FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5133, 1 June 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL

PLAINS V. THAMES. THAMES RETAINS CUPS. Three Hauraki Plains teams played at Thames on Saturday last, and in each case the- home team was victorious. The senior representatives played for the Birch Cup, and the team won by six points to thiee. The junior team played for the Johnston Cup, and they were unlucky in not making the scores closer, than six to three. The Turua senior team after- a long succession of victories was, badly beaten when, with four of their players engaged in the major match, they matched their skill against the Thames B representative team. BIRCH CUP MATCH. Last week Hauraki Plains followers of Rugby were optimistic enough to anticipate that the Birch Clip would be- brought home as the result of Saturday’s match. From the abundance of players available a team had been selected which gave fairly general satisfaction, tliough certain weaknesses could be found. On Saturday the critics were confounded and thechance of securing the cup was lost for the season. The Thames teiim was weaker than it had been when defending the cup in previous ye-ais against the Plains, but it proved stronger than the team of the challengers and fully deserved its victoi > • The faults of the Plains team wereglaring and unexpected. At full-back Stretton was generally considered as '■ not worth a tin of fish.” To kick the ball from one corner to the other in front of his own goal or to pass when behind the line- are things which are not done by good full-backs. Burt at centre three-quarter was also very weak, and the two wings demonstrated that they were not up to representative- form. Ryan and Nicol, the five-eighths, were the outstanding backs on the field, and did their best to cover those behind them. Birkenhead did not have an opportunity at half-back, as the ball did not come out of the scrum on any occasion. Plains did not expect to get the ball much from the scrum, but it was intended that with their greater weight the pack should defeat the formidable Thames hookers. However, the Plains pack failed to use its weight, and broke up so soon that the half and the rover, Hearfield, were invariably obstructed. In most cases the ball shot out to the Thames half and was sent away before the Plains team 'wa? alive to wha.t had happened. Hearfield was the outstanding forward, and easily proved too-much for Kelly, the Thames rover.

The forwards seemed to lack energy, and generally they left the work to one or two. When, at the latter end of the game, they did wake up, they ran all over the opposition. Hutchinson played well, McPherson nursed an injured leg, Clark shone out as the- rest were tired when he went on, Abel played well, Booth and Killgour were, always in the hard work, Mulgrew proved his worth, and Rapana and Fox did not need replacing. Plains should train a place-kicker, as a good kicker would have won Saturday’s match.

Thames kicked off facing the wind and sun, and open play ensued in midfield. Stretton found the line from a shot at goal. Plains rushed play to half-way, and Hearfield had a shot at goal and Thames forced. Play went to thfe home twenty-five, where the advantage was lost in scrum work. Play was very fast, Plains being on tjie defensive. Nicol did some good line-kicking, .and from the throws-in Plains usually got the advantage, but invariably they lost ground as the- result of scrums. From one scrum the Thames backs secured and Winder found the line near the Plains corner flag. Hearfield relieved, but the Thames backs returned to’the Plains line, where Molesworth stopped the rush and Madgwick relieved. For a, fault in the line-out Thames had a free kick, but G. Winder failed to score. A series of long kicks followed until from a scrum

the Thames backs in a passing rush entered the visitors’ territory. From another scrum the Thames backs indulged in a. passing bout for Windei to score near the corner. Windei failed to convert. Thames 3, Plains 0.

The second round opened with similar play. Burt was caught in possession several times in his o«n twenty-five. A rush by the Plains fowards carried the ball to the home team’s territory, where Hearfield took a free kick at goal but .failed to score. Thames attacked and Nicol relieved, a few of the Plains forwards following up. Play returned to the visitors’ end, the defenders eventually forcing. E. Hayward was replaced by G. Pollock, and a little later E. Mulgre-w took the place of E. Booth. Plains had to defend for the greater part of the period until half-time.

Thames opened the second half of the game with a strong attack. Hearfield relieved to half-way, and the forwards on until stopped by. Winder. Plains worked up the line and Molesworth was forced out near the corner. Tight play followed in front of the home- team’s posts until Strange relieved to the other Hard play ensued in Plains’ territory, Nicol saving a lot with line-kicking. After an inter-change of kicks Hutchinson led the Plains forwards to the other end of the- field, the quarter then ending. P. Clark relieved McPherson in the Plains pack, and during the final round the visiting forwards had the advantage. Hearfield, Ryan, and Burt failed with penalty kicks, but Winder was successful, making the scores Thames 6, Plains O'. After considerable loose play in midfield Nicol raced after a long kick and scored, but failed to convert. Thames 6, Plains 3. A force by Plains immediately followed tjie kick-out, and a series of long kicks took place until time was called. Mr F. Vcdder was referee.

The Plains teams were hospitably entertained by the- Thames Union after the match, and the refereeing was the subject of complimentary remarks by speakers.

CURTAIN-RAISER AT PAEROA. THE THIRD-GRADE GAME. The curtain-raiser to the senior match at Paeroa on Saturday last was a. third-grade game between West and Paeroa School. West had the heavier team, but did not show the combination thqt the schoolboys did. The- game was fast and interesting, and ended in a win for West by six points to three. For the winners K. Wilson scored two tries, a®d K. Curtis scored a try for School. Mr T. C. Arnold was referee. -m. . „„ ■