TOKOMARU RUGBY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22616, 20 April 1948, Page 6

TOKOMARU RUGBY

UNITED’S LATE RUN DEFEAT OF WAIMA (Herald Correspondent.) Senior Rugby opened in fine style in Tokomaru Bay on Saturday when United met their old rivals. Waima, in the first round of the knock-out competition. These teams can always be depended on to put on a good show and Saturday’s game was no exception. United played a clever game and were on the defensive for three-quarters of the match, tiring their opponents and then outclassing them in the later stages.

At the start the play was very even with Waima on the attack and twice in quick succession United saved with a force. Sol Pewhairangi just missed opening the score with a long penalty, and Laddy Hale, United’s full-back narrowly missed a field goal. It was not until well into the first spell that a penalty gave Pewhairangi a second chance and this time the kick was good. United retaliated with a smart back movement with Joe Oates in the right place to fling out a pass to Potae to score Baker converted and at halftime the score was United 5, Waima 3. Early in the second spell, Baker kicked a penalty in front of the posts and put United’s score to 8. Pewhairangi replied with another penalty lor Waima. With the score at 8-6 in favour of United the game was very willing, but the pace started to tell on Waima and within the last quarter of an hour United scored three tries in quick succession. Responsible for these were Isaacs, Maxwell and Whitton, and the final score was United 17, Waima (i. Mr. Don Colbert was the referee. Mata Defeat Tawhiti

The second senior match was not so spectacular allnough both sides played fairly good football. Tawhiti were no match for Mata but they worked hard to hold Mata to 0-17. Leo Blane was the shining light in the Mata team. Morey, a new comer to Toko football, was another notable Mata back. Mata were handling well at the beginning of the maieh and they should provide good opposition to United in the final of the competition next week. At the end of the first spell Mata led 11-3 with two tries from Blane, one of which he converted, and one from Morey. In the second spell, Tom Maraki to Tawhiti’s tally with a penalty goal and for a while his team kept on the attack, with Tibbie, Beale and Fox well to the fore. Mata returned the pressure, however, and Peachey went over for another try. Once more Mata scored, being given their opportunity by bad fumbling behind the Tawliiti line, and the final whistle blew with the score Mata 17, Tawhiti 6. Mr. Jim Morgan was the referee. In the final of the junior knock-out competition United “A" defeated Waima 6-0. Both sides played good football and the defeat was no disgrace to the Waima team who were on their toes the whole time. United’s scores came from a try from Matahe and a penalty goal from Skipper Kopua.