FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4576, 18 June 1923, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

HAURAKI PLAINS' V. PAEROA. VISITORS WIN BY 14 TO 3. The Frank Poland Memorial Cup competition was continued on Saturday, when the Plains fifteen met the local team on the Domain ground. The field was in a very bad state, ahd this was largely the cause of the poor exhibition given. As things were, the visitors showed a better allround knowledge of Rugby than the home team, and also gave an indication of what they could do on a good field and in fine weather. The backs were better in every way than the local ones, and in loose play the forwards also showed to advantage against the opposing vanguard. In tight play the Paeroa forwards held their own, and in the scrum work they bested the Plains men and hooked the ball practically every time. Tn the Plains backs W. Molloy and Nicoll were outstanding, the former being very sound on the defence. In the forwards Morley and Pentecost headed an even pack. In the Paeroa team Smith was the best back, and Fisher easily led the forwards, with Benjamin, a very handy man, next on the list. -The following were the teams; — Plains.—Stretton, Campbell, W. Molloy, Adlum, Nicoll, C. Molloy; Masters, Steedman, Morley, Millington, Pentecost, Wallis, Fox, Taylor; Cowdrey. Paeroa. —Rae, Royal, Bennett, Shaw, Poland, Smith, Asher, Johnson, Fisher, Samson, Carrick, Patterson, Taylor, Benjamin, Benny. The kick-off by Paeroa was returned, the ball going out. Plains again sent down, Shaw clearing to the twenty-five flag. Taylor got offside, and s W. Molloy had a kick at goal, but failed to convert. A 1 penalty kick by Asher was followed up by Johnson, ivho gained about 30 yards for Paeroa. but Plains immediately retrieved the lost ground with a free kick. The game settled dowii to loose, play ,in mid-field for a time, Smith changing the tactics by breaking away and punting up the field. W. Molloy-mark-ed Smith’s kick , ahd so rallied his forces, and play was returned to halfway. A tight. Struggle near the side line was abruptly settled by Royal Charging through the thick of it with the ball ? and kicking -along the ground up the line.’ Stretton* however, was equal to the and after a short tussle sent the ball out. A punting exhibition then took place in the neutral/ zone* the last punt being a long one by Stretton which put the home team on the defence. A breach in a scrum near Paeroa’s line gave the defenders a chance to relieve the situation, but the kick was the forerunner of several more punts, the'last one by Paeroa being marked by W. Molloy, who converted. Plains 3, Paeroa 0. The second round opened with loose forward play, Benny doing good Solo work fbr Paeroa in the open. The game was being , fought , cut on the visitors’ twenty-five line when W. Molloy With a nicely placed kick sent the ball up the line. Rae charged down on the leather, but oven-ran it, and Wallis, who was following up, got possession an'd, with a clear field, scored between the posts. Molloy failed-with the kick. Plains 6, Paeroa o.| Immediately after the dropout Plains set up a loose forward rush which reached Paeroa’s line, but a penalty relieved. Poland (Paeroa) had to retire, and Morrison later came on in his place. Plains soon returned to the attack, and another loose rush saw C. Molloy cross the line .and add another three points to the Plains score. W. Molloy again failed to convert. Plains 9, Paeroa 0. The local players livened up a bit, and Benny led an advance into - Plains territory, but C. Molloy relieved to the line. Johnson was responsible for bringing play back to the visitors’' line, and after several line scrums Fisher got over. Rae failed io convert. .Plains 9, Paeroa 3. Half-time came with Plains defending. Soon, after commencing the second half Plains had a free kick and play went into Paeroa’s territory. The local team worked back; to halt-way by line play, playing a close game the Paeroa forwards worked up the field to within a few yards of their opponents’ goal-line, in the ensuing struggle Royal received injuries and had to retire. Cashmore took his place. Play came back to mid-field, and Asher was doing some pretty work, but it was very ineffective. The Paeroa backs attempted to do some passing, but the Plains forwards smothered them and gained control of the ball. However, Rae saved the situation by finding the line. A long throw-in gave Morrison an opening, and he sent the ball well up the field. . After a number of kicks the ball went out at half-way. Plains started a rush from the throw-in which ended in a force. Paeroa opened the last round with an attack* but it broke down and play came back to mid-field. In a scrum near half-way the Plains pack broke through and with an irresistible rush crossed Paeroa’s line, Morley scoring. W. Molloy converted. Plains 14, Paeroa 3. For the remainder of the game play settled on Paeroa’s twenty-five line and no further points were scored. Mr R. B. Penlington was referee. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. The West v. Netherton junior game, played as a curtain-raiser/ resulted in a win for the former by 6 points to 5 after a very spirited contest. W Nicholls kicked two goals for West, and L. Potter scored, and bis brother converted for Netherton. Mr B. Neil was referee.