WAIKOHU RUGBY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22405, 12 August 1947, Page 8

WAIKOHU RUGBY

DEFENCE OF SHIELD NGATAPA DEFEATED MARGIN OF 17 POINTS Though recent form had indicated a very even contest, the Waikohu Rugby Sub-Union reps. showed marked superiority at Te Karaka on Saturday in holding off the Ngatapa sub-union challenge for the Black and White Shield. Waikohu compiled 20 points with five tries, one converted and a penalty coal, while Ngatapa could register only three points, the result of a try. Waikohu. who lost the shield to Ngatapa last season, regained it in June of" this year with a six-three decision, the difference being a penalty goal. Two curtain-raisers preceded Saturday’s chief game, the Te Karaka High School second fifteen defeating the combined primary schools team by nine points to nil and the Opoliki High School defeating Te Karaka High School eight-six. The weather was fine and conditions ideal for fast Rugby. A record Te Karaka assembly witnessed the display. Waikohu’s decisive win in the shield game despite the absence of three leading forwards in E- Newton, G. King and V. Hata gave further evidence of the benefit gained during the recent tour. While the play territorial- ! lv was more even than the scores indicate. Better Finish Waikohu showed better finish. Promising movements generally finished with results, whereas Ngatapa showed bright flashes at times, but lacked finish, and could not, except on one occasion, pierce the solid home defence. Both teams tackled well. The two packs of forwards were very even in the scrums, rucks and lines-out, but in the loose play Waikohu had the advantage, and often the forwards were helping their backs, both in attack and defence. The Waikohu backs showed better combination and better understanding, the ball travelling right through the chain to the wingers, on many occasions. For Waikohu P. Allison, behind the scrum, handled well and sent out good passes to first-five-eighth, J. Chattel is, who played a good game. The latter’s try was a fine effort. H. Bridge on the right wing was the star of the day. His two tries, with his deceptive runs, had the crowd roaring with excitement. He narrowly missed scoring on two other occasions. J. Graham showed plenty of speed and fed his wings well. All the forwards played well. They were ably led by the veteran, H. Kirkpatrick. They appeared very fit and worked throughout as a pack. For Ngatapa A. Booth, at first fiveeighths, had a good pair of hands ana showed plenty of pace off the mark W. Sherratt handled well at second fiveeighths, and Robb, who at full-back had plenty to do, handled and kicked well. C- McGrannachan was a good leader in the Ngatapa pack, and all played well. The score at half-time was eight-nil in favour of Waikohu. S. Hollis goalee! a penalty early in the game, and not long afterwards J. Graham passed infield to J. Charteris, who scored in a handy position for S. Hollis to con vet t. In the second half J. Charteris broke away from midfield, and was brought down about 10 yards from the line, but the fast-following forwards dribbled over for H. Kirkpatrick to score. The kick at goal failed. H. Bridge on the wing scored the next try well out and a good kick fell short. Ngatapa went into the attack and the forwards crossed the line for a good try. The kick failed- This success spurred Ngatapa, but the solid defence of Waikohu kept them out. Defence changed to attack and the ball travelled to S. Hollis on the wing, and he went over after a determined run to score. Again the kick failed. H. Bridge scored the last try a few minutes before time, and the game ended 20 points to three in favour of Waikohu. Mr. F. Donnelly, Gisborne, was the referee. High School teams In the main curtain-raiser Opotiki High School defeated Te Karaka High School by eight points to six in one of the fastest games seen on the Te Karaka ground over a long period. The visitors fielded a very heavy team in comparison with the home players, who did very well to keeo the score down. Bout teams showed good combination and understanding, as a result of good coaching. „ .. . The half-time score was five-nil m favour of Opotiki, as a result of a good try by the centre, L. Black, who also converted. Not long after play icsumed D- Hollis goaled a penalty with a good kick for Te Karaka. The Opotiki captain, D. Stevenson, at i’nst ii\ceighths, was the next to score, after a good run when lie found a gap m the defence. L. Black converted. D. Hollis goaled another penalty and the game ended eight-six in favour of Opotiki. Mr. T. Mitchell was the referee. In an earlier curtain-raiser, the tc Karaka High School second inteen defeated a combined primary schoois team by nine points to ml. rite Hi Hi School team was better balanced and showed better combination. The combined side included some small players, and as they were picked from three different schools, they did not combine as well. The game was keen throughout. Tries for High School were scored by J Scammell. T- Brown and D. Brown. Mr. B. Malone was the referee.