FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4453, 14 August 1922, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

INTER-UNION MATCHES. PAEROA 6, WAIHI 3. PIAKO 13, HAURAKI PLAINS 11. The second round ’-of the inter-union competition -of the Thames Valley Rugby Union for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup commenced on 'Saturday, wins being registered by Paeroa and Piako. Sp far Piako holds the leading position with fourj wins, having won every game to date. Paeroa fills -second position with two wins, and Plains and Wai.hi have one win each to their credit. PAEROA V. WAIHI.

Paeroa travelled to Waihi for this match, and a large crowd assembled in expectation of a good, even game. Play was even enough, and fairly fast, but was a very poor exhibition of football. It was Paeroa’s forward play that won the match, but both teams were continually making mistakes and leaving and missing openings. Paeroa forwards were all right so long as they had a little opposition, tut the mbment they got out into the open they never failed to make a mess of things and spoil what good work they had done. Taylor, E, Cashmere, and Patterson were the pick of the forwards. Several others showed occasional flashes of good play, but these flashes were generally very much dimmed by thoroughly bad tactics. As for the Paeroa backs, “they were not worth twopence.” The Waihi forwards, although hardly equal to their opponents, should have dope better, considering the chances they missed. But the backs were Waihi’s mainstay, and these men were very frequently in motion, but not knowing what to do when they did get going cost them the game. Play opened with a kicking bout, the ball being put put at Half) way. After several line-outs at this point B. Johnson started the Pearoa forward; in a dribbling rush: which was sustained until after Waihi’s line was crossed, and. E. Cashmere scored. Dean failed with the kick. Paeroa, 3, Waihi 0. Paeroa immediately returned, and after tight play in the corner gained a penalty, but Dean again failed. Shortly afterwards Wallnutt opened up for Waihi and the ball was carried into Paeroa,’s territory and ovor the line, but Cashmo're forced before a general scramble. Following loose play in neutral territory Ellis gave Waihi a penalty kick, but Dellamore failed. Mulling by Paeroa after a scrum at half way allowed Waihi to attack, Honey carrying down, but Shaw saved to the line near the corner flag. Tight play was indulged in until Mooney got possession from a scrum and opened up the Waihi backs After neat passing Rolleston had a clear run and scored in the corner. Dellainore failed to convert. Paeroa 3, Waihi 3. After changing over Paeroa went on the offensive, but a penalty kick relieved for Waihi to half way. Waihi again started a passing rush, but intercepted and play was returned to'mid-field. A period of open play followed, terminating with Taylor sending into Waihi’s territory. A penalty to Wai.hi was the outcome of a number of lineouts. and the home team had a little relief Dean put Paeroa on the attack again by getting control Of the ball in the loose and carrying down by short kicks, but a hard kick at the finish sent the ball over the deadball line. Play travelled up and down the field until just before half time, in which Paeroa had the advantage, A forward rush by the visitors was successful, E. Cashmore scoring. B. Fishei failed to convert. Paerba 6. Waihi 3.

The second half opened with loose play about the half-way line, followed by some passing by ■ Waihi which reached Paeroa’s twenty; five, but the visiting forwards brought play back again Waihi returne'd a penalty kick by Paeroa, ShaA eventually forcing. Open play was the order until change over, but neither side was dangerbus. The final quarter for, the greater part was a forward scramble, when Paeroh held Waihi in the corner. Taylor marked in some tight play on Waihi’s twenty-five, but failed to convert. At one period of play T. Jolnv son picked up near Waihi’s goal-ippsts, and with four or five men supporting and only Rblleston to beat had a good opportunity, but Rolleston intercepted his pass and relieved to half way. Open play was maintained from then on, but no further scored resulted, th? game ending, Paeroa 6. Waihi 3. Mr Young was referee.

PIAKO V. HAURAKI PLAINS. ANOTHER EVEN GAME!. Another exceptionally even game between the Hauraki Plains and Piako representative teams for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup was epntested last Shut rd ay at Te Arpha, Piako winning one of the best exhibit tions in the competition by a narrow margin of two points—>l3 to 11. hTe game was fast, interesting, and full of incident, the issue being in doubt till the final whistle, Piako scored first —a try by Rosenfeldt and converted by J. Magill—but Plains soon retaliated and Lang scored an unconverted try. The scores at halMime were 5 to 3 in favour of Piako. Plains were quick to score after the spell, and a try by Lyes, converted by Thorburn, brought the Plains total to 8Piako soon equalised, J. Magill kicking a penalty goal, but Thorburn kicked a penalty goal and put Planis in the lead again—1.1 to 8. The most spectacular try of the game was scored for Piako by Kitto in the final quarter.. J. Magill added the winning points by converting. The Plainsmen tried hard to add the few necessary points to their total, but over anxiousness on their part and the sound defence of the home team nullified further efforts to score, and the Piako team left the field victorious. The Plains team was again unfortunate in having to undergo last minute changes. O'Carroll took McMahon’s place as rover, while Lang and Dent replaced Bedford and Newdick in the forwards. The referee, Mr A’. Dunstan, did not arrive until after halftime, and till then Mr T. Atkins took charge of the game. Plains kicked off, and in the Open-

