RUGBY FOOTBALL

Opunake Times, 6 April 1948, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MANAIA TOURNAMENT LOCAL TEAMS DO WELL The Rahotu team readied the final and both Opunake teams played off in the semi-finals in (Ire 10-a-side senior Rugby Football tournament held at Manaia iai Saturday, a feature being the strong forward play of these three local teams. Athletic A (Hawera) won the final by defeating Rahotu 8-0, and thus .became winners of the Mills Cup, while the runners-uu received a football.

Rahotu just lacked finish among the backs, the experienced Athleti team both in the forwardsj and backs being faster than their opponents, who, however, tackled well and gave a good defensive exhibition. In the first round game between Opunake B and AVaimate A, two extra spells were played, 55 minutes altogether, . before Hickey scored to give Opunake the decision.

The Opunake teams both more than held their own, the A team keeping Athletic to a 3-all draw, in the semi-final, (Athletic a penalty, Opunake, try by Ward) and two extra spells had to be played, Athletic scoring a try in the first half. The B team, in a very even tussle with Rahotu went down bv 3-0, C. Pepperell scoring from a line-out on the Opunake line. Both local packs played good football with good defensive back play. The B backs appeared to combine a little better than A on the day. It is apparent that Opunake should field a much improved senior fifteen this year.

Teams scud Results Results were: Ist. Round: Opuuake B G (K. Hickey try and penalty) beat Waimate A 3; Ka-ponga A beat Pihama 0; Opuuake A 8 (Ward and Spence trys, S. Holiaia conversion) beat Athletic C 0; Athletic A G beat Kapojpga B 3; Okaiawa 8 beat Athletic B 0. 2nd. Round: Rahotu 3 beat Waimate B 0; Opuuake B 8 (P. Ranford 2 tries', K. Hickey converted) beat Waimate C 0; Opunake A 3 (W. Humphries try) beat Kaponga A 0: Athletic A 8 beat Okaiawa 0. Semi-finals: Rahotu 3 (C. Peppered a try) beat Opuuake B 0; Athletic A 6 beat Opuuake A 3 (P. Ward try). Pinal: Athletic A 8 beat Rahotu 0. Opuuake teams lined out as follows: A. team: W. Humphries, R. Riley, D. Vincent, R. McCandlish, P. Ward, Segar, I. Stevenson, Spence, Sid Holiaia, R. Pope. B team: P. Ranford. A. Humphries, K. Hickey, I). Humphries, I. Elgar, C. Dudley, R. Corkhill, J. Dudley, T. Feaver, H. Gage.