FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5275, 16 May 1928, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The Paeroa Rugby Union’s competitions wore continued last Saturday afternoon in fine weather 1 . The playing fields at the domain wort; in good order, and the four games which were played drew an interested number of ■spectators. WEST V. PIRATES. The principal attraction, the West v. Pirates match, prove.d to be one of the best exhibitions: Of Rugby seen ■locally this season. Although West gained a victory by 14’ points, the score was no indication of the mer.it of tiie two teams or the evenness d£ the game,. Pirates fielded bhe heavier team, and the forwards were superior to their opponents, but the West backs combined splendidly, andi mainly through their efforts war’ the victory so decisive. The game was fast ami willing, although for the most part play was close. It was also a game to be remembered by the number, of players who were temporarily knocked out or injured. Yet there was no suggestion of rough play at any stage of the match, the game being cleanly played, though hard. The following were the teams :— West.-—D. Fraser, McQuarters, R. Swann. J. Verran, J. Lewis, It. Dudley. L. C. Masters, M. Roland, Sweeney, L. Nisid, R. Shaw, V. Carrick, D. Snow, W. Southby, F. Knight. Pirates. —G. Morrow; C. McNeil, G. Pullar, H. Coldicutt, J. McCarroll, K. Lockett, T. Pul'l’ar, D. Frost, J. Fraser. J. Bena, J. R. Goonan, Sauiuteijs, F. ■Morrow, Peki, E. Maxwell. Carrick returned the kick-off, the ball going out in Pirates’ twenty-five. From the 'line,-out J. Fraser, gained possession and made a good t'un< before passing to Frost near the line. Frost hung on too long and allowed McQuarters to clear. In a 'loose rush Sweeney ga.ined possession and passed to McQuarters, to Swann, who was pulled up for a breach. Carrick secured from the scrum and sent across tot Swann, to Verran, the ball ultimately going out, near the corner, Tight play in, Pirates’ quarter was by a free kick. Loosci play followed to the end of the round. In the second quarter. West ‘follow ed up from the kick-out and Pirates were compelled to force. Tight play in Pirates:’ twenty-five saw a five yards scrum ordered, from, which a foir.ee resulted. Keeping up the pressure, West again attacked strongly, the ball going out near the corner flag. From the line-out McQuarters secured and sent out to Swann, whose kick was'marked by G. Morrow. In tight play a five-yards scrum was ordeijed, and Masters, working the blind side, sent Carrick oyer the line. Swann’s kick was unsuccessful. West 3, Pirates 0., West again attacked and following a scramble in front p't the posts Poland scored a good try. Sw'ann failed with tire kick. West 6, Pirjates 0. Goonan and Lockett' then carried play to West’s corner for J'Fraser to s t core. Lockett failed to convert. West 6, Pirates 3. ■ On. resuming after half-time a serum followed the kick-out.' West gained ,'the, advantage and . Masters sent out to McQuarters, to Swann, who was pushed out near the twentyflag. From the lino-out play was quickly transferred into West’s terr * tqry, where' D. Frasei; relieved by marking and seinding to the halfway flag. Swann gained possession and, assisted by Verran, and Nield, took/ play into Pirates’ twenty-live, and following tight play Pirates forced'. Verijan gathered up the ball from a free kick ami dashed down the line, but was pushed out at the cornier; Play hung round in pirates’ territory for some time, until •McNeil relieved with a long, high kick. I,n, loose .play in midfield a West player; was penalised for bolding on, but kick failed.

lii the final round We'Sjt went on'the attack. A scrum was ordered in Pirates’ .twenty-five, and Masters, secuifcd and went out to Lewis, to Dudr ■ley. who .cut in and scored a good try. Swann converted. W,est 1.1, Pirates 3.

The, West backs immediately instituted a passing rush; wlhieh terminated, in Verran scoring in the corner. Swann’s kick failed. West 14, Pirates 3. F. Morrow' retired injured. A spell of tight piny followed in Pilotos’ territory, until Masters again set his backs ini motion for. Swann to score a good try near the corner. Ver'ran failed' to convert. West 17. Pirates 3. Mr E. Smith was referee.

In the West team the pick of the forwards were Poland, Carrick, and Shaw, while in the back division Swann. Dudley ,and Lewis were the most prominent, while Masters was always safe and did a lot of hard work, particularly when on the defensive. For Pirates the outstanding foi;“ ward was Frost, and he was ably Supported by Goonan. The backs showed little combination, and probably the most prominent • were McCarroll. Lockett, and McNei. EAST' V. SUBURBS. The East v. Suburbs match., which was played at H'kutaia. resulted in a win for the homo, team by 16 points to 5. The game was fairly even' up to half-time, but from then onwards Suburbs had the better of itSuburbs won the toss and played with the wind- For most of the. first quarter play hung round between: the 'halfway line and. East’s twenty-live. After, 12 minutes’ play H. Itomiett Scored the first try foi> Suburbs. BTabu failing with the kick. Suburbs 3, East 0. In the second round the, visitors held their opponents until Meredith sent out to T. Killgour. who scored a good tip - . AV. Boyer converted. Suburbs 8. East 0. East then pressed, and D. Moore with a smart run beat the opposition and scored a fine try E. Moore converted. Suburbs 8, East 5. A goo:! exhibition of football followed from half-time onward, but Suburbs appeared to 'have the better of the game, and increased their scotic by a try obtained by R. Rare and onie by T. Rciwictt. the latter being converted by W. Watene. The game, ended with the scores Suburbs 16. East, fi. Mr W. T. Jonas was referee.

