FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4834, 25 May 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIORS: Netherton 17. v. East 0. West 6, v. Suburbs 6. Ngatea 9. v. United Coast 8. - ’ Turua 0, v. Kerqpechi 0. Hauraki West 8, v. Waitakaruru 0. JUNIORS: Suburbs 6. v. East 3. Karangahake 9, v. West 0. Kerepeehi 3, v.’ Turua 0. H •uraki Wc.>t 13, v. Waitakaruru 3. THIRD-GRADE : Wait 6. v. East 3. There was a larger attendance of the public than usual at the Racecourse, Paeroa, on Saturday afternoon, when the third round of this season’s competitions waq played Fine weather prevailed dui.ng the early afternoon but shortly utter the comnienccment of tlie senior mated rain fell, and kept on intere ittentlv throughout the remainder of the afts.rr.oon. The ground was in good order, and the sole of paspaln n grass prevented it from becoming muddy. During the week the union officials made provision for a second playing field to tne west of the number one ground and nearer to Thames Road. This ground was occupied by the junior players. Despite the titles laid down by the union, the senror game was nearly twenty minutas late m starting. This fact, together with a number of stops owing to pla’-ers being temporarily injured, icsud.ed >'i the last quarter being played in semidarkness, it being almost impossible to distinguish the playetvs. It is only fair to state that the Netherton players took the field a few minutes after the advertised time of starting, tne heme team causing the delay. The matches were keenly ccntestel anu cleanly played. Chief interest centred round the . senior match. Netherton v. East, and ths visitors h-to little difficulty in disposing of the heme team, and well deserved to win.

The home team took the field with fourteen men, and had some difficulty in getting together that nurube -. The seiviceis of W. Smith were not available, and his absence in the back division was noticeable. Another play cr failed to put in an appenance all, and as a consequence the team was not built up to full strength until the junior match was fimsned. The game on the whole was fast and open. The Netherton Gam was the heavier, and hooked the Lail on nearly every occasion. It also appeared to be bfetter trained than the home fifteen, and certainly showed, mine combination. As th? v-sitoro ■score mounted up the local team appeared to tire visibly, and the attacking aud collaring work was faulty, weak, and lacked the customary daisiv L.ittle attempt was made at tion, and it was no unusual thing to see several players run for the- ball, ami vhen lose it in the end. The fofllowing were the team's

Netherton. —G. Pullar, J. Maloney, C. McNeil, H. Coldicutt, W. Potter, R. Morrison, T. Pullar, T. Johnson, T Richmond, H. Morrison, E. Fisher, <' Fishci. J. Morrison, E. Johnson, D. Hill. East. —Gibson, E. J- Winder, H. Thorp, A. Williams, D. Smith, G Rcyal, W. Bottomley, AV. Neality Pe'.inell, H. Pennell F. Thorp, G. Morrison, G.. Neil, C. Glover, V. Vuglar. East kicked off. and Netherton in-' mediately attacked and cairied play into their opponents’ twenty-five whore a free-kick enabled East to clear. Netherton returned to the attack with a loose rush, a force resulting, followed shortly afterwards by in other force. A scrum was the outcome of the drop-out, and for lifting in the scrum the defenders were penalised. G. Pullar kicked a good goal. Nethc ton 3, East 0. Following the kick-out a loose rush ensued until Winder picked up and had an unsuccessful shot at goal. East attacked in a .loose rush, but a free-kick brought relief to Netherton. The ball was returned, and the visitors caried down the field, and what seemc-1 like a certain score was saved by Gibson running across and forcing. Ope.r nlay followed in neutral territory, from where R. Morrison failed with a penalty kick for Netheiton. Following the change over Winder, had a free-kick at goal, but he again failed to reach the posts and the ball was returned to neutral territory. Tight play ensued in East’s twentyfive, and following a scrum E. John-- - on picked up hnd dived over the line. R Morrison converted, making the •scores Netherton 8, East 0. Nethertoe kept ip the pressure, and two forces resulted in quick succession. Afto" a period in neutral ground McNeil set the Netherton backs in motion, Coldieutt beating tlie full-back and scoring. R Morrison failed with the kick. Netherton 11, Fast. 0. At this stagD. Smith was forced to retire-. Gibson took his place and McKenna wenon as fuli-baek. For the rest of th) quarter the home team nad a busy time defending.

