FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5318, 27 August 1928, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. RESULTS AT A GLANCE. KNOCK-OUT COMPETITIONS. SENIORS : West 19, v. Veterans 6. Suburbs 12, v. Pirates 8. JUNIORS. East 38, v. Maoris 8. DUFF CUP COMPETITION. Ma.taura 19, v. Ngabea 0. ROLLER MILLS SHIELD. Thames Valley 16, v. Auckland A 3. KNOCK-OUT COMPETITIONB. WINS FOR WEST AND,SUBURBS. Tine Paeroa Rugby' Union’s, knockout competitions were commenced on Saturday afternoon. In ,the senior grade West defeated Veterans on the local dqmain by 19 points to 6, while Suburbs gained a victory over Pirates to the 11111*6, of. 12 points to 8. This match wag played at Hikutaia. lir tire junior competition thie Maori tea.m took The field short, and was well trounced by East. The points scored by East amoyu/ed .to somewhere about 38, and the match was t lien abandodieu. WEST V. VETERANS. A fa' ly lar.i.c crowd of spectators watched tire matcih between. West and Veterans! on the No. 1 ground. Although West had a comfortable win on, pointe, the Veterans played b'etter than was expected and for most of the time hail thein opponents doing their best. The Veterans had practically no prparatioju. for the match, ami as the West men were a younger lot, and .in training, it was no,t surprising that tlie final stages of a, hard game found the Veterans wanting. The teams were as follows :— Veterans. —J. Mead, j. O’Brien, E. ■L. Shaw, Burke., a. Royal, W. Potter, H. Thorp, F. T. V. Johnson, Q. Fisher, F. Patterson, V. Young, B. Neil, S. Cliftoui, R. Hounslow', F. Thorp. West.—D. Fraser, J. Verran, A. McQuarteiiS, G. Wells, R. Swann, L. Nield, L. C. Masters, W. Taylor, H. McKee, J. Sweeney, W. Soiitliby, V. Carrick, M. Poland, C. Snow, F. Knight. For about five minutes after the kick-off loo.se play eventuated in neutral territory. Then the Veterans forwards settled down ami mqved to tlie atta.ck, causing West ito force. After a preliminary skirmish West retaliated, but “Barney” Johnjson let fly with a long kick which found! thia line at West’s twenty-five flag. The gameopened up, and McQuarters gained possession- in the loose ami after beating two opponents transferred to Verra,n, who had a clear r.uii to, register a, try. Taylor converted. West 5, Veterans 0. Shaw, the Veterans captain, retired with an Injured shoulder, ami was replaced by T. Johnson,. Open play was tlie order for tlie remainder of the quarter, with honours even. As the Veterans, were holding their own in the close forward. Play, West in the second round concentrated o,n nraJUng the game open upd in working the backs. Several passing rushes wore successfully c.oped with by the Veterans, and then an interchange of kicks left the “odd stagers” a little .disorganised, which allowed West to advance in a loose rush, and Souithby finished off with a score betweep the pasts. Swaim converted. West 10, O. Immediately afterwards the Veterans'made a deternijpedi rush for the line, and after a sharp struggle Young scored ip the corner, but fa’led to coipvof.t. West 10, Veterans 3. West gained ground hi open play and entered Veterans’ twenty-live. Young ;apd the. two Johnsons then toqk a hand in the proceedings ppd with a fine dribbling rush covered about seventy-five yards befo.re the ball boune'ed into the hands of one of the trio and was then handled by Neil, Thorp, Royal, ap,d Potter far the- latter to the I'ne. Young failed with the kick. West 10, Veterans 6. In the third quarter play was given over, to tlie forwards, and the struggle was long. Eve.ntua.lly West gained the advantage as a result of a “speculator” which went out near the corner flag. The Veterans, worked back to neu.tral territory in close play, but as soon as the game, opened up again West returned toj tlie attack. A hard bojit from the edge of Veterans’ territory sent the, ball over, the line, and by following up West scored another try. Swann failed to convert. West 13, Veteran's 6. 'fir? Veterans went on the attack in* the final round, bu.t after, five minutes of close play the West backs cleared. Wef't attacked in open, play, but could no.t bfiepk through the defence,. Relief came to Veterans when Verran failed with a drop-kick at goal. After a few minutes of loose play a penalty

