FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4451, 9 August 1922, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

INTEBUUNION MATCHED TEAMS FOR SATURDAY. The Frank Poland Memorial Cup matches are to be continued on Saturday, the draws being as follows : Paeroa v. Waihi, at Waihi, juniors at Paeroa; Plains v. Piako, at Te Arolia, juniors at Ngatea. The following teams have been selected : SENIORS.

Pl a’ns.—Full-back, C. Stretton ; three-quarters. Wallis, Adlam, D. Fox; five eighths, Nicholls, Garry; halfback, T,hprburn; rover, McMahon ; forwards, Beasley, Bolton, Newdick, Polar.d. Rapana, C. Lyes, Bedford. Reserves : Forwards. K. Fox, Dent; backs, Costello, O’Carroll. Paeroa.—Full-back, L. Shaw; threequarters. McNeil, Dean, Caslimore; five-eighths, E. Moore, Ellis ; halfback, I. Poland; rover, Lopgi; forwards, Patterson, E. Johnson, B. Fisher, J. Benney, W; Taylor, T. Johnson. B. Johnson. Emergencies : Backs, Pivott, Pitts; forwards, H. Pennell, Cashrnore, E. Smith. The bus to convey .the senior representatives to Waihi will leave Mahony’s corner at 1.15 t.m. JUNIORS. Paeroa. —Full-fcack, EL King; threequarters, W. Ardern, B. Rae, O’Brien ; five-eighths, W. Smith, R. Samson; half-back. H. Thorp; rover, J. Tre'anor; forwards, Oliver, Vuglar, G. Neil, G. Sinnett, A K. Alley, A. Williams, F. Thorp. Emergencies: Backs, Haskell Kerr; forwards, E. Alley, Morrison The curtain-raiser to the junior repiesentative match at Paeroa will be between East and West third grade teams. INTER-DISTRICT MATCH,. TURUA 8 COROMANDEL 8. A team, from Turua travelled to Coromandel on Saturday and played the local representatives, a strenuous and even game ending in a draweight points each. The team had a good trip by launch, the weather being ideal. The visiting team was entertained in the eveni.ng and returned on Sunday afternoon. It is hoped that a return mate? will shortly be arranged. NOTES FROM THE PLAINS. In accordance with the decision of the Thames Rugby Union the Waihi and Hauraki Plains teams will play off to decide which team plays Thames for the Peace Cup. The secretary of the Plains Union (Mr D. Vincent) has been in communication with the secretary of the Waihi Union and it is thought that a match will be arranged to take place at Ngatea on Saturday week. After studying the facts of. last Saturday’s match - against Piakp, the Plains supporters are becoming hopeful ol their team beating Waihi and later putting up a big fight for the Peace Cup. The team was serioustv disorganised last Saturday owing to half a dozen players being unable to play, and some men wjio were not even emergencies were at the last minute called upon to change into football gear. Under the circumstances, however, the team as a whole worked well, and dominated the greater part of the play, and were especially seen to advantage in rhe first and final quarters. At full-back Stretton was sound, but the three-quarter line was weak. Garry was particularly valuable at five-eighths, while Nicholls played well and used his head. McMahon (rover) suffered an ipjury to his eye early in the game and was consequently not seen at his best. In Thorburn the Plains team has an energetic and dangerous half. The forward line was seriously disorganised owing to unavoidable alterations.

The even scoring last Saturday is arousing considerable interest as to the prospects in the next match on Saturday, when the Plains team travels to Te Aroha. If the team takes the field as selected there is every prospect of. the result being in favour of the Plains men. RUGBY NOTES. (By “Old Timer.’’) The final in the third grade competition last Saturday proved to be an exceptionally good game, and it endued with West boys winning the match and championship by the small margin of one point. Although the game was evenly contested it appeared to me that the School team was slightly inferior in their forwards, and, giving credit where due, the West boys must be congratulated, on their fine display, ■more especially that given by the forwards. who undoubtedly won them the game. The School boys were much younger than their opponents, but right throughput the season these lads have treated the public to a good and clean exhibition of Rugby, and they are a credit to (hose who are responsible for their training. No doubt there are a good' many future reps, scattered among the third grade teams who have played under the Paeroa Rugby Union this year, and I am afraid we must look to them to bring football back to pre-war standard. and I think they can do it. The senior match between Kom'ata and Netherton was, as expected, an even fight, Komata winning by a margin of three points. Throughout the four quarters hard knocks were given and taken, and, to my mind, rough play was at times inclined to creep into the game. The Nethertop forwards were a heavy lot, and in taking the field looked as l if they would smother the opposing vanguard. However, they did not quite do this, although they played a good, hard game and were up against men who were in better form. The Johnson brothers were right after a victory, and were the pick of the Netherton forwards; of the rest I could not find a .waster in the pack, and with; a little training behind them the tables may have been turned at the finish. Their backs did fairly well; in fact, all that could be expected from them. McNeil was the . star on their, side, and put in some very good work. Potter, a young player in the Nietlierton rearguard, took my eye as ope who

may win his cap next season. The Komata team came out in good strength, and their dub management is to he congratulated on the control it apparently has over the players. Organisation has had a great deal to do with the success of this club right through the season, and the manner in which they take the field should be an example to several other clubs playing under the Paeroa Rugby Union. The forwards were a fairly even lot. The Benneys stood out on their own; also Pennell and Patterson are worthy of a word of praise. The former is the makings of a good hooker, and he has a reputation to maintain in this position in the forwards for this reason: his elder brother Tom was a Goldfields representative fppntranker his brother Bill filled a siniilar posiiton in local representatives. Later two other brothers, George anl Joe, poth played senior, and, I think, representative football, as front-row men. Another young Pennell plays front-iow in a local junior team, a nephew in the same place in a third grade team, and there are several others of the family playing in a similar position in their respective teams, so it would seem that for a period of twenty years or so a Paeroa representative team would not have been complete without a Penhell in th? front row in the scrum. However, to continue with the game, the Komata backs were too superior for their opponents. Moore once again played a good game; also Pitts. During the match a most unfortunate accident occurred, O’Grady, one Of. the Komata backs, having his leg broken. After receiving attention from Dr. Little he was sent to the Waihi Hospital. Nb doubt the Union and general public will take the matter up and endeavour to give some financial assistance to the unfortunate player. I was greatly disappointed to hear that Piakp defeated Hauraki plains by the small margin bf one point on Saturday last, but on looking over the team that represented Plains I find they were short of six of the men originally selected, so that if the best team could have played they mus'; surely have won, as Piako also were not playing in their, full strength. I understand Waihi and Paeroa play at Waihi next Saturday .and Piako and Plains tr.y conclusions at Te Aroha, both mtaches being for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup.