FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5286, 13 June 1928, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. WEST V. SUBURBS GAME. Despite the fact that there were several light showers of rain and a cod easterly wind prevailing, there was a fair attendance at tile local domain on Saturday afternoon, when two senior and one third-grade games were played. The playing fields were 'n a. soft, muddy condition, and the slippery state of the ball made it difficult to handle. The greatest interest was taken in. the West v. Suburbs match, which was played on the No. 1 ground and resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. The game was fast and exciting, and was one of the best seen locally this season. Thevis/tors fielded the heavier team, a-nd the forwards played with grea,t dash and a fair showing of combination. The backs were a little inferior to the West rearguard, but Rare as fullback played the game of his life and frequently pulled his 'side out of difficulties-. On an average of the play suburbs was the better team on the day. The following were the teams : — West. —D. Fraser, A. MuQuarters, R. Swann, J. Verran, J. Lewis, L. Nield, L. C. iMasters, W. Tayilor, A. Hamilton, W. Sweeney, W. Southby, V. Carrick, M. Poland, F. Knight, D. Snow. Suburbs. —R. Rare, E. Bennett, W. Bennett, J. Maloney, W. Boyer, J. Watene, L. Mcßae, C. Meredith, Jack Duncan, Jim Duncan, B. Tahu, C. Murphy, B. Gibb, M. Brown, A. Bennett.

•Mcßae kicked off, and play travelled into West’s twenty-five, where a breach occurred. After tight play Hamilton cleared with a long kfi.ck. The West forwards, headed tby Poland, reached the line, but what looked like a certain try was spoilt by a, breach. A scrlum on the line followed the kick, but Suburbs hooked the ball for Boyer to clear. The game was willing until the end of the quarter, with West busily defending. The second round opened with Poland talking the ball into Suburbs’ quarter, where, after tight play, it went out at the corner. The West backs secured from the line-out and Swann made a good run before sending on to McQuarters. The latter’s pass to Nield was forward, and Mcßae cleared. A fine forward rush by Suburbs ended in Tahu kicking across the field in West’s twenty ; -five to A. Bennett, but Verran cut in and kicked to the dead-ball line with a “speculator.” A scries. of line-outs in West’s territory terminated in a free kick for the defenders. From a- scrum near halfway Boyer gained possession and with a short kick shifted operations to near West’s line, where tight play ensued. In a five-yards scrum Snow was caught offside, but Mcßae’s kick struck the post. Honours were wf th Suburbs throughout the quarter. On resuming after half-time West attacked, and tight play ensued in Suburbs’ twenty-five, where Murphy was, penalised, but Maloney cleared from Taylor’s kick. In loose play Taylor kicked over the line for McRae to force. From the kiefc-out Masters opened up the play and sent Swanji away with Verran in close attendance. . From a scrum near the line Rare sent a long kick to McQuar. ters, who .made a fine effort, but Maloney intercepted a pass and ran behind the line. From the five-yards scrum Suburbs forced. West kept up the- pressure until a mark relieved. Murphy and Jack Duncjan took play into West’s territory, where- a bout of tight play ended in the ball going cut in touch.

The final quarter opened with an attack by Suburbs. A scrum w,as ordered- on the line from which Nield cleared. Suburbs returned to the attack and W. Bennett -marked, in u good position, but his kick was blocked. Taylor headed a loose rush which' Verran negatived by offside play. Southby returned to Suburbs’ twentyfive, the ball going out near, the corner. The line-out was scrummed, and Masters sent his backs away, but Snow was well collared by Ra.re, who effected' a- line clearance. Owing to the faj’iling light the referee, after Conferring with the two captai’ns. stopped the game about five minutes before time was up.

Mr F. T. V. Johnson was referee.

PIRATES V. EAST.

Tlie Pirates had little difficulty in defeated the East team by 11 points to 0. Both teams took the field short 'of mon, and the game was only played for three quarters. Pirates was the heavier side, and was never, seriously pressed. The following were the teams a;t half-time :— rirateg,—G. Pullar, T. Piillar, H. Cold’cutt, K. Lockett, E. Smart, J. McCarroll, D. Frost, E. Maxwell, J. Fraser, J. R. Goonan, A. Shergold. G. Morrow, R. Peke, SauhdersJ. East.—G. Williams, D. Wilkinson, M. Wilkinson, H. Moore, F. Franks. S. Kaio, E. Neil. H. Wilton, F. F-itch, N. Neil, E. Johnson, W. Ashcroft, J'. Glasgow, T. Richmond. W. Richmond. McCarroll kicked off and Fitch headed a loose rush which ended in a force. Frost led the Pirates forwards in a dribbling rush until an East player was penalised. G. Pullar’s kick fellshort and -Moore cleared- to neutral territory for Franks to early on into Pirates’ twenty-five. Lockett cut in and set his hacks in- motion, play being quickly transferred to the. other end of the field. In a line-out an East player was penalised, but McCarroll’s kick was unsuccessful.

The second quarter, opened with Pirates on the attack, during which an East player committed a breach and Lockett kicked a fine goal. Pirates 3. East 0. From the, Idek-out T. Pullar, dribbled the ball up the field, but lost it near the corner flag. Tight play followed in front of the posts until East forced. A pice passing rush followed the kick-out, the ball travelling from Smart to Lockett, to Coldicutt. back to Lockett and again to Cold'cutt, who (scored a good try. G. Pullar failed to convert Pirates 6, East 0. The East for,wards essayed a. rush, hut Frost gained possession .and dribbled up for McCarroll to secure and send on to Goon.an, wh'o scored an easy try. McCarroll converted’. Pirates 11, East O'.

