FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4855, 20 July 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIORS: Netherton 16, v. Suburbs 3. West 9, v. Kerepeehi 0. Waitakaruru 9, v. Coast 0; Ngatea 3, v. Turua 0. East 3, v. West 3. JUNIORS: Possibles 11, v. Probables 0. Turua 6, v. Ngatea 0. West by default from Kerepeehi. THIRD-GRADE: High School 5, v. East and West 0. SCHOOLS: Ngatea 6, v. Kopuarahi 0. Ideal weather prevailed. In Paeroa on Saturday afternoon, and a large number of football enthusiasts availed themselves of the opportunity to attend at the Racecourse to witness the two senior, one junior, and one third-grade fixtures set down for decision. In all grades the football was of a better standard than that witnessed in previous club matches this season, and the general opinion obtained from those who attended seemed to be that they were more satisfied with the exhibition, and did not feel that the afternoon was altogether wasted. The union officials appear to be taking the responsibilities of office a little more seriously at present, and credit is due to them for the satisfactory management of the afternoon’s sport on Saturday. A desirable improvement was effected on the playing fields by providing chalk lines. Other improvements were the provision of limited seating accommodation and the laying down of gravel at the entrance to the grounds. These are probably only small matters, but they go a long way towards (showing that the presence of the public is desired and welcome, and that an effort, to cater for the requirement’s of supporters has been made by the union.

THE GAMES

NETHERTON V. SUBURBS. Probably of the two senior games played on the racecourse on Saturday the one between Netherton and Suburbs claimed most attention. The Netherton team was a little the heavier, and the forwards played wed together, particularly in close play, and it deserved its win. Suburbs, althought decisively beaten, put up quite a good showing, but combination was- lacking. At times there was some good individual play. The following were the teams: —■ Netherton. —G. Pullar, J. Maloney, C. McNeil, H. Coldicutt, T. Pullar, B. Johnson, A. Burt, T. Johnson, J. Morrison, H. Morrison, E. Fisher, G. Fisher, D. Hill, E. Johnson, R. Morrison. . Suburbs.—W. Bennett, A. Morrison, R. Samson, E. Rare, G. Wyatt, A. Royal, L. Rice, W. Es-piner, A. Bennett, G. Miller, V. Young, F. Patterson, T. Killgour, R. Lambie, C. Meredith. Netherton kicked off, and a lengthy bout of loose play followed in neutral territory until a high punt by a Netherton back wais followed up b.v McNeil, who gained possession and with a clear run scored between the posts. G. Pullar failed to convert. Netherton 3, Suburbs 0. Shortly after the kick-out Netherton was penalised on the twenty-five line, Young tooxthe kick and drop-kicked a goal. Netherton 3, Suburbs 3. Netherton immediately attacked, but Royal cleared in good style. Play hovered round in Nethertbn’s quaiter for a time, but the forwards gradually worked down and ultimately Suburbs had to force. The blues kept up the pressure and Suburbs- had to force twice before play was carried to midfield again. Netherton carried to the posts again, but a penalty relieved. Soon after commencing the second quarter Suburbs kicked over for a, force. In loose play the ball was kicked out to Maloney, who dived over the line. G. Pullar failed with the ‘kick. Netherton 6, Suburbs 3. From the kick-out Netherton carried up in a loose rush from near half-way, a force resulting. After considerable give-and-take play Suburbs carried down, a five-yards scrum taking place near the posts. As the result of a breach the defenders were penalised. Rice took the kjek, but in its flight the ball was touched by a Netherton player and the goal was disallowed. Play then became very straggly and there was little of interest up to half time.

On resuming after the spell close forward play ensued for a considei - able period, the ball being restricted to neutral territory. From a throw-in at half-way a kicking bout eventuated, the advantage going to Netherton. In a forward rush the Suburbs backs failed to field the ball and Coldicutt picked up in the loose and crossed the line. Burt converted. Netherton 11, Suburbs 3. In open play the ball went out to Maloney, who made a good run down the field. The opportunity was one of the best, with three men in support and one opponent to beat but the pasjs wasi forward. Immediately afterwards Samson put in a good run down the other line, but his effort was unsupported.

In the final quarter play was more willing. Soon after the commencement Netherton was compelled to force, but for the most part play was very oven and the ball w'as freely handled. On the point of time, with play near Suburbs’ line, T. Pullar obtained possession and cut in between the posts. Burt converted, the game ending, Netherton .16, Suburbs 3. Mr R. B. Pehlington was referee. EAST V. WEST. Concurrently with the other match the East and West seniors l played on No. 2 ground. The teams were evenly matched, and both sides had a fair proportion of junior players who had just, previously played in a match. The game was fast and open, and the

result was in doubt up to the call of time.

The following were the teams: — East.—D. McMillan, J. Walls, F. Gordon, W. Smith, G. Royal, D. Smith, H. Thorp, F. Thorp, G. Neil, G. Schwanke, W. Nealie, M. Beattie, V. Vuglar, A. Williams, G. Morrison. West.—G. Wells, E. J. Pennell, J. Verran, Keating, Bigelow, L. Nield, Masters, Southby, N. Neil, H. McKee, W. Pennell, Scanlon, R. Shaw, Taylor, Carrick.

East won the toqs. L. Nield fielded a high pass- from a scrum, and East had to force in the first few minutes. D. Smith intercepted and centred, sending play to West’s line, but Wells cleared. Nealie was penalised for offside play at half-way, and Taylor put in some good work. In open play Southby spoiled a promising movement by getting offside. A good dribbling rush, by the East pack reached West’s line, where a scrum took place, West eventually forcing. On the open F. Thorp took the ball at, his- toe and dribbled well down the field, but Southby saved with a good line kick. Keating placed West in a good position, but the West forwards lost the opportunity by committing a breach.

