FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4590, 20 August 1923, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

PAEROA DEFEAT WAIHI. ~ . i* i r *4 - ' pt A KO AND PLAINS DRAW. The inter-union competition for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup was continued last Saturday, Paeroa notching another, two point by defeating Waihi by 9 points to 3 and Plains; and Piako drawing with three’points each. PAEROA V. WAIHI. The ground, although anything but dry, and the rain which fell in the morning had turned several holes into small ponds, it was the best it has been this season. As is usual, at three o’clock the Paeroa team was several men short, none of whom had the coucresy to inform the selector of their inability to; play. It is time the officials took some step with players offending in this respect, and the strong stand taken by the Wanganui Rugby Union in a parallel case would be well followed. The game as a whole was the poorest exhibition of representative football seen in Paeroa this year. It was nothing more than a scramble, in ■which Paeroa scrambled through with the most points. Paeroa won the toss and opened with the wind at their backs. From the kick-off Paeroa had the advantage and pressed Waihi in their territory, but at no time did the attackers look like scoring. The handling of the ball by the backs was bad. and even individual efforts were feeble. Waihi offended continually with off-side play, with the result that pitts kicked two penalty goals. ' - In the second quarter Delamore, for Waihi, had several kicks at goal, but none of them crossed the bar. The Waihi forwards seemed to liven uP a little, with the result that play travelled continually up and down the field. In the scrums they were hooking the ball, but their, backs, with the exception of Williams, seem " ed to make little headway. In the second half, as the players tired, play became more straggly than ever. A forward rush by. Waihi end- . “ ed in a scramble on the line in which Williams gained possession and dived over, giving Waihi their- first score. The kick at goal failed. Paeroa 6, -Waihi 3 After this Waihi made desperate efforts to even up the score, but the tackling of some of the Paeroa backs, especially Smith and Poland, always saved the situation. Pitts also came out with some credi', for his fielding and kicking were both good. Shaw as full-back was far too , slow in getting his kick in, and several times was caught with the ball. However, Waihi’s efforts were fruitless, and Pitts kicked another goal, making the final scores. Paeroa 9, Waihi 3. On the day’s play there was, nobody who could possibly effect any alteration in the present Thames Valley team, unless the selectors take into consideration that certain players -• failed to put in an appearance. They are certainly not - going to consider players who are unreliable, as the issue at stake is too great. It is very evident that the training started so well by some players has been dropped, and the sooner it is started again better. • Training is an individual effort, and the exhibition on Saturday showed neither physical fitness nor any knowledge of the game., PIAKO V. PLAINS. There was a good attendance at the Showgrounds at Te Arpha, and the match was watched with the keenest interest. The ground was' in good order, but there were a few wet patches. A slight breeze was blowing across-field. The following were the teams : — Piako;—J. Gavin,, J. Clarkin, J. Magill, J. Samson, E. Stewart, J. Gilpin. A. Hudson, K. Atkins, T. McLaren, J. Nelson, F. Miller,, P. McLaren, P. Magill, G. Wyborn. R. Samson. Plains.—P. Clark, C. Molloy, K. Campbell, L. Berney, F. Nicoll, W. Molloy, J. Adlum, B. Wallis, R. Steedman, T. Perkins, D. Dalgpty, T. Rapana, R. Spencer, J. Millington,, D. Cowdrey. The game was fast and willing from the start. Plains won the toss F.- and Piako kicked off’ to Plains’ twenty-five, where a scrum ensued. Adlum secured and passed to W. Molloy, who kicked up-field,, but Magill saved. Spencer mulled from a Piako penalty kick and Stewart secured and carried down the field, where he was smothered by Millington, A splendid passing rush by the Plains backs saw C. Molloy collared by Gilpin on the line. Piako retaliated and carried to half-way, but Cowdrey secured and kicked up-field, Gavin finding the linenear the corner. Nicoll secured from the line-out and had a shot at goal, hut did not succeed. From the dropout th? ball went to Piako’s twentyfive line flag. Piako secured from a scrum, but wild passing enabled Plains to get the ball and