WAIKOHU RUGBY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20254, 23 May 1940, Page 6

WAIKOHU RUGBY

DIFFICULTIES OF TEAMS NEW RECRUITS TO RANKS (Herald Correspondent.) Enlistments for overseas service have affected the strengths of the four teams competing this season in the Waikohu Rugby Sub-Union’s competition for the R.S.A. Challenge Shield, but the four clubs—Waipaoa, Mangatu, Te Karaka, and Puha —are overcoming their difficulties by recruiting for their senior ranks several players who have not taken part in the game since their school days. The fitness arid willingness of the men are impressive. In the recent match between Puha and Mangatu, Puha had a win by three points to nil over last season’s champions. The game was played at a fast pace, and the thrust of the Puha backs was responsible for the success of the team. R. Richmond, half-back for Puha, gave a better display than the Mangatu half, and should be even more of a help to his club with further match play. The speed and sure handling of A. Bayly and S. Hollis were troublesome to their opponents. Those showing up in the Mangatu pack were G. King and B. Walker, with P. Redstone and B. Hollis doing good work, in the backs. The hooking of Tani Tu for Puha enabled their lighter pack to get more than their share of the ball from the set scrums, and G. Thompson played well in the line-outs. The Waipaoa-Te Karaka match resulted in a win for Waipaoa by 28 points to 12, The Te Karaka team was not at full strength, and this disadvantage against a heavier team was too much. The draw for Saturday is as follows, players being requested to wear their club colours:—Puha v. Te Karaka, in Te Karaka; Waipaoa v. Mangatu, in Whatatutu.