REP. FIXTURE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 549, 5 June 1933, Page 3

REP. FIXTURE

Our Own Gorrespondent.)

OPOTIKI BEAT WHAKATANE ON THEIR HOME ■ GROUND AN INTERESTING GAME

(From

Opotiki, Saturday. After a fast, spectaeular game played here on Saturday Opotiki defeated Whakatane by 19 points to I 11. The weather being fine, there ' was a good attendanee of the public, although the ground was inclined to be'heavy after the recent rain. The teams lined out as follows. Whakatane (blue) . — Moody, Oswald, Dodd, Merito, TrainorJ Biddle, J. Pile, Warren, Mate, Brodrick, Harawira, Lawson, Cullimore, Edwards, Day. Opotiki (black and white). — Fix, Hunia, Paul, Kingi, Temple, L. Kelly, Jones, A. Kelly, G. Edwards, J. Edwards, Maunsell, Craig, J. Brown, Loft and Newth. From the Opotiki kick-off Whakatane endeavoured to open up the game, but were brought back for a knock-on. Opotiki took play to near their opponents' goal-line-, where from a scrum, Kingi received the ball and cutting in, beat several men to touch down for a good try. Temple made no mistake with the kick and put his team five points up within two minutes of the start. Opotiki 5, Whakatane nil. Whakatane immediately rushed play to Opotiki's goal-line, where a penalty kick saved the defenders. Fox lined near his twenty-five. Whakatane hooked from a scrum in front of the posts and after several players had handled the ball, they scored a pretty try. They failed with •the easiest of kicks and the score was Opotiki 5, Whakatane 3. R. Jones, for Opotiki was showing up and continu.ally baffling the opposition with his tricky runs. Loft broke away with the ball at his toes, ; Whakatane putting it into touch at their twenty-five. Hunia fielded the ball well, put in a good run and found the line well within blue territory. From the line-out, the ball went to Temple who cut in, but was smothered On ..their own goal-line, the blues were awarded a penalty kick, the ball going out near their twenty-five line. Opotiki Lej.ding Edwards put in a good run for Opotiki and narrowly missed scoring. From this line-out, Kingi received, fended off several opponents and went. over for a try. Fox failed to raise the flags. Opotiki 8, Whakatane 3. The blues were quick to attack after the kick and put the ball out at Opotiki's twenty-five. Ffom the line-out, Jones received and after clearing with a tricky run, found touch at halfway. Fox fielded from a penalty kick awarded to the blues and booted down field. The Whakatane winger returned this kick and followed through fast to pick up cleverly and go over for a good try. Again the major points were not added and the score board read, Opotiki 8, Whakatane 6. The ball rang for halftime with the score unaltered. Se^ond Spell Whakatane set the ball rolling for the second half for Jones to receive and put in a good run to halfway, where he was forced out. From a penalty kick, Opotiki forwards followed up fast and the ball went over the line where A. Kelly touehed down for a try. Temple's kick was unsuccessful and the score was Opotiki 11, Whakatane 6. Fox fielded the ball cleanly, kicked and ran through to bustle the opposing fullback who had to put it out in his twenty-five. The Whakatane forwards booted the ball down field where Fox was prevented by one of his own players from fielding it and the blues carried on to seore a try which was eonverted. This made the scores 11 all. After the kick-off an Opotiki passing rush broke down through Hunia being forced into touch. From the line-out, the ball was kicked by Opotiki and A. Kelly ran through fast to make Whakatane force. From a throw in near the blue's line, Craig thew out a pass which went astray and Whakatane again found relief in the touct-line. The ball came to Fox who kicked and ran through to eatch Whakatane in possession. From a scrum, Jones put in a good run, then centred the ball with a well-judged kick. Hunia fielded this well and went over the line where he lost possession of the ball. However, J. Brown was supporting him well and he touehed down for a try. Temple's kick was a good one. Opotiki 16, Whakatane 11. The Final Try Give and take play followed the kick until Fox being unable to field the ball, speculated and came through to get his man in possession. The Whakatane fullback received the ball and put in a very determined run, being pushed out near halfway. From here Opotiki rushed play to their opponents' goal-line,- but they found relief in a force down. From a scrum in the blue twentyfive, Jones started the best back movement of the day and after Kingi had received, he came round to receive from him and then he. himself finished off a splendid movement by going over near the corner flag. MaunselPs kick was disallowed. Opotiki 19, Whakatane 11. The blues were not to be denied in the final st'ages and were all out to increase their tally, but Opotiki were taekling well. Hunia received the ball from an opposing penalty kick and after kicking, ran through well to get his man. The ball went to Fox who put it into touch near halfway where the bell went for time, leaving Opotiki the winners by 19 points to 11, after a clean, well-contested game. Mr. E. Seville was the referee.