SEASON OPENS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32709, 6 May 1946, Page 5

SEASON OPENS

PAEROA RUGBY MATCHES WEST DEFEAT UNITED VICTORY IN LAST 5 MINUTES w The first games in the competitions under the auspices of the Pa|roa Rugby Union were played on the Paeroa Domain on Saturday. The grounds were in excellent order, and in spite of the showers which fell intermittently during the afternoon and made the ball greasy to handle, the games were well worth seeing. The main game West v United was played on No. 1 ground and the spectators were treated to a display of fast and exciting football. The teams were: —

West: C. Speechlay, M. Waring, K. Ryall, F. Carmichael, N. Vinnicombe, R. Harris, V. O’Loughlin, F. Martinovich, N. Herold, W. Nevin, D. Me-. Neil, J. Dean, R. Strong, J. A. Waters, T’. Laverick.

United: F. Chaney, P. Oram, D. Payne, K. Handley, W.. Harrison, E. Short, R. Groves, J.. Karu, R. Rakena, C. Bradley, H. Townley, W. Gooding, M. Jamieson, F. Howie, E. Hampton.

■Playing with the wind behind them, West held the territorial advantage in the first spell which ended with the scores even, three-all. Harris kicked a penalty goal for West and Chaney evened the score a few minutes later with a penalty for United. (Both teams 1 kept up the fast pace in the second spell and Herold scored a try fqr West. The kick missed. A well-timed kick by Chaney into the goal mouth saw E. Short gather in and dive over to once again even the scores, six all. With five minutes to go West forwards continued in- a dribbling rush and D. McNeil gathered in to score the winning points. West 9. /United 6. Mr H. T. Grant gave an able display with the whistle. OTHER GAMES JUNIORS AND THIRD GRADE Results of other games played at Paeroa were: — Juniors: United 9, beat West 6. M. K. Webb, of Netherton, was the referee. Third grade: High School, 9 (tries by S. Neild and M. Parker; M. Parker kicked a penalty) and United 0. Mr G. Mackay was the referee. MATCH AT HIKUTAIA DRAWN JUNIOR GAME iPlaying at Hikutaia on Saturday before a fair attendance of the public, Hikutaia juniors drew with Netherton there being no score. The Hikutaia team was: A. Alley, Hamilton, J. Clothworthy, R. Clotworthy, S. McGregor, C. McGregor, M. Bax, J. Bax, C. Bax, V. McCollum, G. Alley, K. •Barrett, B. Ludwig, J. Morrison, B. Alley.