FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5124, 11 May 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL

CLUB COMPETITIONS. PAEROA UNION GAMES. The second matches in the Paeroa Rugby Union’s competitions were played in fine weather on Saturday afternoon. There was a fair atttendance of the public at the local domain. The principal attraction was the senior match West versus East. From a spectator s point of view, the game, though hard, was very disappointing, there being no semblance of combination in either teams, and the play generally was ragged. It was the’ first occasion that the East team had played this season, and as several of the ex-Nether-ton players have thrown in their lot with the East club, perhaps too much should not have been expected of the play in the first match. Suffice it to say that the scores do not clearly indicate the merits of the game. The West team had bj r far the heavier pack, and had combined play been resorted to there is little doubt that the scores would have been larger. The game was nearly 20 minutes late in starting. Fortunately, the junior game East v. West held the attention of the public in the interim, but if tnc goodwill of supporters is to be maintained it is the duty of the selectors and officials to see that the teams take the field somewhere near the scheduled time. Owing to the late start and minor delays as the result of accidents to players the closing stages of the game were played in semi-darkness, and it was almost impossible to distinguish the play. The West team finally won by eight points to three. Following were the teams : West. —Smardon, J. Verran, RSwann, G. Wells, H. Coldicutt, J. K. Dean, ,L C. Masters, M. Poland, E. Neil, ’E. Fisher, J. Edwards, Greenhalgh, H. McKee, Mills, Mayo. East.—N. Latimer, A. Gilbertson, C. Treanor, J. Goonan, H. Wright, J. Catlin, R. Hounslow, T. Lovatt, S. Boyer, G. Pullar, J. Bean, R. Bullock, G. Radford, L. Joines, F. Fitch. West kicked off, the return from East being fielded by Dean, who found the line near half-way. A scrum followed the lineout, and an infringement gave Swann an unsuccessful shot at goal. Joines was penalised, but Swann’s kick was blocked. Following a line-out near halfway Fisher sent out to Coldicutt, to Masters, but Catlin intercepted the pass and saved what looked like a certain score. In tight play inside East’s twenty-five Catlin feigned to pass but was collared, the ball going to Coldicutt, to Neil, who dived over. Swann failed with the ki.ck. West 3, East 0. In a loose rush following the. kick-out Gage secured and, after making a good run, sent on to Verran, who has an open field and scored the second try for West. Swann converted. West 8, East 0. After the change-over West attacked strongly, but Fitch cleared to the line. A scrum followed the line-out. but off-side play by West gave, East a penalty kick which was neatly placed by Boyer. West 8, East 3. East applied pressure and tight played followed in front of the posts until McKee cleared to halfway. In a loose, rush Hounslow marked inside the twentyfive., but 'his kick was short. Fitch returned the kick and initiated a solid attack, but a mark by Poland saved the situation for West.

'On resuming after half-time West advanced, but faulty passing negatived the- movement and enabled Lovatt to clear. A loose rush headed by Verran reached the corner, where, a breach occurred and Catlin cleared. In tight play near half-way Swann sent out to Coldicutt, to Verran, who crossed the line but lost the ball, a force, resulting. At this stage Radford retired and .was replaced by JLeaf. A tricky kick by Swann and followed up smartly by Verran resulted in a scrum op the line, but Joines secured and sent out at the corner.

An interchange of kicks opened the last quarter. On a forward rush East reached the line where a scrum was ordered. Bean was penalised for offside. play and McKee cleared. Fitch was injured and was replaced by W. Nealie. East kept up the pressure and Bullock, following a short kick, crossed the line but lost the ball, a force resulting. Off-side, play gave East a penalty, but Boyer's kick was unsuccessful. McKee returned the kick and carried down the field, but a forward pass spoiled the, movement. In tight play at half-way Masters secured possession, anti after putting in a good run sent out to Swann, to Greejihalgh, who failed to take the pass, the ball going out. The throwin went to Hounslow, to Treanor, who made a great run .up the field, but Smardon saved by sending out near the corner.

Mr P. E. Brenan was referee.

EAST V. WEST JUNIORS. Considerable interest was taken in the junior garne East v. West, .and tne match was an interesting go from start to finish. There was little difference in the form of the two teams, but West had a slight advantage in weight. The game was fairly open, and the scores, East 17, West 14, are a fair indication that it was fast and willing. West kicked off and carried to the twenty-five line. In tight play Bailey secured and dived over. The kick by Rick rose well, hut struck the outside goal-post, bumped on the cross-bar, and then bounced over. West 5, East O'. East attacked with the kick-out, and an infringement by the defenders gave S. Williams a successful penalty kick at goal. West 5, East 3. Play went to the other end of the field, and Rick failed with a penalty kick. The pressure was maintained by West until Walls was penalised, and Rick this time succeeded with the kick. West 8, East 3. East took a turn on the attack, but Walls kicked too hard and a force resulted. Mead received from the kick-out and opened up the game for H. Moore 1 to score, S. Williams converted. West 8, East 8.

West attacked in.the second quarter until Willi,ams relieved with a mark. Close play about West’s twentyfive line terminated with an unsuccessful penalty kick by Williams. The West forwards solidly advanced and

G. Taylor scored a good try. Rick failed with the kick. West 11, East 8. East indulged in a loose rush down the. field, and in a scramble H. Moore gained possession and scored a try. S. Williams failed to convert. West IL East 11.

