FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4414, 15 May 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

ANOTHER WIN FOR KOMATA. EVEN GAME WITH WEST, The first round of the Paeroa Rugby Union’s Senior Competition .terminated on Saturday, wins being credited to Komata and Netherton. Komata is leading in the competition with three wins, and Netherton, Suburbs,. and West have each had one win and two losses. The contest at the Domain on Saturday was between Komata and West, and after a very hard end even game the former had a victory by three points to nil. From the kick-off West opened bn attack. Almost immediately afterwards Pitts dropped the ball in front of a West forward rush, and thipgs looked critical for Komata. A hot few minutes followed, during which time play shifted across the field, and finally terminated in a five-yards scrum. Komata’s defence was sound, and •he scene of operations soon became neutral territory and loose forward play the order of .the game. From a. forward mix-up near West’s twenty-five the Blacks managed to send over the Black and Whites’ line, but a force resulted. The hall was returned from the drpp-out, and it beat White and then Hamilton badly. Komata followed up and again sept over, the leather going put in touch. West had to de'end for the remainder of the quarter, play being very hard. The second quarter opened with line play, Komata gaining the advantage and working down to the other tweht'iy-five line flag. Another Jengtny spell of forward play in mid-field followed. West backs eventually did some passing and reached their opponents’ line, where a scrum took place. The defenders were penalised and Dean had an unsuccessful shot at goal. From the kick-off .after half-time Bonney took up to West’s twenty-five. Several kicking bouts and periods of side-line pipy were indulged'in. From a line out in West’s territory a fiveyards scrum ensued. Poland received from the pack and sent to McNamara ■who scored an easy try in the corner. The kick was not ednverted. Komata 3, West 0. From the drop-out the ball was sent tb Pitts, who mulled, and Wilton, who was following up on his own, kicked hard down bhe field. In the race after the ball Pitts had the best of, it and found the line. Shortly afterwards the ball again beat Pitts, and this time West carried on and sent over. The final kick was too hard, however, and McNamara forced. In the last quarter play was restricted to neutral territory in the early part,’ From a scrum near West's twenty-five Moore -got possession and k’cked across, but the ball went over the line and Wests forced. An exchange of kicks ended in a line-out at half-way from which Pivott obtained possession and made a run down the middle of the field. Benney started in pursuit and soon overhauled Pivott, and with a dive from behind brought him to the ground. The ball was - sent to the other, end of fi(he field and Komata attacked strongly, but a penalty relieved. At the call ofl time play was very, willing on Komata’-; twenty-five line, • the game ending Komata 3, West ff. • Mr P. E. Brenan was referee. NETHERTON. BEATS SUBURBS, z Netherton and Suburbs met at Hikutaia, Mr R. B. Penlington being in charge of. the game. After a good game Netherton registered a win by 6, points to 3. JUNIORS. ' EAST V. SUBURBS. The junior match at Paeroa, between East and Suburbs, resulted in a win for Easts by 13 to 3. For the winners A. Williams and F. Thorp scored a try each, both of which were converted by Moyle, and Lawrpnce kicked a penalty. goal. , The points scored by Suburbs were gained from a penalty kick by Ake. Mr R. JBramiey was referee. NETHERTON V. WEST. The Netherton and West match was played, at Netherton/ the home team winning by 14 to 11. Mr B. Dunlop was referee. THIRD GRADE. WEST 'V. SCHOOL. The third-grade match between West and School was very even, aftnd worth, witnessing. After the first hree points were scored for each side they took it in turns to add points, first one and th<en the other team leading on points. The first quarter was very even, fitjhe ball travelling up and down the field. The only score in this round was a try by S. Hamilton, who got 'possession, from a scrum in the corner and dived* over. In the second spell, when Schoo! were attacking Garry marked in frnot of the posts and converted, making the scor.es 3 all. Just on ha l ! time West committed a’ breach on titheir own twenyJfive line and Garry succeeded with, the kick/ which made the game School 6, West 3. In the third quarter L Hamilton kicked down and West forwards followed up well and carried over with a loose rush, Morrison scoring near the posts. Hamilton converted. West 8, School 6. Just before changing over off-side play got West-into trouble and G'.rry added another goal for School-School 9, West 8. About half-way through the last quarter, when play was inside School’s twenty,-five line, Turner kicked over, and by good following up scored: The kick was unsuccessful. No further points were added, the game ending West 11, School 9. Mr R. Chamberlain was referee

HAURAKI PLAINS MATCHES.

