FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4839, 8 June 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIORS: East 3, v. AVest 0. Netherton 15, v. Suburbs 7. JUNIORS: West 3, v. Suburbs 0. Netherton 11, v. East 3. THIRD-GRADE : Paeroa School 11, v. AVest 8. SCHOOLS: Netherton 20, v. Paeroa 0. The weather in Paeroa on Saturday afternoon was showery, with a stiff uonr’-easterly blowing, but despite the unsettled state of the weather a large crowd assembled on the Racecourse to witness the different matches. The playing fields were in very good order, considering the heavy rain that had fallen during the week, and, barring a sea of mud that has to be crossed on the turf training track, the public experienced little inconvenience in reaching the ground. The planks place on benzine boxes to do duty as seating accommodation were much appreciated by the female spectators, of whom there was a fair sprinkling present. Considerable interest was manifested in the East y. West senior game, and there was barracking from supporters of each team. As an exhibition of senior football the game was very disappointing. Both teams took the field two men short, ami this fact, to a certain extent, was no doubt responsible for the poor showing made. The teams were fairly evenly matched. West hooked well, and gained the advantage. in most of the scrums, but, like their opponents, they showed little combination, Players had a tendency on many occasions to hang on to the ball too long, and though individual players were prominent at. times a little less selfishness would have increased the chances of scoring in several instances. Possibly the absence of five-eighths on each side accounted for a good deal of over-eagerness. The teams were as follows: — East.—G. Williams, W. Smith, G. Royal, A. Williams, H. Thorp, F. Thorp, AV. Bottomley, McNamara G. Neil, H. Mitchell, W. Alley, W. Nealie, V. Vuglar. West. —J. K. Dean, C. Masters, L. Nield, F. Keating, Jenyns, J. Walmsley, J. Sinnott, H. Wilton, G. Pennell, Lipsham, V. Carrick. AV. Taylor, R. Shaw. East kicked off, and following a couple of scrums McNamara failed with a penalty kick, the ball being returned to the line by Sinnett. West started a loose rush, which was nullified by Bottomley. A breach by East followed, but . Dean failed with his kick. At this, stage Masters, who had been prominent, retired with an injured shoulder. His place was not filled, leaving West with twelve-men. A loose rush initiated by Taylor enabled Shaw to carry down the field, and he had hard luck in not scoring. After the change-over East went on the attack. From the kick-out AV. Smith picked up and centred, and, following up smartly, he and Royal carried oh, but ran across and forced. Play was agained carried to West’s twenty-five, where a rough and tumble ensued. After, missing several changes of scoring by East, Taylor cleared to neutral territory. A .penalty was awarded to East, but Bottomley failed to score and Carrick returned to the line. Give and take play followed until Royal gained possession near half-way and with F. Thorp made a bold bid for the line, Thorp being collared within a few inches of his goal. A free kick brought relief. Following a line-out in West’s territory F. Thorp cross-kicked to W. Smith, who put. in a nippy run and scored near the cornier. McNamara failed to convert. East 3. West 0. Lipsham started a forward rush, followed by a penalty against East. Sinnett had a shot, at goal from inside the twenty-five line, but failed to clear the bar. .•«.

On resuming aftei' half-time East attacked, a penalty bringing relief. In loose play Sinnett gained possession and.made a good run, but he was unsupported and the ball went out near the corner. A fivc-yardfs scrum was ordered, but lifting in the scrum by West spoilt the opportunity. The last quarter found West pressing strongly, but though individual efforts were made to even up the score the defenders, especially the backs, could not be passed. An exchange of kicks and loose scrambles followed until Vuglar isent out to Royal, to Smith, and the latter, with the ball at toe, made a good dash from half-way. He had a clear field, but misjudged his last kick and the ball went over the dead-ball line. The game ended with play in Wests territory without any further score being registered. Mr R. B. Penlington was referee. Of the East forwards Alley and G. Neil were the most 'prominent, and W. Smith and F. Thorp were the outstanding players in the back division. Sinnett and Carrick played solidly in the West pack, and L. Nield and K. Dean were very safe in the backs. 'HIE JUNIORS. WEST V. SUBURBS. Probably the best exhibition of football seen locally this season was the West v. Suburbs junior game. Play was open,fast, and clean from start to finish. The visitors were slightly the heavier team, and some good individual play was observed.. The home fifteen showed improvement on previous gaihes, and they deserved the win. The visiting back division was inclined to crowd at timev, but little fault could be found with the forwards. The teams were :— West.—G. Wells, L. Shaw, M.

Poland, J. Verran, R. Swann, C. Parisons, J. Bigelow, R. Oates, J. Denton, J. Mathieson, W. Pennell, C. Scanlon, Moore, W. Southby, E. Neil. Suburbs—C. Vedder, H. ’ Morrison, T. Rare, C. Killgour, A. Huljich, R. Killgour, A. Killgour, S. Wyatt, W. Paetai, D. Brown, M. Brown, E. Vowles, S. Duncan, W- Vedder. The only score during .the match was registered by Mathieson. Swann failed to add the extra points. ■Mr J. D. Crawford was referee. THIRD GRADE. SCHOOL V. WEST. The Paeroa School v. West match was played as a curtain-raiser to the senior game. Play was faist and open, and tlie boys displayed a good knowledge of the game. The result was a win for the School team by 11 to 8. Air E. Shaw was referee. PLAINS NOTES. A Possibles v. Probables match to pick a representative team was to have been played at Ngatea on Saturday, but as only about half the players chosen turned up the teams were made up of any players offering and a short game was played. Junior teams were not picked for Saturday, but each club sent its best players. These were sorted out and altered about by the selectors during the progress of the game. At the conclusion a junior representative team was chosen. A third-grade match between teams representing the eastern and western sides of the river was played, the result being a win for the former team by 15 points to 0. The Thames Valley representatives will play a match at Hamilton against Waikato on July 4. Prior to the commencement of the season the Waitakaruru club played a match against a New Brighton team and won by 5 points to 3. Recently one of the Pukekohe teams played and defeated New Brighton By 40 to 0. “Therefore,” comments the Pukekohe paper, “the standard of football on the Hauraki Plains must be very low.” representative team. The following players have been selected to represent Hauraki Plains in the Frank Poland Cup match against Piako at Ngatea on Saturday next:— Bull-back, C. Stretton (Waitakaruru) ; three-quarters, L Cotter and C. Molloy (Ngatea), and Whelan (Waitakaruru) ; five-eighths, F. Nicol and O. Cleave (Ngatea) ; half-back, B. Nolan (West) ; rover, K. Fox (Turua) ; forwards, L. Berney (Waitakaruru), D. Cowdrey (West), H. Shan’ (Waitakaruru), E. Cowdrey (West), R. Steedman (Kerepeehi), C. Clark (Waitakaruru), B. Wallis (Coast). Emergencies : Backs, G. Birkenhead (Ngatea), E. Costello (West), L. Ctotworthy (Tnrna) ; forwards, McPherson (Waitakaruru), D. Dalgety (Coast), L. Lipscombe (Ngatea). •