On resuming after the spell Neil' rushed with the ball at his toe into Pirates’ twenty-five, where tight play ensued until Goonan picked up the ball and made a good run down the line before passing. Up and down play followed until the end of the quarter, when time was called. Mr, W. T. Jonas was referee. THE JUNIORS. The West junior team journeyed toHikutaia on Saturday and defeated the Suburbs fifteen by five points to nil. C. Nield scored a, try, which was converted by P. Poland. Mr. T. 0. Arnold was- referee. THIRD-GRADE MATCH. As a curtain-raiser to the Pirates v. East match the West and. East thhJgrade teams played a scratch game, which resulted in a win for West by nine points to nil- Tries were scored by Bullen, Alp, and Vercoe. Mr J. Verran was. referee. PRIMARY SCHOOL GAMES. The primary school competition was advanced a further stage on Saturday morning, when two evenly contested match were played. In, the Hikutaia v. United game, the former won by 15 to 3. For the winners tries were scored by Welch (3), Bennett, and Rob'nson. Maunders scored a try for United. Mr D. S. Kerr, was referee. The Paeroa A team defeated the Paeroa B team by five points to nil. F. -McKee scored a try, which was converted by M. Curtis. Mr, G. Southby was referee. PLAINS MATCHES. Six Rugby football matches were played on the Haur,aki Plains on Saturday last. In the senior, grade-com-petition. Ngatea brought its championship points up to 11 by beating Kere--peehi, and Turua- brought its total to 9 by drawing with Waitakaruru. Ngatea and Turua each have one match to play, and as Turua will probably have little difficulty in -defeating West at Patetonga, the deciding game of the competition will be the Ngatea.Waitakaruru match. NGATEA V. KEREPEEHI. There was a large attendance at the Ngatea v. Kerepeehi match at Kerepeehi, and a fl-ne game was witnessed. Ngatea, kicked off and play went to th e i’ne at halfway. The Kerepeehi forwards worked down- the field, and free kicks by Ngatea gained little advantage, play centring in Ngatca/s territory. Harefield marked and his kick was charged, but the Kerepeehi forwards again assumed control, although Ngatea had many free kicks. After Ngatea had forced, Kerepeehi broke away from a scrum but Killgour stopped the rush.

The second round opened with lo'ose play in midfield, until a free kick sent the ball to Kerepeehi’g twenty,-five, where McPherson marked but failed to score. More hard forward play followed in Kerepeehi’s territory until the defenders forced. Kirkman failed with a penalty kick, and open play -followed in the home, team’s quarter. McPherson failed to s,core vH’th a free kick, and Kerepeehi forced twice in quick succession. Hutchinson led the Kerepeehi pack to Ngatea’s end, where McPherson secured from a scrum and sent to the other end of the field. The Ngatea forwards rushed to the posts and the. ball was kicked to Williams, on the wing, .and he crossed the line. Kirkman failed to convert. Ngatea 3, Kerepeehi 0. After half-time Kerepeehi attacked, and a long struggle ensued until afree kick by Ngatea sent play to the home team’s end- The Kerepeehi. forwards broke through, but the bail went out in touch. Hutchinson broke through a.nd Rapana forced. Elvin failed to Convert. Ngatea 3, Kerepeehi 3. After Nga,tea. had forced .twice the Kerepeehi backs got going from a scrum and the ball was handled by Wright, Harefleld, and Adi urn, the latter scoring. R Fisher failed to-convert. Kerepeehi 6, Ngatea 3.

In. the last quarter, after tight play, Potter found the line well upfield, From the throw-in Ngatea broke away, but a force resulted. McPherson marked and sent the ball over the bar to even the scores at 6 all. Play went to Kerepeehi’s quarter, and long struggles took place near the posts, Kerepeehi gaining the advantage. S. Rang! replaced N. Baggs in the Kerepeehi backs- McPherson converted with a. penalty kick, and after considerable loose play S. Dalgety received the ball in a line-out and crossed the lane. McPherson converted. Ngatea 14, Kerepeehi 6. R. Fisher ■made Kerepeeh'i’s score 9 with a penalty kick, and tight play followed in the home team’s end untiil the end of the game. Mr J. Reed was referee. WAITAKARURU V. TURUA. The Waitakaruru-Turua game resulted in a draw —a. penalty goal to each team. The game was fast and interesting, and the teams were eventy matched. THE JUNIORS. The junior grade competition for the Patetonga Shield was completed on Saturday, as only three teams have taken part. Turua has won with seven points, while Ngatea has secured four, points and Kerepeehi one. On Saturday Ngatea beat Kerepeehi by 5 to 0, a try by H. Mayne being converted’by S’. McKerchar. Mr J. Kidd was referee. THIRD GRADE MATCH. Another match between the Turua ■and Ngatea third-grade teams was played on Saturday, and thiis ; time Ngatea won by 16 to 3. For the winners F. Donaghy, R. Williams, H. Hayward, and H. Keane scored' trie's, of ’which Donaghy converted two. Tuma’s points were secured by a. penalty kick. THE SCHOOL MATCHES. The initer.sclio'o> competition for the Terrill Cup opened on Saturday, Turua beating Kopuaralr by 38 to 0 and Kerepeehi beating Ngatea by 29 to 8. For Kerepeehi T. Baggs scored four tries, converted, one, and kicked a penalty goal., and W. Baggs scored twice, and! T. Carr and J. Hoff once each.