PLAINS FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4737, 13 August 1924, Page 2

PLAINS FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. Inter-club footbail under the con-, trol of the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union was continued on Saturday la®t in ideal weather, and some splendid games were witnessed. WAITAKARURU V. HAURAKI WEST. This match was played at Patetonga and proved very fast and interesting. The ground was in good order, the sun. and the sun shining across the field gave advantage to neither side. The teams were very even, though the Waitakaruru backs wre superior to those of the home team, whose forwards, however, were the better. Up to the call, of time it was anybody’s game. The teams were as follows : Waitakaruru.—A. Hamilton, W. Ryan, C. Stretton, L. Coxhead, A. Otter, F. Stretton, K. Caie, E. Perkins, A. Craig, L. Williams, L. Hunt, CClarke G. Coxhead, L. Berney, R. McPherson.

Hauraki West.—E. Costello, F. Costello. G. Paton. G. Merriman, J. Millington, J. Mark, Nolan, J. Garry, D. Cowdrey, E. Cowdrey, R. Binny, D. Tuhoe, J. Foote, J. Milne,. B. Wallace. Waitakaruru kicked off and took play to the twenty-five line. West forwards with solid tackling worked play down the field and E. Cowdrey got the ball, over the line, but a fiveyards scrum was ordered. Hard play ensued on the line until Waitakaruru forced. After more tight play in neutral ground West gained the advantage and Waitakaruru forced. From tlie drop-out Waitakaruru attacked, and very fast open play ranged from one end of tlie field to the other until West forced. Tlie ispell ended witli play in midfield. Early in the second round Waitakaruru forced again. The drop-out was followed up, F. Stretton and Otter getting in some good work, but West proved equally as good on defence as on attack, and Waitakaruru soon had

to defend. C. Stretton marked in a dangerous position and lined. West had a penalty kjek but E. Cowdrey failed to score. Play remained in the visitors’ quarter until the ball was forced. Waitakaru then advanced, and close play eventuated in West’s territory until half-time was called. The second half opened with hard play in neutral territory, West gradually gaining ground until Waitakaruru forced. Waitakaruru made a determined effort and reached West’s territory, where C. Stretton attempted a goal and West forced. Attack and defence tactics alternated quickly until Waitakaruru forced. A passing rush by the visiting backs took play to the opposing quarter, where the defenders marked from a line out and returned play to midfield. In the final round Clarke marked and Waitakaruru followed up, but Costello was safe. From a line-out at halfway West carried to Waitakarurn’s line, where hard close play en-. sued until McPherson relieved from a very light corner. Millington made an opening and a passing rush by the backs took play back into Waitakaruru’s territory, where Berney relieved. From a line-out at halfway Binny secured, passed to Tuhoe, to Costello, who scored between the posts after a good run. E. Cowdrey failed to vert. West 3, Waitakaruru 0. After fast open play in neutral ground Waitak'aruru got down the field, but Millington marked under the posts and cleared. Play remained in the home team’s twenty-five until a long kick found the line well up the field, the game ending with the scores unchanged. Mr J. N.' Anderson was referee.