FOOTBALL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7443, 3 July 1920, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

Wellington v.-Bay of Plenty

The second Rugby football ' contest of the season for possession of the Ranfurly Shield was ; played at the Athletic Park on Wednesday, when Bay of Plenty ■ (challengers) were defeated by Wellington (holders) by 22 points to 3. There was a fairly large •' attendance of spectators, and 1 these were treated to a somewhat spectacular game, even though 1 the visitors were really out- 1 classed. Right from the kick-off 1 it was apparent that the l^cal < " reps " were more than a match £ in all positions for their oppo nents. This came as a surprise, ( for the " Bay '' players had quite | a good reputation —one based on j past performances: an unbeaten j record comprised of four victories, 1 including a success over Auckland by 25 -points to 16. Mostly returned members of the Pioneer ! Maori Battalion, they are fast and ] possessed of plenty of dash, but they lacked the necessary prowess ■ at thi game to bring, about the downfaH of Wellington. In scrum ; work arid forward play generally, the local men had a disl'u.i: advantage in the. matter of i.weight, and this enabled the backs to get the ball more often than the challengers. As a consequence, and in view of the conditions prevailing —'the weather was perfect'and the ground in excellent order — the onlookers were enabled to witness some yery fine passing rushes in which E. Ryan, Corner, Aitken, Siddells and Nicholls of the backs, and Harkness, J. Shearer, and Tom Price, forwards, figured nentlyOccasionally the " Bay " players gave a glimpse of good quality — strenuous and clean work by the forwards and smart dashes by the backs—but generally speaking they lacked combination, and only figured well in individual efforts. Stewart, Borrell, and Reke Rogers were the best backs, and Heather, Hutchings, and Gardiner the best forwards. The personnel of the teams were : — BAY OF PLENTY. Full-back, Mason ; three-quar-ters, Borrell, Stewart, P. Rogers ; five-eights, Reke Rogers and R. Rogers ; half-back. Brady ; forwards, Hutch ings, Pattie, Pini, Tapsell, Gardiner, Heather, Petherbridge, and Walker.. WELLINGTON. Full-back, Siddells; threequarters, Aitken, Barker, E. Ryan; fhe-eighths, Corner and Jackson ; half-back, Nicholls ; forwards, de Clifton, J. Shearer, T. Price, Harkness, Standen, and Hughes. Heather scored for the Bay of. Plenty.—New Zealand Times. m