FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4597, 5 September 1923, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

POLAND CUP COMPETITION. WON BY HAURAKI PLAINS. The decisive match for the Fran a Poland Memorial Cup was played at Ngatea on Saturday and resulted in Plains defeating Paeida by six points to nil, thereby winning the competition. The • ground was in good order, but a strong gusty wind blew diagonally across the field. There was a fair attendance of spectators, and a fast, open game was witnessed. The teams were evenly matched and played clean games. The teams took the field as follows :— Paeroa.— K. Dean ; threequarters, L. Shaw, I. Pdland, A. Morrison ; five eighths, A. Williams, D. Smith ; half-back, C. Poland; rover, F. Pitts ; forwards, G. Fisher, L. Killgour, H. Shaw, T, Johnson, W. Taylor, F. Patterson, J. Crosby. Hauraki Plains. —Full-back, J. Adlum ; three-quarters, K. Campbell, W. Molloy, C. Molloy; five-eighths, F. Nicali, C. Strdt.ton; half-back, A. Otter; rover, Perkins ; forwards, B. Wallis, K. Fox, L, Fisher, J. Millington, T. Rapana, D. Cowdrey, R. Steedman. Paeroa won the toss and elected to play with the wind in theiri favour. Plains kicked off, and Paeroa rushed play into t,he Plains quarter, ,where from a line-out Smith and I. Poland made a passing rush, but were stopped by Campbell, who kicked to the dead-ball line. The drop-out was returned by C. Poland to Adlum, who sent out in plains territory. An interchange of kicks followed until Adlum carried the ball back over the line and a five-yards scrum resulted. The ball went to Penkins, who relieved. From a scrum which followed C. Stretton found the line near the corner. Smith secured, but was brought do.wn by Campbell. Nicoll sent the ball up-field, where, from a line-out. Plains had a free kick, but it was returned to half-way, Paeroa pressed with a passing rush, but Adlum saved, and after an interchange of kicks the ball went out in Paeroa’s territory. Taylor secured from a line-put and had a clear run, but was overtaken by Campbell, who secured and cleared. Poland broke through from a scrum and carried play to the Plains twenty five line, where Wallis was penalised for off-side play, but Dean failed with the kick and Plains forced. A scrum, at half-way followed the drop-out. Taylor marked and sent, the ball to Wallis,, who, with Rapana, took play up-field,, where an interchange of kicks terminated in Stretton marking in the home team’s .twenty-five.. The Paeroa backs indulged in a passing rush, but Campbell forced. The. drop-out went to the lino at balf-way, and from the loose Nicoll punted. Plains followed up and a forward gained possession and cross-kicked to Campbell, wo picked up and scored. W. Molloy failed to convert. Plains 3, Paeroa 0. The kick-out went to the line, and following the line-out Stretton secured and passed to Molloy. Dean secured and gave a long kick, Adlum touching down.

After changing over Paeroa found the line. W. Molloy with a free kick sent out at half-way. From the scrum C. Molloy marked, but the ball was sent hack to Fox, who opened up a rush by Plains which compelled Pitts to force. Molloy returned the dropout, and following, up his kick collared Morrison and sent the ball to the line, Paeroa forcing. Hard play followed in mid-field until Perkins gained possession and carried play to the visitors’ twenty-five, from where Plains sent out near the’corner with a penalty kick. The defenders obtained the ball and sent up-fleld, but were stopped by Cowdrey. Off-side play gave Plains a free kick, but Fisher failed to convert. Paeroa followed up the dropout and carried the ball to the Plains quarter, where Ot.ter saved with a long kick. A kicking bout terminated with the ball, going out in Plains’ territory. Up and down play was indulged in until Cowdrey retired, V. Dent taking his place. From a line-out in Paeroa’s twentyfive Johnson .sent) the ball up the field to Adlum. After a number of kicks Adlum marked in his own twenty-five. Off-side play by Wallis gave Paeroa a free kick, the ball going. out in the home team’s territory. Crosby-broke through in the line-put, and in loose play the ball was sent out in. touch. A scrum in Plains’ territory followed the drop-out from which Paeroa hooked and started an ait,tack, but faulty passing' gave Plains a penalty kick. With Plains attacking Poland kicked to the touch in goal. The visitors were defending when half-time was called.

The second half opened with a kicking bout until Williams carried play to Plains’ territory, where a scrum was prdered. For a knock on Paeroa suffered a penalty, Pitts marking the kick in a good position. His attempt at goal fell short and Plains forced. & scrum, at half-way followed the drop-out. Paeroa hooked, but. lost to Perkins, steedjnan took play up-fleld, but the ball was sent out in Plains’ territory after an interchange of kicks. Wallis secured from the line-out and passed to C. Molloy, the latter opening an attack which Wes spoilt by off-side play. From a line-out Stretton secured and passed to Nicoll, to Molloy, to Campbell, who ran up the line and passed, in to Dent. Pi'eroj, forced. The dropt-out was returned by Adlum to micl-field. After several penalty kicks by Plains Shaw obtained possession and. with a good run reached Plains’ tjventy-flve line, where Adlum secured, and cleared.

A penalty was awarded ito Paeroa from the line-put, but Dean’s kick at goal failed and Molloy forced. Paeroa attacked .strongly and after a lengthy period of tight play were awarded a free kick in a good position, but Poland failed to convert and Plains forced. The droptout was returned, but Otter secured and passed to Molloy, to Wallis, who carried up-field and reached Dean, whp found the line at half-way, With a penalty kick Stretton snbt, out in Paeroa’s territory, Rapana knocked on and the ball was sent out at the other

end of the field by Adlum. A passing rush by Nicoll, and the two Molloys put Paeroa on the defence, but Wallis was penalised for off-side play when in .a good position. Paeroa attacked from the opening of the final round,, Otter clearing in Plains territory. A' knock-on in the line-out gave Pitts a free kick, which was followed by a scrum near the corner. Wallis secured and relieved t,o the twenty-five flag. Play went across the field and Stretton sent up tn halfway, where Pitts carried out. Rapana passed to Perkins from the lineput, the latter sending on to Stretton, who carried the ball to near the posts. An obstruction took place asid Plains gained a penalty kick which Molloy sent over. Plains 6, Paeroa 0. From a line-out at half-way Paeroa attacked, but Adlum sent out at the twenty-five flag. The pressure was kept up.and Plains forced. An interchange of kicks followed :the drop-out until Adlum marked and saved a danger-’ ous situation, paeroa had a penalty kick, which Plains forced. The dropout was returned by Morrison to Stretton, who knocked on. From the ensuing scrum Plains gained a free kick, which was sent out at halfway. Plains pressed, but Williams returned to mid-field, where I. Poland with the ball at his feet took play tp Adlum, who relieved to the line. Following a scrum Smith intercepted a pass, but was collared by Campbell and lost the ball on the line. Stretton relieved and play went to mid-field, where it remained until time was called. Mr R. Phelan was referee.