PLAINS FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4728, 23 July 1924, Page 4

PLAINS FOOTBALL.

THE MATCH WITH THAMES. NO SCORE RECORDED. On Saturday last the annual football match between the Hauraki Plains and Thames unions wag played at Ngatea. Considerable interest is always taken in this match, and an additional attraction on Saturday was the fact that this was the first representative match since the new select-’ ors were appointed. However, with so few men available there could be little selection. The teams as they took the field were :—

Thames. —Full-back, K. Lockett; three-quarters, H. Bax, A. McCollum, A. Morrissey; five-eighths, G, Cosgrove, L. Hook ; half-back, J. Pratt; rover, E. Kelly ; forwards, W. Pollock, Strange, M. Hogan, Lloyd, Pollock, Abraham” H. Ensor.

Hauraki Plains —Full-back, C. Ellis; three-quarters, G. Masters, C. Stretton, Watene ; five-eighths, F. Nicoll, A. Otter, half-back, E. Masters; rover, W. Molloy ; forwards, D. Cowdrey, R. Steedman, L. Lipscpmbe, E. Cowdrey, L. Berney, L. Hunt, R. Hutchinson. The ground was In fairly good order, but there was a very strong wind blowing diagonally across ..the field. The teams were very evenly matched, and practically all the play wap in one part of the field. A friendly spirit prevailed, and though play was very willing it was particularly cleaai. The ball was thrown about well, and some splendid football was' witnessed. A few slight showers of rain fell during the game, but the ground was npt affected

Thames kicked off into the wind, and piay was in midfield until Plains secured from a line-out and competed Morri-sey to force. From the dropout play remained in Thames territory, several free kicks being returned with no advantage to either side until Plains lined near the corner. Play went right across the field, relief for Thames coming with a penalty. Plains returned to the attack and the backs in smart passing reached the line, where a hard struggle ensued until the defenders were penalised. Molloy took the shot but did not score.

After changing over Plains attacked and compelled a force down within a few moments of play. Thames, with the help of the wind, pressed strongly, close play resulting near the Plains line. Ellis got in some good work, and the home team was relieved several times by being granted free kicks. After some hard open play E. Masters marked when Thames looked particularly dangerous and sent the bail to midfield. Plains then attacked, Molloy failing with another penalty shot at goal. Open play followed in midfield until Thames worked down to the Plains line, wliere Ellis relieved. The Thames backs secured and with a passing rush reached the corner, where a free kick was awarded the visitors, but no score resulted. Otter broke away and got to halfway, and Plains failed with another pen . alty but the kick was followed up and

hard play eventuated in Thames .territory.

Plains attacked on resuming after half-time and close play occurred in the corner until the defenders broke through and reached midfield. Pollock secured and made a good rim into the home team’s twenty-five, where he was brought down by E. Cowdrey. A free kick relieved, and play was taken to the other end of the field, a five-yards scrum resulting in a force. Play came back to halfway, from where Molloy again failed with a free kick.

The last round opened with a Plains attack and play was nearer the centre of the field for a longer period than at any previous stage of the game. A good passing rush by the Thames backs took the ball to their opponents’ territory, but from a scrum in front of the posts the defenders returned to the neutral zone. An inter-, change of kicks terminated in an advantage to Plains, and a further advantage was gained with a free kicK which was followed up in a promising manner. Lockett secured and eased with a long kick, which was returned to the dead-ball line. The game ended with Thames on the defensive, no points being registered. Mr D. G. McMillan was referee. THE JUNIORS. A junior match wais played at the same time on an adjoining field and resulted in an easy win for Thames by 14 points to O'. The game was keenly contested, and very fast. The first half was even, but after halftime the Thames backs showed their superiority by, good passing runs. Poultries were secured, one of which was converted. Mr J. Kidd was referee. SCHOOL MATCH. A match between teamis representing the Ngatea and Kerepeehi schools was played on Saturday morning, the Ngatea boys winning by 6 points to 3PLAINS RUGBY UNION. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union Committee was held on Monday evening, when there were present : Messrs J. Costello( president), AV. Thompson, J. H. Nicholson, 11. Green, G. Porteous, M. Leonard, C. Bertelsen, F. Wallis, G. T. Davidson, and J. N. Anderson (secretary). INTER-UNION MATCHES. Tire Thames Valley Rugby Union forwarded the following dates for the matches in the second round of the Frank Poland Memorial’ Cup matches : August 2. —Plains v. Piako, at Te Arolia ; Paeroa v. Waihi, at Waihi. August 16.—Piako v. Waihi, at Waihi; Plains v. Paeroa, at Paeroa. August 30. —Piako v. Paeroa, at Paeroa; Waihi v. Plains, at Ngatea. The delegates to the Thames Valley Rugby Union reported on the recent meeting of the union. Several delegates commented on the fact that only one Plains man had been chosen as a player against Waikato, although the Hauraki Plains

held the cup and- had won two of the three inter--uniop matches of the present season. The opinion was expressed that Plains had several men more worthy of a place than some of those chosen, A motion was carried expressing the union’s opinion that it had not been fairly treated in the matter. BIRCH CUP. As August 30 had been set down for a match with Waihi, it was decided to ask the Thames Union if a date for the Birch Cup could be arranged during September. SCHOOL GRANT. The Thames Valley Rugby Union forwarded a cheque for £3 15s as a school grant from the New Zealand Rugby Union. AWARDING OF MEDALS. Messrs Nicholson, Thompson, and Wallis were appointed .to select the players to receive the medals donated for the best forward and the best back among the Plains players. PUNISHMENT OF PLAYERS. Arising out of the reading of the referees’ reports was a matter ofi a player who had been ordered off the field for swearing and who had played the following Saturday in the representative team. No meeting of the union had been held in the meantime, and the selectors were not aware that Steedman had been suspended. It was decided that the secretarywrite to Steedman conveying tiie union'es reprimand. In regard to C. Clark, who had been ordered off for threatening behaviour, it was decided that he also be reprimanded. REPRESENATTION. A question was asked in regard to the continual non-representation of a certain club at meetings of the union, and it was pointed out that this was a matter for the club concerned to deal with. DONATO INS. A vote of thanks to Messrs Innes and Herkt, of Kerepeehi, for having donated the proceeds of a picture entertainment was carried. PIAKO MATCH. The secretary was instructed to make arrangements for the match agaiiust Piako on August 2, and the selectors were insti'ucted to publish the team on Monday next. BADGES. The secretary was instructed to procure badges for the union officials.