FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5180, 19 September 1927, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

RESULT'S AT A GLANCE. LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. OUTSIDE MATCHES. Auckland 21, v. Wellington 3. Waikato 9. v. Thames 3. Rotorua 21, v. West (Paeroa) 3. DRYSDALE CUP. East 6, v. Suburbs 3. PRIMARY SCHOOLS: | Paeroa B 11. v. Netheirton 3. The principal attraction at the local domain on Saturday afternoon was the semi-final game between East and Suburbs tor the Drysdale Cup. The result was a win for East by six points to three.. Unfortunately, shortly after mid-day heavy rain set in, and continued throughout the afternoon. A strong easterly wind prevailed, and this, added to the fact that the ball was heavy and slippery, was greatly to the disadvantage of the; players, and made nippy passing and accurate kicking difficult. The game on the whole was fast, fairly open, and interesting. The visitors fielded slightly the heavier team, while East took the field with only 13 men, but the. vacancies were filled during the first quarter. By winning on Saturday the East fifteen will play the Veterans team in the final game for the cup. The following were the team's at the end of the first, quarter: East.—C. Treanor, F. Barakat, E. Mooie, C. McNeil, T. Ryan, D. Smith, C. Vincent, H. Moore, E. Johnson, R. Smith, T. Lovett, F. Fitch, N. Neil, R. Bullock, T. Pullar. Suburbs.—C. Heslop, E. Bennett, W. Bennett, R, Rare, P. Corbett, L. McRae, R. Morrison,’ J. Watene, F. Patterson, M. Brown, E. Robson, S. Wyatt, T. Killgour. B. Tahu, R. Morrison.

The visitors won the toss and ejected to play with the wind. E. Moore kicked off, and Fitch followed through and carried up, but a forward pass allowed Watene to clear. The kick was received by D. Smith who sent out in Suburbs’ twenty-five. Wyatt received in the line-out and passed to Mcßae, who kicked high. A scramble ensued in front of the posts and H. Moore forced. In loose, play Neil sent out at halfway, and from the line-out E. Moore intercepted a pass and again returned to the line. In forward play th visitors carried into East’s territory, but from a throw-in Smith gave H. Moore a long pass and he cleared to midfield. From another line-out Suburbs again entered East’s twentyfive, where Mcßae made a good opening for Patterson to make a strong run and score at the corner. Wyatt’s kick was unsuccessful. Suburbs 3, East 0- McNeil immediately put in a run down the line, and supported by D. Smith carried play into Suburbs’ twenty-five. A scrum followed, and in tight play the ball went out in the corner.

East attacked with the opening kick in the second quarter, and from a scrum in the visitors’ twenty-five E. Moore gained possession and passed to McNe.il, who made a good run ttigk lost the ball on reaching the line Heslop forced. East kept up the pressure until Moore failed with a penalty kick at goal. E. Bennett and Corbett were prominent in loose play to East’s territory, but Treanor with a long kick returned to the other end. After loose play Moore had another unsuccessful shot at goal. East forwards carried down the field, and what looked like, a certain score was lost through a forward pass. The pressure was not relaxed by East, and after close play in front of the posts Suburbs forced. Watene infringed, but R. Smith’s kick went wide. From a line-out near halfway Ryan. Fitch, Neil, and Johnson handled the: ball, and Johnson after a good run scored near the corner. E. Moore failed to convert. Suburbs, 3, East 3. On resuming after half-time Neil was collared in possession by Wyatt and Killgour sent out in East’s territory. Mcßae; received from a scrum and parsed to Wyatt, who kicked over the dead-ball line. R. Smith headed a forward rush into Suburb’s twentyfive, were a breach allowed Heslop to clear to halfway. East applied the pressure again, but H. Moore kicked too hard and a force resulted. A forward rush by Suburbs entered the home team’s territory, hut Pullar from a line-out near the corner cleared to half-way. Several scrums followed, with Suburbs gaining ground until the ball went over the line for a force.

East attacked in the final quarter, and from a scrum the ball passed from D. Smith to Ryan, to McNeil, who was pushed out near the corner flag. The ball travelled across the field, and from a scrum Killgour gained possession but his pass was intercepted by D. Smith, who passed forward to Vincent. An exchange of high kicks terminated in a forward rush by the ’visitors which was stopped by R. Smith clearing in his. own twenty-five. Close play followed, and from a scrum near halfway the East forwards with the ball at toe> went down the. field. Fitch picked up in the loose, and passed to Johnson, who scored his second try near the corner. E. Moore again failed to convert. East 6, Suburbs *3. Th© home forwards remained on th© attack form the rest of the game, but no further score was added. Mr E. Smith was referee. THE CURTAIN-RAISER. As a curtain-raiser the Paeroa Primary Schoolboys B team played the Netherton boys and won the game by 11 points to 3. The play was fast and interesting, and was a very go 4 exhibition of Rugby. The way t» boys tackled and kicked the bau about (many of them were barefooted) delighted the spectators.. The hero of the match was Ken. Curtis, who scored all the points for Paeroa, his efforts comprising three tries, one of which he converted. In the third quarter E. Olsen scored the only try for Netherton. Mr D. G. McMillan was referee.