FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5266, 23 April 1928, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OPENINC OF 1928 SEASON. LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. SENIORS: West 14, v. East 4. Suburbs 18, v. Pirates 6. Turua 5, v. Ngatea 3. Waitakaruru 9, v. plains West 3. <- - JUNIORS. West’6, v. Suburbs 6. Turua 14, v. Ngatea 0. THIRDGRADE. West 24, v. East 3. The Paeroa Rugby football union held its formal opening of the 1928 season at the local domain oni Saturday afternoon.. The weatlw was fairly fine, but a stiff south-westerly wind prevailed.’ There was a good crowd of spectators present, and the keenest enthusiasm was shown. The playing fields were in good order, and although th«re was a good sole, of grass the players found conditions rather had. The chief attacti’on was "Mhe senior game West v. East, which /was 20 minutes behind schedule time in starting. It is hoped that the union will enforce its rules this season and penalise the teams if they ' do not take the field on time. West was the heavier team, and the backs plliayed together very well, the star - player being R. Swann, who scored nine points out of 14 for his side. Although the East team was . beate n by 14 to 4, it was by no means disgraced, especially in view of the fact that nearly half the members of the team were playing their first senior B competition game. With practice and " the development of combination this , team should' give a good account of Hltsel'f before the season is far advanced. The game was fast arid open, and very interesting, both sides having individual players who gave creditable displays of Rugby. The following were the teams : West.—L. Nield, J. Verran, F. Knight, Spellars L. C. Masters, R. Swann, Fraser, Poland, V. Carrick, D. Snow, R. Shaw, Belil, W. Southby, Sweeney, Hutson. East.—C. Treanor, A. R. Williams, G. Masters, G. T. Williams, Jim Rackham! A. F. Thorp, R. Mead, N. Neil, C. Vincent. G. Neil, F. Fitch, F, Ashcroft. E. Johnson, T. Quinn, E.- Grant. The Masters brothers were elected captains of their respective teams.

k THS GAME. ' From the kick,-off the ball was re' turned , by Swann, who kicked high, the ball going out at the twenty-five From tli6 linerout <1 scrum- was ordered in East’s territory, and Poland secured and made a dash for the line, but was brought back tor a breach. G. Masters took the kick and oLeared to halfway. After several line-outs near the halfway line Frasei carried up* but offside play enabled Fitch to clear. A speill of long kicking ensued for some time, with little advantage to either side. A free kick by Swann sent the ball over the deadball line. G. Neil and Thorp essayed a forward rush,, but L. Masters inter ■ cepted a pass and sent to the line. A scrum followed, and the East forwards parried up the fieild, but Swann mark; Ty.cd under the-posts. East committed a breach in a scrum in neutral territory but S.wann’s kick fell short. The second quarter opened with . East -on the attack, but H. R. WWfams spoiled the movement by holding on to the ball and Southby cleared to hailfway, from where L. Masters carried to East’s twenty-five before sendr ing a 'long pass to Verran, who centred. Thorp took the ball and cleared to the .line. From the line-out Thorp and Ashcroft carried pjay into neutral territory, where Knight marked, but his kick was blocked. Several scrums. , were ordered near the halfway line before Johnson, with the ball at toe, carried into West’s quarter, where a five-yards scrum was ordered. In a tussle West was awarded a. free kick, and Thorp and Rackham made an at■""Vlempt to return play to West’s territory, but Snow cleared with a high kick. G. Masters, secured possession and made a’ good run before sending to Johnson, -who was col/l'-ared on the line. Nield cleared. In. loose play in neutral 1 territory Knight started a dribbling rush, but Treanor relieved the pressure by marking in front of the pots. ,On resuming after half-time N. Neil’s kick went to Fraser, who found the line in West’s twenty-five. In. a passing rush West attacked, but Poland was cdllared op. the line by Treanor. From a five-yards scrum the ball went to L. Masters, who sent out to Swann on the blind side for him to score a neat try. Swann’s kick was unsuccessful. West 3, Bast East attacked from the Kick-out. Mead made a good opening and passed to Rackham, who improved the position before sending out to Thorp, who failed to take the pafe and spoiled a good opportunity to score. In a loose rush West carried down. Vincent was penalised, and Swann kicked a good goal. West 6, East 0. East took a turn at attacking, and Rackham droWicked a fine goal from just inside the halfway line. West 6, East 4. In loose play West forwards worked into East’s twenty-five, where Rackham was caught offside and Swann madte no mistake with the kick. West 9, East 4. In the final quarter the kick-out / went to West’s corner, but Poland K cleared from the line-out. Give and ’ take play followed for a long period, and both sides had turns on thei attack. From a scrum in East’s twentyfive Masters gained possession and made, a corkscrew run, but was well collared by Williams. From two scrums a West player broke away with the ball, but was brought back. However, from another scrum

near the line Masters sent out to Nield, to Knight, who scored an easy try between the,posts. Masters converted. West 14, East 4. With only six minutes to go East made the pace, but, playing with better combination, West withstood the pressure and presently took play into East’s quarter, where offside play by Snow gave Treanor a chance to clear. Nield returned the. ball, and play returned to East’s twenty-five, where the game ended. West 14, East 4. Mr J- W. Jonas was refer.ee.

Of. the West forwards Carrick played a solid game, as ;also did Snow and RShaw. The outstanding back was Swann, and Fraser also played a sound game, especiall.ly aftec halftime.

There were no outstanding for-; wards on the East side, but those most prominent were) N. Neil, F. Fitch, Ashcroft, and Johnson. In the back division J. Rackham, R, Mead, and Treanor were the pick.