FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5469, 2 September 1929, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

DRYSDALE CUP FINAL. EAST DEFEATS WEST. Fine weather, but with the ground rather too hard, saw the following teams turn out at the Domain on Saturday, in the final round of the knockout Drysdale. Cup competition :— East.—Kusabs, McQuarters, E. Moore, McNeil, Catlin, Eskrigge, H. Moore, Treanor, E. Neil, Ganley, Fitch, Nealie, N. Neil, Murray, Johnson. . West.—Fraser, Vercoe, Swann, .Verran, Poland, Wells, Nield, Taylor, McKee, Hamilton, Henderson, Page, Carrick, Brown, Beagley. East kicked off towards the town, and attacked at the onset. A fine kick by Wells took West into East’s territory, where a penalty gave the latter a chance to clear. Treanor and Fitch carried the ball well up the line at the toe. East looked very dangerous, but Fraser cleared. A fine opening by Moore near the line was wasted through lack of support. Catlin marked, but his kick fell short of the posts. Wells was prominent in opening up from a line-out, but the defence proved too strong. Verran put in a tricky little solo run. Sidestepping two opponents, he kicked and followed up, and managed to get his man. His effort resulted in East forcing. McQuarters cleared cleverly in the face of strong opposition; West lost a likely chance at the corner through lack of support. From a line-out Carrick had hard luck in not crossing. An attempt at goal by Swann went wide. The first quarter ended with no score, neither side having shown any traces of football.

Soon after the change-over East looked very dangerous in a combined rush, Fraser forcing to save. H. Moore gathered the ball in well and broke away from the back of the scrum to send on to his brother, whose kick was marked by Fraser. Wells made a good attempt to get clear. Verran put in dash down the line. H. Moore in tight play cleverly got in a nice line-kick. Catlin had a great opportunity to set his backs going, but he fumbled the ball. H. Moore’s good work behind the scrum was wasted, the two five-eighths being practically useless. A promising attack set in motion by Wells was stopped by McNeil, and in the counter-attack the ball went out, thus saving the situation for West. Fraser mulled, and the danger was again averted by the ball going out. Listless play ensued on West’s line, East lacking the finishing touches to register something definite. Finally West cleared and were attacking when the bell went. ’’

Soon after the commencement of the second half Wells got away on his own on a promising run, but for some inexplicable reason he delivered to Swann, who was well marked. Another chance went by the board when Verran gave a bad pass. A likely opportunity was forfeited when a West back failed to take a high ball near the line with an empty field ahead of him. Immediately afterwards another glorious chance was thrown away when three unmarked backs stood ready while a selfish man clung to the ball. Fraser by faulty handling allowed East to get going, and the advance continued right to the line, where an infringement took place. With McNeil well placed for a run in, Catlin sent out a bad pass. An infringement by West gave E. Moore a penalty kick, and he made no mistake. East 3, West 0. The East forwards were playing better than their opponents, hooking the ball and breaking away quicker. Early in the final round H. Moore gave a pretty little exhibition of football, but again lacked support. From a throw-in near the line West’s hopes were raised, but the forwards selfishly kept the ball to themselves instead of sending it out to the backs, who were in a good position. East’s defence was sound. Neil and Ganley heading a forward movement into neutral territory. Catlin robbed Swann of the ball and away went East, but faulty passing on the line nullified the effort. Three times bad passing on East’s part upset almost sure tries at the critical moment, and then Hamilton relieved with a line kick. Even play ensued for a few minutes, until McNeil improved East’s position. H. Moore in possession swerved in beautiful fashion and registered a great drop-kick. East 7, West 6. East kept up the pressure until the ball went out. West got clear only to be decisively checked by H. Moore. From outside the twenty-five Swann tried a penalty, the ball going short, McNeil cleared well up the field. West again attacked, H. Moore marking. In close play near East’s twenty-five flag, and from a most unlikely and awkward position, Verran drop-kicked the best goal seen at Paeroa this season. East 7, West 4. The final bell ended a poor game, most of the play lacking even the rudimentary points of football. Mr E. L. Shaw was referee.