On resuming after half-time Nethcrion instituted a forward rush, culminating in E. Johnson crossing th) line. T. Johnson failed to convert Netherton 14, East 9. The kick-out was scrummed in neutral territory where R. Morrisoil picked up and passeo to Coldicutt, to McNeil, who made a good run and sent out nea.’ the corner. The throw-in was returned to the line by F. Thorp. The home forwards essayed a loose rush and carried play into the visitors’ territory, where a speculator by E. Johnson was followed up by J. Morrhson and resulted in hiip scoring a neat try. T. Pullar failed to add the extra points. Netherton 17, East. 0.

The final quarter saw (he home team on the attack, but the visiting forwards were Qqual to the occasion. A throw-in rear halfway was returned by Royal to near the twenty-five line, from where H. Thorp carried on for some distance, before passing to Gibson, who was just beaten for a try. Rast made a strong effort to score, but the forwards appeared to crow I and failed to support each other. The

game ended with play in neutral territory. Mr R. B. Penlington was referee. Of ‘he Netherton team McNeil was the best back. He. was ably supported by Maloney, whose pace and training stcod to him. ' T. Johnson and G. Fisher were the pick of the forwards. Of the East- team F, Thorp played the gainq of his life, and was easily the best of the forwards. G. Morrison also played a sound game. Royhl was perhaps the pick of the backs, and H. Thorp and McKenna were safe. Bott.omley played a sound defensive game throughout. THE JUNIORS. SUBURBS V. EAST. This match was played on the No 2 ground and was a fast, open game The Petter team won, and although the local lads put up a good' showing the play’ of the visitors denoted more combination and more famili.aritv with the positions in th'q field. Following are the teams — Suburbs.—A. Killgour, H. Lowry. Ti-kukino, D. Brown, S. Wyatt, Paeltai, E. Vowles, M. Brown, G. Duncan, Hujlich, C. Vedder, B. Vedd'er R. Killgour, H. Williams, C. Killgour. East. —A. McKenna, J. Walls, RRooson, Spinks, C. Treanor, Sullivan Keighley, C. Butcher, C. Neil, Parker, • Mitchell, W. Holwell, Lloyd, H. Robinson, C. Vincent. East kicked off and carried play into the visitors’ twe.nty-five, where a breach occurred, the kick bringing relief to the defenders. Loose play followed, and.the visitors were coffipellea to force. From the drop-out the home team continued to press, bu f a breach brought relief for Suburbs and operations were shifted to neutral ground. The Suburbs backs got go-' ing, and Lowry, taking a low pass frem Brown, beafthe opposition and sec red between the posts Paetai failed to convert. Suburbs 3, East 0. The kick-out wajs scrummed near tne visitors’ twenty-five, and in a loose scramble Holwell picked up and passed to Robson, who beat the full-back and evened up the score. McKenna failed with the kick. Netheiton 3. East 3. The remainder of thej gairu was fairly even, and both sides wer? frequently called on to defend. On resuming after half-time a loose scramble enabled Paetai pick u J and pass to Brown, who scored. The kick was unsuccessful. Suburbs C East 3. The game ended with East attacking. Mr P. E. Brenan was referee. THIRD-GRADE. WEST V. EAST. This game was played on the No. 1 ground as a curtain-rasier to the senior match. Play was fast and willing and the boy« made a good showingThe teams' were evenly matched, and; a very fair knowledge of the ganW’ was displayed. West had the of the game, and succeeded in.yrhMS nii:g by 5 points to 3. For West Wffl Hargreavejs scored a try which MW converted by S. Williams, and P. Wil*® limns registered the try for East/JsE Barakat failing to convert. . Mr Eugene Shaw was referee.’