FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5163, 10 August 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL

POLAND CUP MATCHES. PIAKO V. PAEROA. Those who attended thei football match at Te Aroha on Saturday expecting to see a good game must have been very disappointed, as at no stage of tine match was play anywhere near decent club standard (says the News). Play was ragged in every way, and it can safely be said that the afternooon provided the poorest shillings’ worth of sport seen in Te Arolia this season. The game was absolutely devoid of incident until the last Quarter, when play did liven up a little, but for two representative teams’ the game was a very poor exhibition, and says little for the standard of Rugby in the Thames Valley. WAIHI V. HAURAKI PLAINS. In the Poland Cup match at Waihi on Saturday last the Hauraki Plains representatives were defeated by the Waihi fifteen by 17 points to 10. The visitors kicked off, and play for several miput.es was confined to the vicinity of the home team’s twenty-five line. Then q. loose forward rush by Plains took the ball well into Waihi’s territory, where Rolleston made a good save. He followed up the advantage and, supported by Black, .and Haki, took play past midfield, the movement in the visitors forcing. With the leather again in play the visitors came away with a fine forward rush, which was stopped by the home team’s full-back. Following an exchangei of kicks Waihi instituted a fine forward 'rush—in which Hollis, Black, Campbell, and Agnew were prominent—culminating in Bunting going over the line to score. Black added the extra points. Waih 5, Waihi 0. Shortly after the kick-out Black made a beautiful kick, covering more than half the length of the field, and found the Hue. From the tlhrow-in a forward rush took the ball well into the visitors’ territory, and Gilpin getting possession he went over thei line to score Waihi’s second try. Black failed to convert. Waihi 8, Plains 0. A good deal of loose play followed, ending in Blqck making a fine but fruitless solo effort to add to the figures, after which the bell sounded.

Shortly after the; change-over play went for a brief period to the home team’s territory, and then, from a scrum close to the goal-line, Black with a splendid run and well supported, transferred play to the other end of the field. From a five-yards scrum Gilpin received and passed to Hollis, to McDermott, who crossed the line in the corner. The kick was unsuccessful. Waihi 11, Plains 0. The home team resumed the pressure until Nicol, with hqlf a dozen opponents almost on top of him., saved from a critical position -with a mark. After a kicking bout Smart gained possession from a line-out, beat several opponents, then kicked over the head of the full-back and followed up smartly, but was beaten for the ball on the line.

Soon after 'resuming in the third quarter Molesworth gained possession in midfield, ran up the line, punted, and from a-, melee on the line Dalgety snapped up and scored the first try for Plains. Johnston with a fine kick added the ‘ extra points. Waihi 11, Plains 5. Waihi took charge, and in a loose, rush Agnew picked up and scored. Black failed to convert. Waihi 14, Plains 5. Shortly atferwards the quarter ended, with Plains defending. The beginning of the final round saw the home team pressing strongly, and from a loose rush Campbell picked lip and crossed the line. The kick at goal failed. Waihi 17, Plains 5. A forward rush by the visitors, momentarily stopped by Black, terminated in a try by Smart. Johnston converted. A minute or two later the beU sounded with Waihi attacking and winners by 17 to 10. Mr E. Smith was referee. SHAREBROKERS’ UUP GAMES. PAEROA V. PIAKO. The Thames Valley inter-unio-u junior competition for the Sharebrokers’ Cup was continued on Saturday last. The match at the local domain was .between Paeroa and Piako, and 'resulted in a win for the former by the narrow margin of one point. Owing to- senior matches in other centres the. attendance was not. large, but those who were present were treated, to an interesting period of Rugby football. The playing field was Yairly dry, although very soft, and this, fact rather mitigated against fast play. The visitors fielded the heavier team, but the local forwards ■were ’ quite equal to their opponents. The home backs, on the other hand, were weak, and lacked the combination and finish of the piako rearguard. The game was characterised by the number of breaches for offside play committed by both sides. Right up to within a few minutes of the call of time the visitors were leading by three points, when J. Conolly dropkicked a fine goal from near the halfway line, and thus a victory for his team by one- point. It is interesting to note that the other three points for Paeroa were scored by Conolly as the result of his individual effort. The following were the teams : — Paeroa. —H. R. Williams, J. Conolly, F. Barakat, L. S.alby, Fulton, Sinnett, R. Mead, C. H. Vincent, Helling, A. Mayo, R. Snow, W. Pennell, L. Car-ric-k, B. McGuire, N. Neil. Piako. —Woodroffe, P. Mace, Lipsey, Strange, Munro, Heqthcote, Hill, Goodfellow, Keane-y, Caulton, White, -F. Mace, Biggs, Burmester, Clarkin. Piako’s kick-off went to Paeroa’s twenty-five. In loose rushes Paeroa worked up the field but after a -couple of scrums offside play allowed! Piako to clear. Salby missed a pass

