FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5142, 22 June 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

PIAKO V. PLAINS MATCH. THE GAME AT TE ARiOHA. In writing up the play in the Piako v. Hauraki Plains match at Te- Aroha on Saturday last the Te Aroha. News penned the following :— Plains kicked off facing the sun. Play settled in midfield for a time until Douglas secured possession and passed' to Lane, who dummied three opponents in great style and transferred to Chambers, to Arkle, who knocked on and a fine, movement was frustrated. Piako hooked cleanly from the scrum and the backs again broke away, Douglas, Lane, Chambers and McQuatters handling in turn’, the last-named being pulled up for running outside the line. Piako was penalised for offside in the lineout and Johnston found..the line at Piako’s twenty-five with a fine kick. Piako was again penalised and Johnston had an unsuccessful shot at goal, F. Goldsbury forcing. McPherson broke away for Plains with Cl<lJk in support, but F. Goldsbury cut in and with a magnificent burst of speed broke right through to the opposing twenty-five before transferring to Chambers, 'who fried to go through on bis own and. lost a certain try. After tight play in Plains territory Thornton broke away with Lane in support, but a forward pass pulled them up. A breach in a scrum by Plains gave Baldwin an unsuccessful shot at goal. Piako were soon into their stride again. Lane broke through the opposition but held on too Jong. Piako hooked f;n great style for. Douglas to set the backs going. Lane, Chambers, and Arkle. combining well. Arkle cut across to McQuarters, who with only a few yards to go failed to accept the pass and the ball rolled out. Piako backs again set up a passing bout, but Nicol intercepted and broke through to clear with a good kick. F. Goldsbury secured, and with Chambers in support made a rush for the- line. Chambers

accepted the pass but kicked wildly when close to the line and Moore cleared. Loose forward play characterised the opening of the second quarter until Lane snapped up and transferred to Chambers, to Arkle, who again missed the pass, and McPherson with a good kick transferred play to Piako’s territory. The gain was only temporary, however, for great passing by the Piako backs again .had the visitors on the defence. Following a line-out Lane transferred to F. Goldsbury who cut across and passed to Harrison, accepted the return pass, cut across again to centre arid sent to Thornton, who opened the score for Piako, Baldwin converting. Piako 5 Plains 0. Thornton .and Riddle broke away with McLaren and Young in support. The backs then got away, but Chambers mulled and McPherson, Clark, and Mulgrew broke awa.y for Plains, a knock-on pulling them up. Piako secured from the scrum and Arkle found the line. Plains broke away from the line-out 'in a loose dribbling rush, but S. Goldsbury pulled them up with a good mark, with which he gained little ground. McQiiarters was penalised for hanging on to tlie ball and Johnston landed a splendid goal for Plains. Piako 5, Plains 3. Plains set up a determined attack immediately after, and S. Goldsbury was caught in possession, but F. Goldsbury was handy and kicked clear. Piako was again penalised and Johnston had another shot at goal. The ball fell short and F. Goldsbury found the line at halfway. Lane put his side on the attack im*mediately play was resumed after half-time, but Nicol Intercepted ami tried to break through. Neither side was able to gain much advantage at this stage of the game, the tackling being deadly. Douglas was incapacitated. bis place being taken by Gray. Play settled in Plains’ territory for a time Piako being almost over on several occasions. Bad handling by Arkle lot the visitors away, hut McLaren ami Manning pulled them up

and returned pltjy to Plains’ line, where a scrum was ordered from which Piako secured, but a. bad kick enabled Nicol to force. Plains forwards broke away in a dribbling rush, but McQiiarters went down in great style and a spell of tight play followed. Grey eventually secured and sent to Lane, to Arkle, to Harrison, who short punted and followed up fast, putting /Chambers in a good scoring positiori, but this player failed to accept the pass and Plains broke away with McPherson, Clark, and Mulgrew in the lead, McQiiarters again pulling them up. The final quarter, opened at a great pace. A loose rush by Piako resulted 1 in a force. Still attacking, Grey, Lane, Chambers, Harrison, and F. Goldsbury handled in turn and had the visitors’ defence severely taxed, but a free kick gave relief. Plains thenn livened up,, three successive passing bouts by their backs having the Piako line endangered, but each time faulty handling by the wing spoiled the movement. Piako then broke away, and the forwards, headed by Riddle, McLaren, and Stevenson, carried play to Plains’ line, where, a weak kick by Burt was fielded by Young, who transferred to McQuatters, who scored in the corner. Baldwin fa.iled to convert. Piako 8, Plains 3. Plains made determined efforts to score', but F. Goldsbury, who seemed to be everywhere at once, repeatedly drove them back with splendid line kicks, and time was called with play at the half-way flag. Mr D. G. McMillan (Paeroa) was referee. THE JUNIOR GAME. The Piako and Plains junior representatives met in the Sharebrokers Cup competition at Ngatea on Saturday last, details of, the jolay being as follows Plains kicked off. and play centred in Piako’s twenty-five. A high kick by Mace was misfielded by Young, and Plains had to defend until Cox marked and sent play to the other end of

the field. Plains had a free kick and Blacklaws converted. Plains 3, Piako 0. Plains immediately attacked. Munro, Tremaine, and, Mace were responsible for saving their side and keeping their line intact. In the second quarter Piako took a turn on the attack ) apd kept Plains busy until Hawera, picking up op the blind side, put in a good run, but a bad pass let Piako back again and Lusby raced over the line. Munro’s kick failed. Plains 3, Piako 3. Play went to Piako’s territory in the second half the defenders eventually forcing. Piako then attacked until Cox headed a forward rush to the other end of the field for a force. The last quarter opened with the Plains forwards gaining complete control and. rushing play to Piako’s end, from a scramble on the lino Young dived over. Kirkman failed with the kivk. Plains 9, Piako 3. Blacklaws, Fisher, and Kirkman returned in a dribbling rush for another try, Blacklaws being responsible. The kick failed. Plains 12. Piako 3. Plains continued to attack, and Piako forced three times in quick succession. The game ended with Plains pressing hard on Piako’s line. Mi- Cotter was referee. The outstanding players for Plains were Blackl.aws, Kirkman, and McPherson, while Tremain, Lusby, Mace, a. nd Munro showed up for Piako.