FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4841, 15 June 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

POLAND CUP COMPETITION. WINS FOR WAIHI AND Pl AKO. The competition in the Thames Valley Rugby Union for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup opened on Saturday, Paeroa meeting Waihi at Waihi. and llauraki Plains playing Piako at Ngatea. WAIHI V. PAEROA. Al Waihi theweather was fair, and there was a large attendance of spectators. The teams were : — Waihi. —Morchu, Cole, Dillimore, McDermott, Mooney, Malt, Keven, McLeay, Johnson, Speak, Peacock, Rolleston, Byers, Cooper, Agnew. Paeroa. - Dean, Williams, T. Pullar, Maloney, A. Royal, G. Pullar, Bottomley, T. Johnson, Patterson, Morrisor, G, Fisher, Taylor, Bennett, F. Thorp, Carrick. Paeroa won the toss and kicked -off favoured by the wind. After a period of loose play, during which Waihi gained ground, Taylor was penalised for off-side play and Dillimore converted. Waihi 3, Paeroa 0. Paeroa then attacked, but Mooney obtained possession and kicked high, Pullar marking. The kick at goal failed. The Waihi attacked with a fine rush, and Paeroa faced a critical period. However, Dean relieved with a kick to the line, and Paeroa worked down the field and gained a penalty. Pullar took the kick, but was unfortunate, the ball hitting the bar. Play w:as confined to mid-field for some time, until McDermott got possession and kicked. He followed up and looked like scoring, but stumbled a few yards from the line and Paeroa forced. The game became very willing, and with Paeroa attacking Mooney was penalised. Taylor took the kick and evened up the scores. Waihi 3, Paeroa 3. The home team then .had a turn on, the attack, and in a scrum in the visitors’ territory hooked the ball, A nice exhibition of passing ensued, the ball being handled by Mooney, Malt, Cole, and Back to Mooney, who scored a good try. Dillimore failed to convert. Waihi 6, Paeroa 3. Waihi pressed from the kick-out, but Dean relieved with a mark. The pressure was renewed, and an unsuccessful kick at goal failed, the ball being returned to Dillimore, who found the line. Paeroa gained possession from the lineout, but McDermott intercepted a pass and attempted to drop-kick a goal. The direction was only a few inches out, and Paeroa forced. After considerable tight play the Waihi forwards took the ball at their feet and carried over the line, Cooper scoring. Dillimore converted. Waihi 11, Paeroa 3. On resuming after half-time Paeroa forwards, headed by Thorp, Taylor, and Patterson, rushed down the field and over the line, Patterson doing the scoring. Dean failed to. convert Waihi 11, Paeroa 6. Paeroa continued to press, and Waihi had to work hard defending until Fisher was penalised and play went to the other end of the field. With Waihi attacking Thorp saved a try by going down on the ball, for which he was penalised. Dillimore took the kick and made tne scores Waihi 14, Paeroa 6. Play remained in midfield among the forwards for some time. Bottomley was hurt and had to retire. Things were very lively, and McLeay marked, but failed to convert. Time was called with "Waihi on the attack, the game ending, Waihi 14, Paeroa 6. Mr Turner, Te Aroha. was referee." PIAKO V. PLAINS. At Ngatea where the Hauraki Plains representatives met. the Piako fifteen, the weather was fine but windy and cold. A very large number of spectators gathered to witness what proved an interesting game. The visitors were superior, especially in the backs, who worked well together. Plains had a weak link, and could not get into action properly, while another of the backs received a kick on the leg early "in the game and could not reproduce his usual form. Following were the te,ams: — Piako. —J. Gavin. S. ' Goldsbury, Southy, Hall, J. Magill, T, Stewart, L. Hughes, F. Goldsbury, T. Morrow, D. O’Donnell, P. McLaren, T. Mclnnes, L Grice, N. Grattan, P. Magill. Plains—C. Stretton, L. Cotter, C. Molloy, Whelan, W. Nicol, O. Cleave, G. Birkenhead, K. Fox, R. Steedman, D. Cowdrey, H. Shaw, E. Cowdrey, B. Wallis, C. Clark, L. Berney, Piako kicked off into the wind and Plains returned to the visitors’ twentyfive. A passing rush between Nicol, Molloy, and. Cotter carried play to near Piako’s line, where Plains gained a penalty. Close play ensued in front of the posts until the defenders cleared to neutral territory. A series of high kicks and several marks by Goldsbury followed, but on the ball coming to the ground Plains worked into the visitors’ territory and attacked until Piako forced. Play remained iu the neutral zone until Wallis sent the ball over the bar with a splendid kick from half-way. Plains 3, Piako 0. The home team resumed the attack, and after several marks Birkenhead sent out in touch. A scrum ensued from the drop-out and Stewart carried on to half-way. After considerable line play Pi.ako wbrkbut Cotter returned the ball to midfield. Piako worked back again and had ,a penalty in front of the posts but did not score.

