FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5153, 18 July 1927, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE.

SENIORS : BOLAND CUp COMPETITION. Piako 3, v. Paeroa 3. Hauraki Plains 12, v. Waihi 8. JUNIORS : . SHAREBROKERS’ CUP. Piako 3. v. Paeroa 0. Hauraki Plains 0 v. Waihi 0. THIRD GRADE : Piako 12, v. Paeroa 6. PRIMARY SCHOOLS: Paeroa 8, v. Piako 0. POLAND CUP MATCH. PIAKO AND PAEROA DRAW. The Frank Poland Memorial Cup competition under the Thames Valley Rugby Union was continued on Saturday. the- local team meeting Piako at the Domain. Although the weather conditions were good, the field was on the heavy side. A fair crowd assembled to view the match, which was the best exhibition of Rugby seen in Paeroa for some time. The teams were well matched in the matter of weight, aml the scores —three all — gave a fair indication of the merits of the play. Although the Paeroa forwards did not s>how up in scrum work, the hookers generally being bested, they had the advantage in the loose play. The Piako back division was superior, the local backs lacking combination. The following were the teams :—

Piako.—Towers, S. Goldsbury, And-, rows, Lipsey, Harrison, Lane, Douglas, F. Goldsbury, Young, Manning. McLaren, Riddle, Thornton, P. McLaren, Dudeck.

Paeroa. —Dean, Wells, Swann, McNeil, D. Smith, Masters, Mcße-a, Morrison, McKee, Patterson, Shaw, Gieenhalgh, Poland, R. Smith, Wyatt.

Piako’s kick-off was followed by a couple of scrums on Paeroa’si twentyfive line, and then Swann sent out at halfway with a penalty kick. From the throw-in P. McLaren headed a forward rush into the home team’s territory, where a passing bout by the Piako backs across the field gainettno advantage. In open play Andrews’initiated another back movement, but Harrison was well tackled by D. Smith. Swann then gained possession and, after making a good run, with the help of Gi eenhalgh, Wells, and McRea carried play well into the visitors' territory. Piako was penalised, but Swann’s kick passed outside the post. After considerable loose play in the neutral zone the Paeroa forwards rushed into Piako’s twenty-five and Masters ami McNeil carried to the corner. Piako infringed and R. Smith took the kick, which was unsuccessful. A nice passing rush by Piqko followed, Douglas. Harrison, Lane, and S. Goldsbury carrying the ball to the other end of the field. However, a well-placed kick by Swann found the line at tlie halfway flag. The Paeroa forwards gradually gained ground, and Piako was defending when the quarter ended.

Masters ajid Greenlmlgh carried the ball into Piako’s, twenty-five, but in loose play and with well placed kicks the visitors put Paeroa on the defensive. Masters took a mark, and his kick was in turn marked by. Thornton. who attempted a place-kick at goal from halfway. The ball fell well short of the posts: and was returned to the side. line. Considerable loose play then ensued in neutral territory. Eventually the Piako backs gained possession and by passing carried to Paeroa twenty-five flag. By line plav Paeroa worked down the field until F. Goldsbury sent a long kick to Dean, who found the line at his quarter-way flag. Tlie defenders committed a .breach, but Towers failed to score with his kick, the ball being fielded by who cleared. A number of scrums followed, until Goldsbury kicked over the line for a force. Both sides suffered a number of penalties, Piako gaining the advantage. During hard, close play in Paerca’s territory Harrison picked Up the ball, and aftei making a nice opening passed to F. Goldsbury, who transferred to his brother for him to score near the corner. • F. Goldsbury failed to convert. Piako 3, Paeroa 0.

