FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4858, 27 July 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

PAEROii. DEFEATS WAIHI. PLAINS AND PIAKO DRAW. The second round of the Thames Valley Rugby Union competition ior the Frank Poland Memorial Cup commenced on Saturday, Paeroa and Waihi meeting at Paeroa and Hauraki Plains and Piako at Te Aroha. As a result of these games Paeroa and Waihi are leading ifi the competition with three wins aud one Ipss each ; Piako comes, next with one win, one draw, and two defeats, while Hauraki Plains has had one drawn game and three defeats. PAEROA V. WAIHI. The second meeting between Paeroa and Waihi .had been looked forward to with considerable interest, and despite threatening weather conditions a good crowd of spectators wended their way to the Racecourse to witness the match. The Paeroa team has improved witli every match this season, and on Saturday had easily the better of the game. Forward play predominated, but there was a lot of fast open work, and the dash with which proceedings opened was kept up throughout the contest. In the first half the whistle Was much in evidence, but when the players settled down to it breaches became less noticeable. While Paeroa made the forwards work hard, Waihi relied more on the backs. However, iu their passing bouts the visitors did not show to much advantage, and the good work was the result of individual play. After half-time Royal and Masters adopted aggressive tactics, and by •solid tackling broke up any movement attempted by the Waihi backs. The success of this method of play soon became apparent to other Paeroa men, who followed suit, the result being that the Waihi backs were completely demoralised.

The teams took the field as fellows Waihi.—Morehu, Cole, Dillimore,. Cutbush, Mooney, McDermott, Malt, Cooper, Blackmore, Byers, Rolleston, Peacock Kec-han, Speak, Agnew. Paeroa.—G. Pullar, J. Maloney, C. McNeil, G. Royal, A. Royal, L. C. Masters, L. Rice, F. Thorp, F, Patterson, J. Miller, G. Fisher, T. Johnson, W. Taylor, R. Shaw, V. Carrick. Paeroa opeend the proceedings and carried on to the twenty-five Hag. From the throw-in play swung to the other quarter-way line and then back into the neutral zone, the forwards playing close. With a free kick Waihi sent out at Paeroa’s twenty-five, and from the throw-in Malt set his backs moving. However, Royal intercepted and with a' good run opened the way; for paeroa before being stopped. McNeil carried on, and making good use of his pace outstripped the opposition and scored behind the posts. Taylor converted. Paeroa 5, Waihi 0. In loose play and by well placed penalty kicks Waihi gained ground. Bad passing by the Paeroa backs left an opening for Mooney, and he led the visitors on an attack. The pressure w’as solid, and Pullar was bustled. The situation was dangerous, and Puller's attempt to clear was poor, but fortunately for Paeroa the ball rebounded off an opponent into Maloney’s hands and he found the line. Waihi remained on the attack, and from a scrum near the line Malt received and passed to Cole, who raced over in the corner without opposition. Dillimore failed with the kick. Paeroa 5, Waihi 3. Play remained in neutral territory until the change over. From a scrum shortly after coritmencing the second round Taylor and Shaw sent well down the field, but tne advance w’as stopped by Cole lying on the ball. Time and again Paeroa advanced only to be pulled up for a breach, and Waihi had four or five free kicks before gaining a respite for any length of time. Loose play in midfield followed, during which Johnson was put off the field for striking Dillimore. Taylor again' initiated a forward movement from a scrum at halfway and things looked bright for a score, but Morehu saved nicely. The Paeroa backs indulged in ,a passing bout, but no advantage was gained, the ball travelling straight across the field. Play became very ragged : and a sustained kicking bout took place. The whistle was much in evidence, and nd sooner was a movement made by either side than it was negatived by a breach. Ultimately Mooney picked up in the loose at halfw'ay and was allowed to reach the line before being tackled. From the tiglit play which followed Waihi gained a penalty but failed to score.

Paeroa immediately advanced to quarter way after half-time, and, after a short check Maloney carried down the line to the corner, Waihi later forcing. Following loose play in midfield Paeroa hooked in a scrum and passing between Rice, Masters, and Royal shifted operations well into Waihi’s territory. Morehu cleared, but the relief was short-lived, for Maloney returned with the ball .at toe. and sent over the line. His final kick was a trifle ha'rd and Dillimore beat him for the ball. The drop-bat went to Pullar, who placed a splendid line-kick well inside Waihi’s twenty-five. Hard play in the corner terminated with a penalty being awarded to Waihi, but the pressure was immediately applied again by Paeroa, and in a loose forward rush the ball was sent over for Shaw to score. Taylor converted. Paeroa 10, Waihi 3. The remainder of the quarter was fast and exciting; the ball travelling up and down the field in good style. The final round had not long been in progress when Waihi put Paeroa on the defensive with a penalty kick. The home team held matters well in hand, and in loose play worked back into midfield. Waihi returned again and Dillimore had a penalty kick at goal but failed to score. Taylor led the Paeroa forwards in a rush down the field to Morehu, who held on to the ball as a last resource. Taylor took the kick and added another three points to P.aerba’s score. Paeroa 13, Waihi 3. Waihi desperately endeav-