kick was awarded to West and Taylor, landed a g.0,0d goal. 'West 16, Vet- ' era.ns 6. Shortly afterwards West sent tiie ball out in, Veterans’ territory, and as tlie defenders were too slow in lining o,ut the. ball wa.s thrown ( in to Masters for ffim to -score an easy try. Taylor failed with the kick. West 19, Veterans 6.. Mr J- Crosby was referee. PIRATES V. SUBURBS. Th e Pirates team journeyed to Hikutaia, where it played the Suburbs ; team, the match ending in a win for '■ Suburbs' by 12 points, to 8. The Suburbs captain, L. Mcßae-, had a day qut and kicked no less than three penalty goals. A tiW was optaine-d by A. Morrison right o,n the call of time. Fqr Pirates E. Smart scored a try which was converted by E. Potter, and G. Morrow also 'Scored a try. Mr W. T. Jonas wa.s referee.

DUFF CUP MATCH.

MATAURA RETAINS TROPHY.

The Thames Valley Rugby Union’s cup for competitor between the fending club teams in its sub-unions was played for at Waihi on Saturday, and the Ma.taura team successfully withstood a challenge from the Ngatea team. The holders of the cup proved vastly superior in all departments of the game, and thoiugh nt first it appeared that an even game would be

witnessed, a; lucky try by the home te.am heartened it and disheartened the Plains men, with the result that thereafter scores came quickly. The home team won by 19 po'nts to 0. The Mataura backs played exceedingly well, amll the whole fifteen were much fitter, than the Ngate-a men;. Mr Fallwell wa,s referee. The visitors were vbry hospitably entertained after, the match.

ROLLER MILLS SHIELD.

FINAL GAME THIS AFTERNOON.

THAMES VALLEY’ V. AUCKLAND C.

The Northern Roller Mills Shield competition between primary school teams in- the Auckland province has now r.ea.ched tire closing stages, and Thames Valley meets Auckland C in the final at the local domain tliis aifter.noop.

Throughput the competition, which commenced on Tuesday lant, the keenest interest has been shown by tin? public, and some exceptionally good football has been sein. tOn Friday afternoon there was a large crowd at the domain to see the match between Thames Valley and Auckland A to decide the winning, team of the A section. As both teams were even in competition points it was expected that .the match would be well wor.h watching, and, indeed, it was. Ip the first quarter L. Catvhpcle scored a great fry for Auckland, a.mi shortly after halfntime Munro brokle away and registered a try for. Thames Valley. The scores being equal at tlie call qf time, it vyas decided' to play twoi further, rounds of seven minutes leach, and during that tim.e both sides made desperate attempts to score but without success, so it was decided that the two te;a.ms should meet again, on Saturday afternoon. Mr D. G. McMillan was referee. At Wa,ihi on Friday afternoon Auckland C defeated South Auckland by six points to nil, and so wo,n -the B section and qualified for. the final. THAMES VALLEY VICTORIOUS. A record crowd attended at the domain, on Saturday afternoon to see the play-off. The game, which ended in a victory for Thames Vajley by 46 points to 3, was even more interesttog than the contest on Friday. Although the Auckland team wa,s beaten, it was by no means disgraced. At halftime tlie scores were Thames Valley 10, Auckland 3. On resuming after Wile spell Thames Valley did most of the attacking, Brilliant play on the part qf both teams was seen, and the spectators warmly applauded the efforts. The Valley forwards played like a machine an;d made few mistakes. Many exciting incidents happened, and the game throughout was deeply interesting. For. Thames Valley tries three were scored by J. Tilsley, Fox droprkicked a goal from the field, and W. Welch drop-kicked a goal from a mark. The try for Auckland was obtained, by Roberts. Mr F. T. V. Johnpon was referee. If Thames Valley succeeds in defeating Auckland C this afternoon it will be the third time in succession flint they will have won the shield.