rush playjto their opponents’ goal, where Gaviu saved to the line. From the scrum Miller sent to half-way, where Clarke sent out. Cowdrey marked a penalty kick by Piako, but gained no advan- -■ tage. Piako hooked froip the scrum, and Hudson kicked to W. Molloy, who sent out. A scrum eventuated from the line-out and Hudson got possession and passed to Stewart, to Gilpin, who threw forward. Nicoll got possession and kicked, and Hudson marked in a good position, but failed to convent. Gilpin returned the dropout to Adlum, who punted. Piako forwards pressed and Clarkin intercepted a pass from Campbell and kicked, C. Molloy forcing. The drop-out went to the line at half-way. A wild pass from Gilpin enabled Adlum to secure, but his pass went to the line. For a knock-on in the line-out a scrum was ordered, from which the bail went to Gilpin, who passed to Stewart. Clarke found the line. Piako attacked, but Cowdrey cleared. From a line-out near the corner C. Molloy marked and relieved to half-way. After the change over a Plains passing rush took play to their opponents’ goal, where Gavin marked. Piakq gained ground by line play, but £, Molloy marked and returned. Hard

play followed in Piako’s twenty-five, and from a line put near the comer Millington got the ball, cross-kicked to Molloy, who passed to Campbell, who cut in and scored the first try. The kick failed. Plains 3, Piako 0. The kick-out went to Plains twentyfive line flag. Millington worked .through the resultant scrum, but Stewart secured and kicked, Campbell forcing. An interchange of kicks followed the drop-out, until Nicoll found the line in his own territory. Several line-outs and scrums eventuated. The ball was thrown about a lot, but little ground was gained. A penalty kick at goal by Magill failed, Nicoll returned the kick, Clarkin finding the line. Rapana broke through and gained a lot of ground, but was stopped by Magill, who returned to Adlum who sent out. On resuming Wallis went into the Plains pack and Millington took his place as rover. Campbell and Nicoll got possession from a scrum in Plains territory, and with a clear field in front of .them set off, but were brought back when in Piako’s twentyfive by the whistle. From the free kick Plains found the line, and by line play crept up the field until Wallis found the line in Piako’s tvventyfive. A fme kick brought play back to mid-field, but Piako with the ball at toe carried play into Plains’ territory, Campbell saving from a dangerous position by finding the line. From the line-out Gilpin passed to Hudson, to Stewart, the latter being collared by Nicoll. Following a scramble in front of the posts Piako had a penalty kick, which P, Magill converted,, making the scores three al’.. Several line-outs followed the kick-out, and pressure by Plains looked dangerous, but Hudson marked and cleared to the line. Nelson broke through in the line-out, and with Miller and McLaren carried to Plains’ twentysfive, where Hudson took a mark in front of the posts but failed with the kick. During the whole of the last spell Plains defended. W. Molloy had to reHre, and G. Masters took his place. Nicoll took a mark, which Hudson returned, Adlum forcing. The drop-out was returned to the line in Plains’ territory, where the visitors .were penalised and Clarkin took a shot which Campbell marked in front of the posts. Following a kicking bout Piako started a. passing rush and crossed the line, but were penalised for obstruction. Nicoll relieved to mid-field, where another kicking bout took place. Play became fast and ex-, c.cing, the ball travelling up and down the field. Piako attacked for some time, but faulty passing threv away several chances. Two free kicks from good positions also were missel by Piako. ‘just before time Wallis relieved the situation to mid-field, the bell sounding with the scores, Plains 3, Piako 3. Mr L. Buchan was referee. Considering the prevalence of influenza on the Plains the selectors had some difficulty in gather together a team, but notwithstanding this, the team that took the field gave a good account of itself. The forwards played well, and did their share in hooking the ball in the scrums. The backs, with the exception of one or two, were good, and showed good combination. • The selector of the Piako team stated that his team could not be improved. They played well, and but for erratic passing by their inside backs would probably have been victorious. JUNIOR MATCH. The junior match for the Sharebrokers’ Cup, between Waihi and Paeroa, played at Waihi, resulted in a win for Waihi by 8 points to 5,