FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4871, 31 August 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

BANNER COMPETITION. SATURDAY’S GAMES. The first round in the knock-out banner competition was played at the Racecourse, Paeroa, on Saturday afternoon, and drew a large attendance of spectators. The four teams taking part were fairly evenly matched. and good Rugby was played. In the East v. Karangahake match, at the call of time the score stood at six points, all. In accordance with the rules governing the competition the team.s played on for a further ten minutes each way, and during that time both sides scored five points. After playing just over 100 minutes time was called, and the teams will meet again next Saturday. In the West v. Netherton match the visitors were much the heavier team, and comprised mostly senior players, but the Wcist team, with a fair proportion of junior players, had little difficulty in defeating their more doughty opponents. WEST V. NETHERTON. West took teh held two men short, but the vacancies were filled duling the first quarter. Following were the teams : -—

West. —B. Rae, G. Wells, J. Verran, F. Keating, L. C. Masters, L. Neil, R. Swann, H. Wilton, H. McKee, E. Neil, C. Scanlon, W. Taylor, V. Carrick, R. Shaw, T. Pennell. Netherton. —G. Pullar, E. Potter, C. McNeil, H. Coldicutt, W. Potter, T. Pullar, A. Burt, T. Johnson, G. Fisher, H. Morrison, E. Fisher, A. Morrison, J. Morrison, E. Johnson, B. Johnson. West took the field two men short, hind them, and Netherton immediately carried down to the corner, a penalty bringing relief for the defendeis. The ball was returned by G. Pullar and West forced. Loose rushes, with the visitors mostly on the attack, ensued during the first quarter. After the change over Netherton momentarily rushed play into West’s quarter. On the return Taylor, failed with a penalty , kick and Coldicutt cleared to half-way. After a spell of give-and-take play Wilton set the backs in motion, and in a loose rush in which Verran, Masteqs, and Wells were prominent the last-named picked up and scored near the coiner flag. Taylor failed with the kick. West 3, Netherton 0. Following the kick-out the visitors, carried down to near the line, where a scrum was ordered. Burt secured and, working the blind side, side-stepped' - Masters and Swann and scored a good try, which he failed to, convert. West 3, Netherton 3. Almost immediately West started a loose rush, and Masters, carried into Netherton’s territory before passing to Swann, to Verran, the latter beating the full-back and scoring beside the posts. Swann’s kick failed. West 6, Netherton 3. Netherton carried up gaining a free kick inside the twentyfive line, but T. Johnson failed to score and Nield cleared to half-way. On resuming after half-time a considerable amount of loose play, mostly in midfield, ensued. From a loose rush a cross-kick from ’near the halfway line was smartly fielded by Wells, who carried up the line and passed in to Wilton, who scored near the corner Taylor failed to convert. West 9, Netherton 3. Play for the remainder of the quarter was fast, though rather wild. In the final round the visitors livened up considerably and frequently attacked, but the West backs tackled well and were nippy on the defence.. In the loose in West’s twenty-five Swann picked up and made a good run up the field before putting in a ishort punt. Verran secured and passed back to Swann, who had a dropkick at goal, the ball striking the bar and bouncing back into his arms and he dived for the line beside the posts-. The kick fell short. West 12, Netherton 3. Netherton followed up the kickout and in a loose scramble T. Pullar scored a good try.' Burt failed to convert. West 12, Netherton 6. The game ended in the visitors’ territoiy without any further score being added. Mr E. Smith was referee. EAST V. KARANGAHAKE. This game was played on the No. 1 Ground, and was a good exhibition of clean, fast football. The teamts were evenly matched, and hard play characteirsed each score. The Karangahake team was considerably strengthened by the inclusion of several Suburbs players. Following were the teams; —

East.—A. McKenna, W. Smith, C. Treanor, D. Smith, J. Walls, C. Vincent, G. Royal, H. Thorp, F. Thorp, W. Alley, F. Fitch, W. Nealie, E. Rob-sc-n, V. Vuglar, M. Beattie. Karangahake. —J. Mead, J. O’Brien, A. Royal, Brown, R. Mead, J. Rackham, B. Hardman. Ratliffe, Miller, F. Patterson, H. McLeod, J. O’Brien, M. McLeod, J. Duncan, W. Griffin. Karangahake kicked off and cai'i'ied down to East’s twenty-five, McKenna clearing with a long kick. The visitors continued to press, and in a loose rush the home team had to force. The ball was immediately returned by the visitors and McKenna marked. The kick Was blocked, and in a scramble J. Mead found the line.

In the second quarter East attacked, but the Karangahake backs were too solid and H, McLeod cleared with a long kick. In a passing rush the visitors were penalised, and G. Royal gained ground with a long kick. The visitors kept up the pressure until W. Smith received on the full ami cleared to the line. The throw-in was received by Karangahake, and the attack was renewed until McKenna cross-kicked to Vincent, who made a good run, but his pass was mulled. J. Mead secured and passed to Brown, who scored a good try. Rackham failed with the kick. Karangahake 3, East O'.

Shortly atfer half-time H. Thorp secured and made a good run before passing to Vincent, who was off-side. Tiie kick was returned, and in a forward rush Vuglar scored a good try near the coMner. G. Royal failed with the kick. Karangahake 3, East 3. East secured and started a passing rush, but G. Royal knocked on. The

Karangahake backs received from the scrum and went down the field, McKenna saving by dribbling the ball out of danger. G. Royal gained control and made a good run, but he over-ran. the ball and J. McLeod found the line.. F. Thorp marked but failed to score. The last Quarter opened, with a dribbling rush by East, but Hardman secured and the Karangahake, forwards pressed hard. D. Smith gained possession and passed to G.’Royal, but a wild pass upset the movement. The East forwards pressed, and a dangerous position was cleared by A. Royal finding the line. From the throw-in Hardman secured and kicked to the wing, M. McLeod scoring a good try. H. McLeod failed to convert. Karangahake 6, East 3. The kick-out was returned, but Eaist opened up and rushed down the field, for G. Royal to score. McKenna’s, kick was unsuccessful. Karangahake 6, East 6» Brisk play followed, and .the visitors pressed hard, but Treanor and Fitch broke through and made an opening, a likely try being upset by Royal obstructing. Karangahake went to the other twenty-five. After a number- of lineouts Nealie cleared. On the call of time the scores were even, and a further ten mintues’ play each way Was decided on. During the first ten minutes Walls scored from a five-yards scrum and McKenna converted. East 11, Karangahake 6. • In the last spell the scores were again evened up by J. O’Brien registering a try, which wais converted by J. Rackham, and the game ended eleven all. Mr J. D. Crawford was referee.