oured to retrieve the situation, and in an attack Mooney was put off the - field for kicking. Play ranged up and - down in the neutral zone, the line being used a lot. Dillimore had anotnei unsuccessful shot at goal from the twenty-five flag. Operations swung to the other end of the field and in a dribbling rush Paeroa sent over, but Morehu forced. From then on to the call of time Paeroa remained on the attack, but no further score' resulted. Mr D. G. McMillan was referee. PLAINS V. PIAKO. A DRAWN GAME. The weather was fine for the Plains v. Piako representative maten at Te Aroha no Saturday, but owing to previous rain the field was very wet and slippery, and good football w.as handicapped. The slippery ball could not be handled with any degree of accuracy. ” The match was played on the Bridge Domain, and there was a big crowd of spectators, including many carloads of Plainsites. Piakd kicked off .and on the return found the line. Plains attacked, and ’play centred round Piako’s twentyfive line. For a fault in a scrum Plains gained a free kick, but Cotter failed to score. From the drop-out Cotter lined in Piako’s territory, where close play ensued until the defenders forced. Shortly after the dorpout Goldsbury secured from a line-out but was collared by Cotter, who found the line well down the field. Tight play ensued in the corner until the Piako forwards worked up to halfway, where the Plains backs secured and Molloy carried to the twenty-five line again. Stretton kicked over; the dead , ball line. Play went to the other end and the ball was sent over the deadball line. An attack by Plains followed an interchange of kicks iu neutral territory and the advance reached the line. Magill eventually relieved, and a faulty pass iu a promising rush sent the ball out at halfway. The second spell opened with an attack by Piako, and Wallis holding . on gave a free kick in front of the goal, but no score resulted. Tight play ensued near the corner. Plains had the advantage in line pi,ay and worked up to the other .twenty-five. After the ball had crossed the field ; Mclnnis eased with a mark taken in front of the goal. A long kick by Piako reached the line and the ball was carried back by Cotter. From the resultant scrum under the posts the position was relieved. Three free kicks by Piako from difficult angles were unsuccessful. A loose Plains rush and a long kick compelled Piako to force. Cotter checked a forward rush, but the home team gradually gained ground.’ From a line-out Hall almost scored, Cotter forcing. Play went to the other end of the field and Piako forced.

On resuming after half-time Molloy negatived a Piako attack .an found the line near Piako’is twenty-five. After considerable loose play Nicol and Molloy initiated an attack which ultimately reached the line. Considerable close play followed, but the defence was, sound and Piako worked back to halfway. Molloy stopped a passing rush and the Plains backs went on the attack for a force. Pressure was maintained by. the visitors, and from a scrum Adlum secured and passed to Nicol, who scored between the posts. Cotter failed with the kick. Plains. 3, Piako 0. After an interchange of kicks a passing rush by Nicol, Whelan, and Molesworth reached the line, the situation being relieved with a mark by Goldsbury. The final spell commenced with Piako attacking strongly. The game then opened up and the ball was thrown about well. Goldsbury saved by marking in front of the posts. Piako worked down the field and a had a good opportuntiy, but Hall failed to take a pass. Whelan brought play back to halfway, but the relief was only temporary. Close played followed along the Plains line and the attackers- failed to score with a corner kick. An attempt to relieve was returned, and Goldsbury followed up and scored under the posts. The kick failed. Plains 3, Piako 3. Time was called shortly atfenVards. Mr Dunstan was referee. The game was fairly even, and the Plains team put up a better exhibition than on previous occasions.. The visitors were entertained to luncheon and dinner by the Piako Union. THE JUNIORS. WIN FOR WAIHI. The Junior representative match between Paeroa and Waihi was played at Waihi, the home team winning by 11 points to 6. . THIRD-GRADE MATCH. SCHOOL V. WEST. The curtain-raiser to to senior representative game at Paeroa was a third-grade match between High School and West. After a very even contest the game ended in a draw, Leach converting a penalty kick for High School and Currie scoring a try ofr West. Mr E. Shaw was referee. ODDFELLOWS V. DRUIDS. NEXT SATURDAY’S MATCH. The following will represent the Oddfellows in their match against the Druids on Saturday next:— T Pullar, W. Smith, K. Dean, E. Potter, C. McNeil, G. Pullar, R, Wells, L. G. Smith, J, Miller, F. Patterson V. Carrick, P. Morrison, J. Morrison, G. Neil, Johnson. Emergencies: Backs, B. Rae, F. Keating, Potter, Hargreaves, W. Leach, T. M. Wilkinson; forwards, Duncan, Richmond (2), Day, Killgour, Fox. Players with black and white jerseys are requested to bring them along. Any played unable to attend kindly notify T. M. Wilkinsbn before Friday.