RUATORIA’S CITY SIDE HOLD WAITITI SHIELD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22729, 30 August 1948, Page 3

RUATORIA’S CITY SIDE HOLD WAITITI SHIELD

(Herald Correspondent. )

In a Rugby challenge match at Ruatoria for the Waititi Shield, the Hick’s Bay (Matakaoa) team made an impressive bid, but were held to a draw by City (Ruatoria), holders of the trophy, the score being six-all. Each side scored two tries. Both teams exploited loose forward rushes with bustling tactics and the backs had few opportunities. However, the Hicks Bay rearguard were the better combination and provided the best displays of the day The teams were: Hicks Bay.—R vVhenua, C. Dewes, R. White (capt), R. Fox, R. Rata, E. White. H. Atkins, S. Edmonds, J. Houkamau, S. Jensen, B. Fahuru. H. Jensen. J. Totoro, L. Morice, T. Stevens. Reserves: Moke, Brown, T. Dewes, J.. Farmer. City.—M. O’Sullivan, D. Tamihere, H. Kerr, R. Maru J. Reedy, J. Mcllroy, P. Reedy, W. Walker, C. Tucker, C. Nepe, N. Mackey N Maxwell. D. McCluthie, H. Goldsmith.-E. J Nepe. Reserves: P. Callaghan, H. Nepe. The City halt-back, P. Reedy, opened the score with a try gained from a ruck close to the line, the visitors replying before the interval with a spectacular movement in which the backs, E. White, Atkins. Rata and R- White, handled the ball before the wing, Dewes, went over. Neither try was converted. City took the lead again in the second half when P. Reedy. Mcllroy, J. Reedy and Kerr showed in a passing bout capped with a long run to score by the wing, Tamihere. Again the kick failed. In the concluding stages the Hick’s Bay forward, S. Jensen secured possession from a ruck and fended off a tackle on the line to score in the corner. The kicker was unable to find the goal from the difficult angle and the exciting match ended in a draw. Mr. M. Tawhiri was the referee.