FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4442, 19 July 1922, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND V. THAMES VALI*EY. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. In the representative Rugby football match between Auckland and Thames Valley, to be played at Paeroa next Saturday, the following players have been selected: AUCKLAND. Full-back, R. Malloy (1); threequarters, Perry (2), Thomas (3), Matson (4) ; five-eighths, Earlly (5), Gregory (6); half-back, Wright (7); rover, Lynch (8); forwards, S. Lamo (9), Peters (10) McDonald (11) Arnold (12), Helander (13), Marshall (14), Somerville (15). Emergencies: Bagnall (16), Goodacre (17), Brendell (18), Padrington (19). THAMES VALLEY. Full-back, K. Dean; three-quar-ters, Garry (Plains), J. Magill (Piako), G. Price (Waihi); fiveeighths, McDermott (Waihi), J. Gilpin (Piako) ; half-back, Nicols (Plains); rover, Goldsbury (Piako) ; forwards, L. Honey (Waihi), W. Re’lly (Waihi), W. Heath (Waihi), T. Johnson (Paeroa), Newdick (Plains), McMahon (Plains), K. Atkins (Piako). Emergencies: J. Wnider (Paeroa), R. Holmes (Piako), Rosenfeldt (Piako), Agpew (Waihi). RUGBY NOTES. (By “Old Timer.’’J The Peace Cup as for as Paeroa is concerned is for tjiis season a trophy we dreamed of. Local followers of the game were disappointed in the complete and decisive victory Piako had over Paeroa last Saturday, and those who were not too sanguine of Paeroa’s chance never thought they would walk off the field with a score of 13 points up against them. It is generally understood that the scores did np,t indicate the game, and two converted tries scored by Piako were rather lucky, or, I should say, the result of decidedly bad play on the part of the local, backs. One at least should never have been gained. The Piako team played a fine game right throughout the match, more so their forwards, who, I think, won the game through fast following up and getting among-the Paerpa backs. The visitors’ rear division did not shew up. to much advantage, principally because Paeroa forwards held their own —that is, as far as scrum and close work were concerned. Consequently Piako backs did not get much chance to show what .they could dp. The Paeroa backs were in a bad way and did not seem to do anything right. Dean at full-back was decidedly off, and so far I have never seen him play such a bad game. The rest of the backs were much the same, but Ellis at five-eighths was the best of them, and he proved that his inclusion direct from the junior team was more than justified. Probably the selector may find a fow mpre like him in the juniors. The Paeroa forwards played a good game as far as scrum and dose work were concerned, but were outclassed in the open solely through lack of training, and this with most of them was very noticeable. Following up was occasionally indulged in by individual but there : t stopped; and I noticed that one or two forwards who appeared in form were run off their fogs while the rema’nder often rested to get their wind until play came their way- It is a great pity that players will not practice and train, and how they imagine such a strenuous match as that played last Saturday can be played without training is beyond ine, cr anyone else. I am sure the material is here, but there it stops. The practice called in the Drill Hall last Thursday night is a good example of what players think about form. One must sympathise with the selector, who in many cases has to shoulder the blame for a bad selection when the fault lies with those selected who do not recognise the honour of. being representative placers and will not get info form.

Most onlookers who, like myself, have followed local football, for many contend that the Piakp team is the best that union has ever placed on the field, and when I saw them play Paeroa at Te Aroha; some weeks agri then thought they would be a hard team to keep from winning the cup. However, now they have beaten Paeroa for honours to play Thames for the Peace Cup, we must offer them our congratulations and hope they are ab’e to bring the cup from Thames to our local district. Personally, I think they will have a hard fight to get it, but with four of the Thames best men selected for the Auckland touring team they should bring it back, that is providing the match falls on p date when the Auckland team is on tour.

I notice “Linesman,” writing in the Waihi paper, predicts that the Frank Poland memorial Cup and the Peace Cup will be on show in a Waihi shopwindow —trophies won by their representatives. Well, I must offer him my sympathy, as I don’t think there is much hope of either cup going anywhere but to Te Aroha. A few weeks ago I prophesied the same as “Linesman," with the difference that such ■honours came to Paeroa. Already one chance has gone, but don’t let us get down-hearted, but make a better fight than we have done in previous matches this year and endeavour to hold what we have already got,.namely, the Frank Poland Memorial Cup.