RUGBY IN PAEROA

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 58, Issue 4167, 1 August 1949, Page 5

RUGBY IN PAEROA

HOME TEAM'S EASY WIN MATCH IN MUD AND RAIN INTERESTING GAME SEEN The Paeroa Rugby Union's first fifteen outplayed the Auckland Barbarians in an exhibition Rugby match played on the Paeroa domain on Sunday afternoon. The Barbarians were not a strong team on the day, there being a number of alterations from the team originally selected. The Paeroa team however, proved to have too much fitness for the visitors who actually put up an uninspiring exhibition.

The Paeroa team proved to be an excellent combination, the forwards, although somewhat lighter then the visitors, being equal to all that was expected of them, except in the set scrums from which the Barbarians secured most of the ball. Bilkey, Treanor and Fathers were perhaps those who showed up most ki a pack which displaced more fitness than has been seen in a Paeroa representative

> ■■ ■■ ■ • team for some time. The Paeroa backs proved to be a good combination, and in spite of the extremely muddy condition of the ball gave an exhibition which pleased the large crowd which had assembled. Harrison at halfback did all that was asked of him, while Gillespie and McMillan played a better standard of football than has been seen in Paeroa in past years. Kurtovich as usuaj played excellently, while Carmichael on the wing was a dangerous man whenever he was given an opportunity. Dickson on the other wing had to mark that polished winger D. Grace, but he proved equal to the occasion and gave his opponent little opportunity ' to show his ability. Waring played a sound game at fullback.

The pick of the back line were Halligan, the half, Grace on the wing and Warner the fullback. Heavy rain commenced to fall as the match staited, the Barbarians kicking off. Good tackling by Paeroa stopped a back movement which the Barbarians quickly launched and then shortly afterwards a nice .line kick by Warner gained considerable territory for the visitors.

McMillan put Paeroa on attack when he made a nice opening after beating Penman, and then sent on to Kurtovich, who was almost clear when stopped only a few yards from the gda] line. Paeroa was awarded a penalty kick on the Barbarians’ twenty-five but Anderson was unable to do anything with it.

Bilkey, who was getting through a tremendous amount of w’ork, broke through from a loose scrum, ball at toe, from the Barbarians twenty-five and dribbled across the goal line, but the Barbarians forced. Paeroa was gaining in confidence and soon had the Barbarians worried. Carmichael attempted a kick at goal from wide out on the Barbarians twentyfive, but had no success. Gillespie was seen to advantage when he cut deep into the Barbarian defence and then Locke came through fast to collect the break clear with only Warner to pass and Treanor in support. The movement was spoilt when Locke failed to pass when tackled.

Following an exchange of long kicks, Waring neatly collected and raced up to send Kurtovich away. Kurtovich passed to Carmichael, who returned to Kurtovich before the movement was stopped.

Carmichael snapped up a weak clearing kick, changed direction suddenly and ran in field, catching the Barbarians out of position, to score under the posts. Carmichael failed to add the major points. Paeroa 3, Barbarians 0.

Kurtovich saw an opportunity when the ball came to him near his own twentyfive, and after a nice run he kicked hard for Carmichael to follow up fast, kick past Pearson and then outpace Warner and kick across the line for a pretty opportunist’s try. Carmichael missed wfith the kick. Paeroa 6, Barbarians 0.

During play inside the Paeroa twentyfive, Kurtovich picked up, beat a man, sent on to McMillan, who cut right through the Barbarians’ defence to "Warner, and then handed on to Carmichael who secured an easy try under the goal posts. Anderson’s kick was disallowed. Paeroa 9, Barbarians 0.

The Barbarians nearly caught Paeroa unprepared and rushed play to the home goal line, the ball going out near the corner flag.

Bilkey, Dickson and Fathers commenced a pretty dribbling rush from near* the half-way line, being quickly joined by the rest of the Paeroa pack and to carry on for Nichol to score under the posts. Anderson’s kick was disallowed. Paeroa 12, Barbarians 0.

Half-time was called shortly after writhe,ut further incident.

In the second spell Harrison was replaced by P. Gregson and after this young player settled down he gave a splendid exhibition, playing as good a game as his predecessor and got through a ton of work under conditions which were rapidly deteriorating.

Treanor, who was showing up more and more as the game progressed, made the first break for Paeroa when he went through the Barbarians pack, ball at toe, the movement carrying on to the Barbarians goal line where a scrum was ordered.

Grace was seen to advantage when the Barbarians secured from a scrum in their own twentyfive. He came infield to make an extra man and penetrated deep into Paeroa territory before he w-as stopped. From play on the Paeroa twentyfive, Menzies nearly broke away, ball at toe, but Waring was right in position to collect the ball and kick into touch. The Barbarians continued to force and Kurtovich had to run behind under his own goal post, a scrum being ordered a yard outside. Barbarians secured and Halligan with a beautiful dive scored right under the posts. Menzies had no difficulty securing the major points. Paeroa 12, Barbarians 5.

Picking up nicely in the mud, Gregson sent Gillespie away. Gillespie handed on to McMillan, who cut in nicely and sent on to Kurtovich, to Dickson, who was forced out on the corner flag.

Carmichael side stepped prettily when challenged during a Paeroa attack, and then handed on to Fathers, to Gillespie, to Kurtovich, who sent it back in-field to Gregson, who had raced up, for the last player to s-core prettily under the posts. Waring did no good with the kick. Paeroa 15, Barbarians 5.

Paeroa bustled play to the Barbarians goal line with a nice dribbling rush, but over ran the ball in front of the posts and it appeared as if the Barbarians would clear. Dickson rEfced up to nicely pick up the ball, do an excellent side step and run over to score in a handy position. Carmichael missed the kick. Paeroa 18, Barbarians 5. Paeroa was awarded a penalty kick in a handy position but Carmichael could do no good with it. The Barbarians showed a flash of ability when Warner ran right through the Paeroa team, but spoilt the movement by a poor pass when challenged by Waring. Barbarians appeared to get a new lease of life and several attacks had Paeroa bustled. However the Paeroa team soon rallied and time was called with the home team attacking, the final score being Paeroa 18, Baibarians 5J Mr H. T. Grant was the referee, but was relieved half-way through the second spell by Mr A. Jones. The teams were as follow:— Paeroa: M. Waring, R. Dickson, I. Kurtovich, F. Carmichael, N. McMillan, P. Gillespie, T. Harrison, W. Nichol, G. Anderson, R. Nevin, K. Locke, P. Fathers, W. Gooding, W. Bilkey and F. Treanor. | Barbarians: J. Warner, D. Grace, Vernon, Pearson, Penman, Menzies, Halligan, M. Menzies, Armitage, Johnson, Te Puni, S. Kurtovich, Robertson, Smith and Rogers.

MATCH ON SATURDAY UNITED BEAT NETHERTON The only Rugby match placed on the Paeroa domain on Saturday was a senior game in which United defeated Netherton by 13 points to 11. T. Harrison, Rangi and P. Williams all scored for United and N. Thompson converted two of the tries. M. Ollington, S. Locke and Magner all scored for Netherton, one try iJbing converted. The referee was Mr A. Jones.