FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4746, 3 September 1924, Page 2

FOOTBALL

POLAND CUP COMPETITION. WON BY HAURAKI PLAINS. The decisive match of the Frank Poland Memorial Cup competition was played at Ngatea on Saturday last and resulted in the Hauraki Plains team defeating the Waihi fifteen by three points to nil and thereby retaining the Cup for another year. Hauraki Plains undoubtedly deserves its win, considering the fine performance put up throughout the season and the difficulties under .which it, the only "country” union, labours in comparison with those of the “town” unions. Its players are drawn from a wide radius, and travelling is extremely difficult. Some of the players have, on occasions, had to ride on horseback over twenty miles of mud roads, and it speaks volumes for their enthusiasm that on no occasion have they failed to attend through this reason. The difficulties of travelling have meant that the team could not be brought together for practice, yet throughout the competition it has only once been defeated, and then on an occasion when other circumstances detained several of its best players. Five .vins are set down to its credit, and in the six games has secured 29 points and had 17 scored against it. On Saturday on its own ground th® home team undoubtedly had the best of the game right through. It was entirely a forward game, and was fairly fast. The backs of both teams failed to handle the ball well. The field was dry, and there was only a slight breeze. The teams lined out as follows: — Waihi.—Full-back, C. Delamore; three-quarters, W. McDermott, E. McLeay, G. Price; five-eighths, E. Mooney, C. Ryan; half-back, G. Worthington; rover, W. Heath; forwards, T. Mannix, F. Speak, F. Peacock, T. Talbot, T. Agnew, L. Thomas, J. Ashby. Hauraki /Plains.—Full-back, W. Molloy ; : three-quarters, C. Molloy, F. Nicoll, J. Adlum; five-eighths, E. Nolan. A. Otter; half-back, E. Masters ; rover, E. Ryan; forwards, D. Cowdrey, K. Fox, C. Clarke, E. Cowdrey, B. Wallis, C. Ellis, W. O’Neil. Plains kicked off facing the wind, and fast open play ensued in midfield until Ellis secured and sent out in Waihi’s twenty-five. After tight play waihi followed up a free kick and reached halfway. Masters and C. Molloy took play back to Waihi’s territory, but a free kick returned the ball to half way. Speak relieved from the throw-in and Otter secured but was stopped by Delamore. Plains returned tp the attack and Waihi forced. An interchange of kicks terminated in Plains being awarded a penalty at halfway from- which Molloy failed to score. Pressure by Waihi was relieved with a mark by Ellis, Clarke followed up, but Delamore cleared in his own twenty-five. Waihi secured from a scrum and cleared to midfield, where C. Molloy sent out. Ryan broke through from a line-out, and with Ellis and Molloy carried into Waihi twenty-five, from where a long kick returned play io midfield. E. Masters had to retire and was replaced by Nolan. W. Molloy went up to nve-eighths and E. Costello played nill-back. Open play ensued in neutral teriitory until Otter broke through on his own and reached the visitors’ territory, where tight played ensued followed by a force. The dropout was returned and Wallis tried hard to score. From a scrum Waihi cleared in their own twenty-five. Pressure by the visitors was relieved by Ryan to the other end of the field, where close play ensued until Mooney broke through and passed to Price, who was collared by Nicoll at halfway. A penalty to Waihi was returned to the line by Costello and the quarter ended. The second spell opened with close play in neutral territory, and there were many Ijne-outs until Wallis was penalised for offside play. The ball was returned, and more line play ensued in which Plains gained ground. Nicoll attempted a drop-kick at goal and Waihi forced. The drop-out was followed up and Ryan, picking up the ball from a Waihi player’s toe, got over- the line and scored the only try of the game. W, Molloy failed with the kick. Mooney followed up the kick-out but was brought down by Ryan, and tight play ensued from which. Plains gained a free kick and Delamore relieved to the line. More tight play followed until Mooney broke away and reached Adlum. Worthington, McLeay, and Price in a passing bout entered the home team s