TURUA AND PATETONGA DRAW. WAITAKARURU 6, KEREPEEHI 0. The Hauraki Plains Rugby .competitions were advanced another stags on Saturday, when’Turua and Patetonga played an exceptionally, fast and exciting drawn game (five .all) at Ngatea, and Kerepeehi went down to Waitakaruru, at Waitakaruru, by six points to nil* The Turua-Pate-tonga gtme attracted a large number of spectators from Turua, Patetonga, and Ngatea, and with fleeling

evenly divided there was a loud anl continual vociferation. The spectators, however, were over anxious to witness the game and too often encroached on the playing area, interfering sometimes with the progress of the game. It would be to the benefit of the players and spectators alike, and of little cost, to the Union, if a wire were stretched around the ground. The grounds on Saturday were conducive to fast play, and all four games under the Plains Union were of a fairly fasjii nature. The TuruaPatetenga match was the most exciting witnessed so far. in the competitions, apd it will be an exceptionally good club match that will be a faster ®he.

TURUA V, PATETONGA.

Parsons kicked off for Turua ai.d from a resultant scrum James (Turua) secured and passed to Smith, bull a promising rush was held up by the Patetonga backs. With another rush Turua took play to within a few yards of the Patetonga line and the defenders were obliged to* force. Play centred for a time in mid-fiehl, but it was not long beflore the ball was travelling quickly from one end of the field to .the other. A Patetohga passing bout took the ball to ths Turua goal-line, but excellent tackling on the part of the Turua backs saved the situation. Patetonga kept up the attack and prevented Turua attempts to break away. After the change over Patetonga secured from Iflhe line-out and a rush was instituted, biit Clotworthy found the line flor Turua. Patetonga kept up the attack until O’Carroll relieved <lhe pressure with a dribbling rush down the field to Patetonga’s twentyfive, where James later made a good opening wi.th a timely kick. O’Carrbll and McMillan opened a passing rush and the latter got over in a good position. Thr,up converted. Turua 5. Patetonga O'. Alfter half-time Patdtonga set up several passing rushes, but Turua’s good tackling saved the situation. Turua got away on several occasions, but Costello at full-back returned the leather with powerful kicks. Fast play followed up and down the field and Patetonga, making the pace, made several determined efforts to score. Eventually, with a fine passing rush opened up by Garry, J. 801-. ton succeeded in breaking through near the corner and scored. The kick was a good 'one, and went over. With barely five minutes to go play was very determined. Patetonga was attacking when the whistle blew for time, with the scores even, Palfletonga 5, Turua 5. KEREPEEHI V. WAITAKARURU. Kerepeehi took the field with only 12 men, and it appeared a good thing fo? Waitakaruru, who had a fairly strong team in the field. Waitakaruru scored two unconverted tries in the first half, one in each quarter, making the score 'Waitakaruru 6, Kerepeehi 0. In She second half play was of a very even nature. Waitakaruru were playing up to their, usual standard, but Kerepeehi were showing greatly improved form and combination. No further scores were added, and the game ended Waitakaruru 6, Kcreppehi 0. Mr A. Otter was referee. the junior games. KEREPEEHI V. WAITAKARURT*. Kerepeehi Juniors), playing on the<.r own ground, beat the ■ Waitskarurn junior team by 6 points to 3 The game was a fast one through'or.i. Kerepeehi’s ppinfis Were tries, scored by Watini and Brown Toto, neither being converted. King scored an unconverted try for Waitakaruru. Mr G. Blythe refereed. PATETONGA V. TURUA. The PatctongaZTurua junior mat-.h was a fairly even encounter, resulting hi a win for Turua by 3 points to 0. The only score of the match was registered in the second quarter by R. Smith, who scored an unconverted try. Mr D.- Green was referee, FOOTBALLER INJURED. Frank Stretton, a Waitakaruru player in the Waitakaruru-Kerepeehi junior match at Kerepeehi on Saturday, collided with one of the opposing side anfi sustained severe injuries to his cheek bone, neecssitating his removal by special launch, to the Thames Hospital. Several minor mishaps occurred ’ll thtrt Patetonga-Turua game. Dr. Bathgate, resident doctor at Turu.ii, attended to the injuries.