and Piako got away, Mace losing the ball near the corner. From the lineout Neil kicked to Goodfellow, who returned to Conolly. Piako forwards returned, a breach occurring in front of the posts. Play hung in Paeroa’s territory until Conolly with a long kick sent the ball to the other end. At this stag© Strange retired and was replaced by 'Whitten. A faulty kick by Sinnett gave Piako an opening and F. Mace crossed the line. Munro

failed with the kick. Piako 3, Paeroa 0. In the second quarter Neil and Carrick headed a loose forward rush. A brief spell of tight play followed, and Conolly gained possession and short punted. Following up, he again picked up the ball and made a splendid run to score behind the posts. Mayo failed to convert. Paeroa 3, Piako 3. Give and take play ensued for some time. Offside play spoiled several chances for Piako, and Paeroa made the most of the advantages.

On resuming atfer half-time Paeroa carried up, but Wdroffo cleared to halfway. A forward rush headed by Carrick and Neil was stopped by Lipsey marking. With a loose rush the Piako forwards reached the posts, where Clarkin. secured and sent out to his backs-, and in. a scramble Mumo got over, but failed to add the extra points. Piako 6, Paeroa 3. Play hung in midfield for some time. A loose rush by the Piako forwards carried play into Paeroa’s territory. Piako hooked in a scrum and Biggs sent out to F. Mace, who was offside, and Sinnott cleared.

In the final round Piako followed up the opening kick for Sinnett to force. A loose rush by the home forwards was stopped by Ke.aney, and a scrum followed near the halfway line. Piako infringed, but Mayo’s kick fell short. A nice opening was made by Conolly to Mdad, who beat two men before sending’out to Barakat, who dropped the ball and spoiled a certain try. From near halfway Conolly pickei up the ball and drop-kicked a fine goal. Paeroa 7, Piako 6. The game ended with Paeroa on the attack. Mr D. G. McMillan, wqs- referee. HAURAKI PLAINS V. WAIHI. The Hauraki Plains junior representatives drew with Waihi at Ngatea on Saturday last in the Sharebrokers Cup competition, and thereby asumed such a position that they must win the cup. This is the first timet Hauraki Plains has- participated in the competition, and the success of the team is very gratifying. Two wins were secured against Paeroa and one from Piako, and each of the two games with Waihi resulted in a- draw, making eight points. The other teams, Paeroa, Waihi, and Piako, have 5,4, and 3 points respectively. Saturday’s game at Ngatea was not as good an exhibition as was ©xpected. The Waihi team was much the heavier, and played the better football, and was unfortunate in not securing a., victory. Waihi kicked off, and hard forward play centred in midfield until McPherson carried up the field and passed to Olsen, to Cox, to Ryan, who scored. Kirkman’s kick failed. Plains 3. Waihi O'. The home forwards worked up the field, and a hard struggle ensued in front of the posts. Waihi relieved from a scrum to quarter-way, from where Bla.cklaws failed with a penalty kick. Plains with good line kicks gained ground until the visitors forced. A forward rush by Waihi reached the home teams teriitoiy, but the attackers failed to score with a penalty kick. The second quarter opened with a Waihi attack, and two penalty kicks failed to reach the goal. Play was fast and even, and ranged up and down the field, and while Waihi had the advantage of the breeze-, the defence wass ound. Following a lineHmt -O’Neil crossed the line and evened the scores.

After half-time play went to Waihi’s territory and Blacklaws kicked a penalty goal. Following play in midfield Killgour lined near the corner. A penalty kick was awarded Plains in the line-out, but Blacklaws failed. Play remained in Waihi’s territory, the defenders forcing twice. In the last round play remained in neutral ground until an attack by Plains failed through faulty passing. A long kick found the line, and from the throw-in Plains forced. Waihi kept on th© attack and Killgour made some good saves. A long kick put Plains in an attacking position, but Waihi forced. Fast open play in neutral territory followed. Dillimore secured at halfway and worked through to score, making the scores equal—--6 all. Mr F. Clotworthy was referee. THIRD GRADE. PAEROA V. PIAKO. As a curtain-raiser to the .junior match at Paeroa the third-grade representatives of Piako and Paeroa met. A good, willing game resulted in t a win for Paeroa by 13 points to 0. Tries were scored by R. Alp, K. Wilson, and L. Vercoe, the two first mentioned players converting their own tries-. Mr F. T. V. Johnson was 'referee. PRIMARY SCHOOL GAME; WAIHI V. PAEROA. The Paeroa. Primary Schools’ representative team played the first match in the second round for the Fleming Shield against the Waihi schoolboys on the No. 2 ground on Saturday. The game was fast and interesting, and resulted in a win for -the visitors by h points to 0. A try was scored by Hughes and converted by Luther, who also kicked a penalty goal. -Mr T. C. Arnold was referee.