FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5003, 21 July 1926, Page 1

FOOTBALL

LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES.

WEST AND NETHERTON WIN. The local senior competition was advanced a 'further stage at the Domain on Saturday afternoon, when Netherton defeated East by nine points to nil and West defeated Suburbs by six points to nil. Owing to the weather the games witnessed wei’e not df a high standard for senior football, but in mitigation it is only fair to add that both fields were sbas, of mud, and in places were covered with storm-water. As a consequence the ball was very difficult to handle. Although West defeated Suburbs the visitors had the better df the game. Suburbs lost several good chances to score by attempting to pick up a slippery ball, Samsdn particularly indulging in this fault under the conditions a t nd thereby missing good opportunities to score. In the East v. Netherton match the visitors had the heavier team. East had hard, luck several times in hot ■registering scores. The Netherton backs played with combination and were fast, and the team deserved its victory. WEST V. SUBURBS. West.—K, Dean, G, Wells, Jenyns, J, Verran, R, Swann, L. Nield, L. C, Masters, M, Poland, H. McKee, E, E, Neil, V, Carrick, R. Shaw, W. Taylor, T, Dawson, T, Green. Suburbs.—R. Rare, W, Bennett, A, Morrison, E, Bennett, R, Samson, J. Hake, L. Rice, R. Wilson, F, Patterson, J, Duncan, . W. Vedder, T, Killgour, C, Meredith, S. Wyatt, M. Brown. The visitors kicked off and followed up, Nield clearing to the. line. The

line-out was scrummed inside West’s twenty-five line, but Masters cleared. Tight play near Suburb’s line was relieved by Meredith, who, with the ball at to®, carried into West’s territory, where play hung for the rest of' the quarter. The second round opened in heavy rain, and the quarter was characterised by up and down play, with little advantage to either side. On resuming after hajf-time the weather had cleared a little. Suburbs applied pressure and carried to

West's .twenty-five, where Swann, tak

ing the ball on the full, cleared. took a turn at attacking, when Hake was penalised, giving Taylor a.

chance, but his kick was short and a ‘force resulted. In West’s twenty-five Hake took a penalty kick but failed. Nield returned well up the line, and Verran, following up, ha,d an opportunity when Rare mulled the ball and by kicking over the line Scored a good try Taylor failed to convert. West 3, Suburbs Q.

In the last quarter matters livened up, and Suburbs, had several good opportunities to score but by trying to pick up the ball threw the chances away. The visitors applied pressure but relief came with a. breach iii trie defenders’ territory. Play swept to

the other end of the field and Taylor had an unsuccessful penalty kick al goal from which Duncan returned to midfield. Suburbs gained ground, but a breach again saved the situation. Following a scrum near half-way Poland sent down to the corner.,

The ball slipped off Rare’s foot in his clearing kick and Wells, who had followed up, snapped the ball up and dived over the line.. Dean’s kick went wide. West 6, Suburbs 0. With only a few minutes to go the visitors made a valiant attempt to score, but the defence was too sound. Inside the twenty-five E. Bennett failed with a penalty kick, and a chance to score a few minutes later was lost by the visitors trying to pick up and pass the ball. Play was in West’s territory when time was called. Mr F. Pivott was referee. NETHERTON V. EAST. This game was played on the No. 2 ground, and attracted considerable interest. The teams were :— Netherton. —G, Pullar, 0, McNeil, W. Potter, Coldicutt, J, Catlin, H. Wright, A. Burt, R, Morrison, G. Fisher, B, Johnson, E, Fisher, T. Johnson, T. Pullar, C, Hayward, E. Johnson. East.—N, Latimer, W. Hume, A, Williams, J. Mead, G. Williams, G, Masters, H. Thorp, F. Thorp, F, Fitch, H, Pennell, J, Robinson, G. Radford, N. Neil, R, Hounslow, R. Bullock, The visitors kicked off and Bullock headed an East fprward rush down the field, but over-eagerness spoilt the movement and a force resulted. The Netherton forwards attacked strongly, but G. Williams relieved by taking a. neat mark. The game was even in the first quarter. Play was fast and open in the second quarter, and honours were ©ven.

On resuming after half-time the visitors, attacked, Burt doing good work with the ball at his toe before sending out to T. Johnson, who picked up and dived over, in the coriier. T. Pullar failed to convert. Netherton 3, East 0. From the kick-out the visitors again carried down, but a penalty checked the ru«=.h. Netherton ca;me again, but G. Williams forced, Robinson headed a loose rush by East which was stopped by Catlin taking a mark.

In the last quarter East applied pressure, but T. Johnson marked and cleared to neutral ground. From a line-out in East’s territory the visitors capie down with a rush and McNeil scored near the posts. Wright’s kick was unsuccessful, Netherton 6, East 0. Just on the call of time the visitors started a rush and Potter sent out to Coldicutt, enabling him to score, the game ending Netherton 9, East O’.

Mr T, C, Arnold was referee.