FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4445, 26 July 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

WAITAKARURU 16, TURUA 0. NOTES ON THE GAME. The Hauraki Plains Rugby Union played cup matches on Saturday between Turua and Waitakaruru clubs, the seniors at Waitakaruru and the juniors at Turua; Turua suffered their first defeat of the seasen in the first grade, but their juniors evened matters a little by having a win over ■ their opponents, by 26 points to 0. In the senior game Turua won the toss. Waitakaruru set the ball rolling and took play to Turua’s twentyfive.. A kick returned play to midfield.' up and down play following. The home team gained ground, and when in their opponents’ twenty-five Thorburn gathered up and passed to Otter, to Stretton, who scored. Thorburn converted. The home team was pressing again where the whistle was sounded fpr change bvei.

Turua livened up in the second round and some strenuou.s play took place in ■ the home team’s territory. The defence was sound, and Waitakaruru worked back to mid-field. From a line-out J. Poland headed a bril-, liant forward rush to t'he visitors' line, a force resulting, Waitakaruru returned the drop-out and set up a.a attack. Thorburn received from a loose scrum, and sent to Otter, to Stretton, the latter scoring between the posts. Thorburn converted. Waitakaruru 10, Turua. 0. Turua were pressing hard when Jhalf-time was called.

Waitakaruru followed up the kickoff after half-time, and H. Coxhead and J. Poland carried down at toe, and when near the line G. Coxhea.l picked, up and dived over. Thorburn failed with the kick. Waitakaruru 13, Turua 0. The visitors went to the attack and endeavoured to set their backs in motion, but deadly tackling by the defenders prevailed until the end of the quarter.

The final quarter was very willing, Turua trying hard to open their score, but the defence was too sound.. For the greater part of, the spell, play settled in Waitakaruru’s ferrite ry, until Poland, Coxhead, Bernby, and Perkins broke away and reached the other end of the field, Berney scoring. Perkins failed to convert. Waitakarul’ii 16, Turua 0. After this Turua made several attempts to score, but the home team held them out and the ■game ended: Waitakaruru 16, Turua 0. - Mr. Bly th was referee. Mr. McMillan had charge of the junior game at Turua, in which the home team won by 26 to 0. Waitakaruru took the field withl seven men, but had a full team when the game ended. RUGBY NOTES. (By “Old Timer.”) The first Thames Valley Rugby J team mbt their .Waterloo last Saturday, but,'after the match it was re- ’ marked by many followers of the ' game that although defeated by 18 fo 3 the team did well and the scores ‘ were no indication of the merits of both teams. The local forwards were, ‘ I think, as good as the Auckland pack, 11, not better, and the only alteration one could make With this ! vanguard is in the front row, as one J was noticed to be decidedly weak. MCMhiion (Hauraki Plains) played a good game, and Goldsborough as rover was admitted by all to be the best, rover on the ground. If this young player continues to improve as he has done during the past season or two he will eventually find a place in New Zealand's best fifteen. Contrary to expectations,- . tne Thames Valley backs were disappointing. Nichols at half did not get many chances, as the ball was hooked by Auckland fully five times out of six. but generally he got through his work well, and I notice the Auckland, press representative who accompanied the visiting team inentioned in his “Star” notes that he was the “ best of an average lot of backs.” Personally, I thought Gilpin was the beat, as he got through an enormous amount of work, but was in many instances found out of his place working among the forwards. The second five-eighths, McDermott, was the weakest back on the ground, and after half-time was moved put to wing three-quarter and Garry brought in. This imprpved things considerably. Of the other backs I think Dean was the best, but I have seen both McGill and Winder play better games. The last score by Auckland was badly missed by the latter. The Thames Valley team is surely in need of wing three-quarters, and it is a picblem for the selectors to find them. After Saturday's big match one is more impressed than ever with the necessity of combination in a team. This was the visitors strong point, and no doubt won them the game, I - consider that it is impossible fpr the local union to ever think of beating a provincial team unless they can hare training and practice together. It is generally understood that the individual players are in the district, but combination is lacking. And, again, the expense bf. bringing such, a team together, even for a flew days, would be too heavy, but a gate or two like last Saturday should place the newly-formed unipn on a good financial basis. The Frank Bpland Memorial Cup competitions will be continued next Saturday, and Paeroa will be called upon to clefend the trophy against Waihi in the local domain. I notice the. Wa’hi team is rather weaker than usual. Price is incapacitated, and C. Dillamore is among those in the three-quarter line. This player was at one time one of the best in the district, but whether 'he can still hold that reputation will be seen next. Saturday. I doubt it —as fp'otball, with very few exceptions is a young man’s game. The local selector is trying more alterations in the back division, and I hope he has dropped on the right ones this time. Royal is in the team, and I feel sure should never have gone out.; also Corbett may have had a try out as wing three quarter as there is a very weak spot in the team in this particular place. Corbett

has proved himself a good scoring man, and this is what we want, as a man who can score a try for Paeroa this season has yet to be found, but I think he will be unearthed next Saturday. A good deal ofl discussion over local or outside referees for club fixtures has been taking place at the Plains’ referees meetings, and I wish to endorse the attitude pfj one member — Mr Rice—who is of the opinion that it is useless foj them to form an association if their Rugby Union has not the confidence in its own referees by appointing them to control their local football, I do tihink that changes ofl referees between unions, even for local cup fixtures is a good idea, and should certainly take place whenever such a change can be mutually arranged, but not because one club or several clubs in that union think the referee may. favour his home team. Gene! ally speaking .referees give up a good deal Of time to the game both in study and expense, more than players realise, therefore chibs should be satisfied with appointments made by tneir local association, otherwise that body of men will cease to exist just because they have not the confidence of the players, and they will certainly not form themselves into an asociation to be dictated to by players or clubs TEAMS FOR SATURDAY SENIORS. The following is to Paeroa team to play Waihi at Paeroa next Saturday : Full-back. Winder; three-quarters, McNeil, Dean, Cashmere ; five-eights, Royal, Lee-,Ellis ; half, Ivan Poland ; rover, Johnson ; forwards, Morrison, Pennell, Taylor, Fisher, Benney, Long, Johnson ; emergencies, Asher, P Treanor,; forwards, Patterson and Smith JUNIORS The following is the junior team to play Waihi at Waihi on Saturday: Full-back, King; thre'e-quarters, D O'Brien, Rice, Arden ; five-eights, Rae Samson ; half, Thorp; rover manor; forwards Vuglar, Pennell, Neil, Sinnett, Oliver, Thorp, Williams ; emergencies! Alley Morrison ; backs', Kelt, Buchanan, Bcrtelsen