FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5432, 5 June 1929, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. EAST V. PIRATES. As prophesied in the “Gazette,” East gave Pirates a good run for then’ money on Saturday. Playing two men short in the first half, they held Pirates throughout the game, and though defeated put up a splendid effort, and might have won had not some chances been thrown away. Pirates, though, were not playing up to their usual standard.

Twenty minutes late the following teams, with the exception of Tresidder and Masters, who xame on at half time after the junior game, took the field :—

East.—Tresidder, Williams, McNeil, E. Moore, Williams, Moore, McQuarters, Masters, E. Neil, G. Neil, Mitchell, Fitch, Murray, Nealie, N. Neil. Pirates.—Pullar, A. C. McCollum, Bax, A. McCollum, Wikairi, Wynyard, Coldicutt, Frost, Tomich, Bullock, Gage, Peke, Saunders, Maxwell, Killgour.

Pirates kicked off for McQuarters to open up an East attack. Wikairi then tried to run through on his own and was brought down. From a dribble by Maxwell C. McCollum passed to A. McCollum, and the latter to Wynyard, who was offside. E. Neil brought the ball to near’ Pirates’ line, Pullar saving. E. Moore marked but failed to score with his kick. Frost broke away from tight play and sent on to McCollum, who continued well into East’s twenty-five. In a scrum the defenders were penalised, and Pullar opened the scores with a good goal. Pirates 3, East 0. Bax returned the kick-out, and E. Moore retaliated with a good run down the field. Wikairi also put in a run on his own, and Peke did some heavy work.

After the change-over Killgour gained ground with the ball at toe. McQuarters was tackled, but he had time to set the other East backs going, but the defence was too sound. Pirates then took control and C. McCollum passed to A. McCollum, who dropped the ball. McNeil gained a lot of ground with a line kick. The ball went to A. McCollum from the line-out, andh e made good headway before kicking. In a forward rush Wikairi just failed to reach the line, relief coming when Moore claimed a mark. G. Neil sent the ball to E. Neil, but Coldicutt intercepted and then passed to Killgour, to A. McCollum, when the defence prevailed. In loose play Nealie set off on a fine dribble, but Bax managed to force. Wynyard upset a good movement by holding on, and Maxwell also negatived good work by a knock-on when about to cross the line. Pressure was relieved when E. Moore forced. From a lineout Peke sent out to his backs, after which McNeil markedc Wikairi repeatedly broke away on his own. A determined effort by East failed when Bax forced. Killgour attempted to start a passing rush, but Frost missed his pass. A. McCollum broke away in a fine effort. Killgour was getting the ball out well to the backs. Half-time came with East still attacking. After the spell Frost, Maxwell, Coldicutt, and Killgour combined in a splendid forward rush which looked like a certain score, but the ball went out near the corner. In tight play E. Moore marked, and by smart following up he caught Wynyard in possession. While strenuously defending their line East indulged in a passing rush which shifted operations to halfway. In another Pirates attack Wikairi picked up on the twenty-five line and with a splendid effort scored a well deesrved try bet wen the pc st s. Bax failed to convert. Pirates <5, East 0. A forward rush !.y East was stopped by Peke, and later 11. Moore spoilt a good opportunity by holding on too long. Maxwell, C Mc<'ollum, and Bax gained ground in :< passing rush, and when Tresiddcv mulled Bax kicked the ball over the line but was beaten int he ensuing race for the ball by McNeil, who forced.

In the final quarter H. Moore marked from a kick by Wikairi. Pirates committing a breach, E. Moore took the kick and put the ball over the bar. Pirates 6, East 3. Murray broke away, and an East passing rush put Pirates on the defensive. Continuing the pressure, East in loose forward play crossed the line only to see Pirates force near the corner. In tight play on their line Pirates were penalised, but E. Moore failed to score with a kick from a difficult position. Immediately afterwards East lost a good chance through not backing up E. Moore. Play kept alternating from line to line, neither side .showing to any advantage, though East perhaps were having the better of the game. C. McCollum broke away with the ball at toe and, kicking hard over the line, ran up to score. Pullar’s kick was charged down. Pirates 9, East 3. Wikairi, Gage, and Peke joined in a passing bout, and then Wynyard made a fine attempt and East forced. Tresidder brought off some fine saves. Coldicutt broke away on his own but was pulled up, and the whistle went for full -time on account of failing light two minutes before time.

MATCHES ON THE PLAINS. TURUA V. KEREPEEHI. Waitakaruru footballers visited Patetonga on Saturday and secured a win by six points to nil, and the two Kerepeehi teams visited Turua and gained victories. In the senior grade match Turua undoubtedly had the better of the game throughout, and should have won, and it was only a last-minute rally by the visitors that enabled them to score. The conversion of the try gave them the win, though the whole incident occurred after time was up. The game was not very interesting, and there were numerous stoppages for minor injuries though no one was seriously hurt. Play was very late in starting, as the field was occupied by lady hockey players, and a ball could not be found when wanted. The match terminated in the dark, when players were unrecognisable. The attendance was small. The teams were as follows Turua. —F. Scott, W. Lang, R.

Madgwick, H. McCollum, K. Graham, J. O’Carroll, A. Elvin, K. Fox, W. Clark, G. McCowatt, E. Gill, G. McGregor, C. Blacklaws, G. Elvin, W. McCoid.

Kerepeehi.—F. Burt, E. Potter, N. Baggs, H. Elvin, A. Burt, H. Wright, W. Kidd, R. Samson, W. Smith, J. Baggs, R. Fisher, R. Hawera, W. Harris, R. Smith, C. Craig.

Kerepeehi kicked off and Fox led the Turua team into the visitors’ territory, where Blacklaws failed with a penalty kick at goal and Kerepeehi forced. Play remained in Kerepeehi’s twenty-five, and while the attackers gained the advantage in the scrums, the passing rushes which ensued were quickly smothered. After a period of open play Wright set off on a dribbling run but lacked support. The second quarter commenced with a loose Turua rush which F. Burt stopped. Potter followed up and just failed to score, but shortly afterwards took a mark and drop-kicked a goal Kerepeehi 3, Turua 0. After more open play Graham led the Turua forwards on a strong attack, culminating in McCowatt crossing the line. Hutchinson failed to convert. Kerepeehi 3, Turua 3. The Kerepeehi forwards attacked, and close play followed in the home team’s twenty-five until half time.

After the spell Turua attacked, Burt relieving with a mark. Play remained in Kerepeehi’s territory until Potter and Wright in a passing bout took play to the other end. Open play followed in the neutral zone for the remainder of the round with no incidents of note.

Early in the final quarter Turua worked down the line to the corner and Graham marked, but the kick resulted in no advantage and a close forward struggle ensued until Burt found the line at the half-way flag. Turua again attacked, and from a scrum near the line O’Carroll almost scored, a scrum on the line being ordered. A penalty gave relief, but Graham followed up the return and opened the way for Marshall to score. Gill failed to convert. Turua 6, Kerepeehi 3. The visitors made great efforts to even the scores, and fast play resulted in the home team’s territory. By this time it was almost too dark to see properly. Kerepeehi made the pace and Turua had a busy time defending After time was up Kidd crossed the line and A. Burt converted, thus winning the game, the final scores being, Kerepeehi 8, Turua 6. Mr A. Cleave was referee.