FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5175, 7 September 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

DRYSDALE CUP COMPETITION.

EAST V. WEST MATCH. The East and West teams met on Saturday in the knockout competition for the Drysdale Cup, and the result was a win for the former by 9 points to 3. Within a few minutes of the commendfement East registered the first score with a goal kicked by E. Moore. R. Smith set East moving again, and another penalty kick was taken by Moore. The forwards followed up well, and N. Neil gained possession and scored a good try. West made an effort, but Treanor took the ball and cleared. West gained ground, and when in a good position Coldicutt marked but his kick fell short. Offside play by the defenders gave Swann a penalty kick and he opened the score for West. Shortly afterwards Wells put in a great run in an effort to equalise the scores, but he failed to get past Treanor, who *foupd the line. In the second quarter Wells made another dash, but was collared by D. Smith and the ball went out. From the throw-in the East forwards made j a sustained rush which reached the ] corner flag. Smardoji relieved to his twenty-five line, where McNeil gained possession and sent Moore away for a 'try. Moore failed to add the, extra points. West became aggressive, Mills and Masters making a run down the field until the latter was brought down by Treanor, Neil followed up a kick and caught Verran in possession, the ball going out. Half-time came with the scores East 9, West 3.

East followed up the kick-off after half-time and Moore had another unsuccessful shot at goal. From a lineout the ball went to Masters, who sent Coldicut away pn a. brilliant run only to be stopped by McNeil, who ran across and saved from a sure try. With West fighting hard Verran essayed a dash down the line, being well, collared by Treanor. Although West tried hard to score, no points were registered in the third quarter. In the last round the East forwards livened up and went down the field with a fine dribbling rush until Coldicutt neatly took the ball from the toe of Fitch and cleared. F.rom the throwin Hounslow sent the East backs in motion, but D. Smith took a pass offside when about to dive over the line. Barakat started off well in another movement for East, but his pass was forward and Swann reversed the position. Hounslow broke through in tight play, but lost the ball to McKee, who dribbled half the length of the field into East’s territory. Play did not remain there long, however, for Moore with the ball at toe entered West’s- territory, where Nield .cleared. Masters received from the line-out and punted to Moore, w>hp marked, and ended the game with his kick to the line. Neither side scored during the second half, and the game ended East 9, West 3.

Mr D. G. McMillan was referee.

THE PLAINS MATCH. KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION. The first round of the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union’s knock-out competition for the Dent Cup was played at Ngatea on Saturday last, when tihe Turua team defeated the Ngatea. fifteen by 6 points to 0. Waitakaru.ru was set down to play Kerepeehi, but was unable to get a. team and forfeited. Turua and Kerepeehi will therefore m®et at Ngatea on Saturday next in the final round.

Saturday’s match was a good, clean, open game, but hardly up to the usual standard. There was no* wind, and theNo. 3 ground was dry but fairly rough. The. attendance was sm;all. Following were the teams

Turua.—E. French, C. Blacklaws, M. Madgwick, R. Madgwick, W. Blacklaws, A. Elvin ; J. Catlin, K. Fox, McCowatt, Br'hizendale, Hill, Hutchinson, Spencer, W. Clark, E. Booth.

Ngatea.—A. Killgour, R. McPherson, Hantlecy, Johansen, Nicol, Wilton, Frank's, W. O’Neil, Wilson, Dalgety, Abel,, Kirkman, Hawera, D. Hutchinson, R. Spencer.

Turua kicked off and attacked, Catlin and Braizendale- compelling a force d-own. The pressure was again applied, 'but an infringement in front of the posts gave Ngatea a free kick. Play remained in Ngatea’s twenty-five, and was fast and opep until McPherson relieved and tfhe Ngatea forwards, led by Abel, took to Tuma’s end. A succession of long kicks followed, Ngatea gaining ground, but Wilton hung on too long and lost a golden opportunity. A penalty kick sent the ball to halfway,, and in the tight play that followed Turua gained ground until a force was recorded as the result of a long 'kick. Play remained in Ngatea’s quarter until an infringement allowed the defenders, to clear, and from a line-out they rushed on the attack and Turua had to force.- Catlin, BLacklaws, and Madgwick advanced into U.ie home team’s territory, where close play terminated in the attackers beir lg penalised. After a short time Tw rua again attacked, and kept UP th e pressure until the change-over. The second quarter opened with ' play in midfield, until the Ngatea forwards worked to Turua’s line, where a kick sent the ball over the deadi ball line. Further midfield play terminated with O’Neil being penalised, but Blacktaws failed to score- with thekick/ .Turua followed up, and W. Blacklaws scored. C. Blacklaws failed to convert. Turua 3, Ngatea- 0. -Ngatea th en attacked, but a free kick return? d play to midfield. Franks took the I: tall from a line-out, but Catlin force, d. A Turua rush went well into Ngatf ,a’s territory, but in open play the t i-ome team gained ground and with i the aid of a free kick got to Turaa’s line. McCowatt led the Turua pack down the field, but they broke down and play returned again to Turua’s line, from where W. Clark relieved . Booth carried on to Ngatea’s. end to be stopped by Nicol. Hard play follow ed in front of the posts until Hawei -a and Abel carried out past halfw; ly, and play remained in neutral te ,rritory until half-time. On i -esuming French went into the Turua pack, Braizendale to fiveeighth; s, and Elvin to full-back. Turua

opened the second half with an attack, and after a hard struggle Ngatea forced. . Pressure was immediate applied again by Turua, and C. Blacklaws marked in a good position and kicked a goal. Turua 6, Ngatea 0. Play returned to midfield, with Ngatea gaining ground until a penalty put them on the defensive-. Nicol secured from a five-yards scrum and play went to the other end of the field, where Ngatea had a free kick from which Elvin forced.

Tiie final round opened with a Turua attack, but obstruction by Booth negatived the movement. Play remained in the neutral zone until Johansen with a fine run entered Turn a’s. twenty-five, where from a scrum W. Blacklaws cleared to halfwayFast open play in neutral ground followed until the call of time. Mr J. Kidd was referee.