twenty-five but failed to pass Costello, who cleared to halfway. Ellis led the Plains forwards into Waihi’s territory and Ryan found the line near the corner. Tight play on the line followed until a penalty kick relieved to the twenty-five flag. An interchange of kicks terminated the second-quarter. On resuming after half-time Heath and Delamore changed places. Play was open, and there were several free kicks for both sides. A rush by the Waihi forwards was stopped by Costello, and Otter broke through and and carried to the other end of the field. After close play Waihi forced. After another kicking bout Mooney secured and reached the home team’s twenty-five, where Otter marked and saved in a dangerous position. In attempting tp mark a free kick Nicoll was struck on the chin by the ball and rendered unconscious. Waihi secured from the scrum, and then followed several five-yards scrums until a penalty relieved. Prsesure by Planis was relieved by Heath to the line ir his own twenty-five. A long kick by Nolan sent the ball over the line and Waihi forced. A long period of kicks terminated with close play in Waihi’s territory. In :he final round there was an interchange of kicks and a passing rush by the Plains backs between Otter, Adlum, and Wallis to Waihi’s twenty-five. Ashby retired and was replaced by ' Fugill. Much punting was indulged in until a long kick by Costello was forced by Waihi. There was more long kicking and free kick;

by Wai hi, and Costello did particularly good work. Wallis, Clarke, and H. Cowdrey essayed a passing rush, hut failed to beat Delamore, who kicked out in his own twenty-five. Two more free kicks by Waihi and an interchange of kicks followed until the ball went out in touch at the visitors’ end. Close play followed until Peacock broke through, but he lost the ball xor Costello to clear. Waihi attacked, but Clarke returned to McDermott, who sent out in his own quarter. Worthington secured form a scrum, but Costello received and returned to the line. W. Molloy marked, but his kick fell short of the posts. A kicking bout followed until Mannix secured and led the Waihi forwards up the field, where a breach negatived the movement. Heath returned the ball tfj the line, McLeay marked in a dangerous position and cleared to neutral ground. McDermott broke through, and close play followed in Plains twenty-five until D. Cowdrey sent out and time was called. Mr J. N. Anderson was referae. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. As a curtain-raiser a match was played between the Patetonga and Turua junior teams. The game was fairly even until the latter end, when the Turua players proved superior and won by eight points to nil. he points in the junior competition now are: Turua 15, Ngatea 13, each with cne match to play ; and Hauraki West. 10, with two matches to play. THE MATCH AT PAEROA, PIAKO 0, PAEROA 6. The final local match in the Interunion competition this season was played at the Paeroa Doma.in on Saturday in perfect weather and in the presence of a large number of spectators. As Las now become a custom, bo far as local senior matches are concerned this season, the. game was late in starting, the home team being responsible for the delay. When the teams finally took the field Paeroa was two men short, the vacancies being filled during the first quarter by Tayloi and Crosby. As a representative game the exhibition was very disappointing. The finer points of the game were almost completely eliminated, and the match amounted to a fast open scramble on a hard ground. The teams were fairly even, but combination was lacking. The home team handled the ball very badly, a/nd through hanging back too long lessened several chances of scoring. The teams were as follows: Piako. —S. Goldsbury, Magill, McInnes, Gemmell, Towers, Hughes, Tretheway, F. Goldsbury, McCarthy, Morrow, P. McLaren, Jonais, Young, J. McLaren, Dalton, Paeroa. —Shaw, Maloney, D. Smith, W, Smith, Poland, Samson, Royal, cashmore, Piercie, Patterson, Johnson, Benney, Tayloi', Crosby. Paeroa kicked off and then gained a free kick and sent out in the corner. A loose rush carried play to the ether end of the field. Paeroa. worked lack to midfield and Poland marked near the. halfway line but failed to Piako attacked, and in a loose forward scramble Magill picked up and dived