The second half opened with West on the attack. Rick .failed with a penalty kick at goal, but shortly afterwards Overall made amends from a difficult angle. West 14, East 11- East took the initiative, and atfer some hard play E. King scored a smart try. Moore failed with the kick. West 14. East 14,

Early in the final round N. Neil put in a good ripi, but kicked rather wildly and Overall found the line. Neil received from the throw-in and again broke away to score a good try. Williams failed to convert. East 17> West 14. Give and take play ensued for tnc rest of the game, no further scores resulting. Mr D. G. McMillan was referee. NETHERTON V. SUBURBS. The Suburbs junior team journeyed to Netherton on Saturday, and a good game resulted in a draw, the scores being three all. For Suburbs M. Brown scored a try, while L. Potter scored for Netherton. Mr J. M. Crosby was referee.

PLAINS RUGBY UNION. INSURANCE SCHEME ADOPTED. The delegates comprising the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union met at Ngatea on. Monday evening, the president (Mr H. Dent) presiding over Messrs C. Bertelsen, R. McPherson, F. Rogers, C. N. O’Loughlin, W. Madgwick, P. RA. H. McClean, E. A. Mahoney, and W. P. Wylde, hop. secretary. MATCHES WITH THAMES. The Thames Rugby Union wrote advising that it was prepared to send a senior and a junior representative team to Ngatea on Saturday, May 21. May 28 had been set down for the challenge matches for the Birch and Johnston cups. The president expressed the opinion that it was too c.arly in the. season to upset the inter-club matches for a friendly representative match, and this view was endorsed by all the other delegates.

The date for the- challenge matches was accepted, and a committee was set up to make arrangements. TURUA CLUB’S BOUNDARY.

In accordance with notice given, Mr Madgwick moved that the resolution carried at a previous meeting deleting some of the Turua Club’s territory and adding it to the Kerepeehi Club’s territory be rescinded.

In support of the motion Mr Madgwick said that the area was of no benefit to the Kerepeehi Club, but there was the community of interest of the people, particularly the supporters and school children, with the Turua Club.

Mr O’Loughlin spoke of one player in the area who would be desired by the Kerepeehi club, as it was experiencing a difficulty in keeping its teams up to full strength. Mr Bertelsen favoured giving the Kerepeehi dub the opportunity of getting as many players as possible, as there was a big chance that it would be very short in a few days, when employees of the Lands Department weie put off on account of lack of work. Mr Henry said that the Turua Club was not adopting a dog in the mange-i attitude, but it was of the opinion that Kerepeehi was not getting any advantage beyond getting the thin end of the wedge ip for next season. The motion was only supported by the mover and seconder. CHARGES FOR ADMISSION. On an expression of opinion being sought concerning the charges for admission to representative matches, the delegates with one exception were of opinion that 2s and Is were, too high, and it was therefore agreed that for this season the charges be Is 6d for men and Is. for ladies. FIRST-AID OUTFIT. The matter of providing a first-aid outfit for use at representative matches was discussed, and eventually it was agreed that a grant of .£1 Is be made, to the Ngatea club in consideration of the fact that its outfit had been used in the past and would be available in the future. As the most expensive part was the case, it was thought that the guinea would keep the outfit stocked for a long time. TURUA JUNIOR TEAM. The. secretary reported that application had been made by the Turua club for permission to enter a second junior team in the competition. No opopsition had been voiced by the delegates he had approached, and the team had commenced to play in the third series of matches, in the first round. The affiliation was accepted. The Turua delegates explained that the two junior teams would be kept entirely separate. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. The secretary reported that with £7 of the N.Z. Rugby Union’s annual grant for the purpose he had procured footballs and distributed them to the schools on the Plains. Mr Boswell, headmaster at the Kerepeehi school, attended the meeting and expressed the wish that the school competition for the Terrill Cup should be got under way as soon as possible. The idea that the, management of the competition be undertaken by the headmasters would be a good one if the teachers would all take an interest in the matter,; but this was not so, and lie would therefore suggest that the union arrange the matter, as in the past. The secretary was given instructions to ascertain the number of teams and make a draw for the competition. A PROTEST. A protest against the referee’s decision concerning a kick at goal in the Turua-Kerepeehi junior match was referred to the judicial committee for consideration. THEi INSURANCE SCHEME. The report of the committee set up to devise a scheme of insurance for players, as already published, was considered. Copies of ,the report had

been forwarded to the clubs for consideration.

Mr McClean said that the Waitakaruru chib had whole-heartedly supported the scheme.

Mr Henry said that the Turua club also supported the scheme, although it had made some recommendations on the matter.

Mr Bertelsen said that the Ngatea club had not considered the matter at a meeting, but the players were willing to fall’ in with anything that was done.

Mr O’Loughlin said that the Kerepeehi club' favoured the scheme, but had passed a resolution urging that the levy on players be Is a week and the benefit 30s a week. Mr Mahoney expressed the opinion that for the first season this -would be unwise and this view was. generally supported in the long discussion that followed. Suggestions made were that the benefits be paid at the end of the season, and in the event of the. calls being greater than the amount of money in hand, that payments be on a proportionate basis. Members were of the opinion that under the rate as suggested in the scheme there was a reasonable chance of the funds being able to meet all calls when they occurred, and that this procedure should be adopted. Various other points were raised by delegates who desired a scheme that would be cheaper for the players, but other delegates were, of the opinion that the proposal was as cheap as could be managed, and very much less costly than insurance through the ordinary channels.

It was decided that the representative teams come under the scheme, but the entrance fee be double, that for the clubs.

After a thorough discussion thescheme as outlined in the circulated report of the committee was adopted, and Dr. Lange, of Turua, was appointed surgeon.