FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5136, 8 June 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES. EAST V. SUBURBS. Perfect weather prevailed on Saturday afternoon, and there was a large attendance at the local domain to witness the Rugby fixtures set down for play that afternoon. The principal attraction was the senior match East versus Suburbs. The game, yvhich was fast and, for the most part, fairly open, was one of the best senior games witnessed locally so far this season. Each side played with a will, and little was left to chance. The visiting backs were superior to those of the home team, and showed greater combination, but what the local team lacked in the backs wqs made up to a large extent by the sound play, especially when on the defensive, of the forward division. The teams were evenly matched, and the result was in doubt right up to the call of time. Following were the teams :— Suburbs. —E. Bennett, A. Morrison, P. Corbett, R. Rare, Mcßae, L. Rice,

Tanner, R. Morrison, Tahu, Robson, Duncan, Killgour, Wyatt, W. Miller, M. Brown.

East.—N. Latimer, C. Tr.eanor, H. Wright, J. Catlin, R. Smith, S. Boyer, D. Smith, T. Lovatt, H. Wilton, RThorpe, T. Richmond, F. Fitch, T. Pullar, T. Radford, E. Johnson. Wyatt kicked off for Suburbs, and Treanor returned to half-way. Rare took a good mark, but his kick was frustrated by D. Smith who sent out to line. The line-out was secured by Wyatt who sent to Miller to Rare, who scored near the posts. Wyatt converted. Suburbs 5, East 0. The kickout was received by Wright who returned, but Corbett sent to the. line. The line-out resulted in a pretty passing bout lead by D. Smith, to Boyer, to Catlin, who sent out to the line before being collared. From the lineout an exchange of high kicking followed. A penalty kick by Kilgour was short, and was returned by D. Smith, who sent out to line. After a rough and tumble Wyatt marked in a dangerous position, and cleared to neutral territory. A penalty kick gave R. Smith a chance to clear, Rare returned, and Boyer sent out to the line. The line-out was received by D. Smith, who short-kicked in a handy position, but it was blocked, and in tight play Rare picke-d up and dived for the line. The kick bj’ Wyatt was short. Suburbs 8, East 0. After the change over the ball came out to D. Smith who was penalised for off-side play- Wilton received, but R- Smith blocked the kick, and i» close play the visitors were penalised inside the 25, but R. Smith failed to score. The kick-out was sent to the line by McCrae from which Wilton carried over. In loose play near half-way a scrum was ordered in East’s twenty-five, but faulty handling by the Suburbs forwards spoiled their chance, and Lovett relieved. Smart following through by the home forwards beat the opposition and Catlin nipped in and scored near the posts. He later converted his try. Suburbs 8, East '5. Suburbs carried into East’s quarter, but Pullar sent out to the line. The throw-in was scrummed near the Hue, when tight play ensued. In a forward rush in which R. Smith <ind F. Fitch were prominent, Tahu sent out to the line near the corner. The linc-out was scrummed near the front of the posts, and R. Morrison secured and sent out to Miller, who kicked to the line.

On resuming after half-time, Rare carried up for R. Smith to gain possession, afterwards sending out to Catlin who kicked out near halfway. The line-out was secured by Kilgour who carried up. A penalty near half-way gave Wyatt a successful shot at goal. Suburbs 11, East 5. The kick-out was carried out by Boyer to the line. Rice secured and short-punted for Latimer to put in a long punt to the lino. A scrum followed, R. Smith securing and sending out to D. Smith who carried play into the visitors’ territory. Catlin stopped a forward rush with a mark, but his kick was blocked by Tanner. R. Smith gained possession and passed to Wright, who had an unsuccessful drop-kick at goal. After considerable loose play in midfield the East forwards gained the advantage, and a five-yards scrum gave them a chance, but a breach was committed and E. Bennett cleared.

In the final round Boyer sent out to Fitch to R. Smith, who reached Suburbs’ twenty-five. Catlin carried on but his pass to D. Smith was intercepted by Corbett, who found the line. Fitch, Pullar, and Wilton were prominent in a loose rush which reached the line, and Catlin dived on the ball near the posts. Smith converted. Suburbs 11, East 10. An exchange of long kicks followed, and East attacked strongly, but the visiting backs were solid. In loose play the ball was carried into East’s twenty-five, from where Catlin cleared to the h.alf-way flag. Boyer marked in tight play, but Rice blocked his kick and carried to the twenty-five flag. Considerable line play then took place in East’s territory, until Latimer gained possession and, after a good run, sent out at the half-way flag. Play returned to East’s territory, where Brown had an unsuccessful kick at goal. A scrum near halfway resulted in a free kick to Suburbs, and by fast following up Robson scored in the corner. Mcßae’s kick was unsuccessful. Suburbs 14, East 10. Mr E. Smith was referee.

THE JUNIORS. EAST V. >VEST. Considerable interest was taken in the junior game East v. West, and from a spectator’s point of view the game was a solid go from start to finish, and was very fast. The teams were -well matched, and evevy player did his best. However, a decisive win for cither side was denied, and the game ended three all. The following were the ttea-ms •

East.—S. Williams, R. Williams, F. Barakat, J. Walls, H. Moore, L. fialby, R. Mead C. Bunting, -C. Vincent, B.