After changing over West advanced and gained a penalty against Morrison, but Taylor’s kick failed. Play swung to the other end of the field, where Masters and Keating mulled the ball from a penalty kick and left the way open for Vuglar to score an easy try. Royal’s kick failed. East 3, West 0. With East defending a clearing kick was fielded by Verran, who returned- the ball to McMillan. The latter, in attempting to clear, kicked across his own goal to Scanlon, who passed to Taylor tos core near the corner. Taylor’s kick was very poor. East 3, West 3. Taylor led West on an attack with a dribbling rush which reached to East’s line. D. Smith relieved temporarily, West soon returning and giving East an anxious time. Eventually F. Thorp cleared. After half-time Verran placed West in a good position, but Smith cleared with a line kick. From the throw-in the. East forwards carried to their opponents’ line. Smith centred and made an opening for his side, but the advantage was not made use of. A promising passing bout by West was upset by Masters, knocking on. Another advance by West was headed by Scanlon, who was playing a good game in the loose, but Smith was equal to the occasion. In loose play West returned, and gained a penalty in East’s territory, but Taylor failed to score. Williams was playing a good game at full-back for East, and was putting in some good line kicks. West attacked hotly in the final round, and Masters, after receiving from Verran, lost the ball after crossing tlie line at the corner. The pressure was kept up for the rest of the quarter, and the East backs were bustled, but faulty passing by West lost three tries .in as many minutes. Mr E. Smith was referee. THE JUNIORS. To enable the selector to pick a junior representative team to play Waihi in the Sharebrokers’ Cup competition a match was- arranged between Possibles and Probables and was played on the No. 2 ground as a curtain-raised to the East v. West senior match. The teams took the field ais follows, although during the game a number of players were changed from one side to the other .

Possibles.—J. Mead, E. Potter, J. Verran, G. Wells, R. Mead, B. Hardman, J. Bigelow, G. Morrison, Duncan, M. McLeod, Scanlon, J. O’Brien, Southby, R. Ratliffe, R. Mitchell. Probables-.—McKenna, Potter, McCollum, E. J. Pennell, J. Rackham, R. Swann, Haywood, Spinks, Gage, McLeod, N. Neil, E l . Neil, Dawson, Robinson, Lee.

Probables kicked off, and in a loose rush Possibles carried down the field, but a penalty gave relief. With play in the twenty-five Swann failed with a penalty kick. After open play in neutral territory Possibles went, on the attack and a scrum was ordered ’in front of the posts. In tight, play fbc ball went to G. Morrison, who dived over the line. J. Mead converted. Possibles 5, Probables 0. Shortly afterwards, with Possibles still attacking, J. Verran put in a nice run and crossed the line. J. Mead failed with the kick. Possibles 8, Probables O._ Following the change over Probables took a turn at attacking, but •qffside play spoiled a fair opportunity to score. Possibles commenced a passing rush, but Hardman hung on to the ball too long. W. Plotter marked in a favourable position and added three more points for Possibles. From the kick-out Probables carried up in a loose rush to the twenty-five line, where E. McLeod took a mark. The kick was blocked by Scanlon, who cleared to the line.

The game was more even in the second half, and ended without any further score being registered. Mr F. Pivott was referee. THIRD-GRADE. A third-grade match was played on the No. 1 ground between teams representing the Eaist and West clubs and the Paeroa High School team. Much has been heard of the fact that West was unable to place a thirdgrade team in the field, yet the combined team on Saturday was. composed of thirteen West members and two East players. The game was willing from start to finish, and despite the size of their doughty opponents the schoolboys hung on well. Giving a very good exhibition of the game, the lads deserved their win. Just on the point of time neither side had •scored, when from tight play near the combined team’s twenty-five Conolly gained possession and with a good run scored between the posts. H. Keaney converted. High School 5, Combined Team 0. Mr E. Shaw was referee. THE PLAINS MATCHES. The third matches of the second round in the Hauraki Plains compe-

tition were played on Saturday. Most of the clubs experienced difficulty in putting teams in the field, and .the play was not of a high standard. The Waitakaruru who won the cup last year, gained their first win of this season against United Coast at Pipiroa. Play was slow and friendly, and the match was fairly even. L. Bemey secured two tries and R. McCollum one try. At Patetonga the Kerepeehi team took the field with 13 men, including three schoolboys, and were defeated by nine points to nil in a slow game. The Turua v. Ngatea match at Turua was a mud scramble, the only score being a penalty kick by L. Cotter. Play was fast and hard,. and during the game a Turua player, Charterhs, had a rib broken. Shortly . after the Ngatea-Turua junior match commenced the Ngatea team was reduced to eight men by the withdrawal of players to fill up the senior team. Play continued to halftime, Turua securing six points. Kerepeehi did not send a junior team to Patetonga. POLAND CUP COMPETITION. PAEROA REPRESENTATIVES. The following players have been selected to represent Paeroa against Waihi at the Paeroa Racecourse oii Saturday next in the competition for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup:— Full-back: G. Pullar. Three-quarters: J. Maloney ,A. Royal, c. McNeil. Five-eighths : L. Rice, G. RoyaL Half-back : L. C. Masters. Rover: F. Thorp. Forwards : F. Patterson, J. Miller, G. Fisher, T. Johnson, W. Taylor, R. Shaw, V. Carrick, Emergencies ; Bacfas, t. Pullar and L. Burt; forwards, A. Williams add J. Morrison. All the above players are requested to assemble at the Drill-hall, Paeroa. on Wednesday evening at 7.30 p.m. for. training and instruction. Any players unable to take part in Mie above match should advise the selector immediately.