FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5288, 18 June 1928, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES’. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. POLAND CUP COMPETITION : Hauraki Plains 3, v. Paeroa 0. SHAREBROKERS’ CUP: Paeroa 9, v. Hauraki Plains 3. THIRD-GRADE. Ngatea 3, v. Turua 0. SCHOOLBOYS: Turua 24, v. Ngatea 3. High winds and heavy, coldi rain prevailed at Ngatea, on Saturday for the opening match of the Poland Cup competition between the senior representative teams of Paeroa and Hauraki Plains, and the few spectators who braved the weather witnessed- a hard, evenly fought struggle more re sembling a schoolboys’ bustling match than the open type of Rugby of the club games this season, all of which have been played on dry fields. The grotin’d wa.s not so slippery as expected, but the ball, could rot be handled with any degree of accuracy. The teams were as follows: — Plains. —J. Hedley. C. Stretton, L. Hcarfield. M. Madgwick, J. McPherson, 11. Wright, J. Catlin, K. Fox, L. Killgour, A. Kelk, R. C. Abel, R. Hutchinson, F. Mulgrew, A. Courtney, and A. Fisher, Paeroa. —Rare, McNeil, Watehe, R. Swann, Smart, McQuarters, Mcßae,, Boyer, Hamilton, Duncan, Fitch, Frost, Poland, Meredith, Johnson. The wind blew across the field, and a little in favour of Plains at the kick-off. The home forwards opened with an attack, but a free kick returned play to midfield. After, a kicking bout Pla’ns had to defend until a penalty kick sent play to midfield, where Killgour secured from a. throwin and dribbled down the line until Catlin picked up and scored the only try of the match. -McPherson failed to convert. Plains 3, Paeroa 0. Flay went to the home team’s territory until Fox relieved with a penalty kick, and from then on till the end l of the quarter Paeroa 'had to defend. The second quarter opened with a strong Plains attack, from which Rare saved. The Paeroa forwards slowly Worked down the field until Plains forced. Hard play followed in neutral territory, neither side being able to hold an advantage for. long, as the forwards Were evenly matched and passing rushes, when attempted, proved futile on account of the greasy ball. Paeroa failed to score with a, shot at goal.

The whole of the third quarter was a hard struggle in neutral territory, the home team having slightly the better of it in the latter stages. Frost, Hamilton, Mcßae, and Rare were the conspicuous members of t'he Paeroa team, and Abel, Hutchinson, Catlin, ankl- Hearflel-cl were the pick ’of the Plains men. The weak links were Fisher and Madgwick for ‘Pla/ns,- and Swanh for the visitors-. The final round opened with play in Plains’ territory, and no score resulted from a penalty kick. Catlin sent play to the other end of the field, and after a long struggle a force resulted. Paeroa followed up the dropout, and a chance was spoiled by-Mc-Rae- holding on too long, Catlin relieving. A penalty kick saw Plains carry the ball back over the line, but the visitors’ advantage was los ; t in the scrum and the Plains forwards carried play to midfield. McNeil broke away but failed to pass Hediey. Shortly afterwards Swann broke away and a force resulted. Play was in Paeroa’s end at the call of time. Mr T. Turner was referee. JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES. With a stiff morth-easterly gale blowing, and cold driving rain, the Paeroa. and Hauraki Plains representative junior teams took the field at the local domain on Saturday to play the first game of the season for the Sharebrokers’ Cup. Worse weather conditions could scarcely ’have prevailed. The field was muddy, and -contained pools of water, and the ball was heavy and difficult to handle, while the h‘gh wind ma.de kicking with accuracy an impossibility. Despite the conditions, the handful of spectators who braved' the elements wer.e treated to a very fair exhibition, of Rugby, considering the circumstances.

