FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4598, 15 August 1923, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

PEACE CUP MATCH. CAMBRIDGE DEFEAT PAEROA. At Cambridge on Saturday tne Cambridge representatives defeated Pfieroa, their first challengers for the Peace Cup. The weather was fine, and the field was in good condition. There were about 700 spectators present to witness the match, which was a fast pne throughout, although very one-sided. Paeroa won the toss and defended the southern goal with a strong wind at. their backs. The game opened up fast, and there seemed very little difference in the teams, Paeroa making several strong attacks, one of which looked like resulting in a score, but Peake cleverly saved. Play was then brought back to Paeroa’s twenty-five, and Cambridge pressed hard, but a free kick brought relief. Play raced up and down the field for the remainder of the quarter, which ended without a score. Soon after the change over,- Cambridge got going with a fine forward rush, and B. Hall crossed ihe line and scored the first try. W. Vcysey converted. Cambridge 5, Paeroa 0. After some give and take play Paeroa got into difficulties., and after several scrums the ball came out to the Cambridge backs and Butler, L. BOurke, Thompspn, and W. Voysey all took pat’t,, but Paeroa saved and play was sent across to the centre of the field, from where Voysey landed a good penalty goal. Cambridge 8, Paeroa 0. Play was taken down to the Cambridge end, but from there W. Bourke made a splendid run and, kicking over the heads of the Paeroa backs, went close to scoring. Cambridge was having the better of the game, both forwards and backs playing with good combination. With Paeroa defending desperately D. Bourke picke t up and scored aagin for Cambridge. L. Bourke’g kick was unsuccessful. Cambridge 11, Paeroa 0. Upon resuming after half-time play was confined to the Paeroa end, and from a scrum Cleaver shot the ball out to McMillan, who sent it on to L. Bourke,, who was pushed out at the corner flag. From the throw-in the ball was kicked into touch in goal. Almost immediately afte’’wards WBourke broke and scored for Cambridge. W, Voysey converted. Cambridge 16, Paeroa 0From the kick-out L. Bourke took the ball on the full and made a great run down the line,, but was thrown out. From a.scrum five yards out the Paeroa forwards broke away with a good rush, but were stopped by Thompson,, who relieved with a welljudged kick to the line. The last quarter started in favour of who looked like scoring three times in quick succession, but play was forged back again to midfield. From a scrum Cleaver shot the ball out to W. Voysey, who passel to M'cMillan, to L. Bourke, who passed back again to McMillan, but a scrum was given for a knock-on. from which the ball went out to Paeroa, who forced. When play was going again Butler picked up and passed to L. Bourke, to Thompson, who scored a clever try. Voysey failed to convert. Cambridge 19, Paeroa 0. After some give and take play Butler made a smart run, and beating all but the full-back passed to McMillan, who scored another try for Cambridge. Voysey converted, and the game ended : Cambridge 24, Paeroa 0. Mr A. R. Thomas was referee. PLAINS MATCHES.

CLUB FINALS. WAITAKARURU 6, NGATEA 0. ' The final of the club competition, on the Plains was played at Waitakaruru on Saturday last, when Ngatea and Waitakaruru met. Unfortunately the field was very wet and slippery, so that scientific football could not be played. On the whole the teams were evenly matched, and a hardfought game resulted. The teams took the field as follows : Waitakaruru. —C, Clark, L. Rerney, C. Stretton, B. Wallis, A. Otter, GBuchanan, A. Thorburn, T. Lang, R. Slack, H. Dalgety, D. Dalgety, C. Clarke, H. Coxhead, W. O’Neill, E. Perkins. , ’ Ngatea.—R, McGuire, C. Molloy, F. Nicol, K. Campbell, C. Ellis, W. Molloy, W. Tanner, R. Jobe, W. Jlohnson, J. Reid, R. Spencer, N. Spencer, P. Leonard, L. Lipscombe,, J. Ivan. Waitakaruru kicked off against the wind, and the ball went out at halfway. From the throw-in a, scrum, ensued from, which Ngatea hooked, and carried to Waitakaruru’; quarter, where Wallis marked and sent to the line. A scrum was ordered,, from which Ngatea gained a penality and found the line inside twenty-five. Up and down play was followed by a number ~of Hne-oUtS; about half way until Waitakaruru forwards broke away with the batt at their feet, a five-ynrds scrum ensuing. a penalty kick by Ngatea was returned, and from a scramble iifiar the line H, Dalgety scored. C. Clarke failed with the kick. Waitakaruru 3, Ngatea 0. From the kick-out play centred in midfield until the Ngatea backs carried play to Waitakaruru’ l : twenty-five, where W. Molloy took a mark. Ngatea pressed, and Campbell and Molloy started a passing rush, but were forced out. From the lineout the defenders cleared and sent play to the other end of the field. Waitakaruru were attacking, when the quarter ended. The second quarter opened with play in neutral territory, where there were many free kicks and scrums for breaches. Finally Ngatea gained the advantage in a line-out and carried play to the corner. A scrummage ensued, and C. Molloy took a drop-kick at goal, but failed, Waitakaruru forcing. After the drop-ouu Ngatea with a passing rush reached Waitakaruru’s twenty-five. Play was confined to that quarter for some time, but at half-time it was in midfield. On resuming C, Stretton took the place of Otter, who retired, and H. Buchanan went on at centre-three-I quarter. An interchange of kicks I

followed the kick-off until Ngatea attacked, but Stretton returned to Ngatea’s territory. A penalty kick relieved, but Waitakaruru returned to Ngatea’s twenty-five flag. Line play near Waitakaruru’s twenty-five flag was terminated by the home forwai’ds breaking through to half-way, to be immeditaely followed by Ngatea finding the line near t.hecorner. A great deal of line play followed in Waitakaruru’s half of the field until W, Molloy took a penalty kick at goal. The ball did not go over, and Waitakaruru forced. Campbell returned the drop-out to Wallis, who sent the ball well up the field. A penalty relieved for Ngatea. Campbell sent down to half way, but a long kick returned play to Ngatea’s territory. The quarter ended with play in Ngatea’s quarter.