ing stages neither team could claim any advantage till Nicjhols wit-Ji a timely kick put Plains on the offensive; A passing push in which (/Car- 1 roll and Adlam figured prominently was broken up and Piako attacked, a breakaway being pulled up for a breach. A good kick and fast following up by Garry made it advisable for ' Piako to force. A little later Tho> burn tried a penalty kick at goal, but it was unsuccessful. Piako took the offensive, .and it was only the good work of Thorburn that, saved a score, but the Plains team was penalised and the attackers, took an unsuccessful kick at goal on a difficult angle. Play came back to the home team’s twenty-five, and a mark gave Thorburn a kick at goal. The leather narrowly missed its mark. The visitors, taking .the aggressive, appeared to be dangerous. For off-side play near half way Rapana was given a free at goal, but. the kick was .a failure. Piako retaliated with a good passing rush, which terminated at the corner flag. A free kick to the defenders brought play back to half way. A Plains attack was returned inct ns the bell went for change over.

Poland headed a dribbling rush by the Plains forwards seen after the commencement of the second quarter. Rosenfeldt was quick to clear from a line-out for Piako, but Adlam ahi Wallis put Plains on the offensive. Lyes further improved the position with a good kick, but Timmins, the P.iako full-back, was equal to the occasion and sent the ball out at the half-iway flag. Kitto (Piako) broke away, but a line-out was the only result, till after a good kick by Ryan, when Rosenfeldt was given an opportunity to touch down just over the line. J. Magill converted. Piako. 5, Plains 0. Play for a time was fast, first one and then the other team gaining the advantage. From a lineout ir. the Piako twenty-five the visitors instituted a passing rush, but the home teams’ defence - withstood the attack. O’Carroll later improved the Plains position. Thorburn was quick to kick the ball from a scrum, and following a kick by Lyes Lang was able to score near the corner. Thbrburn’s kick on a difficult angle failed. Half-time was called soon after.

Resuming after the spell, it was a little while before the teams warmed up to their work. The Piako men were first to take the offensive and a couple of attacks were held up by Nichols. From a Plains attack Adlam opened up and passed to Lyes, who had np difficulty in scoring in a good position. Thorburn converted. Plains 8, Piako 5. Mr A. Dunstan at this juncture arrived on the field and took charge of the whistle. Wallis secured and got away, only to be collared near the line. For a breach Thorburn tried an unsuccessful kicx at goal. After an exchange of kicks Piako had the better of .the play, and off-side play gave J. Magill a kick at goal in a good position, and he was successful. Plains 8, Piako 8. Both teams livened up and Rapana, Wallis, and Thorburn figured, prominently in an attack by Plains; A mark by O’Carrpll gave him a free at goal, but the I’ick was unsuccessful. Adlam was quick to clear from a line-out in the Plains twenty-five, and a rush got to the Piako line, where, from a penalty, Thorburn kicked an easy goal. The bell sounded immediately afterwards for change over. Plains 11, Piako 8.

The opening play of the final quarter gave evidence that there would be a fast final 20 minutes. Plains were first to attack, but Piako were playing well, and Kitto with a fine run took the ball from ibis twenty-five, beating all oppdsitiori, and scored a good try. J. Magill’s kick was successful. Piakp 13, Plains 11.. Piako continued to attack. Plains soon retaliated, but with a qiuck change of play the Piako forwards took the ball to the Plains twenty-five and were within an ace of scoring. Plains likewise were soon back .in the Piako territory, and the latter forced; Later, for ,a breach Lyes took an unsuccessful kick at goal. Thorburn and Garry institut'd a passing rush and play moved to tha Piako twenty-five, where Thorburn for a penalty tried a good kick al goal on a difficult angle, but failed. The game ended, Piako 13, Plains 11.

PLAINS JUNIOR GAMES, GRADE WON BY TURUA. The Hauraki Plains junior grade competitions were continued on Saturday, when Turua beat Ngatea at Turua by 9 points to 0 and Patetopga defaulted to Kerepeehi. By virtue of their win on Saturday Turua’s claims to the junior champipnsihp cannot be disputed, and Turua will lipid the trophy for the year. The Ngatea-Turua game was well contorted throughout. Turua proved the Letter team on the day, and .won by 9 points to 0. Robinson scored two tries and Elvin one. The Patetonga team failed to put in an appearance at Kerepeehi on Saturday. The home team therefore wins by default. JUNIORS. PAEROA 9, WAIHI 5. The junior Paeroa v. Waihi match was played at Paeroa, and resulted in a win for the home team by 9 points to 5. Samson scored two tries and Ardern kicked a penalty goal for Paeroa. For Waihi, Keven scored and converted. Mr Cosgrove was referee. CURTAIN-RAISERS! WAIHI 11, PAEROA 3. Paeroa High School v. Waihi High School was the curtain-raiser to the senior match at Waihi, the visitors being defeated by 11 to 3. EAST 10, WEST 9. East and West third grade teams played the curtain-raiser to the junior representative match at Paeroa, the former winning after a very close game. Deyill and Thorp scored a try each for Eats and Burgess drop&ick'' ed a goal from the field. J. Verron scored two tries and T. Pennell kicked a penalty goal for West. Mr R. B. Penlington whs referee*