FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4316, 12 September 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

PIAKO AND PAEROA DRAW. PAEROA WINS POLAND CUP. The final Goldfields inter-union match for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup was played at Te Aroha on Saturday .between Paeroa and Piako, and ended in a drawn game, both teams scoring six points. As Paeroa had a lead of two points prior to this match, the .Cup will be retained by Paeroa, who also won the competition last year.

The game on Saturday was not much to enthuse over, although, as regards Paeroa, they played better than what pne would have expected, considering the lackadaisical manner in which their preparation is carried out. On the whole Piako were unfortunate, as they had the better of th 6 game, but the s.am.e could be said of both teams, that the lack of team work was very noticeable. TH GAME, Paeroa forwards took up to Piako’s twentyrfive line, loose forward play following in midfield. F. Miller picked up in the loose and kicked well down the field. . Piako forwards followed, up smartly, and getting possession crossed Paeroa’s line. with the ball at toe, McLaren scoring. W. Voysey failed with the kick. Piako 3, Paeroa 0. Shortly after the kickout Paerpa hooked from a scrum and started a passing rush, Moore taking up to the home team’s line. Piako cleared to quarter-way flag. From the throw-in I. Poland took back and sent over, Piako forcing. Paerpa immediately. returned to the attack with a forward rush, but a good opportunity was lost through- Fisher getting offside.. By a, number of kicks Piako worked down to their opponents’ twenty-five, Paeroa working back .to half way with line play. An exchange of kicks ended in the ned and black’s favour, Timmins marking on Paeroa? twenty-five line. His shot at goal failed. Piako remained on the attack and offside play by Young gave Miller a penalty kick a,t goal, which was unsuccessful. A scrum on Paeroa’s twenty-five line followed the kick-out, from where the visiting pack parried play to half way. A kicking bout terminated with a scrum in the centre of the field. Piako sent down to Paeroa’s quarter, but Moore intercepted a pass and returned to half-way. Moore found the line at the twentyfive flag from the opening kick in the second quarter. A good opportunity was spoilt for Piako by offside play. From a line-put at quarter-way W. Voysey got possession and made a gopd run up the fi.eld, but through lack of support his effort went unrewarded. Treanor picked up in the loose and sent well down the field. Paeroa forwards followed up and- carried on oyer the line, but Piako forced. Piako with a loose rush carried play to the visitors’ line. After a number of kicks Asher' relieved the situation with '■a mark, finding the line at the twenty-five flag. Jones took down from the line-out, J. Voysey just saving for Piako with a kick to the corner. Paeroa sent over, from the line-put and Piako forcedj Aftersome loose play about the .home team’s twenty-five line Treanor'kicked down towards, the corner. A struggle between the .forwards ensued in the corner; j; Poland eventually picking .up and.diving over. Dean failed to convert. Piako. 3, Paeroa 3. After a period of side-line play in neutral territory Treanor kicked

well down the field, to be followed

with ah exchange of kicks, Piako finx ally clearing to the line... Paeroa were pressing strongly, but W. Voysey relieved the position with a mark. Paeroa immediately returned, J. Voysey saving with a line-kick. Asher, started a passing rush for Paeroa, but a throw forward upset things. The two packs then had a battle for the ball. Paeroa gained the advantage and sent put to G. Royal, who, after a fine bit of side-stepping, crossed the lineRoyal took the kick, but failed to add to the score. Paeroa 6, Piako 3. Piako marked the kick-pff in the second half and sent to Dean, who returned to half-way flag. After close side-line play G. Moon found .the line

at Paeroa’s twenty-five. • Piako still pressed down, and after tight play on

the line the ball was sent out a few yards from the corner. From the throw-in W. Voysey marked in front of the posts and m.ade the scores even. Paeroa 6, Piako 6. I. Poland took charge from a line-out at half-way, and with the support of Young, Jones, and Shaw carried play to Piak'o’s line, where a scrum, was ordered. The ball was sent over, but Piako forced. Fast open play in neutral territory followed, interspersed with a number of kicking bouts. A well-placed kick by Goldsbury shifted play to well within Paeroa’s territory, and several line-outs took place close to the defenders’ line. Piako managed to send over, but Benney forced. Hard forward play in Paeroa’s territory terminated with J. Poland breaking away and sending out to his backs, who carried on to .half-way, the quar- ? ter ending with loose play in midfield. Piako took the offensive from the kick-pff in the final round, Dean savihg in a dangerous position with a mark. Piako returned and sent over, but Paeroa forced. A lengthy period of tight play in the corner was' relieved by I. Poland, who got possession and took down to quarter-way, Treanor carrying on to half-way. The ball was sent out to Asher, who kicked down-field and made a good opening, but Shaw spoilt it with offside play. Another period of fast open play was indulged in, after which Piako settled down to the attack again. After a long .struggle on the line, and just on time, Asher relieved with a long line-kick, the game ending in a draw, Paeroa 6, Piako 6. Mr Hovel! was referee.

JINIORS. PAEROA 12, PIAKO 6,. The final Goldfiedls junior match was played at Paeroa on aSturday between Piako and Paeroa, the latter .winning by 12 points to six. Paeroa? has an unbeaten record for the sea-