cleared with a good kick which rolled out at half way. The visiting forwards again took Land and dribbled to Rotorua's line. A free kick gave Rotorua relief but little ground was gained from Taiapa'3 kick. From a line-out in the home side's twenty-five Dunstan was slow and Rogers dribbled th?e ball up the field where Steele, who was following up fast, caught the ball on the bounce and raced over the line to score behind tho posts. Scott just converted. Rotorua 10, Putaruru 6. Rotorua warmed up and commenced throwing the ball about in great style, but good tackling by the visitors nullified their elforts to sccore. They, however, were eventually rewarded. After a serie3 of scrums Thompson received from a scrum, sent to Steele to Kukume, who cut in and with a corlcscrew run dashed over the line and scored a good try. Papuni had no luck with the kick. Rotorua 13, Putaruru 6. The Putaruru forwards, by a concerted rush took play down field. Following up a kick which Davis (Rotorua's Fullback) failed ti field the visitors gained furtber ground and Martin secured from a ruck and dashed over the line for a good try. The kick failed. Rotorua 13, Putaruru 9. Rotorua immediately retaliated with a forward rush in which Alleu, Rogers, Duncan and, Scott were prominent. The movement went to Putaruru's line where Scott brushed off four opponents and scored alongside the posts, Steele added the points. Rotorua 18, Putaruru 9. Right on the call of time Papuni, with the ball at the toe was fortunate to gather it in °n the bounce and scored behind the posts. Scott put the finishing touches. The game ^fending Rotorua 23, Putaruru 9. / Mr L. Parrant was in chjkrge of the whistle. '