FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5121, 4 May 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF SEASON.

LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES.

Ideal weather conditions prevailed on Saturday afternoon when the Pae10a Rugby Union formally opened its 1927 season at the local domain. There was a large attendance of tne public. The appearance of the local Boy Scouts’ Brass Band, which played several selections during the afternoon, was much enjoyed, and the spectators were not slow to show their appreciation of the boys’ efforts. WEST V. SUBURBS. Tlie senior match set down for decision was West (Paeroa) v. Suburbs (Hikutaia). Considering it was the beginning of. the season quite a good game was witnessed. The visitors had the heavier team, especially in the forwards, while the backs showed plenty of pace, and at times, fair combination. Several well-known players were absent in the ranks of the, home team, including the old captain, “Bill” Taylor, whose kicking propensities were sorely missed during the game. At half-time the scores were Suburbs 11, .West 0. In the reremaining half of the match, however, the home team rallied and scored 12 points to the visitors’ 3, the game ending, Suburbs 14, West 12. The following were the teams: — Suburbs. —W. Bennett, E. Bennett, P. Corbett A- Morrison, Mcßae, Brown, H. Rare, W. Miller, B. Buchanan, A. Tahu, E. Robson, W. Vedder, R.’ Morrison, H. Buchanan, S. Wyatt. West.—Smardon, H. Coldicutt, KDean, J. Verran, L. C. Masters, R. Swann, G. Wells, M. Poland, E. Neil, Edwards, E. Fisher, H. McKee, Mayo, W. Lipsham, Grceniialgh. West kicked off, but almost immediately had to defend, relief coming with an infringement by Suburbs. After an unsuccessful shot at goal by Swann the home side indulged in a loose rush, but off-side play nullified the effort. ’ With play near mid field a penalty to West gave Smardon an unsuccessful shot at goal. Following a period of give and take play in neutral territory the Suburbs forwards attacked, and just when matters looked dangerous for West Masters marked and cleared to half-way. The second quarter opened with a forward rush by the visitors which was stopped by Smardon marking and clearing. From the ensuing scrum Mcßae gained possession and carried into West’s twenty-five, from where McKee sent to the line. From the Huow-in close pl?y ensued, resulting in H. Buchanan breaking away and scoring. Wyatt converted. Suburbs 5, West 0. The kick-out was rushed by the visitors, who returned to the attack for Vcdder to pick up and score in the corner. Wyatt failed with the kick. Suburbs 8, West 0. Leaving nothing to chance, Suljurbs kept up the pressure, but a breach occurred and Poland cleared to neutral teri itory for McKee and Fisher to carry on. Off-side play inside Suburbs’ twenty-five gave Dean- an unsuccessful shot at goal. The ball was returned by E. Bennett, who made a good run before sending out to Corbett, to Brown, who scored a good try. Vedder failed to convert. Suburbs H, West 0.

Immediately after resuming j,n the second half the home team started a forward rush headed by Lipsham .and Fisher. In a scramble on the line Coldicutt got through and scored. Dean's kick went wide. Suburbs 11, West 3. The visitors secured from the kick-out and Vedder and R. Morrison started a forward rush which was checked by Smardon marking and clearing. Tahu returned, but offside play spoiled the effort. Loose play followed until a scrum was ordered inside West’s twenty-five which resulted in A. Morrison picking up and registering a good try. Tahu failed to add the extra points. Suburbs 14, West 3.

Play became rather wild in the final round, and the visitors appeared to tire. Making the most of the opportunity West attacked strongly, and in tight play Masters scored a. good try. Swann’s kick struck the post. Suburbs 14, West 6. Keeping up the pressure, the home forwards worked play again into Suburbs’ twenty-five, where they were checked momentarily by H. Buchanan, but this kick was blocked and Wells secured and sent out to Poland, to Coldicutt, who registered his second try. Dean’s kick failed. Suburbs 14, West 9. Give and take play followed the kick-out for some time, until Verran gained possession and made a great run from near the half-way line and scored oneof. the best tries of the day. Dean failed to convert. The game ended shortly afterwards with play in West’s territory, the final scores being, Suburbs 14, West 12. Mr E. Moore wasi referee.

