FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4466, 13 September 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

FRANK POLAND MEMORIAL CUP. WON BY PIAKO. The final round of the Thames, Valley intersnion matches for the Frank ■ Poland Memorial Cup was played on Saturday, Waihi and Piako playing at Te Anoha and Paeroa and Hauraki Plains at' Paeroa.- 'Piako defeated Waihi by 9 points to 5, and Paeroa . scored 8 points to Hauraki Plains’ 3. Piako held the lead from Paeroa by two points in the competition, which meant that Waihi and Paerpa had to win on Saturday to give Paeroa a chance to win the cup by playing off with Piako. As the task was too big for Waihi the Cup goes to Piako as the champion sub-union this season. PAEROA V,. PLAINS MATCH. The attendance was very poor at. the Paeroa-Plains match in the Domain, the disappointing exhibitions given of late probably having some bearing in this respect. Paeroa showed very little if any improvement on Saturday, the tackling especially being awful, and the Plains team was unfortunate in being defeated, for it was more often on the attack than Paeroa and made more and better openings, but the luck was with Paeroa. - For the winners Poland was easily the best b.ack. McNeil improved on his play of the previous Saturday. The forwards were better than their opponents and were responsible for winning the match. There were no loafers, and the outstanding man was Benney. Cashmbre made a good rover. For Plains Nichols, Thorburn, and Stretton were the pick of the. backs, while McMahon and Newdick were about the best of the forwards. Stretton on his game on Saturday is .easily the bes.t full-back seen out this season, being a good tackler, quick bn his feet, fast, and can handle the ball. Stretton would be seen to better advantage closer up.: Adlam and Wallis (wing three-quarters) were Very patchy. McMillan (centre) was hardly strong enough for the position. Nichols and Garry, the two fiveeighths.. did good work, especially the former. Garry had a tendency to hold the ball too* long, and through this failing practically lost two tries for Plains. Thorburn, the half, should be picked in the team tp.play Waikato next Saturday. THE GAME. Plains kicked off, a. scrum following on Paeroa’s twenty-five line/ From a line-out shortly afterwards the Plains forwards started a loose rush and reached their objective, Newdick scoring. Thorburn failed with the kick. Plains 3. Paeroa 0. Paeroa followed up the kick-but, but Garry returned tc the other twenty-five and put Plains bn the attack. Strenuous defence by Paeroa was relieved by Plains gaining a penalty kick, which Clark failed to convert. After some loose play Plains started another rush, but Poland cleared with a mark. Dean then had an unsuccessful shot at • goal from half way. Offside play by Nichols in front of the posts gave Dean an easy kick, which he convert- ' ed. Plains 3, Paeroa 3. Close fbr- . ward play about half way terminated with, Pitts marking and having an unsuccessful kick at goal. The second quarter opened with the forwards having a tight scramble, which continued for some time. Paeroa gained the advantage and made a forward move, but offside play relieved. Adlam made a bad kick and gave Taylor an opportunity, but ne attempted to drop-kick a goal and failed. Plgins then set up a determined offensive and Paeroa had to force twice in quick succession. Nichols returned the drop-out again, but Pitts found the line at the quarterAvay flag. Plains kept up the pressure until offside play gave the defenders a chance to clear. Adlam fielded the ball and just missed a drop-kick at goal. Halftime arrived with, play in neutral zone. Paeroa forwards advanced after the spell, Nichols giving temporary relief by marking. Benney returned the mark and put Paeroa on the attack. A bad kick to the line by Plains gave Poland an opening, but he lost the ball in the act of scoring and Plains forced. Cashmore returned the dropout, but the ball was sent over the d.ead-iball line. A penalty kick at goal by Clark ended open play in midfield. The kick fell short and Dean returned to the half-way flag. Bennev broke away from the line-put and carried well into Plains territory. After passing he again got possession and kicked out to the wing. Poland gathered up and scored a nice try. Dean converted and. made the 1 scores, Paeroa 8. Plains 3. Loose play in neutral territory resulted in Stretton running up and starting a Plains passing bout which reached Paeroa’s twentyfive. An unconverted penalty kick was returned by Pitts to half way. In the final quarter Plains opened up the game, the backs handling the ball well. Thorburn started a passing rush, but a throw forward pulled them up. With the pressure on Plains had a good opportunity, but Garry was »oo selfish and held bn to the ball when he had half a dozep men lined out in support ,and onjy two men to beat. The pressure was maintained until Nichols failed with- a penalty kick and Paerop, forced. Stretton set the Plains backs going from' the dropout to-Paeroa’s. twenty-five, but the home forwards, headed by Taylor, returned to the other end of the field. Nichols immediately sent back into Paeroa’s territory and ,hand an unsuccessful penalty kick at goal. From a scrum at half way McMahon dribbled the ball to Paeroa’s goal-line, a fiveyards scrum resulting. The defending forwards pushed down-field, but Plains immediately returned and had Paeroa in a critical position on several occasions before the game ended. Time was called with the scores, Paeroa 8, Plains 3.