FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4742, 25 August 1924, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

e . CHARITY SATURDAY MATCH. PAEROA 16, V. PIAKO 3. In accordance with the wish of the N.Z. Rugby Union, the proceeds of local football attractions on Saturday were devoted to charity purposes. There was a good attendance of. enthusiasts at the Paeroa Domain to witness the Paeroa and Piako junior representatives. The weather was beautifully fine, with a slight southeasterly breeze blowing. The ground w.as dry and hard. The match commenced promptly to time, and the spectators were given a fair exhibition of rugby, the game being open and fast, and the ball was freely handled. The teams were evenly matched, but neither side displayed any great showing of combination, although at times patches of individual play were brilliant. The team.i took the. field as fpllows : Paeroa.—McKenna, O’Brien, Swann, Wells, Moore, Mead, Hardman, C. Treanor, McKee, J. Neil, R. Shaw, Denton. Nield.

Piako. —Hubert, Johnson, Towers, Watson, Mclnteer, Munro, Tremaine, Curie, J. Mace, Stace, F. Mace, Farrac. Cooper, Whitten, Auld.

Piako kicked off and Paeroa immediately attacked, the outcome being a force by Piako. Shortly after the drop-out Paeroa again advanced, and in loose play Moore obtained possession and drop-kicked a goal. Paeroa 4, Piako 0. Loose open play followed the kick-out, the ball finally resting in the home-team’s twenty-five. From a scrum a loose rush ensued until Curie picked up smartly and carried over the line. Towers failed with the kick. Paeroa 4, Piako 3. Shortly after the kick-out a penalty against the home team near halfway resulted in R. Smith snapping up the ball, and after a brief run transferring to Nield, to Neil, the latter scoring beside the posts. Moore failed to convert. Paeroa 7, Piako 3. A term of loose play was followed by a throw-in at halfway from which the ball was sent over the line by Paeroa for the visitors to force. The drop-out was scrummed, from which Paeroa hooked and the ball was passed out to O’Brien, who scored near the corner. R. Smith failed with the kick. Paeroa 10, Piako 3. After considerable loose play the ball was sent over Paeroa’s line, a force resulting. Shortly after the, drop-out a scrum was ordered on Piako’s twenty-five from which the home team took control and carried on to the line, Moore scoring. Swann failed to add the extra points. Paeroa 13, Piako 3. The drop-out resulted in a spell of loose play, in which the ball was freely handled by both sides. A fine passing rush was instituted by Piako, but only reached the corner,, the line-out resulting in Shaw clearing to neutral territory. Several free kicks then followed to Piako, the last one of which terminated in a five-yards scrum. Paeroa hooked well and Hardman carried well up the field. In the loose rush that followed Piako iswcpt down the field, Swann forcing. On resuming after half-time the visitors attacked, and after some loose play near the corner Paeroa forced- Pressure was renewed by Piako after the drop-out, but a force again resulted. With play in Paeroa’s twenty-five Towers took a penalty kick but failed to score. A period of loose play followed in neutral territory until the end of the quarter. After the change-over the home team appeared to lose its former dash, and play hovered round Paeroa’s twentyfive line for a lengthy period. Following a line-out Wells gained possession and carried into Piako’s twenty-five, where he transferred to Shaw, who carried to the line but failed to hold the ball, the visitors forcing. Paeroa returned to the attack, and in a loose rush Nield picked up in front of the posts and passed to Swann, to Wells, the latter having a clear run to score. McKenna failed with the kick. Paeroa 16 Piako 3. Open play followed, in which there were some good passing rushes. Just on the call of time considerable kicking up and down the field was indulged in until Farrac finally broke away near Paeroa’s twenty-five and with a clear run scored between the posts. Cooper failed to convert, and the game ended, Paeroa 16, Piako 6. Mr W. Bramble was referee.

PLAINS MATCHES.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS. . SENIORS : Ngatea 6, v. Hauraki West 3. Kerepeehi 6, -v. United Coast 6. Waitakaruru 18, v. Turua 0. JUNIORS: Hauraki West 6, v. Ngatea 3. The last but one of the series 'of matches arranged by the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union were played on Saturciay last and resulted in wins being secured by Ngatea, Waitakaruru in the senior compeition and Wetst juniors. Kerepeehi seniors drew with United Coast, and Turua and Kerepeehi junior teams won by default. In both grades the results of the competitions are in doubt. So far Waitakaruru leads, in the senior grade with 11 points, Kerepeehi and Ngatea each having 10 points. The three teams each have one match to play. Hauraki West is still in the running, and though it has only six points at present and one match to play, if desired it can play or claim two points from Turua and United Coast. If Wai■takaruru defeats United Coast on Saturday, September 13, it will win the cup. If Waitakaruru loses or draws the points for several teams will be equal. As there are representative matches with Waihi on Saturday next and Thames on the following Saturday it is doubtful if the competition can be finished. Already clubs are finding it very difficult to put teams on the field, as the mßki"g season has now fairly well commenced, and the difficulty will “fee go greatly in-

creased by September 13 that in all probability forfeits will, be registered. There is a wider range in the points in the junior grade. Ngatea has 13 points and one match to play, Turua 13 and two matches to play, and Hauraki West is also in the running with 10 points and three matches to play. Waitakaruru with two points and United Coast with no points are out of the running.

POLAND CUP COMPETITION.

PAEROA TEAM FOR SATURDAY. The following players have been selected'to represent Paeroa against Piako at Paeroa on Saturday next: Full-back, L. Shaw; three-quarters, j. Maloney, C. McNeil, W. Smith ; fiveeighths, I. Poland, R. Samson ; halfback, G. Royal; rover, Cashmore : forwards, G. Fisher, W. Piercie, F. Patterson, T. Johnson, J. Benney, F. Fitch, G. Neil. Emergencies: D. Smith and L. Rice (backs) ; Wannicott and P. Fisher (forwards).