MEDIOCRE GAME

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 30, 28 September 1931, Page 4

MEDIOCRE GAME

ROTORUA DEFEATS COLLEGE RIFLES' TEAM 17 NIL HOME BACKS UNENTERPRIS.ING Although Rotorua ran up a total of 17 points to nil against a visiting team from the College * Rifles Club (Auckland) on Saturday, the game was of a very mediocre standard, and had it been terminated at half time, no one would have been disappointed. Despite the fact that their forwards gave them the majority of the ball, the home backs failed 1amentably to take advantage of their

opportunities. Notwithstanding this,, however, the home side had the visitors penned in their own territory for 60- per cent of the game, and it was only the laclc of combination on the part of the Rotorua backs which kept the score down. Over eagerness on the part of the College saw them penalised at halfway and Sutherland opened the scoring for Rotorua with a beautiful kick'.

A feature of the play was the excellent display given by Sutherland, the home full-back, whose fine fielding and line-kicking was responsible for keeping the greater part of the play in the visitors' territory where it remained until half-time without further change in the score. On resuming, Rotorua immediately took play to the visitors' line where from a dribbling rush, Boord was successful in scoring. Sutherland failed with the kick.Try Thrown Away

The half-way kick saw Waerea fail to field the ball and play was taken to Rotorua's line where the visitors got over but failed to force the ball, thus throwning away a certain try. The last change over saw the home forwards dominating the game, and it was this superiority which gave Rotorua its next try. From the dribbling rush, Heke picked up, and sent on to Scott who scored in the corner. The kick failed making the score 9 to nil in Rotorua's favour. Offside play by the visitors cost them another three points, Heke landing a nice goal. Rotorua 12, College nil. The final scoring movement was started by Green who cross-kicked to Waerea who ran down the line to be pushed into touch in the corner. From a five-yards scrum Heke forced his way across. He added the extra points with a good kick making the final score, Rotorua 17, College nil. Mr. A. L. Wallace had control of the game.