FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5294, 2 July 1928, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S GAMES.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE.

POLAND CUP COMPETITION :

Paeroa. 12, v. Waihi 3. Hauraki Plains 14, v. Piako 9

SHAREBROKERS’ CUP:

Waihi .17, v. Paeroa 0. Piako 14, v. Hauraki plains 11. THIRD-GRADE. Piako 15. v Paeroa G. SCHOOLBOYS : Combined Team 22, v. Paeroa 6'. POLAND CUP COMPETITION. PAE.ROA DEFEATS WAIHI. The second games in the Frank Poland Memorial Cup competition were played on Saturday afternoon. The attraction at the local domain was the match between the Paeroa and Waihi representatives. There was a large attendance of the public, a;id the weather was! fine, with a fairly stiff southerly wind. The playing field was in fair condition, but was a. little marshy in places. Probably the game was one of the finest exhibitions of Rugby seen at Paeroa for many years. The play of the local backs throughout the game was; of a first-dass order, the movements being carried out with combination, precision, and speed. A greater part of the fine display among the backs w,as due to L. C. Masters, the local half-back, who played a sterling game unselfishly, and was responsible for many of the fine movements. Mcßae, too, played tihe game of his life, and was a tower of strength to 'his side. The local backs dominated the game, and in addition to those mentioned McQuarters and Watene, three-quarters, played good games. The local forwards .were a good lot, and worked hard, especially when on the attack. Fitch, Poland 1 , apd Frost were probably the pick. ■

The Waihi team, although the heavier, lacked the' combination of their opponents, .and although they received! a fair share of the ball their slow tactics lost them many opportunities. The wing three-quarter McDermott, and the second five-eighths, Dill'imore, played solidly and made few mistakes, while Robinson and Polley were perhaps the pick of the forwards.

The game was fast and clean, and was characterised by few breaches. The contest ended in a victory for Paeroa by 12 points to'3. The teams took the field as follows : Paeroa. —R. Rare, J. McQuarters, K. Lockett, J. Watene, E. Smart L. McRae, L. C. Masters’ L. Niekl, A. Hamilton, G. Morrow, W. Southby, D. Frost, F. Fitch, E. Johnson-, M. PolandWaihi. —iWarne, Garvey, Thornton, McDermott, Saunders, Dillim'ore, Snodgrass, Peacocke, Agnew, Polley, Craig, Radford, Walters, Robinson. Pankhurst. THE GAME. Agnew kicked off, and.' the Waihi forwards followed up, but. Mcßae marked .and relieved a dangerous situation. Tight play in Paeroa’s territory saw Peacock penalised and McRae found the line. From the lineout Waihi broke away .and looked like scoring, but Agnew was caught offside, and with a good line-kick Mcßae again relieved. Play returned to Paeroa’s twenty-five, Waihi making several unsuccessful attempts to cross the' line. Up to this stage the visitors had easily the better of the -game, extending Paeroa’s defence. Following a line-out in. neutral territory Rare relieved' with a fine kick down the field. Warne mulled the ball and Southby carried on, causing Waihi to force. .Immediately afterwards Paeroa forced as a result of a forward rush. From a line-out in Paeroa’s twenty.five the ball went to Masters, to Mcßae, to Lockett, fo who ran from nearly halfway and with a. fine dodging effort beat the remainder of the opposition and scored between the posts. Southby failed with the kick. Paeroa 3, Waihi 0.

A penalty kick to' Waihi followed the kick-out, but McDermott failed to score, In loose play Watene put in a high kick for, Johnson to carry on, and in the tight play that followed Garvey forced. Soon after play had commenced in the second quarter Walters retired and his place was taken by Walford. From near halfway DiUimore made a good run to within ten yard's of t'he line, but his pass to Thornton was blocked by Fitch, who quickly set. his forwards in .motion. In tight play Mcßae sent, out to Masters, who took the. pass offside, and. Saunders cleared .with a long kick. Poland and Frost carried play into Waihi’s twenty.five, where tight play ensued for some tihie, until Warne relieved with a good l kick to the halfway flag.

On resuming after half-time Watene and Johnson carried play into Waihi’s twenty-five, where several scrums followed, terminating in Waihi being awarded a free kick which relieved to halfway. Following the lineout Lockett received and sent out to Southby, but Snodgrass intercepted and cleared. In loose play Mcßae sent Masters ,away and later received the ball back again to score in the corner. Mcßae failed to convert. Paeroa 6, Waihi 0. The kick-out was scrummed, from Which Frost, broke away amj; sent out to Mcßae. The ball travelled along the backs and. a lot of ground was gained before it went out in Waihi’s twenty-five. Snodgrass marked from the throw-in, but Johnson blocked the kick and enabled McRae to break away. Eventually Gar. vey forced. Lockett and Smart returned to the attack, but a breach allowed Polley to clear. Lockett retired.

From the kick-out in the final quarter Masters received and sent to Nield, to Mcßae, to McQuarters, who scored' a fine try. Wate f ne failed to convert. Paeroa 9, .Waihi O'. At this stage N. Neil filled the vacancy and Niekl dropped l back to five-eighths. Craig led the Waihi forwards in a loose rush from a line-out, but Hamilton went down to it and allowed McRae to dear. Frost received l im the

line-out. and passed to Nield, to McRae, and back to Nield, who was! pushed out at the corner. 'The Paeroa backs received from the line-out and after tight play in front of the posts Watene scored a good try at the corner. Soutliby’s kick was charged down. Paeroa 12, Waihi 0. Waihi followed up t'he kick.out, and play was taken into Paeroa’s territory, where from a •scrum Snodgrass dived, over, the line. McDermott’s kick struck the post. Paeroa 12, Waihi 3. From a line-out DiUimore sent down the field, but a speculator by Rare saved the situation. Paeroa was attacking strongly when the whistle sounded time. Mr E. Smith was referee.