FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5484, 7 October 1929, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

PIAKO V. WAIHI. ANOTHER DRAWN GAME. Saturday saw what was perhaps the finest match of the season in Paeroa. Piako and Waihi met to decide the tie for premier place in the Poland Cup competition, and both teams gave a display that was football. There was not a passenger on the field, and each man worked his hardest. Although for the most part it was hard, dogged play among' the forwards—first one side and then the other being on the defensive fighting for their lives—there were several brilliant passing movements which were a joy to watch. Tackling was particularly deadly. Brain work, sadly lacking in the majority of local games this season, was also noticeable. Without doubt, too, it was the finest bit of refereeing seen this year, both teams realising shortly after the commencement that there was a master in control of the game, and the offside play which had marred so many games was conspicuous by its absence. The teams were as follows :— Piako.—S. Goldsbury, Burr, Clark, N. Ifwersen. Arkle, K. Ifwersen, Nicholson, F. Goldsbury, Samson, McLaren, Mulgrew, Riddell, Payne, Dalton, and Clarkin.

Thornton, McNamara, Hume, Johns, Dillimore, Saunders, Snodgrass, Price, Mathers, Smeaton, Walters, Allen, Radford, Jennings, Pankhurst.

Mr W. Brydon, Piako, was referee. Piako Kicked off towards the hills, following up well and making trouble for Waihi immediately. Saunders saved on the line, Waihi recovering to take the ball to midfield. A series of short forward rushes brought Waihi to the twenty-five, Price and Allen being prominent. Hume had bad luck in being brought back for an infringement. Dillimore offside, Ifwersen got in a beautiful kick. Goldsbury sidestepped cleverly to get the ball well clear. Dillimore missed with a dropkick from a penalty far* out. Piako offside, Johns landed a splendid goal from between the half and twenty-five lines. Waihi 3, Piako 0. Price went through in splendid fashion with the ball at his feet until N. Ifwersen picked up the ball to be immediately grassed by Price. Nicholson fumbled. A succession of mishandlings by the Piako backs very nearly ended in disaster, a three-quarter finding the line well up to save. Nicholson stopped well. Hume on a good run from a pretty Waihi passing bout was stopped for an infringement. Hume latdr marked in a tight situation. Arkle dummied prettily and took Piako to the twenty-five I K. Ifwersen had hard luck with a splendid attempt at goal from half-way. Arkle made a nice dash from the line, but was overwhelmed. Waihi hooking, K. Ifwersen got the ball and put in a tricky drop-kick from right in front of the posts. The' ball went over, but it touched an opponent en route, which nullified the attempt. Handling the ball in a scrum cost Waihi a penalty, K. Ifwerson again just failing with the kick. A speculator by Pankhurst found the line at the twenty five flag. The Piako forwards took the ball some distance, but found the defence too strong. A Piako passing bout ended in a three-quarter being caught in possession, Radford clearing. Another penalty kick by Piako, and K. Ifwersen made no mistake this time. Waihi 3, Piako 3. Payne started a dribbling rush which Clarkin carried on until Snodgrass took a clever mark. Piako attacking, Snodgrass again marked to save. Ten yards inside half-way K. Ifwersen narrowly missed with a penalty. Samson, Ifwersen, Arkle, and Clark indulged in a passing bout which gained a lot of ground. The Waihi backs then set off down the field, McLaren clearing. On the resumption after half-time play hung in midfield until Waihi by dint of very haTd work advanced into Piako’s territory. Saunders made a dash for the line but just failed to reach his objective. Johns missed with a penalty near the posts. The Piako backs, covering the ground in fine style, were stopped • with a magnificent tackle by Johns. The Waihi forwards were strong and solid in short rushes, Price, Radford, and Mathers being prominent. Mulgrew broke away, but was neatly collared by McNamara. Allen received from a line-out but was quickly brought down. A hope-raising rush by Waihi was nullified by a previous infringement. Piako tore down the field at lightning speed, Snodgrass twice in quick succession saving Waihi. Another spectacular burst by Piako found a stumbling block in Saunders. Arkle, dummying prettily, put in a nice little kick. Mulling lost Waihi ground. N. Ifwersen marked, but Johns returned. Dalton broke away, supported by Mathers, and then Clarkin retaliated. Snodgrass found the line at half-way. A dangerous passing rush, Arkle, Ifwersen, to Arkle, was stoppecj by a great flying tackle by Hume. K. Ifwersen put in a splendid line kick. Waihi had to put forth all their efforts to save the line at the corner, and hard, dogged play won out. The final round opened with Waihi pressing hard, Goldsbury eventually clearing. ■ Arkle cut through from a scrum and made a beautiful opening when he passed to Ifwersen, to Clarkin, but the latter knocked on. Ifwersen put the ball over the line with a hard kick and Waihi forced. Arkle was again prominent. Allen broke away and set off down the line, but for some inexplicable reason kicked when his chances of a score were brightest. Arkle sent to K. Ifwersen, who gained a lot of ground with a line-kick. Piako then pressed hard, and after a tight struggle Thornton forced. Mulgrew broke away, passing to Nicholson, who was caught in possession. K. Ifwersen missed with a penalty. An in-pass by K. Ifwersen set the Piako backs going, and in a beautiful movement they all handled the ball till the wing knocked on. A penalty saved Waihi. Waihi seemed to be tiring somewhat, but continued |

