FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4449, 4 August 1922, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

TO MORROWS MATCHES. To-inorrow the club competitions will again be continued. The results of these games will decide the winning teams in each grade. Following are the draws : Seniors.—Komata v. Netherton, at Paeroa.

Juniors.—Netherton v. West, at Ne‘herton; East v. Suburbs, at Hikutaia.

Third-grade.—School v. West; re play.

RUGBY NOTES. (By "Old TimerJ’J The local recreation ground was the scene of a good deal of excitement last Saturday, when our representatives met and defeated Waihi by nine points to three. I don’t know whether it was the bitterly cold southerly wind blowing or the five alterations in the original selected team that caused Paeroa to go for their lives: however, I think we are perfectly safe in surmising that ths several alterations had a good deal to do with the final result. I heard that the Waihi team also had several alterations, and was informed on good authority that such alterations had made their team with the exception of one player the best they could place on the field, so Paeroa is to be congratulated on their victory. Right throughout the four quarters the game was interesting and evenly contested. and this is borne out by the fact that neither line was crossed, all points being scored by goal-kicking. E. Moore (five-eighths) was one of those who obliged the selector by filling a gap, and he had a day out both in fit Id-work and goal-kicking, the last goal being an exceptionally good kick. L. Benney, who also helped the selector by going on in his brother’s place was without a doubt the best forward on the ground, his following up and opening out the game being exceptionally good. I hear that he is not in form, but Paeroa would be well off if they could pick up a pack in the same condition. All the other memlers of the vanguard played good games, and I was pleased to see Patterson. who is a young player, and was booked as an emergency, play a sound game. There is no doubt that he has earned his right to inclusion in the next team. Poland at half-back proved a success, and his deadly defensive play was very conspicuous, but one would like to sec him when opportunity arises turn his defensive tactics into attack. This is the crowning success of a good half-back or five-eighths, but is greatly lacking in the Paeroa rear division; Ellis did not play his usual good game at five-eighths, and he appeared to some of the spectators to be possessed of that “don’t care feeling.” This is the ruination of a good many promising players, and I only quote this it mark because it was passed on to me. Personally I think he only had a day off, which happens to, a. player at various times during his football career.

Both McNeil and Dean riayed good games in the three-quarter line. The former. I am pleased to say, has justified his ability to play in future representative teams. The other threequarter, Cashmore, again had a day off, and why he didn’t score after Bennty making an opening and handing him the ball with a clear run in is a mystery—he got over the line, but J ounced the ball instead of falling on it. We hear that he is a player

who wants feeding with the ball and to be given plenty of work, but to me he did not appear to be one of this description after what happened last Saturday.

Shew at full-back, another emergency to fill a gap, played a sterling game, and the selector would dp well let this player remain in that position. With Dean up .three-quarter lie is the best full-back we can find;

this, of course, is leaving out Winder, and a« far as the lattei? is concerned one wants to think of the old motti “A bird in hand is worth two ip tin bush,” and this proved correct last Saturday, not with Winder only, but others who failed to put in an appearance. If the selector can keep last Saturday’s team together, with the exception, ofl one back, who should be replaced by Corbett, or Poland on the wing, also one forward, I then venture to say that Paerpa should not suffer defeat aga ! n this season. Hauraki Plains and Piako meet at Ngatea next Saturday, and this match will conclude the flret round of the Frank Poland Memorial Cup matches. On looking over the merits bf players selected to play in both teams I cannot help favouring the Plains. I notice J. Poland is selecte-l in the Plains forward division and this player should greatly strengthen an already strong forward team.

Nicholls, the Thames Valley halfback, is playing five-eighths along with Garry (another Thames Valley rep.), and with a good forward team in front ofl them I think Piako will have their work cut out to lower the Plains colours.

The Thames Rugby Union still holds the Peace Cup, and, as I predicted last week, Piako representatives more than met their match. I do not think the Thames team can be. beaten this season, and on looking over the list of challenges in for the cup I think tlie only team that will put up a big light will be the Plains team. I may be wrong, but, nevertheless, when it is all over I will not be far out in my reckoning.

Spectators who journeyed to the recreation ground at 2 p.m. last Saturday were treated to a good game of ; Rugbv. This match was played between teams representing Paeroa and Waihi High Schools. Contrary to expectations the local boys proved toe good for the visitors, and it was freely expressed by spectators that the boys gave a good exihbition of Rugby. I understand the play-off for the championship in the third-grade com- ' petition takes place next between teams representing School and West. This match will, I should think, be ope of the most interesting to local enthusiasts that we have had in Paeroa this season.