The final round opened with Ngatea attacking. Hard, play was terminated by Thorburn sending down the field. After a kicking bout the Ngatea backs carried play to their opponent's territory, but P. Clark cleared to the twenty-five flag. The ball was sent up to half way by Thorburn. Wai-tal-aruru attacked, Nicoll eventually forcing. The home team contained to attack, and Ngatea again forced. With Waitakaruru still attacking Nicoll attempted to find the line, but Perkins took the ball on the full and scored. C. Clarke failed to convert. Waitakaruru 6, Ngatea 0. Play was restricted to Ngatea’s half of the field for the remainder of the game. Mr A. W. Dunstan, of Waihi, was referee.

Clark, the Waitakaruru full-back, was very safe. L. Berney is a promising player, very safe and collars well. C. Stretton was not up to his past form. Wallis’ speed stood his team in good stead. Otter was shaping well until he retired. G, Buchanan played a solid game, and Thorburn wa° up to his usual good form and made many openings. Lang did not seem up to form. R. Slack played a fair game, while the fast following up of H. Dalgety was a feature. D. Dalgety was conspicuous for continual off-side play. C. Clarke was good in the line-outs. H. Coxhead showed promise. W. O’Neill is a hard worker. Perkins was undoubtedly the outstanding forward on the field. The Ngatea full-back, McGuire, and the half, Tanner, were not up io senior form. The play of the threequarter line was a feature of the game. Ellis played a good game, but W. Molloy was a bit off colour. Jobe showed an improvement on hi,s past form. Johnson was good in the loose, and J. Reid proved , a good addition to the team. The Spencer brothers played a solid game. P. Leonard was fair, while the hookers, Lipscombe and Ivan, did their work well.

EXCURSION TO COROMANDEL. . On Saturday last the Kerepeehi' footballers made a trip by launch to Coromandel to try conclusions with the representatives of that union. Leaving Kerepeehi about 7.30 a.m., Coromandel was reached about 12.30 after a smooth but chilly trip. After lunch the team was conveyed by motor to Gorrie’s paddock, which, after the mud patches that pass for football grounds on the Plains, appeared like a bowling green. Here the Coromandel representatives, who had beaten the Thames “B” team the previous Saturday by 12 to 0, were lined out. The Kerepeehi-ites knuckled down to a hard game, and soon had their opponents on the defensive. Play, however, ranged up and l down the field until a penalty kick taken by Fisher was converted. Resuming, Kerepeehi were almost immediately penalised and W. Steedman piloted the oval over the bar. The first spell ended with the scores three all. Early in the .second quarter the Coromandel forwards rushed play into , the visitors’ territory, and a free kick being awarded, W. Steedman again landed a splendid goal from near half way. The Plainsmen made some fine passing efforts, which the Coromandel forwards neutralised, and with Reid leading got the ball across the line, but Murphy forced. The visitors, playing with great dash, opened up a strong attack, backs and forwards handling the ball in a brisk passing movement. Finally Hurikino secured from a throw-in and, forcing his way across, scored the first try in the game. The kick was resultless. At half-time the scores were six all. Play in the third quarter had gone about a minute when. Kerepeehi made a determined dash, throwing the ball about until it reached R. Steedman on the wing, who ran in at the corner and secured a try. Fisher failed to convert. Snapping up the kick-out the Plainsmen dashed in to repeat the trick, but were pulled up for an infringement. Coromandel witii the ball at toe got to Kerepeehi’s line, a fiveyards scrum resulting. Coromandel gained a free kick, but failed to score. After being compelled to force the Coromandel forwards worked past half way, and after a fine passing rush looked like scoring, but were called back for an infringement. In the last quarter Kerepeehi battled hard to secure winning points, compelling Coromandel to force after a few minutes’ play. Returning to the Attack Carr marked, but his kick from a ; good position was not successful The Coromandel forwards took pW to Adlum, who marked and relieved, blit the home team kept up the pressure, and being awarded a free kick M or S an converted with a splendid kick,. bringing the scores again level. The ball travelled up and down the field, Coromandel being at one time c »n»P elled to £orce and Kerepeehi faili ng to kick a goal. Mr A. J- Dilla ’•more, of Thames, was referee. The game was f as t forward one, and became very willing in the lasu spell. The Kerep eehi forwards were undoubtedly supei "ior, though Coromandel had some good mon. After the match t ‘be Kerepeehi boys wore entertained to 1 a banquet and given free passes to the pictures and to a dance. On Sundr ty morning those who desired it were te (ken ’’or a motor spin to see the surro undins country. The Kerepeehi-ites. speak very highly of the "treati nent accorded them by the people of porpmandel.