The home side fielded slightly the heavier team, and the forwards were a good lot and worked hard, especially when on the defensive-. Neither side showed a great deal of combination, but the visiting backs were superior to the home rearguard. The gajne was played the full-time, and resulted a win for Paeroa by .nine- points to three. The following were the teams:— Paeroa.—A. Overall, E. Rare, F. Morrison, L. Potter, P. Polafld,- J* Douglas, E. Tremaine, S. Liggins, A. Flatt, L. Carrick, W. Pennell, R. Killgoilr, R. Williams, K. Slyfield, J. Smith. Hauraki Plaiins, —F. Scott, Donaghy, H. Mayne, S. Rangi, Marshall, J. Thompson, H. Spinks, S. McKercliar, T. White, Masters, S- Nicholson., F. Hamilton, J. Hartley, w. Elvin, Hutchinson. Paeroa kicked off with the wind and Tremaine carried play into HauI'.ajci Plains’ twenty-five, where tight play resulted in a force. A scrum followed the kick-'out, and with Paeroa attacking strongly Nicholsoii marked and relieved. Play was quickly returned to the visitors’ territory, and another force resulted. The kick-out went to the line in Plains’ twenty-five, and from the line-out Tremaine gained ground, but his pass was forward. Tight play followed in Plains’ quarter for some minutes, when. Slyfield secured from a five-yards scrum passed to Poland', who scored a good try. Tremaine failed to convert. Paeroa 3, Hauraki Plains o. Paeroa again and from a five-yards scrum Spinks sent to the line. Carrick secured from t'he throw-in, and after fight play Plains again forced. Not to be denied, the local forwards kept their opponents busy, and in a scramble Morrison beat Donaghy for the ball and scored. Tremain failed with tlie kick. Paeroa. 6, Hauraki

Plains 0. The visitors then attacked, but Poland relieved to the line* f! ar " rick received in the Line-out and he made a good run, but his pass was forward. Paeroa was dangerous until Rangi gathered in the ball qnd, applying his pace, covered a good distance before being pushed out near the corner flag. Elvin broke away from the line-out, but was, well • collared Dougla.s. who sent out to Poland 4/y clear. - The second quarter opened with a loose rush by the local forwards, and play gradually .worked into their opponents’ twenty-five. From a line-out McKercliar tent to Marshall, but Carr'ck intercepted the pass. From a scrum Liggins gained possession anti passed to Morrison, who made a good run to score near the posts. Tremaine handled the ball twice and the kick was disallowed. Paeroa 9, Hauraki Plains 0. Plains took play down the field in a. dribbling rush, and from a scrum Paeroa forced. Killgour and Carrick were prominent in. another, rush, but a breach occurred and Rangi relieved. Hamilton gathered in the ball and sent out to Thompson, who dropped the leather while crossing the line and Rare forced. Donaghy. broke away anfd gained a lot of ground before passing to Mayne, who put in a nippy run and crossed 1 the line. Hutchinson failed with the kick. Paeroa 9, Hauraki Plains O'. On resuming after, half-time the weather conditions were worse, and it was almost impossible to distinguish the players owing to the rain and riud. The second half was very willing, and honours were fairly even, the game ending without any further score being recorded. Mr. W. T. Jonas was referee.

BIRCH CUP MATCH.

PAEROA TEAM FOR SATURDAY.

The following have been selected to represent Padroa against Thames to the Birch Cup match which is to be played at Paeroa on Saturday next; — Paeroa.—Full-back, R. Rare (Suburbs) three-quarters, A. McQuarters (West), Waitepe (Suburbs), C. McNeil (Pirates) ; five-eighths, K. Lockett (Pirates), E. Smart (Pirates) ; halfback, L. Mcßae (Suburbs) ; rover, F. Boyer (Suburbs) ; forwards, A. Hamilton (West), F. Fitch (East), W. South, by (West), D. Frost (Pirates). V. Cari'ick (West), M. Poland (West), EJohnson (East.). Emergencies: Backs, L. C. Masters. (West), L. Nf'eld (West ; forwards, C. Meredith (Suburbs), G. Morrow (Pirates). Players are requested to assemble at the Drill Hall at 7.30 on Thursday night for training purposes.