RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 41, 23 October 1946, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

J. PILE CUP PAROA RETAINS TROPHY The final match in the competition among champion teams of the various Clubs for the John Pile Memorial Cup was played last Saturday, when Paroa defeated Kutarere by 8 points to 6. The game completed Paroa’s record of successive wins and was probably the toughest of the contest.

The teams took the field in a driving rain which continued for most of the match. The ground was thoroughly waterlogged, and the ball was soon too greasy for the lines to handle with any confidence. Kuta J rere displayed a seasoned side with a well groomed line and an experienced pack. Paroa met them with a fifteen-mart combination, and as in many past matches, displayed brilliant football in the second half, after reeciving the worst of the first spell. Laurie at fullback was once again probably the safest man on the Paroa side, although the attackers were often perilously close before he managed to get the ball under sufficient control to kick. His counter-part for Kutarere, G. Stewart, although on the small side, warranted his position in the team, and brought off a number of saves. The teams took the field as under :

Kutarere (black and white): Stewart, Koopu (3), Delamere (2), Matu, Wairau, Helmbright, Fraser, Ohaere, Poihipi, Lingman (2), Gage. Paroa (black): Laurie, Butler, Goodwin, Riini (2), Harawira (2), Goldsmith, Simpson, Ranapia, Ratahi, Cleland, Hona, Wharewera, Aukaha. The First Spell * Paroa took the kick, but a man in front of the ball brought the forwards back to half way for a set scrum. In the settling down period which followed, the Kutarere pack launched- a fast rush sweeping through the defence. Laurie failed to collect the greasy ball but so did Kutarere, and the leather went to touch. The next minute Paroa was again defending but managed to take the ball away downfield. In Kutarere’s quarter, a penalty was awarded to Paroa. Goldsmith’s kick was outside the post, but Paroa went into the attack and swept play to the try line. Kutarere forced. The visiting backs initiated a rush. At midfield the forwards took over, but Laurie saved with a long kick to the line. His effort repeated almost immediately stemmed the tide again. Opening up in another sweeping rush, the Kutarere backs sent the leather to Joe Koopu who was grassed just short of the line. Time and again the visitors spearheaded into Paroa’s 25, but lost control before making a touch down. Then Fraser appeared leading a fast rush which went straight thrbugh to the line. Fraser touched down, but an infringement just before saved the points against Paroa. Growing more and more willing, play swept again to the home quarter but laurie marked to ease the position. The respite was only temporary a few minutes later a battle royal was being waged right on the try line. Paroa held their front and started to force play away when a penalty kick was awarded against them. Jack Koopu sent the leather over the bar from behind the 25 line and to the intense delight of visiting supporters, put the first 3 points on the board for his side. Play see-sawed for a spell and then another free kick was awarded Kutarere. Jack Koopu failed to lift the ball sufficiently and the halftime whistle found the scoreboard reading:

Kutarere 3, Paroa 0

With the change-over, Paroa’ playing with wind (and tide) swept to the visitors’ quarter. Kutarere forced, ad the leather went to touch on the 25 line. In came the ball and Harawira led a rush to the line where the forwards assembled again. A set scrum went down in the same place. Kutarere hooked and a long kick sent the leather to midfield. But Paroa was still on the offensive, and the Kutarere defence men were continually at work. After a period of see-saw play Goldsmith initiated a rush and the Paroa men thrust their way through to the try line. The leader dived over and Paroa found the three points necessary to equalise. The same man (Goldsmith) converted, and the scoreboard read: Paroa 5, Kutarere 3. The ball was followed all over the field and-then a penalty gave Dodd (Paroa) a chance for a long shot at goal from just inside the halfway mark. The leather sailed just over

the bar, putting Paroa in the lead by 8 points to 3. Again Paroa sent a fast rush to Kutarere’s quarter, keeping the visitors on defence. Any sign of a break through at this period was quickly smothered by the black pack. Then Kutarere found a breach in the wall penning them in and the forwards went fast down the field. A set scrum went down 10 yards from the line. Paroa hooked and the black men rushed back up the side line. They lost control 15 yards before the line and Kutarere forced. From the same position os before just inside the home half, Dodd attempted another shot at goal. The ball went low, and the visitors, taking control, swept downfield to the try line, where Wairau went over from a set scrum. Jack Koopu’s kick was wide, and the final whistle sounded with the scoreboard reading: Paroa 8, Kutarere 6.