FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4993, 28 June 1926, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. POLAND CUP: Hauraki Plains 16, v. Paieroa 3. Piako 6, v. Waihi 3. SHAREBROKERS’ CUP: Waihi 18, v. Paeroa, 9. INTER-CLUB MATCH : Thames Ramblers 12, v. Paeroa 6. THIRD GRADE: Paeroa School 23, v. West 5. The. first of the Frank Poland Competition matches of the season were held on Saturday, a id Pla.ins defeated Paeroa by 16 points to 3, while at Te Aroha Piako beat Waihi by 6 points to 3. PLAINS V. PAEROA. At Ngatea good weather prevailed, and there, was a record attendance of ■about 300 spectators. 'The game was clean, fast, open, a,nd interesting, but, on the whole, was not up to the standard expected from representatives. The teams lined out as follows : — Paeroa. —C.’Treanor, H. Coldicutt, C, McNeil, E, Bennett, A. Burt, C. Wright, J. Catlin, F, Thorp, R. Smith, F, Patterson, V, Carrick, G. Fisher, W. Taylor, T. Richmond, T, Killgour,

Plains. —E. Johnston, G, Buchanan, C, Molloy, D, Moleswor.th, F. Nicol, E. Pilkington, E, Smart, Dunca.n, L. Berney, T. Alderson, C, Clark, P. Clark, E, Wilson, R. McPherson, K. Fox, From the kick-off play went to midfield until a free kick allowed Paeroa tp reach Plains’ line, but from a scrum the. defenders returned to neutral territory. A Paeroa attack took the ball Mito Plains’ twenty-five and a force resulted. ’ Paieroa failed, to score with a penalty kick and Nicol found the line at half-way. With a passing rush the Plains backs got into their opponents’ territory; where, a pass was intercepted and play returned to neutraj ground. Coldicutt broke through, and .with a good run gained much ground. Molloy lined. With tight play in Plains’ quarter Thorp scored near the corner. The kick failed. Paeroa 3, Plains 0. Afte.r an attack by the Plains forwards which reached the line Catlin 'relieved, but Plains again pressed. Paeroa failed' with a penalty kick. Close play followed near the visitors’ line, terminating in a score, by Duncan, Molloy converting. Plains 5, Paeroa 3. The second round opened with interesting play in neutral territory. Molloy worked through and Plains scored, but Molloy failed to convert. Pains 8, Paeroa 3. Play remained in the neutral zone, a,nd after an exchange of kicks a scrum was ordered in the home team’s twenty-five. Paeroa secured and McNeil made a. good run, but a bad pa.ss spoiled the effort and play returned to midfield. From a scrum in Plains’ twenty-five Duncan secured and carried to the, other end of the field, but a. penalty negatived the .advantage.

The second half opened with play in midfield, but the Plains forwards were gaining the upper hand and excelling in the tight. Catlin made a good run for Paeroa, but the opposing forwards soon had .the visitors defending. Bennett broke through a;nd a score seemed probable when Nicol obstructed. Paeroa continued to attack until Buchanan intercepted a pass and relieved the pressure. Catlin, who played a fine game throughout, stopped the advance. A long kick was returned .to the line by Treahor a.nd Paeroa, securing the ball from the line-out, carried play to half-way, where it remained for some time. A fine passing rush by the Paeroa backs failed to penetrate the defence. From a the ball shot out cleanly to the Plains backs, and while the scrum was still down they were in a. favourabe attacking position, having a clear field, but a forward pass spoiled the effort.

A series of long kicks followed the opening of the final round 'and Paeroa forced. Fast open play was followed by a scrum from which P. Clark stent the ba.ll up the. line. From the lineout Treanor secured and cross-kicked to Molesworth, who carried to the corner, where tight play ensued until Molloy crossed the line. The kick failed. Plains 11, Paeroa 3. Plains now had the upper hand. Wilson secured and centred, and Cleave, following up 'fast, scored. Johnston converted. Plains 16, Paeroa 3. Pa.eroa set up an attack and Plains forcedThe attack was immediately resumed from the drop-but, but time was called without any further score. Mr Atkinson, Waihi, was referee. JUNIOR MATCH. . The Ngatea and Kerepeehi juniors met asi the curtain-raiser, a,nd the home team secured a win by 6 points