BARRY CUP

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10066, 3 August 1925, Page 3

BARRY CUP

WAIROA RETAINS TROPHY'. POVERTY BAY THROW G AME AWAY. MATCH WON AND THEN LOST. (By Our Special Reporter.) There was a record attendance of about 1200 spectators on the ground to witness the match between Wairoa and Poverty Bay for the .Barry Cup at Wairoa oil Saturday afternoon. The ground was in good condition and the weather, though slightly warm early in the first spell, cooled down. The game was disappointing from the Gisborneitcs’ point of view, in that the visitors had the game won and then threw it away. Poverty Bay played a foor safe game at tlie start and some fine movements in the backs resulted, but towards tlio finish the visitors went to pieces and though they made several, spasmodic .attempts to break down their opponents' defence were unable to stand up against the Wairoa forwards, whoso backs on several occasions were able to take advantage of an opening and run almost right through Of the two teams Poverty Bay showed the most science and put up some very creditable play. One or two movements in the backs were splendid exhibitions of Rugby but ior some reason or other towards the end of the game they lacked the stamina of their opponents. Wairoa, however, was most fortunate in their win as tlio game was very evenly contested throughout and until tlio last few minutes it. was very difficult to predict tlie result. Richardson, the P.B. full-back, played a very willing game but at times was inclined to hesitate in taking the ball. Play for a start was confined to midfield, each side endeavouring to size the other up. Wairoa made the first move and set their backs in motion, but to no advantage for the movement was checked and Langlands carried tlio leather back into Wairoa territory. From several scrums and line-outs that followed Whaitiri obtained the ball but lost again to Wairoa who attacked strenuously and. in a series of dribbling rushes carried the ball over the lino but Richardson forced. Plav continued in Poverty Bay 25, Wairoa attacking fiercely and endeavouring to' find an opening. From a scramble near the line Poverty Bay weakened in one point of their defence just long enough for Lawton to seize bis opportunity to race over. Wilson failed to convert. Wairoa 3, Poverty Bay 0.

Play continued fairly evenly for a short while witn the advantage if any on the Poverty Bay side. Poverty Bay however, gained tlio ascendancy and confined the game to their opponents’ half and not long, after P. Smith started his backs in n movement which ’ terminated in Whaitiri obtaining a try. Morrison failed to convert. Wairoa 3, Poverty Bay 3.

Both sides now settled down to serious play and allowed few openings. Poverty Bay made the. first outstanding movement attacking solidly but tlie action was checked by Borst who showed out prominently for the first tune and made a fine save. The game had now livened up and play was fast, confined mostly to the forwards. At one time the Wairoa backs with a quick line-out nearly got ivor but were checked by Morrison. Play was again confined to Poverty Bav'- 25 and i' looked as if Wairoa would get ever but the hall was lost by faulty handling on the part of J. Ormond and Poverty Bay advanced to the attack with a vengeance, and some creditable play followed in which AY. Langlands was prominent. P. Smith throughout was very smart and Bennett made one or two good moves. Play continued hard and fast up and down the field and at one time things looked black for Poverty Bay as a scramble by the AVairoaforwards sent the ball over the line but Poverty Bay touched down. From the kick a splendid line-out followed in which Morrison was prominent but Langlands spoilt their chance of success by a forward pass. Soon after the Poverty Bay hacks again got going and made one of the best lineouts of the day running almost through. Play was centred in AA'oiroa territory and another good back movement was spoilt by hesitant play on the part of Morrison. Borst obtained the leather and caused great excitement to the crowd liy a fine sprint up-field. Play was now increasing in speed almost to the point of recklessness until half-time found the scores unaltered. A\ r airoa 3, Poverty Bay 3.

On resuming Poverty Bay assumed tlie offensive but though they forced well into AVairoa’s territory they failed the extra skill to get over the line. P. Smith at this period showed an apparent slackness in getting the hall out of the ruck. Peters commenced to show some very creditable work for AVairoa:. The game was now increasingly exciting for the crowd and a fine run by Mnrland, who almost succeeded in getting over the line, was checked only by the superior tackling of the AA'airoa hacks, Kingston especially being in the limelight for the many good saves ho made almost on the line. At this stage Arkle was injured, and had to be replaced by Tureia.

B. Whaitiri again made a. splendid attempt to get over hut failed just on the line and shortly afterwards from a scramble in mid-field Guy Ormond started the best run of the day which was completed by Kingi who got over. Kingston made an unsuccessful kick, the ball just hitting the post. AVairoa. 6, Gisborne 3.

Poverty Bay could not make much headway against) their opponents although they worked hard and for tht forwards Burdett and Matthews both put in some solid play. There appeared an apparent lack of combination between the forwards and the hacks and play on both sides developed into more ox a scramble. The game, however, was very fast- and allowed no slacking on the part of any of The players and if Poverty Buy had been able to get the hall a way from the ruck better their superior hack work xpotdd have given them the advantage. The best line kick of the day was executed at tins period by Guy Ormond, the ball being sent within two or three yards, of the line. Another creditable line-out in which Tureia., Bennett and Langlands were prominent was spoilt by faulty handling bv Richardson. From a. scramble in mid-field Bennett lost his nether garments and play was held up for a few minutes. Poverty Bay players could, not be complimented for some of- their handling of the ball but shortly afterwards Langlands showed a return of his dash in a' creditable sprint for the line but again the superior defence of the Wairoa. hacks was lus downfall. Poverty Bay were now attacking fiercely and confined plav to their opponents'' 2-5, and both Whaitiri and P. Smith made some creditable attemnts to send the hall over. A concerted movement by the backs finally resulted in Matthews securing a try right under tlie posts. Tureia converted.

poverty Bay P. Wairoa 6. • , Play continued fast and furious and though Wairoa attacked fiercely ■they were strenuously repelled by Poverty Bay, mud a brilliant- sprint bv Tureia was checked on the line by Kingston. Time was now nearly up and the crowd were rising to,a fever heat’; of exc'iteipentA.T, .Ormond made an opening - which! was followed.. up. iW : 'Petbr,s‘''u ; itb : a’’smart springy. into his opiionents’ ,territory and from a concentrated attack there, Guy Ormond secured and passed on to Lawton who responded with a hurst or speed over the line. Wairoa failed to 'convert. '

Wairoa 9, ‘Poverty Bay 8. Poverty Bay were now showing signs of exhaustion and concentrated combination was lacking while openings were ldft for their slightly fresher opponents, blit they advanced fiercely to the attack in a frantic endeavour to readjust the score before the whistle went and some of the wildest play of the day on both sides followed, each striving to gain the score that would be the deciding point in the game. Play was gradually forced into Poverty Bay’s territory, however, and from a fast and furious scramble Nepia secured and passed to Lawton who again reached the line. Wilson made the shot from a good angle but failed to get the ball over. Wairoa 12, Poverty Bay 8. Poverty Bay again assumed the offensive and carried play well into their opponents’ territory but timo was against them and the whistle found them with the advantage but the score unchanged. ' Wairoa 12, Poverty Bav 8. JUNIOR GAMES. The junior and third grade matches of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union competitions were continued on the Oval on Saturday before a fair attendance of the public. The star attraction of the day was the meeting of Rovers and High School Old Boys and after a keen game in which there was some brilliant back and forward play H. 5.0.8. won by 9 points to 0. In the third grade games H. 5.0.8. won from High School by 5 points to 3, and Celtic defeated Rovers by 14 points to nil while Old Boys won by default from Kaiti City.