Houhora Swim To Rugby-Polo Victory

Northern Advocate, 10 July 1939, Page 7

Houhora Swim To Rugby-Polo Victory

Traditional rivals, Houhora and Kaitaia A, played a water polo match rather than football on the former's home ground. Large pools of water covered the playing area and, .with, a cold south-westerly rain squall for more than half the game, conditions could not possibly have been worse. The forwards had matters much to themselves the ball lobbing into a pool of water, defying their efforts to shift it, much to the amusement of those spectators who could keep dry. Only one score was registered in the first half. Houhora forwards broke through in a mass for W. Petera to dive on the rolling ball. Fred Evans converted in the teeming rain, and Houhora lead s—o at half-time.

The rain stopped a few minutes after resuming. Kaitaia appeared to appreciate the change, and, although playing into the wind, did the bulk of the attacking. A nice dribbling rush by Leo Sloane, for Errol Jameson to dive into a pool of water a foot deep, opened their score. With ten minutes to go they took a one point lead, Costello kicking a penalty from outside the quarter-way. Joe Murray broke away to put his team on the attack and, from a ruck near the line, Petera broke through* to be awarded his second try and win the game. Mr Des. Blucher was referee.