POLAND CUP

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 4000, 31 May 1948, Page 5

POLAND CUP

PAEROA LOSE TO TE AROHA FIRST GAME OF CONTEST DECISION ON LAST MINUTE TRY In their first representative game of the season, the Paeroa senior Rugby representatives went down to Te Aroha by 11 points to nine in a match played at Te Aroha on Saturday. There was not much between the two teams, and Paeroa could be adjudged a bit unlucky to lose the game, after holding their lead until the final two minutes. The weather was fine and the field was in good order. There was a large crowd present. The Paeroa forwards played well in the loose, but were shaded by Te Aroha in the tight play. Oilington played his best game to date, and be-

sides winning more than his share of

the ball from the set scrums, was up with the play all day. Wilson was the best loose forward, his line-out work being particularly good. The Paeroa back line went well, but the players were inclined to get rid of the ball too quickly, in most cases some yards before they reached their opponents. The tackling was good, Kurtovich and McMillan doing fine work. Carmichael was at the top of his form, and in addition to kicking three penalty goals, gave a particularly faultless display as wing threequarter. McCollum gave a good display behind the pack, and stood up to a lot of hard knocks.

Doughty, Stuck and Clough were the pick of the Te Aroha forwards, who all worked hard all day. Had it not been for good work by the forwards in the first spell, Paeroa would have scored two tries. The Te Aroha backs did not show a great deal of combination, but shone in individual play, and followed up fast. B. Gibson’s two tries were the result of his fast foiling of the ball. The half-time score was three all, but on resuming Paeroa dominated the play for the first 20 minutes, and as a result of two penalty kicks were in front nine tb three when Carmichael kicked two good goals. Te Aroha forwards then showed out, and a good centre kick caught Paeroa on the wrong foot, and Gibson dived over for a try. Giddy added the points and the score was nine to eight in Paeroa's favour.

With only ten minutes to go play centred at midfield, until Giddy received from a scrum and kicked hard for the corner. Martin failed to force the ball and Gibson, who had come up fast, dived on it for his second try. The kick missed, and the game ended one minute later with the scores: Te Aroha 11, Paeroa 9. Mr A. Leonard of Ngatea was the referee. Teams were as follow:— Te Aroha; F. Candy, K. Hickey, J. Connett, J. Hayward, B. Gibson, V. Hare, R. Giddy (captain), C. Dwight, J. Doughty, A. Broderson, J. Clough, W. Moses, V. Stuck, R. Tate, R. Osborne. Paeioa: D. Martin, G. Anderson, W. Shilton (captain), F. Carmichael, I. Kurtovich, N. McMillan, V. McCollum, C. Wilson, W. Gooding, P. Fathers, R. Finlay, J. Fraser, W. McKain, M. Oilington, C. McGregor. SHAREBROKER CUP PAEROA BEATEN BY TE AROHA In the first match of the Sharebroker Cup competition played between the Paeroa Rugby Union’s junior repre- [ sentative team and Te Aroha at the j Paeroa domain on Saturday, Paeroa j was defeated by 13 points to six. j The game was played at a fast pace, | Paeroa gaining 90 per cent, of the j ball from set scrums, and Te Aroha winning the majority of line-outs. In loose scrum.- the honours were even. Paeroa forwards went well but faulty handling by Kurtovich, Williams and , Handley brought failure to Paeroa’s | back movements, Vuglar and Laurent; being starved on the wings. I Paeroa kicked off into the sun and I wind, taking the play into Te Aroha | territory. When a Te Aroha break- 1 away came around too fast. Handley ! failed with a kick about 30 yards out, I near the touch-line. From a line-out j near the Te Aroha goal line Davison sent to Vuglar. who made a determined dash, and when ' locked sent the 'nail back to Davison who was forced out in the corner. Paeroa again looked ] dangerviis but Buckthought cleared. , Curtain pu: Te Aroha on the attack; by snapping up a dropped pass and j witn only Hendley to beat, kicked and > fi.ilowed through cut kicked the ball ; over the dead-ball line. Te Aroha i again attacked strongly but faulty ‘ handling and offside play by a Te i Aroha back relieved Paeroa. !

Paeroa forwards rushed play to Aroha’s goal-line, Buckthought again* finding the line. The sun at this stage

was bothering the Paeroa team. Te Aroha again rushed play to Paeroa territory, where Handley failed to field the ball to let Needham over. Ross missed with the kick. Te Aroha 3, Paeroa nil. 9 Te Aroha attacked again from the kick-off, Davison and Kurtovich clearing. Faulty handling by both teams broke up several promising movements. Herron broke away in midfield and outpaced the opposition to score near the posts, Cullen converting. Te Aroha 8, Paeroa nil. Half time sounded with no change in the score.

On resumption Paeroa forwards took play to Te Aroha’s twenty-five but mishandling by Williams again lost an opportunity. The solid tackling by both sets of forwards held play in mid-field for some time. Vuglar made two attempts at breaking away but could not get through. Laurent snapped up a dropped pass and made a determined run but was soundly dumped by three men. Paeroa backs made another attempt to get into action, the ball coming out to Williams, who sent out a wild pass, the ball going over Laurent’s head. Handley went to wing at this stage and Kurtovich to full-back. Trainor retired injured and was replaced by Henwood. I Te Aroha again took up the attack, | kicking through, the bounce of the ball beating Paeroa for Te Aroha to score in a handy position, Cullen converting. Te Aroha 13, Paeroa nil. Te Aroha again forced play back to the Paeroa twenty-five where two penalties relieved the defenders. Fast following up by Laurent and Handley had Te Aroha in difficulties, the ball finally going into touch over the goalline. Southwell snapped up a dropped pass in mid-field, sent on to Williams, who sent on to Vuglar for a determined dash down the field to score well out. Handley’s kick dropped short. Te Aroha 13, Paeroa 3. Solid forward play by both teams held the play in mid-field, with Paeroa gradually working towards the line. A penalty gave Handley a chance to put the ball between the posts. Te Aroha 13, Paeroa 6. The final whistle came with both sets of forwards giving a good account of themselves in mid-field. Air K. Berryman (Waihi) was the i referee. The teams were as under:— Paeroa: K. Handley, G. Vuglar, T. Williams, R. Laurent, E. Southwell, B. Kurtovich, E. Davison, N. Mudgway, W. Hopping, G. Davis, F. Treanor, E. Kemp, M. Morrison, R. Neil and R. Jessen. Te Aroha: Buckthought, Herron, Curtain, Ross, Floveller, Kiely, Campbell, Cullen, Cooper, Needham, Fergusson, Davey, Gillon, Cox and Smarden. THIRD GRADE MATCH WEST DEFEAT UNITED In a curtain-raiser to the junior repiesentative Rugby match played on the Paeroa domain on Saturday the West Football Club’s third grade team defeated United by 27 points to nil. Tries for W*st were scored by W. Harrison, R. Mathieson, M. Millar, M. Saunders. T. Packer, C. Radford and A. Vosper. T. Packer converted two of the tries and M. Millar one. Mr L. Vercoe was the referee.

SCHOOL RUGBY PAEROA COMPETITION OPENS Th 1 ? i'T»t game* uf the Paeroa Primary' Schools’ Rugby Union’s competitions were played on Saturday, resulting as under:— Paeroa B 11, beat Paeroa A 3; Hikutaia Combined 3, beat Netherton nil.