FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5315, 20 August 1928, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

o LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. POLAND CUP COMPETITION : 1 SENIORS: ' Paeroa 3, v. AYaihi 3. Hauraki Plains 20, v. Piako 6. CLUB MATCHES: ♦ JUNIORS. West 8, v. Suburbs 0. East 13. v. Tha.mep Old Roys 9. THE JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. WEST DEFEATS SUBURBS. Following on its wi'll ill; the senior competition final, on Saturday the West Football Club gained further laurels by its junior team annexing the championship in that grade. Throughout this latter competition the outstandling teams were those of the West and Suburbs clubs, and early in the season it was realised that thebe two teams would be qn.es to dispute the premiership. Having met fqur times previously for a win, to each team and two dra,wn games, the meeting between West apd Suburbs on, Saturday created considerable interest, and a fair cro.wd assembled at the domain in anticipation of a gooff struggle. Unfortunately. the weather conditions appeared favourable earlier in the day, just prior to schedule starting time for the majch heavy rain commenced to fall, a,nid the downpqur continued for about half an hofuh, making the ground' slushy and spoiling the prospects for a- fast, open game. Ho,wever, the match was far from disappointing, and the greasy ball was handled exceptionally well under, the adverse: coniditions. Naturally, after a few attempts at passing bouts the decided that the safer plan would be tq rely on the forwards, and thereafter forward 1 play predqmina.ted. Summing up the game, there was little between the teams on the day and a draw would l have been a betterindication of the mer’ts of the contesting sdes. The Suburbs backs gave glimpses of what they were capable qf doing cm a dry* day, an J >.t was unfertuna.te that they had had weather- conditions tq contend with. The combinatiqn and tactics generally of their backs were better than thqse of- the West rearguard, but the’greasy ba.ll was too much of a handicap. The West players were better suited by the conditions, whieji. contributed >4l some measure to their victory. Overall, the full-back, was a tower of .strength for West. He had a very busy time, but throughout the game he did not drop a catch, and whenever the slippery ball came his way along the ground he snapped it up neatly and w’th precisiqn. His line-kicking also was of a higli standard. During the first twenty minutes ofplay nothing untoward happened, and at the change-over it appeared that another drawn game would result. In the secojndjiuartcn-i, Jiowe-ver, different aspect, was presented to thespectators; Right from the opening kick Suburbs went on the attack, and for the full twenty minhtes had Westpenned in-, with’li their, own twentyfive. Several times it loqked as if a score wquld materialise, but on each occasion the few moments lost in failing to handle the greasy ball with promptness caused the opportunity to be lost. In the third round West became aggressive, and Suburbs forced half a dezen times. A few minutes before change-over., in clo s e play near Suburbs’ qqrne.r, Hale sent the ball but tq Poland, to. Taylor, to Kaio, who finished up a nice movement with a. good' try. Poland failed to convert. West 3, Suburbs. 0. ' • The final quarter was also even, and play was more open. With about ten minutes to got in looae play Saunders gained possession near the halfway flag and made a nice, nun down the line before centring. A couple of West forwards kicked the bajl neai'er to the goal, and Nield terminated the loose rush with .a try between the posts. Poland converted. No further p:lints were added, and trie-game ended in favour qf West by 8 points to O', and thereby winning he championsnip. Mr R. Walsh was- referee. EAST V. THAMES OLD BOYS. As a curtain i-aiser tq the final game in the junior competition the East juiiioii’f- played a match against the Thames College Old Boys’ fifteen. By defeating the visitors by 13 points to 9 ,the East team, which was a little the he.a.vier, won its first, match this season,. For the winners tries were 'Scored by H. Moore (2) and J. Rackham.. and the. same players converted one try each. Far the visitors tries we.r.e registered by Christie and Inglis. and the last-named also kicked a penalty goal. Mr J. W. Jonas was referee. ROLLER MILLS SHIELD MATCHES. ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLAY. The Northern Roller Mills Shield competition, which is to be played under the jurisdiction qf the Thames Valley Primary Schools’ Association, commences to-morr.-w. Three visit-

ing team 3 are due to arrive at Paerqa to-day, the Auckland and Hamilton teams by the Taurajiga express and the Waipa team by the “Wild Cat.” The weighing of the boys, is to be carried out at the Wallace Supplies store at 10 o’clock to-morrow morning. and the first of t,he matches will commence to-morrow afternooji. The four teams in section 2 a'le billeted at Te Aroha aqd Waihi. and will play their matches at .those centres. On Wednesday .night the proprietor of the Auii'ora Theatre. Mn P. J. Jennings, will entertain the visiting boys at the pictures, and on Friday there will be an excursion, by railway to Te Aroha for the day. The following i.s the dhaw of matches in section 1, to be played at Paerqa:— Tuesday.—Thames Valley v. Waipa (Mr F. T. V. Johnson), at 1.30 p.m. ; Hamilton v. Auckland (Mr T. C. Arnold). 3 p.m. Wednesday.— Thames Valley v.

Auckland (Mr Johnson). 1.30 p.m Hamilton v. Waipa (Mn Arnold). 3 p.m Thursday.—Thames Valley v. Hamilton (Mu Johnson), 1.30 p.m. ; Auckland v. Waipa (Mr Arnold), 3 p.m.