FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5295, 4 July 1928, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

SHAREBROKERS’ UUP MATCH. PIAKO V. PLAINS’ JUNIORS. Rugby football attracted very few people of the Hauraki Plains on Saturday last, as the only match was the junior representative fixture against Piako in the Sharebrokers’ Cup competition. The other 1 matches arranged had to be abandoned on account of the prevalence of influenza. The weather was fine and the field dry. There was little to choose between the teams, the Plains forwards being the better, and the opposing vanguard and the visiting backs -were superior to the backs,. Play was late in commencing owing to the nonarrival of the referee, it being 3 o’clock before a substitute referee, could be found. The teams were as follows : — Plains. —F. Scott, R. Donaghy, H. Mayne, S. Rangi, W. Marshall, J. Thompson, H. Spinks, S. McKer.ehar, T. White, W. Hutchinson, J. Nicholson, F. Hamilton, J. Hartley, >V. Elvin, and H. Barrjball. Piako. —R. Johnstone, W. Stewart, G. Stewart, J. Stanley, C. Hipes, K. Hill, J. Tookey, F. Goodfellow, I. Caulton, R. Leece, F. Excell, R. Biggs, H. Frear,, A. Blackman, and D. Daulton. The wind was blowing across, the field. Piako. kicked! off and rushed to Plains twenty-five, .where from a scrum, the Plains backs, led by Don.aghy, worked back to midfield. In a loose rush Plains gained more and after open play under the posts Rang! dashed in and scored. He failed to convert, close forward play followed, Piako having the .advantage, and after a dozen or so players had attempted to touch down Thompson forced; Play remained close to Plain’s line, and eventually Hines scored. Johnstone failed to convert. After several passing bouts by both sets of backs Piako forced.

Plains opened the second round with a forward rush, but losjt to the opposing, backs,. Briggs broke away on hiS own and scored. Play ranged up and down in neutral territory, being confined to the forwards.

On resuming after half-time Piako

had. to defend. Rangi made a good run., and shortly afterwards converted a try by Hartley, who took the ball in a line-out well insidte Piako’g twen-ty-five. This; made the scores Plains 8, Piako 6. The Plains forwards gradually worked down the field until Piako forced. Hamilton started a forward rush at half way and Dpnaghy snapped up the ball near, the side-line and scored under the posts; The kick failed. A fine passing rush, by the Piako back's took play to the home team’s twenty-five, where Spinks relieved and the" forwards carried on

for a force. Play was; on Piako’s line at the change-over. 9 The last spell was very fast and open. The Piako forwards set up a strong attack and Br'ggs finished the movement with a score. The kick was successful ami made the scortes even. Hard play followed on Plains’ line and Hines scored, making Piako 14' to Plains 11. The home team made desperate efforts to even, the score, but without success. . My E. A. Ludlow was referee. Of the Plains team Scott proved safe and able to take a lot of punishment. Donag'hy was good, but Mayne was weak. Rangi did not show out. Marshall and Thompson did fairly well, and Spinks was satisfactory. The pack was much superior in the scrum work, and got the ball nine times out of ten. Nicholson was good in the close work, and Hutchinson and Hamilton. proved their worth. There was scope for improvement in the back row of the pack. The five-eighths were the outstanding backs of the Piako team, and the dummy passing was very effective. The Stewarts were good, and the fullback was safe. Of the forwards Frear and Briggs were the pick.