Although eaily in the season to criticise players individually, R. Morrison, the Buchanan brothers, and Tahu were the pick of the- Suburbs forwards, while Mcßae and H. Bennett played solidly in the back division.

The West team lacked combination, but perhaps McKee and Poland were tlie best of the. forwards while of th? backs Smardon, Masters, and Coldicutt were always dependable. THE JUNIORS. WEST V. NETHERTON. The junior match between West aiuT Netherton was played on the No. 2 ground, and it proved interesting. The home, team managed to win by live points to nil, but the scores do not. indicate the hard game and solid play of the Netherton team. From the kick-off the visitors carried down to West’s line, a fpTce resulting. The drop-out opened up a loose rush by th© home forwards, headed by Insley and Sinnett. Faulty handling by the Netherton backs allowed J. Conolly to. cross the line, but he had bad luck to lose the ball and a force- resulted Netherton rushed the drop-out and carried play to West’s territory, but lack of finish made the effort’ futile, and We»t forced. The second! Quarter opened! with

a forward rush by West which the Netherton side was unable to stern, and Insley scored. W. Rick converted. West 5, Netherton 0. The visitors commenced the second half with a strong attack, but the defence was sound. West’s chance of scoring on two occasions was spoilt by kicking too hard. The home forwards were combining hotter by this time, and made a flue opening for the backs to score, but Potter saved the situation. In the final round faulty passing on both sides prevented play becoming anything but mediocre. While defending against an attack by the opposing forwards H. Fraser (Netherton) was injured and had to retire,. Loose play followed to the end of the game without any further scores being added. Mr T. C. Arnold was referee. EAST V. SUBURBS. The East junior team journeyed t° Hikutaia, where a hard game was played against Suburbs which resulted in a win for the visitors by 15 to 0. An outstanding feature, of the game was the play of East’s full-back, Sid. Williams, who scored nine of the fifteen points registered. His tally comprised the conversion of a try, a penalty goal, and a drop-kicked goal. The other scorers were J. Walls and B. McGuire, both registering a try. Mr C. Treanor was referee.. THIRD GRADE MATCH. As a curtain-raiser to the senior match at the local domain the West third-grade- team played the Paeroa School, and the game ended in a draw, the, scores being 6 all. Tthe game was interesting throughout, the schoolboys particularly giving a very fair exhibition of the code. For West G. Morland and V. Barakat scored a try each, and for School tries were scored by C. Ward and P. Poland. Mr Jack Rackham was referee. HAURAKI PLAINS FOOTBALL. COMPETITION GAMES CONTINUED. The second matches of the club competition on the Plains were played on Saturday last in good weather and in the presence of large numbers of spectators. Generally the play showed an improvement on that of the previous Saturday, but there is still much room for more. NGATEA V. TURUA. Turua.—E. Frensh, L. McCoid, H. Elvin, E. Hooper, W. Madgwick, W. Blacklaws, W. Turner, K. Fox, G. Elvin, E. Booth, R. Hutchinson, W. Clark, R. Spencer, G. McCowatt, R. Madgwick. Ngatea.—C. Molloy, H. McCollum, R. McPherson, W. Williams, E. Laing, F. Nicol, S. Chapman, G. Buchanan, J. Riddell,’ D. Hutchinson, H. Cook, R. Abel, W. Strange, K. McCollum, S. Dalge.ty. The match between the Ngatea and Turua seniors at Ngatea was a hard, forward scramble. The teams showed promise, and there were some outstanding players, but even for a first match of a season there were altogether too many infringements. Ngatea had the better of the- game at the beginning, and went close to scoring on several occasions. About the middle of the second spell the game was opened up more and the weakness of the Ngatea backs was shown. Chapman scored the first try after some good work by McPherson. The last spell was particularly fast, and was generally in the home team’s ground. Elvin evened the scores with a free kick, and although both teams had many opportunities no further points were registered. K. Fox was easily the outstanding player. Madgwick and Blacklaws, the five-eighths, were very good, and Elvin proved that his place was in the pack; Of the Ngatea team F. Nicol was the best back, and seemed to lie the only one- with confidence in himself. Ngatea’s strength was in its forwards. Mr D. G. McMillan was referee.