Loose forward play marked the opening of the second half. Eventually the Piako backs started a passing rush, but Masters intercepted and D. Smith carried on to the twenty-five line; The forwards again took control, and play worked back to the other twenty-five. Mcßea gained poises jon, but Sent out a bad pass and the position was critical until Wells nipped in and cleared to the line. From the line-out the ball went across the field to McNeil, who punted high and by fast following up again took control of the ball and sent it well into Piako’s territory. The defending forwards worked back into neutral territory, but Mcßea made an opening and set up another attack, tire ball going over the line for a force. Shortly afterwards in open play in midfield. Masters made a dashing run down the middle of the field and entered Piako’s territory, but ;he threw a good oportunity away by passing wildly to the open field when he had plenty of support on his/ other side. With Paeroa still pressing, Gr.eenha’gh and McNeil dashed down t'he line. McNeil made a determined effort to score, but in diving over the line he carried away tlie corner flag. Piako had to defend for a considerable time, until Goldsbury intercepted a pass and made a good run down the field. With only the full-back to beat he shortpunted, but the bouncing of the new ball upset his calculations, and also those of a number of his supporters, and Swann cleared with a good kick to the halfway flag. The last quarter opened briskly. Mastery returned the opening kick and Poland continued on to Piako’s twenty-five. A prolonged interchange of kicks which resulted in no advantage to either side then took place. Finally Piako marked, but McKee smothered the kick and took play into tbe visitors’ territory. A penalty was awarded against the defenders, R. ; Smith’s kick again going just outside

the post. Another kicking bout ensued, until Masters made a dash down the line to be stopped by Lipsey. McRea picked up and passed to McNeil, who kicked well down the field. Several forwards followed tip smartly and carried on to the corner. In a scrum near the line Paeroa hooked the ball. Mcßea neatly worked the blind side and passed to Master®, to McNeil, who scored in the corner. Wyatt failed to convert. Piako 3, Paeroa 3. From a line-out Paeroa again advanced, Wyatt, Grenhalgh, and Morrison being prominent. Relief came when Goldsbury intercepted and kicked well down the field for Wells to clear his own territory. Piako followed up the advantage, and Riddle and McLaren carried to the corner. From a five-yards; scrum the ball went to S. Goldsbury, who attempted to dropkick a goal, but the ball rolled along the ground and went over the deadball line. Mr J. Atkinson was referee. COMMENT. Of the local team, individually, they all played well, and with the least bit of luck would have won the game. McNeil was unfortunate when he knocked over the corner flag, and three of the four kicks at goal, taken by three different men, just Wied by inches. It is a pity the kicks at goal are given to different players; instead of ope or two being allowed to specialise in this department. The hooking by the frontrow men needs to be improved, and the pack in scrum work would not suffer from a little; coaching. Generally, the tackling by Pa.er.oa on Saturday was weak, and it was the usual thing to see an opponent with the ball break away from two or three tacklers one after the other. The backs lacked combination, but were restricted in this respect through not getting the ball from the scrums. Swann, Mcßea. and Masters were prominent, particularly Swann. His linekicking was powerful and accurate, and he was sound and confident both in defence and attack. Also he made the most of >his opportunities to open up back play, and although some of his passes were not of the best, his efforts were worthy of commendation and it was not his fault that better results did not obtain. INTERUNION MATCHED DRAW FOR SECOND ROUND. The draw for the second round of the Frank Poland Memorial Cup is* as follows: — , July 30, Waihi v. Piako, at Waihi (J. L Reed) ; Hauraki Plains v. Paeroa, at Paeroa (W. Jonas). August 6Waihi v. Hauraki Plains, at Waihi (E. Smith) ; Paeroa v. Piako, at Te Aroha (G;. T. Davidson). August 27 : Hauraki Plains v. Piako, at Ngatea (JMannix) ; Waihi v. Paeroa, at Paeroa (T. Turner). In the junior competition for the Sharebrokers’ Cup the following is the draw for the second round :— July 30: Waihi v. Piako, at Te Aroha ; Hauraki Plains v. Paeroa, at Ngatea. August 6 : Waihi v. Hauraki Plains, a.t Ngatea; Paeroa v. Piako, at Paeroa August 27 : Hauraki Mains v. Piako. at Te Aroha ; Waihi v. Paeroa, at Waihi. ' - fl