PLAINS FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4707, 4 June 1924, Page 1

PLAINS FOOTBALL.

THE MATCH AT NGATEA. PLAINS 3, PIAKO 0. Oi’. Saturday Ijist the Hauraki Plains representative team met and defeated Piako at N’gatea in the first round of this season's frank Poland Memorial Cup competition. Very heavy rain fell just prior to the match, but the ground was in very good order. The ball, however, was hard to handle. The game was my fast and open, and was chiefly confined to the forwards. As many of the local players were late in arriving the match was JO imnulcs late in commencing. The Plains men were all up to form, and kept their opponent'- continually on the defensive. 'The forwards played good football, Wallis, Ellis, and Ryan being conspicuous in fast and consistent following up. Molloy played a good game, hut Nicoll w r as undoubtedly the best back on the field. The Piako team contained some good men, the rover and fullback being conspicuous. . At the conclusion of. the game the teams were entertained to tea in the Ngatea Hall by the ladies of Ngatea. THE GAME. The teams took the fields as follows: Piako.—-Full-back, S. Gf-ldsbury; three-quarters, F. Miller, A. Gemmel, J. Magill; five-eighths, W. Voysey, E. Stewart; half-back, A. Gray.; rover, F. Goldsbury forwards, T. McCarthy, N. Young, A. McLaren, T. Mcl.nnes, J. McLaren, N. Swney, H. Rbsenfeldt. Plains.—Full-back, N. Costello; three-quarters, Molloy, J. Adluin, Mark; five-eighths, C. Stretton, F. Nicoll; half-back, E. Masters ; rover, L Ryan ; forwards, D. Cowdrey, J. Millington, E. Cowdrey, L. Lipscombc, K. Fox. C. Ellis, B. Wallis. Plains kicked off with the wind slightly in their favour. Play was in midfield until Masters got in a long kick and followed up on his own arid scored an unexpected try. Wallis fa.il!t* convert. Plains 3, Piako 0. Open play followed the kick-out until Piako made a passing rush, but Ellis intercepted and eased the situation. A penalty kick by. Piako went to Stretton who took the ball up the field and passed to Molloy, who punted. Plains followed up to the line, where a. penalty relieved for Piako. The visitors pressed back to midfield, where they were awarded a free kick, wnich went to Stretton, who initiated a passing rush which carried play well into Piako’s territory. From a line-out the defenders forced. Several scrums followed the drop-out, Piako gaining the advantage. From a line-out Wallis secured and led the pack through to Piako’s twenty-five line. A passirig rush by Plains ended in*Piako securing a penalty kick which sent play back into neutral territor, but the Plains forwards returned with the ball at their feet, and open play eventuated in Piako’s territory until the call of'time. Masters secured from the kick-off, and after a good run passed to Wallis, who carried the'ball into Piako’s territory. Following an interchange of kicks and a line-out Piako "took a .mark at halfway . and followed u,p. Goldsbury niade a good run arid-car-ried play to the home team’s twentyfive, where close play ensued until Nicoll relieved to the line at halfway. Close play, in midfield followed, with much line ..play in which; Plains had the. advantage.- . Rosenfeldt made a good run, but had no support and the advantage was lost. A. series Of long •kicks terminated in a line-put, in the home team’s territory fFom which Piako gained a free kick, but failed to score. . Masters returned the ball, and by following up Plains carried • play into midfield. A fine passing rush by the Piako three-quarter line ■was stopped by Masters. Ellis led • the forwards into Piako’s twenty-five, where close play ensued, until halftime. On resuming Plains followed up the opening kick, and carried on into the -visitors’ quarter, Piako eventually forcing. Lipscombe failed to score with, a penalty kick, but Plains followed up and close play took place under Piako’s posts until Gemmel made an opening Magill relieved after a ne.at piece of work. Molloy took a drop-kick at goal but failed. Plains i eturned to the attack with a penalty kick, arid after a tussle in the corner Piako forced. Plains returned to the attack, and Stretton made a good run,’bitt lost the advantage through not passing. A Piako player secured and reached halfway before he was brought down. After an interchange of kicks a mark by Piako was followed up, and play ed the halfway line for the first time in that spell. Another bout of long kicks terminated in Piako’s territory, Ryan doing good work. Tight play followed near the goal-line, and after a five-yards scrum Piako forced. ? The final round started with play in Piako’s territory, but Rosenfeldt brought the ball back. Piako reached the home team’s twenty-five, where line play ensued. & penalty Kick temporarily relieved, but Piako returned to the attack and Plains forced. Ariother attack’was withstood by Plains, and play went back to midfield. With a penalty kick Plains then advanced into Piako’s territory, the defending full back relieved, but Molloy returned and Piako forced. Following some long kicks Piako entered Plains’ territory, but Adlum relieved and Ryan carried on to the other twenty-five flag A penalty to Piako terminated a struggle near Piako’s Ihte, and after an interchange of kicks Costello forced. Play was in neutral territory when time was called. Mr J. N. Anderson wjjs referee,