FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4439, 12 July 1922, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

INTER-UNION MATCHES). PLAINS AND PIAKO WIN. Thames Valley inter-union matches were played on Saturday. Piako travelled to Waihi and beat the focal team by 13 points to 8i Paeroa visited the Pl.ains and suffered a defeat by 3 points to 0. PAEROA V. PLAINS. The Paeroa v, Plains match, played at Ngatea, was not much to enthuso over, being mostly individual play, and was well below the standard to be expected in representative (football. The winning team on the day deserved a win, and but for the want of knowing how to finish off -good work would have had more points to their credit. With the exception of the first quarter Plains had the visitors on the defensive most of the time, but penalties frequently relieved the sit.ua: ; on for Paeroa. The greatest oljfender was C. Clark, whp otherwise played well. McMahon and Newdick were probably the best Qf a good set of forwards. In the backs Nicols, Fox, and Garry played well, especially Nicols. Beasley and Wallis need to improve. The Paeroa forwards, with the exception of T. Johnson and J. Benney, appeared to be lazy. Alsher as rover was a failure. Treanor did not put the ball out as often as he should have done. Cashmore and Poland, on the wings, could have been made much more use of. Dean played very well, but at times worked too close up. A scrum immediately followed the kick-off, and then a penalty to Paeroa, Taylor finding the line at the twenty-five flag. Newdick broke through in the line-out to Dean, who sent out. After loose play ip midfie’d the ball w.as sent, to Stretton, who slipped and measured his length on the ground. By a piece of smart work, however, Stretton found the line. Paeroa backs then indulged in a passing rush, Cashmore being brought down on the go'al-line. Plains forced Play hung round the halfway line for some time. Just before change over G. Royal went through and attempted a drop-kick, but the ba’l slipped off His toe and Plains forced. After the change over play settled on Paeroa’s twenty-five line. Rapana made a good attempt with a penalty kick, the ball passing just under the bar. An exchange of; kicks then followed. after which Plains moved forward with a loose rush and reached Paeroa’s line, but there committed a breach. The blues returned to the attack, and by passing again almost reached their objective, but off-side play upset things. From a five-yards scrum Asher relieved for the amber and blacks, but not for long, for the pressure was again put on .and Paeroa had to force. Following the drop-but Paeroa could not make headway, and had to work hard defending. The visitors hooked in a scrum, but a bad pass tp G. Royal gave McMahon an opening which he quickly made use of. and opened the scores for Plains. The kick at goal was not successful. Plains 3, Paero.a 0. Paeroa worked forward by slow stages, to within a few yards of the home team’s goalline and then committed a breach. From the free kick Paeroa gained a penalty, and Winder had a kick. at goal from a good position but failed to convert. In the second half Plains forwards went to the other twenty-five. A number of line puts then took place about the half-way line. A poor kick by Garry let G. Royal through to the other twenty-five line, but by line play Plains worked back tp the other end of the field. Stretton then made a faulty kick .and Winder and Asher carried down to the Plains territory. Dean had a kick at goal shortly afterwards which Plains marked on the line. Loose play in neutral territory followed. From a scrum at half-way Plains forwards, with C. Clark at the head, carried bn with the ball' at toe, btu sent out in touch.. Paeroa fallowed up the drop-out. and A'. Royal carried on to Plains goal-line. From a scrum which eventuated Plains forced. A kicking bout opened the last quarter the outcome of which was t'hat Millington was ordered off the field for playing the man. After a period of fast up and down play Plains settled down on the attack, and with a 1 . passing rush almost reached the line. T. Johnson headed a forward bre.ak away which relieved to half way. The blues returned to the attack and a period of tight plav followed in the corner. The two Johnsons and Cashmore got away and carried to the other end of the field, a “speculator” by a Plains player in the nick of time preventing Cashmore from scoring. Time was just, up when Cashmore received from a scrum inside the Plains twenty-five and made a good but unsuccessful attempt to drop-kick a goal from the field, the ball aping a “poster.” The game ended Plains 3, Paeroa 0. Mr. Dunstan was referee. JUNIOR MATCHES. The junior match Paeroa v. Plains was played at Paeroa, the home team winning by 17 points to 3. Piako defeated Waihi at Te Aroha by 3 to 0.. PAEROA CURTAIN-RAISER. The Paeroa third-grade teams School and West played a curtainraiser to the junior representative match at Paeroa, the result being a victory for School by 11 to 3. SATURDAY’S FIXTURES). As Piako and Paeroa have to play off to decide who will have the opportunity of taking the Peace Cup from Thames it has been arranged that these two representative teams willi, play at Paeroa next Saturday. The following is the Paeroa team: Full-back, Dean; three-quarters, Cashmore, Winder, I Poland; fiveeighths, E. Moore, EUis; half-back, Asher ; rover, T. Johnson : forwards, G. Fisher, R. Morrison, Taylor, J. Benney, B. Johnson, L. Benney, Long. Emergencies: Backs, McNeil, A. Royal; forwards, Pennell, Patterson. A practice will be held to-morrow (Thursday) night in the Drill Hall a 7.45 o’clock.