FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5172, 31 August 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

POLAND CUP MATCHES. WAIHI WINS COMPETITION. Considerable interest was taken in the final game for the Frank Poland Memorial Cup which was played at the local domain on Saturday afternoon. The cofitest was: between Wtphi and Paeroa representative teams, and resulted in an easy win for the visitors by 25 points to 3. The largest crowd of the season with the exception of the Thames Valley v. King Country match attended, and included visitors from all parts of the district. The afternoon was beautifully fine, and the ground was in very fair playing condition. The Waihi team was the heavier, and its combination, especially among the backs, was a treat to see. The home team sadly lacked combination, and appeared to be at a disadvantage in tight play. This is the first occasion that Waihi has won tire coveted trophy, and the team received hearty congratulations on Saturday. By defeating Hauraki Plains on Saturday Piako were the runners-up this year.

The following were the teams Waihi.- —Tubman. Hake:, Black, McDermott, Hollis, Saunders, Garvey, Price, Knight, Bunting, Rolleston, Peacock, Walters, Agnew, Campbell.

Paeroa. —K. Dean, G. Wells-, H. Wright, C. McNeil, D. Smith, L. C. Masters, L. Mcßae, A. Morrison, R. Smith, F. Patterson, R. Shaw, F. Fitch, E. Greenhalgh, M. Poland, SWyatt.

The kick-off went to Hake, who found the line at Paeroa’s twenty-five flag. Give and take play followed the-throw-in until Agnew headed a rush to the posts where a breach occurred and Masters cleared. From a scrum on the half-way line Waihi again curried down the field, but offside play negatived the movement. Not to he denied, Waihi gradually worked into Paeroa’s territory, and in a line-out Peacock sept the ball to Saunders, to McDermott, who had a clear run to the corner. Black failed to convert. Waihi 3, Paeroa 0. Tight play followed in Paeroa’s twenty-five, and it was not long before Bunting dived over from a. scramble on the line. Black again failed with the kick. Waihi 6, Paeroa 0.

The second quarter opened with Paeroa on the attack, but lack of combination- caused advantages gained to be short-lived. A nice passing bout between the Waihi backs terminated in Saunders kicking across for Campbell to receive. A scrum was ordered, and Peacock sent out a long pass to Campbell, who scored a good try. Black kicked a fine goal. Waihi 11, Paeroa 0. *A loose rush immediately had Paeroa again defending, and from a scrum Hollis- crossed the line near the posts. Black again converted. Waihi 16, Paeroa 0. Poland retired and was replaced by A. Mills. Hollis received from a line-out, but Saunders failed to take his pass and Patt'&rso.i was just beaten for the ball by McDermott, who cleared to neutral territory. The Waihi forwards attacked strongly, but Dean saved the situatoin with a good mark. The visitors were on the attack during the remainder of the quarter.

On resuming after half-time Wells went to the position of rover and J. Verran took - his place on the- wing, this alteration being on account of Greenhalgh retiring. Play opened with a loose rush by Paeroa, but Hake marked and cleared. Saunders broke tlirough passed to Garvey, who easily beat the opposition and scored near the posts. McDermott’s kick failed. Waihi 19, Paeroa 01 After tight piny about the halfway line a penalty gave the home side a chance. Verran gained possession and mad© a good run down the Hue before being pushed out near the corner. A scrum on the line followed during which Paeroa committed a breach and Tubman returned play to midfield. The remainder of the quarter saw fast and open play in neutral with no permanent advantage to either side. Following the kick-out in the final round Black led his team into Paeroa’s territory, where tight play followed until Black again obtained possession, and cut in nicely for a try. He failed to convert. Waihi 22, Paeroa 0. The kick-out went to Hake who cross- kicked to McDermott but the ball wont out From a scrum which followed the line-out Smith and Patterson carried play into Waihi’s twenty-five, where Knight cleared. Masters, snapped up in tl>a loose and sent "o V'rigut. to Wells, who, after making a good run, transferred to Verran for him to score near th© corner. Smith’s kick at goal was rushed down by McDermott. Waihi 22, Paeroa 3. The kick-out went to Bla,ck, who headed a rush, but Verran got down to it and in a scramble secured possession and sent across to Patterson, who cleared. In tight play near Waihi twenty-five line R-olleston broke away and made a great run down the field. He beat all opposition until about to dive over the line, when McNeil’s tackle- caused him to lose the ball and a force resulted. Waihi attacked, and shortly afterwards the ball was kicked out to Hake, on the wing, who easily beat McNeil and. scored. Black failed with the kick. Waihi 25, Paeroa 3. Mr T. Turner was referee. MATCH AT NGATEA. PIAKO BEATS HAURAKI PLAINSThc Hauraki Plains representative team played its last match of the season on Saturday, when the Piako representatives were met at Ngatea in the final of the Poland Cup competition. The game was a poor exhibition of Rugby. The Piako team was.- weaker than usual, and included a number of juniors. It was almost 3.30 p.m. before Plains could find fifteen players, and the- team that took the field contained eleven of the selected players, three of the emergencies, and oneother player. When Cotter was injured the team played with fourteen mon for about, 15 minutes. On. account of the wet state of the usual playing field it was decided on the evening before to marls out another ground alongside, and this was done on Saturday morning. The ground, was dry,

