Rugby

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 93, 30 May 1949, Page 5

Rugby

UNITED HAS FIRST WIN OF SEASON Playing in driving rain and a strong north easterly gale, which, blew across the ground, United registered their first win of the season when they defeated Poroporo by nine points to three in a senior Rugby match at the Whakatane Domain on Saturday. With the ground soon churned into a regular mud pool the game developed into a dour forward struggle, United at no stage .looked like a losing team. Teams:—•

United: F. Paton, W. Rutherford, C. Goodall, C. Olsen, R. Kahui, T. De Lacey, J. Rolfe, McCormick, Meikle, McMillan, L. O. Stewart, Mundy, Parsons, S. Ruffles. Poroporo: Huta, M. Kingi, J. Biddle, B. Nuku, R. Rangikotua, P. Merito, N. Hotene, Paul, | Maui, T. Clay, Brown, N. Clay, Kopae, N. Paul, R. Kingi. The United pack attacked from the start with the advantage of the wind. They worked as a team and for most of the first half Poroporo

were on the defensive. PoropOro tried to play open football and at times made the game attractive but it was not Rugby for a wet day. In the second spell play became very willing, fists and boots flying recklessly. At one stage most of the forwards ignored the ball and watched two players slugging it put before they were parted by team, mates. Play until the end was hard and fast but Poroporo were unable to overtake United’s lead. Scorers-- United, Ruffles, a' try, De Lacey two penalty goals. . ' Poroporo, T. Biddle, a try. Referee: H. Mahy. TANEATUA GOES DOWN TO WAIRAKA - In a hard fought battle in the mud at Taneatua on Saturday Taneat.ua seniors went down to Wairaka to the tune of six to nil in a seniorN '. Rugby match. Played in driving. * wind and rain the game moved from - one end of the field to the other with play at times becoming very * willing. Teams:— Wairaka: T. Riini, W. Bluett, P. Crapp, P. Gardiner, G. Lawson; M. Bluett, C. Wharewera, N.' Dodd, B. Carter, R. Kingi, R. Crapp, K. Merito, B. Hudson, G. Stewart, K. Mar- . tin.

Taneatua: Welch, Eggleton, Sis-* am, G. Hill, McGougan, Hurran, B. Symmans, Tait, Ferguson, Hayward, Cain, Anderson, Ball, Foreman, L. McCready.

Watched by a small crowd both teams attempted to open play. With a slippery ball covered in mud this became almost impossible arid the

forwards soon took charge. Wairaka combined better as a team and better backing up gave them a distinct advantage over Taneatua who, however, were unlucky not to score on a number of occasions. Both teams fought hard and until the end it could have been either team’s game. Scorers: Wairaka, M. Bluett and M. Riini try each. Referee: J. Keepa. s PAROA WINS FRIENDLY GAME Fielding only 13 men Paroa defeated Opotiki United in a rather ragged friendly Rugby match at Taneatua on Saturday. Conditions were unpleasant and with the ball difficult to handle the game was not particularly inspiring to watch. Throughout the Paroa forwards were nearly always on top although United were dangerous on attack.

Scorers: Paroa, tries by Hawera, Ranapia K Jaram, Andrews; M. Harawira two’ conversions. Opotiki United, tries by Herewini (2), Stanton a conversion and penalty goal.