FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4869, 24 August 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

INTER-UNION GAMES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. POLAND CUP COMPETITION : Piako 9, v. Paeroa 5. Hauraki Plains 8, v. Waihi 0. SHAREBROKERS’ CUP: Piako 11, v. Paeroa 11. THIRD-GRADE: Piako 12, v. Paeroa 3. As matters turned out, last Saturday’s Thames Valley inter-union matches proved the deciding games in the Frank Poland Memorial Cup competition. Prior to Saturday Paeand Waihi were even, with 6 points, Piako 5, and Hauraki Plains 3, Suffering defeat by Plains to the tune of 8 to 0 put Waihi out of the contest, and a win by 9 points to 5 against Paeroa gave Piako the cup. PAEROA V. PIAKO. Although defeated the Paeroa team was not disgraced. Unfortunately, the field at Te Arohai was not in accordance with regulation measurements, the dead-ball line being only 10 yards from the goal-line, and this lost Paerpa the game, for under ordinary circumstances two tries would have been registered which were disallowed owing to the ball being touched down over the dead-ball line. On the play the two teams were fairly even. Taeroa did most of the attacking, and iu comparison with previous ’ games showed a general improvement. The placing of the players was satisfactory, the drawback being lack of combination. Had this team been chosen at the beginning of the competition, with couching and practice it would have gained combination and been hi a position to win the cup this year. Piako played the better football in that through practice they knew each other’s play and therefore combined better. The Following were the teams: —

Piako.—J. Magill, Hall, Towers, S. Goldsbury, Stewart, Trethaway, Hughes, F. Goldsbury, McCarthy, Young, - McLaren, Mslnnes, Grattan, Ryan, P. Magill. Paeroa— Pullar, Maloney, Wiliams, McNeil, A. Royal, G. Royal, Masters, Thorp, Patterson, Miller, Fisher, Taylor, Neil, Carrick, Shaw. Piiiko’s kick-off went to Taylor, passing between Taylor, Shaw, and Fisher returning play to halfway. Masters fielded a penalty kick from Piako and started a passing movement, but A. Royal’s delivery was intercepted. The visitors gained ground, however, and invaded Piako’s twentyfive, only to let the defending forwards break through in close play and return to midfield. An interchange of kicks terminated with Williams marking, after which Piako slowly worked into Paeroas’ territory and gained a penalty. McLaren took tlie kick from the twenty-five flag and placed a good goal, Piako 3, Paeroa 0. In loose play G. Royal made an opening for Paeroa with a well placed kick, Taylor carrying on, but Goldsbury went down on the ball. Piako later forcing. The home team attacked with the drop-out, and a bad clearing kick was marked by Ryan, who registered three more points, for Piako. Play went to the other end of the field, and after considerable tight w’ork tlie defending backs obtained possession. The ball was passed out to Hall, who put in a good run from half-way and scored. McLaren failed to convert. Piako 9, Paeroa- 0. Paeroa made a strong attack, Magill bringing relief with a mark.

Loosq play on Piako’s side of halfway was indulged in for some time after changing over. Eventually Masters picked up in the -men and after a run up the line he short-punt-ed for A. Royal to carry on. Royal guided the ball over the line and dived on it, but the connection was made on the dead-ball line. Paeroa attacked strongly, and twice more sent over the line, to be beaten by the narrow scoring area. Another period of loose play saw Piako gain ground, Pullar clearing with a mark. Carrick broke away in the line-out and cleared to half-way. Piako returned the attack, but McNeil and Masters sent play back to midfield, where it remained until half-time.

Piako rushed to the Paeroa’s territory with the kick-off after .half-time. The attack was short-lived, however, and the ball shot out. from tight play to McNeil, who sent to the . other twenty-five. With line play Paeroa worke dto the corner, Piako later being compelled to force. The pressure was immediately applied again by Paeroa, and from a scrum near the line Masters sent to G. Royal, to A. Royal, the latter scoring a good try. Taylor converted. Piako 9, Paeroa 5. In open play the Piako backs got going, but the effort wjas nullified by Hall failing to take his pass. Maloney cleared, and by smart following up, play was taken to the other end of the field. A hard struggle enisucd on Piako’s line, relief coming with a free kick.