but the surface was rough. The .teams were as follows :— Piako—S. Nolan, S. Goldsbury, Thornton, Whitten, Lane, Miller, Lipsey, Cleave, McLaren, Young, McLaren, Riddle-, Mace, Stevenson, Wallace.

Hauraki Plains.-— Colter, Molcsworth, Nicol, Walters, Johnston, Blacklaws, Catlin, Dalgety, Williams, P. Clark, Gill, Mulgrew, McPherson, Hutchinson, French.

Piako kicked off, and a strong rush led by Goldsbury terminated in a force. The Plains forwards worked down the field, and offside play gave Johnston a shot at goal, but no score resulted. A good kick from neutral territory found the line in the home team’s twenty-five, but French return to neutral ground, where a good exhibition of back play ensued. Both sets, of backs were throwing the ball about, but no great advantage was gained until the Plains forwards s e * cured and worked into Piako’s territory, where, a penalty gave relie-f. Breaking away, the Piako forwards cohipelled another force. A succession of long kicks followed, until from a throw-in about the halfway line Lipsey secured, and a passing rush by Riddle-, Goldsbury, and Whitten terminated in a score, there being little opposition. P. McLaren failed to convert. Plains mis attacking strongly when change-over was called.

The second quarter opened with hard play in midfield until Molesworth made an opening and Dalgety carried on. A penalty was awarded near the corner flag, but Johnston’s shot failed. Later Cotteir also failed to score with a free kick. Following play in midfield Cleaye and Stevenson had a clear opening, but, hung back waiting for support and lost a golden opportunity. Cotter cleared just as he. was collared, and on going down his leg was twisted and broken. Nicol went to full-back. After Plains had forced, the, Piako backs attacked, but Mulgrew secured and after a. good run passed to Johnston who carried on and scored. He failed to convert. The quarter ended with play in neutral territory and the scores 3 all. The second half opened xvith a Piako attack, but Johnston broke through and passed to Walters, who had a clear run but insufficient pace. Catlin secured from a line-out and passed to Molesworth, who got to Piako’s twenty-five, where the defenders gained control and after good passing by backs and forwards scored. Miller failed to convert. Piako 6, Plains 3. Following an attack by Plains Catlin had a shot at goal but

no score resulted. Plains kept on the attack and compelled a force,. Wilton arrived and replaced Cotter. Riddle and Lane- carried from midfield to the home team’s line with a fine passing rush and McLaren kicked a penalty goal. Piako 9, Plains 3. Early in the final round a kick by Goldsbury was followed up and a scrummage ensued on Plains’ line until a free kick relieved. Piako returned, and from a throw-in near the corner French relieved and Mulgrew carried to halfway, where Catlin and Johnston took control, but one of their passes was intercepted by an offside player. Johnston’s shot failed and Goldsbury returned. Piako followed up to the tome team’s end, where Dalgety and Hutchinson broke through, but .were penalised, the free kick giving Piako relief. Fast open play followed, but no further score was secured, the game ending with Piako 9, Hauraki Plains 3.

THIRD GRADE MATCH. PAEROA DEFEATS WAIHI. As a curtain-raiser to the senior game at Paeroa. the local third-grade team played a game against Waihi -on the No. 2 ground. The match was very even, although Paeroa won- by 12 points to 3. For the winners tries were scored by L. Masters, P. Poland, M. Irwin, and J, Johnson, while Raddings scored for Waihi. The outstanding players for Paeroa were Irwin, Rackham, Barakat in the backs, and Johnson, Vc-rcoe, Chisholm, and Miller in the forwards. Mr F. T. V. Johnson was referee.