FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4884, 30 September 1925, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S BENEFIT MATCH. A DRAWN GAME. The benefit football match between the Paeroa Oddfellows Lodge and the Karangahake Lodge was played on the No. 1 Ground at the. Racecourse on Saturday afternoon and resulted in a draw, each side scoring nine points. Heavy rain fell during the morning, and showers prevailed during the afternoon, and these conditions no doubt prevented a larger number of spectators being present. The playing area- was practically a sea of mud, .and large pools of water abounded on the field. The players found that it was almost an impossibility to handle the ball with any degree of certainty, and owing to the unfavourable conditions a poor exhibition was given;

Soon after the commencement W. Smith registered the first try for Paeroa, and J. K. Dean converted. Later on in the game J- Bramble, the veteran player for Karangahake, kicked a fine goal, making the scores Paeroa 5, Karangahake 3.

After half-time Karangahake attacked, and as a result of a loose rush headed by Bramble Jack O’Brien scored a good try near the posts. J. Mead failed with the kick, which left the scores 6 to .5 in favour. of Karangahake. Paerpa livened up, and in a forward rush, in which G. Neil and J. A. Duncan were prominent, the ball went but to Swann, who. made a short run before drop-kicking a. beautiful goal. Paeroa 9, Karangahake 6. With only a few minutes to go Karangahake rallied and, following a line-out near halfway, M. McLeod opened up to J. O’Brien, to B. Hardman, who scored near the corner. The kick was unsuccessful and the game ended in a .draw, each side scoring nine points. Mr E, Smith was referee. THE CURTAIN-RAISER.

At a curtain-raiser the Paeroa Primary School team played a sehbolboy team representative of Pihko. From a spectacular point of view this proved to be by far the most interesting.game. The boys threw the ball about in good style, and, generally, showed a good knowledge of Rugby. The Paeroa team undoubtedly had the better of the game, but it is only fair to their, opponents' to point out that the local boys had played together previously and were able ,to combine with a reasonable degree of accuracy and success. The visitors were far heavier, but lacked combination and judgment. However, although beaten by nine points to nil they were not disgraced. For the winners tries were scored by Pivott, Barakat, and Johnson. Mr B. Johnson was referee.