FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4975, 17 May 1926, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. .SENIORS: :West 14, V. East 4. , Netherton 8, v. Suburbs 6. Waitakaruru 6, v. Ngatea 3. Turua 8, v. Plains-, West 3. Kerepeehi • won by default. JUNIORS: East 12, v. Suburbs 3. Karangahake 17, v. West 8. Ngatea 11. v - Waitakaruru 0. Turua, won by default. The second game in the second round Of the senior competition was played at the loval domain on Saturday .afternoon. Perfect weather prevailed, and there.was, a. large attendance.. .The game was between the two local teams, East and West, and as is customary when these two teams meet, there were enthusiastic supporters for both sides. The exhibition of Rugby wajs very poor indeed, and frequently chances to spore were lost by both sides apparently preferring to play the mam lather tha,n the ball. Selfishnes on the paft of players by holding on to the ball too long was aliso very noticeable throughout the: game. ' A regrettable incident occurred shortly after half-time-, resulting in ■F,_ Thorp, East rover, and V.-, Ca,rrick, West forward, being ordered off the field. . The loss of these men made .a material difference to both, teajns* as both Thorp and Carrick were playing particularly well up to the time of the incident taking place. ‘ West was the, heavier team; . and . gained its victory through the work of the back division.; East should have registered -more- points, but there wa's no. attempt at combination among the forwards, whije the backs collectively were i ather erratic. Following were the teams :— West.—R. Swann, J. Verran, M. Poland, G. Wells, L. Nield, L", C. Mas-ters,-A. Hardman, F. Jenyns,. S. Neil, H., McKee, R. Shaw, L. McNeil, E. Greenheigh, V. Carrick, T. Dawson. East.—C. Treanor, .A. Williams', E. Moore, G. Royal, D. Smith, G. Masters,, H. Thorp, F. Thorp, F. Fitch, R. Smith, G.. Neil, G. Robinson, G. Radford, R. Hounslow, R. Bullock. East kicked off-a n< i .McNeil returned, and keeping up'the pressure carried down, a mark by H. Thorp relieving? Wells put- in a good rim, but. a wild pass- negatived the movement. In a loose rush inside East’s twentyfive Swann had - a shot at goal but failed, Williams’ clearing. Several scrums bn the line resulted in East itorcing. In the second quarter play was very open for some time, until Robinson' headed .a rush, a, scrum on the line, resulting from which Wells cleared to neutral territory. H. Thorp took a mark well inside the twentyfive, but his kick was blocked. From 1 a/scrum the ball came out to H. Thorp, who gave a long pasts, to D. Smith, to . Moore, who. drop-kicked a goal. East 4, West 0. In a loose -rush .headed by Jfcnyns Masters parsed to Verran, who put in a, nippy run and scored at the’ corner. Swann failed With the’ kick. East'4, West 3.

On resuming after half-time West rushed down, and after a good run Wells , passed to Poland, who scored. Jenyw converted. West 8, East 4. Almost immediately following the kick-out E. Neil picked up in the loose-’and crossed the. line. Jenyns with the kick. .West 11, East 4. At;this stage F. Thorp and V. Carrick were ordered off. the field. East ha,d> the better of the. game for tne rest of the spell. In’ the final quarter matters; livened up considerably, but there was generally little advantage to either side. In a loose .forward rush Jenyns cross-kicked to Verran, who scored a good try near the corner. Swann fa.iled with the kick. West 14, East 4. Mr E. Smith was referee*.

The tackling generally of both tr ams was, very weak. A habit seems; to have developed of swinging round an opponent’s neck instead df going low and making sure of the man? Offside play was also very prevalent ph Saturday, and many advantages were lost through this fault,. ’ -

In the: East team D; Smith a.nd, G. Masters, (five.-eighths) played well, while R. Smith and F. Thorp were the pick of the forwards. ✓ In the West backs McNeil .and Verran, played a hard game, - while.’ Carrick and Jenyns never/loitered and kept the foryvards well together.

THE-JUNIORS. ' The. junior game on the N 0... ”2 ground was played between East Suburbs.. From a spectator's point of view this was a real good game, and much superior to the senior match. The training of the tome team stood to it well, and the visitors were defeated by 12'points to 3. Tries for the home team were registered by H. Spinkis (2), C. Vincent, and N. Neil, and Cannon kicked a. penalty goal for the visitors. Mr E. Sha.w was referee.