McGuire L. Joines, J. Goonan, G. Morrow, A. Flatt, N. Neil.

West. —N. Overall, Wickliffe, Sinnett, J. Conolly, Bailey, Duffy,'Rick, G. Taylor, Helling, Mayo, Snow, W. Hargreaves, J. Insley, D. Currie, C. Nield.

Taylor kicked off for West, the ball going to Mead, who returned to O\eiall, the latter finding the line., The West forwards rushed into East’s territory, where offside play gave Moore a free kick which he and Mead followed up. Moore picked up the ball, but was collared by Overall when about to dive over the line. Walls was in close support, and he gained possession and opened Easts score. Neil failed to convert. East 3, West 0. Neil returned tire kick-out to Wickliffe, who sent across to Conolly. The latter made a good run, but was collared by S. Williams.

Moore opened the second quarter, and after several kicks Wickliffe put in ;i. run only to be collared by McGuire. From a scrum East hooked and Mead set his backs in motion, played going into West’s territorj ■ Taylor was penalised for hanging on to the ball, but offside play by East nullified the advantage. The West forwards rushed down tire field, hut were too anxious, and Moore snapped up the ball and passed to Salby, to Barakat, whose transfer to L. Williams was Mocked on. On resuming a.fter half-time Conolly received the ball and kicked to Salby, who marked and found the line. The East forward initiated a rush from the throw-in, but infringed the rules. Smart play by Walls and Flatt put West on the defensive, L. Williams made a good run, but was collared by Conolly, who returned to midfield, from where Sinnett found the line.

The last quarter was fast and ope”, and was generally confined to mid field. Towards the end of the game Conolly gained possession and reached East’s territory before being collarded. East committed a breach, and Overall took the kick, converting from a difficult angle. East 3, West 3.

Mr D. G. McMillan was referee

THIRD-GRADE GAME

On Friday afternoon the Physical Training third-grade team from Thames played against a local thirdgrade team, the visitors winning by 6 points to 3. For the winners Skelly scored a try and kicked a penalty goal, and F. Barakat kicked a penalty goal for Paeroa.

HAURAKI PLAINS COMPETITIONS.

WAITAKARURU V. TURUA,

The Hquraki Plains Rugby football competitions were continued on Saturday last in fine weather, but on account of the holidays only three of the seven matches set down for decision were played. Plains West forfeited in both grades to Kerepeehi, and the Waitakaruru juniors defaulted to Turua. The Kopuarahi school was not advised early enough of its match with Turua, and this game will be played later on in the season. In the senior, game at Turua the players took the- field as follow s .

Turua.—E. French, E. Johnston, Madgwick, L. McCoid, W. Blacklaw, Madgwick, H. Elvin, K. Fox, E. Booth, H. Hill, W. Clark, Spencer, R. Hutchinson, G. Elvin, G. McCowatt. Waitakaruru. —F. Barlow, Walters, P. Clark, Graham, C. Stretton, D. Molesworth, J. Knox, G. Paton, J. Millington, C, Clark, H. Wallis, D. Dalgety, B. Litton, K. Caie, L. Williams. Waitakaruru kicked off facing the sun and took play into fui ua s twenty-five with the aid of a free kick. A shot at goal by C. Clark failed and Turua forced. A free kick took play to the visitors’ quarter, and after close play P- Clark relieved to midfield. Johnston failed witli a penalty kick, and open play followed in neutral ground, there being many penalty kicks to each side, but with no advantage-.

Several long kicks took place in the second round, Waitakaruru eventually forcing. Turua attacked, and from a throw-in near the corner close play followed on Waitakaruru’s lind until Knox relieved. Following a scrum at half-way Molesworth intercepted a pass and the Waitakaruru pack followed up, taking play to Turua’s line. C. Clark failed with a free kick, but the pressure yas sustained until a series of kicks took play to midfield. The- second half opened with play in Turua’s quarter, and Paton, after a good piece of dribbling, crossed the line. Molesworth converted. Waitakaruru 5, Turua 0. Waitakaruru again attacked, and kept play in Turua’s territory until Fox lined at half-way. Paton and Molesworth led a rush to the posts, where the defenders were penalised, but Molesworth failed with the hick. After close play the Turua forwards broke through and went to the othei* end. of the field, where a breach by Waitakariii u gave H. Elvin a. successful penalty kick. Waitakaruru 5, Turua 3.

Waitakaruru attacked strongly, and several scrums took place- close to the line before Turua forced. Barker replaced Walters on the Waitakaruru wing.

Shortly after the commencement of the final round Turua failed with a penalty kick, Turua kept up the attack until a free kick sent play to neutral territory. Fox broke away, the movement resulting in a force. W. Clark retired and was replaced by Marshall. Hard forward play ranged up and down the field, Waitakaruru being superior in the close work and compelling a force. Mr G. T. Davidson was referee.