SIX SUCCESSIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22440, 22 September 1947, Page 3

SIX SUCCESSIVE

UNBEATEN TEAM POVERTYBAY REPS. E.C. SIDE DEFEATED RALLY IN SECOND SPELL Defeating East Coast by a narnow margin at Ruatoria on Saturday, the Poverty Bay Rugby representatives concluded an eminently successful season in which they achieved victory in all of the six engagements with otlftn’ unions. They also supplied 12 of the players of the Combined team who. inflicted defeat on Otago, holders I of the Banfurly Shield. The scores in Saturday’s game were 15 points to 12. Poverty Bay registering three goals from tries against three tries and a penalty goal. As indicated by the tally, the winners were fully extended. Outweighed by the bustling Coast forwards, the visitors were outplayed in the early stages, but sustained the hard pace to better advantage and came from behind in the last quarter to take control in fast, open order action and secure the decision. A little better fortune with goalkicking by the home side, however, could easily have swung the decision the other way. Besides the kicks from tries which failed to augment the Coast score, a number of other efforts proved unlucky for the losers, who throughout the game were awarded 10 penalty kicks compared with one awarded to the visitors. The conversions of the three tries were vital factors in the success of Poverty Bay. Two were registered by the captain, R. McKinley. One, taken from close to the touch-line across the path of the diagonal breeze, was a magnificent achievement which just reached the objective and drew enthusiastic tribute from the spectators, home and visiting supporters alike. The ground was hard and the weather conditions fine and warm. Coast had the benefit of a stiff diagonal breeze daring the first spell, and the visitors an equal advantage in the second half. Half-Time Lead -» Coast led, six-five, at half-time. The margin was increased shortly after the resumption, and 12 minutes before full time was due the score was nine-five against the visitors. Dazzling back play then brought two converted tries in quick succession to make the issue I certain- I The home side went down fighting ’ grimly, however Though seemingly I overwhelmed by the torrid pace of the | concluding quarter, they turned defence j into attack in the final minute and registered the concluding try. Though tested severely and at times rattled badly by the powerful Coast vanguard, the Poverty Bay backs maintained better combination in both attack and defence than the home set and were superior throughout. The Coast forwards dominated both scrums and linesolit in the first spell, though honours in these phases were fairly easy in the second half.

Territorially the play showed a pronounced margin in favour of the home team during the first half. The second spell left little to choose until the concluding quarter, when the superior nhvsical fitness of the visitors./particularly among the forwards, allowed them to confine action almost entirely to the home end. ' The teams were: Poverty Bay (Scarlet) .-R. McGregor; J. Barbour, W. Edwards. M- Gerrard; R McKinley (capt.), R. Clay; S. Lee; G. King: B. Birrell, I. Shaw, W. Variey, G. Elliott; W. Brown, N. Summersby, V. Hata. Reserves: Backs, J. Rigby, J. Gillespie; forwards, J. Shaskey, H. Nelson. With the exception of the fullback, McGregor, the wing threequarter, Gerrard, and the forward, Variey, the fifteen fielded were members of the season’s touring team. East Coast (Blue). —J. Takarangi; I. James, J. Maraki, D. Tamihere; LBlane, J. Oates; N. Williams: W. Jenson, B- Walker, T. McClutchie, W. Forrester, G. Stubbings; T. Lincoln (capt.), H. Rangiuia, N. Mackey. Reserves; Backs, J. Mcllroy. B. Kerr; forwards, W. Rowlands, J. Walker. Prominent Back At second five-eighth, McKinley was the mainspring of the Poverty Bay rear division. In both attack and defence he was the most prominent back on the field. He scored the first try, participated in the movements leading to the other two secured by his side, and registered two conversions with his only attempts on the goal- Edwards was a reliable centre, and the experienced Barbour the better of the wings. Usually a resourceful five-eighth, in which position he played against the touring Australians last season, McGregor was an outstanding unit at fullback. He gave an efficient display of fielding, found touch or or>en spaces consistently .well as the situation demanded. and in the closing stages was a notable figure in the attack, forming a link and providing the overlap in the passing rushes which led to two tries. S. Lee was aeain a strong defensive half and like Clay was a good link in the chain in attack.

King, Summersby and Variey were the most consistent forwards throughout. As a whole the Poverty Bay forwards were subdued for a considerable portion of the game by the hardrucking home set, but the former found form and were definitely on top in the latter part of the second sncll when they worked relentlessly as a splendid oack.

Takarangi at full-back and James, on the wing opposite the hard-running Barbour, were the most useful duo in the Coast rearguard. The covering-up play of James extricated the side from many difficult situations.