In "the second spell the ball was kept in midfield until Goldsbury cleared inside the Plains twenty-five flag. The ball came back again, and then followed one of the finest exhibitions of football seen on the Plains for a long time. Goldsbury started a. passing rush in which most of the Piako backs took part, Mclnnes, Hall, and Stewart being prominent. Magill scored and Hall converted, Piako 5, Plains 3. After several free kicks Nicol ma’rked and found the line. Plains gained the advantage from the throw-in and went on the attack. The visitors soon reversed conditions, but Cotter saved the situation and found the line at Piako’s twenty-five flag.

Following a number of penalty kicks a long return was mulled by Whelan and Stretton, and Magill, who had followed up fast, secured a try, which was not converted. Piako 8, Plainjs 3.

The Plains forwards worked up the field, and with a penalty kick sent the ball out in the corner. Tight play on the line was relieved by Hughes. Stretton secured, but gained no ground with a long run. (Operations were carried on in Piako’s territory until faulty passing by Plains let.the visitors through. No score resulted from a free kick by Piako, and play was in midfield at the end of the quarter..

Plains gained ground from the kickout until a pass was intercepted and the ball was returned to midfield. The visiters were again forced back, but relief came with a penalty kick. Wallis attempted to kick a penalty goal, a force resulting. The drop-out went to the line, and Grice retired with an injured shoulder. By line play Piako worked up the field and with a passing rush entered the home team’s twenty-five. The attack was ‘repulsed and a long kick was forced by Piako. Hard play in midfield, and many line-outs followed, Plains eventually compelling another force. The final round opened with play in Piako’s territory, and a good passing rush reach the line, where a scrum ensued. The defenders hooked the ball and cleared to the line in neutral territory. Good forward play by Piako shifted play into the home team’s quarter, but the defending backs carried back to midfield. Some long kicking terminated in Piako forcing. More open play and a kicking bout followed until Piako followed up a mark and nearly reached the line. Play was in midfield at the call of time. Mr Crawford, Paeroa, was referee. PLAINS JUNIOR GAME. The Hauraki Plains Juniors played the Physical Training team on an adjoining ground, and a hard, clean, fast, open game was witnessed. Madgwick scored a try and Courtenay kicked a penalty goal for Plains, while Dufty scored for Thames with a penalty kick. Mr G. T. Davidson was referee. THE SCHOOLBOYS. In the schoolboys’ match the home team beat the Kerepeehi boys by 6 points to 5. Mr F. Clotworthy was referee.

BIRCH CUP MATCH. PLAINS TEAM FOR SATURDAY. Should the Plains Rugby Union at its meeting this evening decide to accept Saturday next as the date for the Birch Cup challenge match with Thames the following will be the Plains team :— Full-back, E. Costello; three-quar-ters, L. Cotter, W. Whelan, B. Wallis ; five.-cighths.-F. Nicol, C. Molloy ; halfback, G. Birkenhead ; rover, K. Fox; f<irwards"J<D.~ Cowdrey, K. Steedman, H. Shaw, E. Cowdrey, C. Clarke, "O. Cleave, L. Berney.- 1 ?. Emergencies: C; Stretton, L. Clotworthy, B. Nolan, McPherson, D. Dalgety, L, Lipscombe.