The last round opened with Piako attacking. A ecrum in front of the posts gave the home team an opportunity, but the defence could not be broken down. Play opened up and went back into neutral territory for a lengthy spell. With a good passing rush Piako reached the corner, and play became tight again until G. Royal cleared with a line kick. Paeroa gained ground in line play, and also had the better of a kicking bout, which terminated in Piako’s corner. A number of scrums followed on the defenders’ line, while a breach by Paeroa spoilt the opportunity. Pl.ay went to neutral territory, where it remained until time was called. Mr A. W. Dunstan was referee. HAURAKI PLAINS V. WAIHI. This match was played under good conditions. The weather was fine, with no wind, and. the field was in good order, but the attendance was much below that of previous matches. Two of the motor-cars missed the right road and did not arrive at Ngatea until almost 3.30, and the match did not commence until close

on 4 o’clock. .Better exhibitions of football have been seen at Ngatea; The first half of the game was very slow, but by the third quarter the visitors were getting over the effects of their long journey, and the standard of play improved. The Waihi players were evidently not up to form and few of them shone put. Mooney, Nelson, and Morehu were the pick of the backs. All the Plains team played well, Killgour and Steedman fully justifying their inclusion. Following are the teams : —

Waihi. —Morehu, Morehu, McLeay, Mitchell, Mooney, Ashby, Nelson, Price, Johnston, Walsh, Rolleston, Peacock, Byers, Agnew, Jesney. Plains, —-Moore, Whelan, Cotter, Adlum, Nicol, Molesworth, Williscroft, Stretton, Steedman, Killgour, Wallis, Taylbr, McPherson, Berney, Cook. Plains attacked ’ from the kick-off, and Wallis failed to score with a free kick from .near the side line. Tlie visitors failed to hold advantages gained by marks and penalties, and from loose play Steedman scored and Wallis converted. Plains 5, Waihi 0. Play returned to Waihi’s territory, the attacking forwards doing good work. The visitors secured from a throw-in and relieved to halfway, and after an interchange of kicks compelled a foree. Aivattack was initiated in midfield by Mooney, but the home backs gained control and soon had Waihi defending. Wallis failed with a penalty kick and change over was called.

With a long kick Wallis sent Waihi on the defensive, play’working down to the line. Following a scrum Waihi secured in a line-out, and with the help of a free kick operations were shifted to. the neutral zone, where ragged play ranged. In a straggling rush Plains reached the line and Cotter scored in the corner. The kick was disallowed as Wallis wasted time in placing the ball. Plains 8, Waihi O'.

Johnston, a Waihi forward, was ordered off the field for answering back the referee. Open play in midfield followed, Plaints gradually working into Waihi’s territory.

Play ranged up and down the field after half-time, and. a force was registered by Waihi. Tight play followed in Waihi’s territory, the defenders eventually gaining the advantage and reaching halfway. Whelan made a good run, and Molesworth failed to score from a mark. An even struggle in midfield ensued until McLeay secured and made a. good run to be stopped by Moore, who returned the ball-to midfield. Waihi failed to score with a penalty kick and the Plains forwards rushed the ball, into Waihi’s quarter, close play being relieved by Mooney. Cotter failed to score from a mark. A nice passing rush by Plains followed, but Waihi secured and went on the attack until the chnage over.

The final spell commenced with an attack by Plains, a kicking bout relieving to the other end of the field. Cotter mulled and Waihi almost scored, Moore relieving with a good piece of work. A number bf long kicks followed open play, Waihi gaining the advantage. Marks by Nicol and Moore were secured on the line, and the Plains backs soon had Waihi on the defensive. In a good piece of work Morehu and Mooney went right down the field, Waihi almost scoring. Nicol kicked to Morehu, who marked, but he failed to. score. The ball remained in the home team’s territory until Whelan relieved in a tight scuffle on the line. A drop-kick by Waihi failed, and play went to midfield, the game' ending shortly afterwards. Mr J. Crawford was referee.