FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4305, 17 August 1921, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

EAST V. NETHERTON.

EAST WINS JUNIOR COMPETITION.

The final match for the Junior Championship was played on the Domain on Saturday between East and Netherton, and resulted in East again winning the laurels, by 11 points >p 9 after a very keenly contested game. For the winners Moore and Rae were the most prominent backs, while the ;two Pennells, Pretty, and Thorp could be seen doing beneficial work among the forwards.. Of the Netherton back division Rice, Potter, and McNeil were the pick, and their vanguard was greatly assisted by Benney and Patterson. The weather was perfect, which no doubt accounted for' the high standard of the game, ;and the satisfactory attendance.

East kicked off and immediately, had Netherto.n defending in their own twenty-five, until Richmond cleared with a good kicn to the line., From the throw-in Netherton forwards obtained possession and started a determined rush, bu;t hard kicking enabled East to relieve with a force. A breach by one of East players allowed Fisher tp have ,a shot at goal. The ball, however, fell short, and East forwards got moving and carried play to Netherton’s quarter. A scrum ensued, East hooking the ball, but Morgan kicked oyer the line and gave Netherton much-needed relief, allowing them to force. Give and take play in midfield was /he order for a short time. Offside play by one of the Nethprton forwards gave Rae an unsuccessful) kick at goal from close on the half-way line. Richmond returned, the ball going pui. At this stage Fisher retired injure!, McCormack taking his place. From a scrum East hooked the ball .and H. Thorp set his backs going, but Potter intercepted a pass, and, turning defence into attack, brought play into East territory. A scrum followed, the leather coming out. to Maj.urey, who sent it on to Potter, to Samson, to Johanson, the latter scoring in the corner. Rice missed with the kick. Netherton 3, East 0.. A few minutes after the resumption of play Potter punted high, and, following up fast, gathered the ball and eluded a couple of East backs and scored a good try c,lose tp the pests. Rice failed tp convert. Netherton 6, East 0. Netherton were now making -vigorous efforts, to increase their score and Bepney, charging down a return kick of Whelan’s, regained possession of the ball and scored a lucky try near the corner flag. Bloomfield missed with the kick. Netherton 9, East 0. The bell sounded shortly afterwards, with the score unchanged. On resuming after half-time Bloomfield returned, and Netherton forwards,/' looked like adding to their score, but Rae saved. From a scrum East hooked.' Thorp, sending the ball out smartly, .commenced the best passing bout of the game, the” majority of East’s backs liandling'the. ball and Vuglar/scojang. Rae was unsuccessful, .with the kick.- Netherton 9, East 3. East now .appeared to realise their obligations, the forwards settling down ahd doing good work. A dribbling rush by both P.ennells aud Pretty had Netherton busy defending. Rice, playing a sound defensive game, cleared. East forwards were not to be denied,. and’ again came back, but over-eagerness allowed Netherton tc force. .

With twenty minutes to go, the yellow and blacks were detei'mined to reduce their opponents’ majority. From a line-out H. Pennell obtained possession and started a forward movement, but overran the ball. Williams, however, was handy, and picked up the ball and scored.” Rae added the minor points with a good kick. Netherton 9, East 8. . East now had the upper hand, and seldom did Neth-' erton cross the half-way lin4.' Both in the open and ,in the ruck East forwards were asserting themselves to From a scramble H. Pennell, Pretty, and Thorp came through with the ba,ll at toe and carried it across Netherton’s line, Thorp scoring. East 11, Netherton 9. With only a few minutes to go Nethertan made vain attempts to penetrate East’s solid line of defence, but Morgan, Moore, and Rae repelled all the red and blacks’ vigorous attacks. At call of time East still maintained their lead, with Netherton strongly attacking. Mr W. Bryden was referee.

SATURDAY’S GAME.

PAEROA V. HAURAKI PLAINS.

On Saturday the Hauraki Plains representatives will play a return match with the Paeroa representatives at Paeroa. The Plains team has good backs, p.nl spectators can look forward to a good display. The Paeroa team is as follows :

Full-back, Dean. Three-quarters, Moore, Winder, G. Royal.

Five-eighths, A. Royal, I. Poland.

Half-back, Bottomley. Forwards, White (roveii), G. Fisher, Burkhardt, Young, J. Poland, Shaw, Benney, Jones. Emergencies, Taylor Treanor.