FIRST OF SEASON

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 514, 24 April 1933, Page 6

FIRST OF SEASON

BAD V/EATHER MILITATES AGAINST GOOD PLAY GAMES IN THE RAIN The weather was an'ything but kind to the Rotorua Rugby Union for the opening of the 1933 season at Arawa Park on' Saturday, and play was not by any means of an inspiring order. The heavy rain which swept aeross :the fields at intervals made the ball slippery and the high wind did not add to the pleasure of the afternoon s sport. . _ , ' it was natural that the standard of ' play suffered and the games as a whole were tedious to watch. Good place-kicking was conspicuous hy its absence.

Rotoiti Shows Promise Rotoiti was the only senior' team 'to show any promise on the day and it is evident that there has been 3 good deal of solid practice indulged 'in by the country team, for the com1 bination between f orwards and backs was full of possibilities. Whaka lack1 ed everything but hookers and when ^ they did get the ball, as they did in •'nine out of every ten scrums, the fast 1 breaking blaclcs smothered the ball bpfnrfi the backs could function.

Right from the whistle Rotoiti staged an attack and had the reds and blacks on the defensive. After a couple of abortive thrusts Rua Cooper hurdled his way over the fullhack, opening Rotoiti's score. Frequent infringements dulled the game for a while until Rotoiti again became prominent, Paul Cooper, a massive f orward, bursting his way through to pave the opening whereby Rua Cooper again notched points. For the next ten minutes there was mostly rucking between the two packs with Whaka having a shade the better of it, though they were outveighted. Then canie the pearl of a drab game. Hickey and Kape Grey commenced a movement into which Paul Cooper flung himself. He sent out wide and Grey and Rua Cooper worked a perfect scissors bout for Cooper to score. It was a well-exe-cuted bit of ivork. The score when the lemons arrived was 11 — 0 in favour of Rotoiti.

Soon after the resumption, Whiu, for Rotorua, scored after a forward scramble in the Whaka twenty-five. Whaka then bucked np a bit and had a shade the better of the exchanges rnainly through solid rucking and heeling of the Maniapoto brothers who were the pick of the red pack. 'The red f orwards secured a lot of 'the ball, but their backs were unable :to make any use of it due to the solid tackling of the blaclc back division. Towards the end of the game Rua Cooper, from an opening by Paul Cooper, notched his fourth try and T. Mirimiri scored from a ruck. Whaka staged a last attack which died away and the game ended Rotoiti 17, Whaka nil. Rotoiti was definitely superior, both back and forward, and opened up the game wherever possible. Whaka was frequently out of position and though the pack worked hard their efforts were nullified by poor back play and scrambling work in the loose. Waiariki beats Waikite The Waiariki — Waikite game was strenuously contested, the game rnainly being confined to the forwards. There was a lot of solid rucking with a certain amount of open play by the Waiariki backs. The slippery ball and lack of positional play made for dropped passes, but the teams were fairly evenly matched. There was some un"necessary rough play • towards the close.

JUNIOR GAMES Oldi Boys v. Kahukura This was the best exhibition of football on the ground. Both teams siung the ball about when circumstances permitted and the game, for !a wet weather day, was fast and open. This type of Rugby is well worthy of encouragement and the ( doings of both teams will be watched with interest. The game was very even and only won by Old Boys just before time with a penalty. . Awahou v. Kaharoa Awahou was too good for Kaharoa and won by a good margin. Whaka v. Utahina 1 Utahina was no use to0Whaka and really should be in a lower grade. The score, 12 — 0, could have been larger. Rotoiti v. Waikite This game was marred by rough play which could have been prevented by stricter refereeing. Far too much scrambling on the ground was allowed before the whistle was blown and two men were carried off. This could have been avoided.