FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4739, 18 August 1924, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

POLAND CUP COMPETITION. HAURAKI PLAINS BEAT PAEROA. The Frank Poland Memorial Cup competition was advanced a further stage on Saturday at the Paeroa Domain, when Hauraki Plains met and defeated the Paeroa representatives. The afternoon was fine, and there was an absence of wind, but the heavy rain of the previous day left the ground in a muddy state, pools of water affording a "refreshing change for the players and at the same tim*e giving them an opportunity to wash the mud from their faces every now and again. Owing to the bad state of the roads some of the Plains players did not arrive in Paeroa until late, and as a consequence the game was late in starting. The large crowd who witnessed the match was treated to a very fair exhibition of Rugby, and there can be little doubt that the better team won. The teams were evdnly matched, and the game was fast and clean throughout, and some really good individual play was frequently seen. The Plains team showed combination, especially m the back division, but it is considered that it was Paeroa’s best effort this year. Every man was a worker, and though combination was lacking some of the individual play was good. The teams took the field as follows : Hauraki Plains.-W. Molloy, C. Molloy, C. Stretton, J. Adlum, A. Otter, F Nicoll, E. Masters, E. Ryan, D. Cowdiey/K. Fox, C. Clark, J. Millington. L. Lipscombe, O’Neill. Paeroa.—L. Shaw, W. Smith, D. Smith, J. Maloney, G. Royal, -• Piland, R. Samson, E. Cashmere, GFisher, W. Piercie, F. Patterson, T. Johnson, J. Benney, F. Fitch, Wannicott. Hauraki Plains kicked off and carried play into the home team’s twenty-five. A penalty kick by Paeroa was returned by Stretton to Royal, to be followed by another penalty to Paeroa for offside play by Ellis. C. Molloy returned to Shaw, who cleared in his own twenty-five. Paeroa worked back into neutral territory’ in loose play. Maloney received in the loose, and after a. run across the field he. passed to Royal, but the latter gave a faulty pass to D. Smith and the ba went out. Ellis received from. the throw-in and ran to Paeroa’s twentyfive, where he was brought down by Shaw. Pressure by Plains was relieved by a penalty kick to halfway. After some loose play Otter picked up and sent to Stretton, to Adlum, the latter sending out in Paeroa’s tei ritory. Following the throw-in the ball was kicked over the line and Paeroa forced. From a penalty kick by Paeroa Ryan instituted a passing bout by the Plains backs, the ball being handled by Otter, Ellis, in to Otter, to Adlum, who ran out. From the line-out another rush by Wains was negatived by Poland intercepting and kicking, to *he twentyfive flag. Cowdrey' took a mark on •he home team’s twenty-five line but failed.to score. In a loose forward rush by Paeroa the visitors were penalised for obstruction. Royal took the kick but the ball fell short and was sent out at the twenty-five. From the throw-in Millington headed a forward rush from which Poland neatly cleared. In loose play the ball was sent to C. Molloy, whose kick was blocked by Cashmore. the ball rebounding and enabling W. Molloy to clear near the corner. At this stage Stretton had to retire. His place was tilled by Ellis, and E. Perkins went on in the forwards. For a short, spell play hung in Plains’ quarter, where Poland obtained a mark but failed to

convert. The kick-off after changing over ' was scrummed, the home team securing and carrying on to the twenty-five in a loose forward rush, a penalty following to Paeroa. . Royal took the kick, but was unfortunate, as the ball hit the bar and rebounded into the field, where Nicoll secured and sent further out. With a loose rush the visitors carried down the field, and in light play in front of the posts Cowdrey was penalised. The kick was relumed and Paeroa forced. After considerable loose play Paeroa-carried in a forward rush into the visitors’ territory. Poland picked up and when on the line passed out, but Nicoll intercepted and forced. The kick-out was returned to touch in goal. Play went to Paeroa’s quarter and a force followed. Plains came again, and a forward rush was frustrated by a mark. A free-kick to the visitors immediately followed, from which Samson marked and initiated open play in midfield. The visitors again worked down to in front of the posts, where Otter picked up in the loose but lacked support, play returning to midfield. On resuming after half-time the ball went to Plains’ quarter for a short while, a penalty to the defenders clearing to halfway. Paeroa worked back in a loose rush headed by Fisher, and Plains committed a breach under the poets from which Royal converted. Paeroa 3, Hauraki Plains 0. A lengthy interchange «of kicks followed the kick-out, the ball finally being sent out in Plains’ ter- ’ ritory. Tight play inside the twentyfive line was relieved by Otter clearing to the line. . From the line-out Ellis broke away and carried on to Paeroa’s posts, but a force resutled. Paeroa then indulged in a loose rush to the other end of the field, where a knock-on negativd the movement. Paeroa immediate!}' resumed the pressure, but a breach brought relief for the visitors. Play gradually worked into Paeroa’s territory, and from a scrum the defenders were penalised. Molloy took the kick. but failed to score. The last quarter opened briskly, and after considerable play in midfield the visitors essayed a rush and were awarded a penalty in front of the pests. W. Molloy converted, making the scores three all. Play then livened up. Following the kick-out Plains returned with a loose rush to ;the corner, Poland relieving to the /twenty-five flag with a mark. After ’.J-conskierable play about Paeroa’s twenty-five several passing rushes were indulged In by the y.isitons, final-

ly ref ulting in a five-yards scrum. The defenders were penalised in the scrum and W. Molloy converted. Hauraki Plains 6, Paeroa 3. The kick-out was immediately returned to thd corner by Plains in a rush headed by Ryan. Close play followed about the home twenty-five line for some time, the ball eventually going out near halfway, when time was called. Mr R. B. Penlington was referee. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. Tlie was a match teams Notwithstanding the soft contains. Notwithstanding the soft condition of the ground a good exhibition of football was giveyi. The local boys kept tjie visitors on the defensive for the greater part of the game, and eventually proved victorious by 11 points to 3. For Piako Crawford scored a try, -while for Paeroa Pearson was successful in crossing the line twice and Johnson once. Hale converted one try. Mr E. Smith was referee.