RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 180, 1 July 1940, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

PAROA'S NARROW WIN WAIMANA DEFEATS POROPORO Signs of the acute shortage of senior players was demonstrated by the number of teams playing at under strength last Saturday. Poroporo was particularly affected in this respect fielding only nine for the kick off and playing throughout with thirteen. Other teams picked up as the game advanced. We are informed that the position is likely to deteriorate still more OAving to the number of local Maori players enlisting. The games in Whakatane drew a fair crowd of onlookers and Avere played in ideal weather. Whakatane Star playing a much improved game were narrowly defeated by Paroa. The match was full of incident and well worth watching. o,n the other field Waimana defeated Poroporo, by a good margin, but the game was far from a good ex-r hibition. The junior matches throughout the union can only be described as fair.

WAIMANA 8. v POROPORO 0. The teams were:—• Poroporo (blue): Tahawea, R. t Kingi, M. Mita, R. Taylor, S. Merito, M. Merito, K. Merito, T. Tunui R. Ngoungou, J. Riini, M. Mason P. Rangikotua, B. Merito. Waimana (red and black): Tiraha, : Ropa, Menzies, W. Boynton, C. and • D. Boynton, Tuhora, Hay ward, i Hughes, Tahae Tu, Brown, Bell, McKenzie, Barlow and T. Boynton. The visitors superiority in weight and numbers quickly gave them the initial advantage, and Poroporo until they were reinforced by late aiV rivals spent the first twenty min-i utes in hard defence. However their play was plucky, and full of fight, and the only try which came Was from T. Boynton. D. Boyjiton conVerted. ,Up till half-time the Blue dtty fence held and had there been ,a good kick in the team points would have materialised from two penalty awards in good positions. The second half was an improvement, both packs playing well and the rearguard producing some good individual play, which whipped the spectators up to a high pitch of excitement. The Waimana pack repeatedly stormed the Blue citidal but were repulsed by solid defence and sound line kicking. The Red jerseys missed half a dozen shots at goalj and towards the close redoubled their efforts to cross. The final phase saw them still on the attack, and R. Ropere, feeding to Menzies paved, the way to the score line once more. The game ended Avith the scojre as above. Mr F. Darvill was referee. THE JUNIORS WAIMANA 15, POROPORO 0. Waimana showed definite ascendency over a weakened Poroporo team, which could only muster ten men. The game was slow moving and uninteresting, the only Bright patches of play occurring towards the conclusion when the blues commenced to individualise. Waimana's score would have been doubled had the side shown understanding or possessed a man who could kick. The nicest try of the day came from Tumarae who made a solo run before touching, down near the uprights. The scorers were J. Tiopira, P. Clark, Tu Wairua, S. Tumarae and N. Gallagher. Mr B. Norman was referee.