their dogged, determined game. Walters broke away and and gained many yards, but Piako immediately returned to midfield. Another pretty passing bout by Piako was upset by a knock-on. Arkle opened up again and sent out to K. Ifwersen, Thornton saving with a great tackle. A hard struggle ensued on Waihi’s line in the corner. From a penalty K. Ifwersen missed and Waihi forced as the final bell went, with the scores, Waihi 3. Piako 3. ODDFELLOWS LODGE MATCH. TUAKAU V. PAEROA. On Saturday the Paeroa Oddfellows football team travelled to Tuakau and played a match with the Tuakau brethren. Owing to several players of the local team being unable to make the trip at the last moment Paeroa played one man short. The Tuakau team was considerably strengthened by the inclusion of several Franklin representatives, and their combination had the Paeroa team working very hard at times. The Paeroa team played a hard, keen game, but not having played together previously, their combination was weak. The game resulted in a win for the home team by 17 points to 13. For Tuakau tries were scored by Le Preux, C. Lewis, L. Lindberg, and J. Lawson, one of which was converted by L. Lindberg, and F. Smeed kicked a penalty goal. For Paeroa tries were scored by Rae, Wright, and Swann, two of which Swann converted.

In the evening the Paeroa brethren were entertained to the pictures and to a dance, and towards the end of the dance to supper provided by the sisters of the Tuakau Lodge.

PRIMARY SCHOOL MATCH. FLEMING SHIELD FINAL. The Fleming Shield competition was completed on Saturday at Paeroa, the representatives of the local Schools’ Union defeating Piako by twenty points to nil. Although the win was decisive there was not the difference that the scores seem to indicate. This was the third meeting of the two teams this season, a play-off being necessary owing to both of them having suffered two defeats. The game was refereed by Mr E. L. Shaw.

After the match the Piako boys were entertained to afternoon tea. In presenting the Fleming Shield to George Coxhead, the Paeroa captain, the president of the Schools’ Union, Mr E. Turner, complimented both teams on the sportsmanlike manner in which all matches had been played. It was very gratifying to the teachers who devoted time and energy to coaching and arranging matches to see the football played in this fine spirit of friendship, and he exhorted the boys to carry this same spirit on with them as they proceeded to’ the higher grades. The president also took the opportunity of making a presentation of a gold medal to George Coxhead, captain of the Hikutaia, the Paeroa, and the Thames Valley teams this season, in recognition of his services in all three teams. He had been the outstanding player during the season.

Mr Turner also referred to the recent trip to Auckland. As manager of the Thames Valley team it gave him much pleasure in complimenting the boys on their behaviour during the trip. As this was the winding up of the season Mr Turner took the opportunity of placing on record his thanks, on behalf of the Schools’ Union, to the Thames Valley, Paeroa, Piako, Waihi and Hauraki Plains unions for their support and assistance to the schools. Thanks were also due to the referees, and to the Press for reports of matches.

Mr Percy suitably replied on behalf of the Piako boys.