FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5132, 30 May 1927, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIORS : Thames 6, v. Hauraki Plains 3. Thames B 26, v. Turua O’. West 12, v. East 0. JUNIORS : Thames 6, v. Hauraki Plains 3. East 9. v. Netherton 5. West 6, v. Suburbs 3. THIRD GRADE: West 6, v. Paeroa School 3. The Paeroa Rugby Union's competitions were advanced a further stage on Saturday afternoon. Fine wea.ther prevailed, and there was a fair crowd at the local domain. The principal attraction was the senior game between the two local rival teams, East and West. There was plenty of support for both sides, and the game was played in a friendly spirit throughout. For senior football the play was very ragged, and generally was more or less confined to individual effort. Considering the wet ,and slippery state of the field the game was fast, and for the most part open. The teams were evenly matched, and the fact tha.t West defeated East by 12 points does hot indicate the true -merit of the play of the losing side. The following were the teams :— West.—F. Smardon, G. Wells, R. Swann, J. Verran, H. Coldicutt, K. Dean, L. Masters, M. Poland, H. McKee, H. Edwards, V. Carrick, E. Fisher, Greenhalgh, T. Dawson, Mills. East'.—N. Latimer, C. Treanor, HWright, J. Catlin, V. Murphy, D. Smith, H. Wilton, S. Boyer, R. Bullock, E. Johnson, T. Pullar, F. Fitch, R. Smith, T. Richmond, W. Nealie.

Pullar kicked off for East and car- ( ried down, but Wells intercepted and sent out to Verran, who cleared. In tight play in East’-s territory a penalty was awarded West, and Swann made no mistake with the kick. West 3, East 0. An exchange of kicks ensued for some time, until R. Smith headed a forward movement which faulty passing negatived and West forced. Just at the close of the quarter Smith had an unsuccessful penalty kick from near the twenty-

five flag. The second ‘‘quarter opened with West on the attack. In tight play near the twenty-five line Swann took a mark but failed to score. The kickout was carried down by East, the ball going out near the corner. A five-yards scrum followed the throwin, and in tight plqy Verran forced. Following loose play in. East’s territory Poland gathered'in the ball and scored near the posts. Swann failed to convert. West 6, East 0.

On resuming in the second half the ball went to Murphy, who held on too long and, was penalised. Wright secured from the kick, and play hovered near the half-way line. In loose play Mills picked up and sent out to Wells, to Verran, who ran out at the corner. The line-out was scrummed In front of the posts, but Latimer cleared. Coldicutt returned to Dawson, who carried on until stopped by Pullar, who cleared to halfway. A West player was penalised, but Smith’s kick was short. From the kick-out play hung round in East’s territory until the end of the quarterDean kicked off in the final round and Wells committed a: breach. From the resultant scrum Masters secured and sent out to Verran, to Wells, but Latimer intercepted and cleared, a scrum near the half-way line gave East a penalty, but Smith’s kick was not strong enough and Coldicutt returned to Catlin, who found thei line. In a loose rush headed by Carrick the ball travelled up to East’s twentyfive, where Treanor sent out to the line. From a mark Masters gained possession and opened up the game by sending out to Dean, to Wells, who scored in the corner. Dean’s kick was unsuccessful. West 9, East 0. Tn a loose rush offside play by East gave Dean an unsuccessful shot at goal. The West forwards carried down, the line, being temporarily checked by good play on Trearibr’s part. However, the black'and whites were not to be denied, and Greenhalgh and Fisher, made for the line, the former scoring. Swann’s kick was unsuccessful. West 12, East O'. Mr E. Smith was referee. z Of the winning team the pick of the forwards were Carrick, Mills, and Poland. Of the backs Masters was outstanding, and was well supported bf Swann and Verran. In the forward division of the East team Fitch, R. Smith, and Nealie played well, and Treanor, Wright, and Latimer could always be relied on among the backs.

THE JUNIORS.

Considerable interest was- taken in the junior match, East v. Netherton, the home team winning by 4 points. The teams were.-fairly evenly matched, and the game was fast and vailing. The visitors lost several opportunities of scoring through overcrowding and lack of combination. Following were the. teams : — East.—S. Williams, R. Williams F. Barakat, J. Walls, H. Moore,-L. Salby, R. Mead, C. Bunting, A. Flatt N. Neil, L. Joines, G. Morrow, J. Goonan, C. Vincent, B. McGuire. Netherton.—V. Harold, C. Craig, L. Potter, C. Potter, W. Potter. W. Richmond, Wooodhall, S. Kernohan, B. Tregoweth. H. Fraser, J. Craig, E. Williams, R. Smith, C. McAlnstm. SLiggins. Tregoweth kicked off for Netherton and followed up, but Walls secured and returned down the line, the ball going out in touch. R. Williams made a good run, but Harold collared him and cleared. The visitors pressed, and C. Craig with the ball at toe gained a lot of ground but over-kicked and S. Williams cleared. E. Potter had a drop-kick from a difficult angle but missed, and Williams forced. Netherton forwards returned, and a dangerous situation was saved by Vin-

cent forcing. East rushed to the other end of the field, where Walls picked up and short-kicked for Mead to score. S. Williams converted. East 5, Netherton 0.

The ball went to the line from the opening kick of the second quarter. Tregoweth received in the line-out and dribbled the ball into East’s quarter, but S. Williams cleared. Neil secured from the throw-in and put in a good run, being backed tip by Joines. The position looked dangerous, but C. Craig marked, and found the- line inside his own twenty-five. Two scrums followed, and R. Mead took a good mark but his kick was smothered by Tregoweth. Moore picked up in the loose and made a good run before sending out to Vincent. E. Potter intercepted and cleared. A pretty passing bout wh.s instituted by Moore, who sent out to Salby. The latter returned to Moore, who this time sent a long pass to Wall, who was offside. The ball went to S. Williams, who carried into the visitors’ twenty-five for E. Potter to clear to the line- Following the line-out an East forward committed a breach. Mead secured from the kick and passed 4o S. Williams, who was tackled. J. Craig cross-kicked, but Barakat inteiyepted and dropkicked a good goal. East 9, Netherton 0.

The East forwards followed up the kick-off in the second half, but E. Potter cleared to the home team’s twenty-five line./ Netherton rushed to the line, where a scrum was ordered. Mead cleared to the line. R. Smith gained possession and dribbled up for Richmond to score a good try. E. Potter converted. East 9, Netlierton 5. Netherton attacked, and a penalty against Gponan gave Potter an unsuccessful shot at goal, Williams forcing. Joines followed up the kickout and with Vincent, Moore L. Williams, and Barakat dribbled the ball to C. Craig, who secured and kicked up the field. Potter secured a mark but failed to score. The opening kick in the last quarter was returned by L. Williams, and a Netherton player infringed but 8. Williams failed to score. Morrow took Fraser’s clearing kick on the full and passed to McGuire, who kicked into touch. Potter received from the lineout and had a drop-kick, but missed. Offside play by Netherton gave Neil a kick which was followed up. Salby gained possession and passed to Moore, to Vincent, to Barakat, who should have sent on to Walls, but Barakat dropped the ball. L. Potter sprinted dow*n the field, but Mead stopped him and cleared. Flatt received from the throw-in and dribbled to’ the other end of the field, where C. Craig cleared. A mark by L. Williams was followed up by East, but Barakat fumbled the ball and C. Craig found the line. . Mr J. M. Crosby was referee.