over the line near the posts. J. McLaren converted. Piako 5, Paeroa 0. From the kick-out the visitors continued to attack. W. Smith and Poland attempted to relieve, blit F. Goldsbury marked and after loose pi ay Paeroa forced. A fine passing i ush by Piako was negatived by Tayior intercepting and kjeking well uown the line. From a scrum immediately- afterwards Samson kicked over the visitors’ line for a. force. The second quarter commenced with fast open play in midfield which continued for a lengthy period, the ball ueing quickly transferred from one team to the other. Finally P. McLaren tcok possession from Royal and carried down to the line, but Cashmore immediately returned to midfield. r'iom a throw-in near Paeroa’s quarter P. McLaren again carried to the line for a penalty to relieve the situation for Paeroa, Poland followed up and carried on to the visitors’ twentylive, where the home team was awarda penalty for obstruction. Royal took me kick but the ball went under the bar. In loose play about halfway bamspn snapped up and made a good un up the line and passed in-field, xts a result of the scramble in front or the posts the defenders were penalised and Royal converted. Piako 5, raeroa 3. Shortly before the spell ended Samson had to retire and his place was filled by Rice. On resuming after half-time Paeaoa attacked strongly, but the ball was soon returned to midfield, where considerable loose play ensued. With passing Piako attacked and sent out near the corner. From the throw-in a scrum was ordered. Rice cleared and Poland carried on into Piako’s twenty-five, where S. Goldsbury relieved to the line. Following the throw-in the Paeroa backs gained possession and Poland kicked over the line for Towers tp force. The attack was renewed by the home team. Magill cleared to the twenty-five flag from a five-yards scrum, but Royal marked and with Johnson returned to Piako’s line. Another five-yards scrum resulted, from which Piako forced. After .a kicking bout Poland sent down the (field, Johnson, Cashmore, Piercie ,and D, Smith carrying on in turn and the latter scoring a good try near the corner, Royal failed to convert. Paeroa 6, Piako - 5. Following the kick-out the home team worked down the field with line play to the corner, when the spell ended. The final round opened with Piako defending. After a lively interchange of kicks Royal broke away and passed to W. Smith, who made a good run up the line with Cashmore and Rice in support, but was pushed over the corner flag. After a short period of loose play in midfield Paeroa in a passing rush carried into Piako s twenty-five. From a following scrum -.play ?zas returned to midfield, where fast open play wais indulged in. A loose lush instituted by Magill resulted ni the ball going out at the corner. A five-yards scrum was ordered, from which Paeora cleared to halfway. Fol-

lowing a line-out F. Goldsbury got possession, and after working himself into a good position drop-kicked a nice goal. Piako 9, Paeroa 6. The game ended shortly afterwards with play in midfield. Mr E. Smith was referee. PAEROA RUGBY UNION. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The weekly meeting of the Paeroa Rugby Union Committee was held last night, Mr P. E. Brenan presiding over Messrs H. M. Shand, F. G. Otter, T. Welch C. T. Mettam, and C. H. Butcher (secretary). CHARITY SATURDAY PROCEEDS. It was decided that the net proceeds from the Charity Saturday match be handed to the Thames Hospital Board as a donation towards the Paeroa Cottage Hospital. REGISTRATIONS. The application of B. McGuire, Karangahake, for registration as a junior player was deferred as his bona Udes were not furnished. S. Martin, a West junior, was granted a clearance to Hamilton, but his application tp be regraded to thirdgrade "was refused. SATURDAY’S FIXTURES. Juniors.—West v. Karangahake, at karangahake ; East v. Netherton, at Paeroa. Both matches at 3 p.m. Third-grade.—East v. West, at Paeroa, at 1.30 p.m. REFEREES. It was decided to recommend to the Referees’ Association that Mr W. Bramble, Karangahake, be appointed to control the East v. Netherton match on Saturday, • and that a Paeroa referee be appointed to control the junior game at Karangahake. MEETING NIGHT. It was decided that the next meeting should be held on Wednesday next, September 10.