FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4456, 21 August 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

plains beats waihl by eight points to three. A GAME IN THE WATER. Hauraki Plains defeated Waihi at Ngatea on Saturday by 8 points to 3 after a game confined .mostly to the forwards. There were two issues bearing on. the match. Firstly, it was to decide which team was to meet Thames in a Peace Cup fitxure, and, : secondly, it was a match in the Frank Poland Memorial Cup competitions. It was unfortunate that after the heavy rain during the week, and even up to the morning of the match, there were large pools of water in U.e playing area., The ball was consequently heavy, slippery, and extremely difficult to handle. The ground was also very- tricky, and the players experienced many an unexpected fallMore than one splashed through a pool of water after the elusive ball and came out dripping wet. Only for the watery nature of the field the game wouild have been an excellent exhibition of Rugby, but even as it was a very interesting display was witnessed by a fair crowd of specta- :: tors, a small proportion of whom were heard barracking strongly for Waihi. A 'number, of Thames enthusiasts were present and closely (followed the ■ movements carried out by both teamsThe Haruaki Plains team had the be.ttei of the encounter throughout, with the exception of the third quarter, when the visitors made the pace and for the first time during the game had the Plains defence properly working. The third quarter was the only period when Waihi was really dangerous, and it was then when Kuka scored Waihi’s only points with a penalty goal. The Plains points were all scored in the second quarter, when Thorburn kicked a penalty goal and Rapana scored a try, converted by ■ Thorburn, who took the kicks with extreme care. THE PLAY. From the kick off by Waihi it was evident that the ball would be very tricky. Plains were first away, and a determined rush was pulled up for a breach. Darby (Waihi) obtained ju”. inside his own half, but Thorburn’s smart tackle grounded the Waihi man, A Plains .attack and a kick by Rapana made it necessary for Waini to force. Plains kept up the pressure till a mark gave Waihi temporary relief. Play became very uninteresting in mid.-fleid till two Plains attacks made it advisable, for .Waihi to force on both occasions. A breakaway by Waihi made things, interesting. For off-side play Waihi took a free at goal, but the kick was a failure and Plains returned to the attack. D. Fox made a good opening with a long kick, the result being a scrum near the goal-line, and the slippery nature of the ball was the cause of spoiling a dangerous passing movement. Play came back to the Plains half, when the quarter ended. Waihi attacked soon after the change over and Plains forced. A penalty against Waihi gave Plains" an opportunity, apd Ellis was called upon to save for Waihi., Stretton, Garry, and Nichols figured prominently in a passing rush. Later Thorburn got away, but was collared on the line, a score being harrpwly averted and a force resulting. Plains persisted and another rush got as far as the goal-line. Waihi were penalised and Thorburn kicked a good goal. Plains 3, Waihi 0. Nichols put the Plains on the offensive, and fast following up and good work by Thorburn enabled Rapana to dash over. Thorburn's kick , hit the post and bounced" over inside. Plains 8, Waihi 0. Garry opened up a Plains offensive, and the resultant play was exceptionally fast, considering the nature of the ground. A mark intercepted another Plains attack, and'the home team Was .attacking when the bell went for half, time, with the scores still Plains ‘B, Waihi 0. Plains took the aggressive soon after the spell, and marks on the goal-line gave the defepders relief. Faulty passing by the home team gave the visitors an opportunity, and Plains forced. Waihi were now combining well, and it was only sound tackling that kept them out. Off-side play gave Waihi a free at goal. Kuka's kick was a good one, and went over. Plains 8, Waihi 3. Plains livened up, and fast following up by

Wallis took play to the visitors’ goalline. Waihi retaliated, .and an attack '-was irresistible, a force resulting. Waihi kept up the pressure, which was relieved by a free kick to the defenders, who were later penalised. Kuka’s kick at goal, though unsuccessful, was a gopd one. The Waihi forwards were now dominating the play, but a scruih near the Plains goal-line ended in favour of the defenders. The ball came back to the Waihi twenty-five, and Plains were attacking when the bell went for change over. The opening stages pfj the final quarter saw Plains, attack. At this stage McQuintol (Waihi) was removed from the field with a bone brbken in his foot. Another man was allowed to take McQuintal’s place. Plains soon took the offensive, and Wallis made a dash for the line, but was pushed out near the corner flagside play gave Thorburn apothcr chance to display his goal-kicking propensities, but the wet ball nullified the attempt. Waihi set up a determined rush, but good play hv Stretton returned the leather to the visitors’ twenty-five. A dribbling rush took play to the Waihi corner flag. Nichols returned a Waihi attack and Plains were again making the pace, but forjward play held up the attack Waihi were penalised, and on a difficult angle Thpr’curn made a good but unsuccessful attempt at goal. Plains kept up the pressure, and the defenders forced twice. Waihi made p, shortlived attack, and play was in the visitors’ half when the bell sounded fori time, Mr R. B. Penlington (Paeroa) was referee. JUNIOR MATCH. WAIHI BEATS PLAINS. Tn the junior representative match belween Hauraki Plains and Waihi, played at Waihi on Saturday, the

home team had rather an easy win by 22 points to 0. The Plains forwards appeared to advantage in the loose, but the backs were outclassed and not equal to Waihi’s tactics, PAEROA MATCHES. WEST 1.1, SUBURBS 6. A. TEAM 14, B. TEAM 0. DISAPPOINTING DISPLAYS. From the fixtures arranged for last Saturday at Paeroa it was expected that the public would be treated to some good football. Considering the merit.-, of Suburbs and West this was only natural; and as the standard of play in the junior grade is considered by a large portion of the football enthusiasts to be at least equal to that of the senior grade, the A; and B. game, the players in which were selected from the best of the juniors, should have been good enough to sal?isfy the public. But through the attitude of the players disappointment was freely expressed. As the club championships have been decided, the members of .these teams locked upon their games as practice, and treated the matter as a joke: Several players were serious and did their best, but that gave very little satisfaction to the spectators.. Players should remember that the public’ have a right to be considered. The footballers themselves receive much greater benefit by playing properly, and it would be better for all concerned to remember in future that -if the game is worth playing it is worth playing well.

Tn the senior game there were a number of players who were not trying to play, and so spoilt the game. The game finished in favpur of West, with the scores West 11, Suburbs 6. For West Pitts drop-kicked two goals from the field and Sinnett scored a try, and for Suburbs Royal and Young both scored tries. In the A. and B. match the ball was kept moving all over the field, mainly because most of the players did not try to do their best and only worked when ttiey felt inclined- The scores at the end of play were A. 14, B. 0. The first try was scored by Samson near the posts in the opening round after a good piece of work. The kick at goal failed. About half way through the second quarter Samson received near the side line about half way, and after a run up the line centred, Williams following up and scoring. W. Smith converted, making the scores 'A. 8, B, 0 Shortly afterwards three more points were added to A’s score by Killgour as a result of a loose rush. Both teams in turn had to force several times in the third spell, but no scoring was done. In the final quarter Neil opened up after a kicking bout by apssing to Smith, whb made a good run and scored in the corner. The game ended with A. defending and the scores Ai. 14, B. 0. Mr A. G. Garry was referee.

SCHOOLBOY GAMES. The Thames South school A. and B. .teams arrived in Paerba on Saturday and played teams from the local primary schoolboys. In ths A. game Paeroa had .an easy win Ly 25 to 0, and in the B. contest a drawn game was the result, with the scores three all. Master Carol Garry and Mr R. Bramley refereed the games.