FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4307, 22 August 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

WIN FOR HAURAKI PLAINS.

The return match between Hauraki Plains and Paeroa representatives was played at Paeroa on Saturday and resulted in a*win for the former by 9 points to 3, The Plains team as a .whole was an improvement on the selection which played on the previous Saturday, although the backs did not handle 'the ball so freely. The Paeroa .team is not improving, and will, need to revive a liit.tle, to successfully defend the Frank Poland Memorial Cup. On the play the better team won, the Plains giving an al,lt-round superior display.

THE GAME

Plains kicked off and Young marked. The blacks returned, G. Royal sending put at Paeroa’s twenty-fiv?

flag. Tight play followed from the line-out, ending with Paeroa being -penalised. Macken took 'the kick and opened the score for Plains. Plains 3, Paeroa 0. Young took up to the blacks’ twenty-five from the kick-out. Otter picked up in the loose and returned to the home team’s quarter, where Macken was penalised. Plains attacked strongly. Dean got '.possession and centred. Stretton marked, < but did not succeed with hrs kick. 'Some minutes of loose play in mid-

field terminated with Moore marking on the ; visitors’ .twenty-five line.' His •kick, fell short, and Plains returned to Poland, who marked. This kick also was short, and Macken sent out at half-way. With a penalty kick

play to the opposing ' team’s twenty-five, from where Moore had an unsuccessful drop-kick. After a period of tight play in Plains’ end of the field Paeroa had another un- - successful penalty kick. Open play in neutral territory was indulged in for the remainder of the quarter. The second round opened with Paeroa on the attack, but the blacks’ defence was equal to the occasion. Open play finished up with Bottomley having a drop-kick. The ball hit the post and fell in-field. White followed up and sent over, Plains' forcing. Paeroa kept on the attack, and after some hard play Pretty dribbled down and sent over, he and an opponent diving together. Pretty Was injured and had to retire. The Plains pack

got the better of some .tight forward

play in their territory and shifted . play to half-way., Thorburn shortly afterwards marked and had a shot, but the distance was too far. Moore got possession and carried the ball to the other end of the field. From the ensuing line-out Plains returned to the other twenty-five line. Otter took charge from the throw-in and sent over, but Paeroa got there first. Plains teturned the kick-out, Paeroa again forcing. The black and golds with forward play gradually worked down the field and sent over,' but Plains *forced.

After a kicking bout which opened

the second half, loose play in neutral territory was the order for some time. , Plains gained the advantage, a loose rush on -their part being stopped bj Poland, who sent put at the quarterway flag. Open play followed in Paeroa’s quarter, the defenders eventually sending down to the other twenty-

five flag. From 'the tjirow-in Paeroa took down to Plains line with a loose . rush, a scrum being ordered on t,he line. After two five-yard 3 scrums Thorburn with a kick down the' line which Dean m.arked, but his shot did .not succeed. Plains returned, to halfi-way flag. A penalty kick by Paeroa which followed shortly afterwards was sent down the line by Costello. S. Faulkner followed up ard gained possession, and after 1 nice run down the line scored in the corner. The kick was not; converted. Plains 6 ; Paeroa 0, Paeroa forwards took down with a rush to the blacks’ twenty-five line, where Otter grapped up and worked- through, down to halfway. From open play Paeroa again attacked and sent over, Plains forcing.. Loose play terminated the quarter. .. ' • The final round was very 1 *«st and opA The black and golds \jk down toC A line with a loose forward rush, but a' penalty tp the blacks relieved. Paeroa forwards again pushed down, but Plains immediately brought back tp half-way. Fast play followed, the bald travelling from end to end of the fled very quickly. A penalty kick was awarded to Plains on their twen-ty-five, the blacks carrying down .'.O Paeroa’s quarter-way line. Stretton picked up in the loose, and after making a good run sent out to S. Faulknpr, who scored in the corner. The kick failed. Plains 9, Paeroa 0. After some open play in midfield A. Royal picked up 'and made a run down the centre of the-field, sent to Young, to G. Royal, who got over. The kick failed. Plains 9, Paeroa -3. Another period of fast up and down play terminated with Dean kicking out towards the line. The ball fell) shore and Otter picked up. After a good run down the line the latter passed ■to Macken, who spoilt an almost 'certain try by failing to pass, and being collared with the ball. From a lineout at half-way Thorburn sent well up the field. Poland, after fumbling, -just managed to send out in the corner in time. For the remainder of the’game play was very fast and open, but neither side had the advantage, time being called with the scores Pliains 9, Paeroa 3. Mr J. Cleave was referee.

THE CURTAIN-RAISER.

The curtain-raiser to the senior game was won by East, the scores being East 6, West 3. Kerr was responsible for two tries for East, and T. Pennell kicked a goal for West.