THE JUNIOR GAMES. The junior game, East v. Suburbs, which was played on the No. 2 ground, pi.oved very one-sided, and resulted in an easy win for the, visitors by 15 to 0. In the first place East had soma difficulty nil putting out a team, and the vacancies were filled with anyone who could be persuaded to Play. Considering the makeshift team, East put up a very good showing. The scores for; tire visitors were obtained by E. Robinson., T. Killgour, T. Rare, F. Morrison, and H. Mor.ifi.son, all being tries. Mr G. Sale was i.eferee. WEST V. KEREPEEHI.

A& a curtain-raiser to the senior match West played a game against a Kctrepeehi fifteen. Tire teams were very evenly matched, and the game was well worth watching. At the call of time, which was shortened on account of clashing with tire senior fixture, no score had been registered and the game Qnded in a draw. ■Mr F. T. V. Johnson, was rcfaijee. THIRD-GRADE GAME. The third-grade game, played between East and West on the No. 2 ground, prove.d rather a fiasco. East could not field, a full team, and as West bad a surplus of players the vacancies were filled by West lads. The black and whites appeared to be able to score whenever the fancy took thenr and- the game ended, Wast 25, East 11. Mr S. H. Shephard was referee. THE PLAINS GAMES. Fine weather, prevailed for the Hauraki Plains, competition, matches on Saturday last, and a good standard of Rugby was .witnessed at KerepeelH aiiKl Turua, where the only matches were played. The Turua v. Plains West game.at Turua resulted in thq home team winning by six points to nil-, scores being secured by'W. McCoid and W. Clailt. Mr E. A. Mahoney was referee. KEREPEEHI V. WAITAKARURU. Both the Kerepeehi and Waitakaruru senior teams showed ew improved standard of play in the match at Kercpeclii, and a good, clean, haijd game resulted. The teams were as follows: — Waitakaruru.—Gannon, D. Molesworth, C. Wilton, J. McCollum, L. Coxhead, C. Stretton, G. Paton, D. Dal:' gety; J. Dobbs, .K. McCollum, A.. Craig. T. Clayton, P. Clark, K. CaJe, J.. Millington.

Kerepeehi.—B. Mboiie, E. Potter, F, Mulgrew, N. Baggs, A.* Burt, H. Wright, W. Kidd, L. Harefield. T. Renata. H. Elvin, E- Fisher, R. Fishel, A. Courtney, D. Hill, R. Hutchinson. Waitakaruru kicked oil', and Kei;epechi was .awar.ded 1 a free kick for offside.. Wa’takaruru returned and followed up to Kerepeehi’s twenty five, but the. home pack woi’ked back to. halfway and Wilton just failed to score with a penalty kick. Moles.worth carried up the field and Kerepe,ehi were hard pressed. A defending player kicked the ball behind the line, but XVaitakaruryi failed to score with the penalty kick. Midfield play terminated when Moleswortih received from a lino-out at half.way and beat all the opposing team to score between the posts. Wilton failed to convert. Waitakaruru 3, Kerepeehi 0. Coxhead iGturned the kick-out and foliowel. uup, but after a five-yards scrum Wilton kicked to the dead-ball line. Another period of midfield play followed, until Mulgrew broke away, but a knock-on near the posts stopped the rush. K. McCollum retied with an iiyureid leg, J. Knox replacing himHarcfleld'kicked a penalty goal, and at the' ehangei-over the score's were equal at 3 points.

The Kerepeehi backs, made several passing rushes in the early stages of the second round. In open play the visitors forked to a scoring position, but a free kick relieved. Moleswort’n also failed with a perjalty kick. From the drop-out Waitakarur.u rushed, and P. Clark scored. Wilton failed to com-: vert. Waitakaruru 6, Kerepeehi 3. R; Fisher and Harefleld both failed wkth penalty kicks, and play iiemained in the visitors’ territory. On resuming after half-time Kerepeehi showed to advantage with good back play, and from a scrummage. ACourtney secured' and cut in to score. R. Fisher failed to convert. Waitakaruru 6, Kerepeehi 6. Kerepeehi again attacked; but Coxhead marked on the line. Dalgety was suspended for disputing a ruling. Waitakaruru gradually worked down the field in loose play, and the quarter ended with the home team defending.

In tht final round; a five-yards scqtrm followed, a long kick by Ker.e'peelii. and a penalty kick by Waitaka,ruru did not give relief and ,was ; fol" lowed by a force. Waitakaruru remained on the defensive. and following a free kick Moore gained possession and passed along the Kerepeehi backs to .Baggs, who scoi;ed.. Potter failed to convert. Kerepeehi 9, Waitakaruru 6. The pace ■df the game increased, and play became very open. Kerepeehi gained ground by securing from, the scrir.ni and finding the line. Aften; tight play in the visitors’ territory bad play by', the home backs enabled the Waitakaruru forwards to break away, and play went to the other end of the field. Hutchinson sent his side, on the attack, and harjd play ensued until the call of time-. Mr J. Kidd was referee. Waitakaruru again failed to 'field a, junior team.