FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4313, 5 September 1921, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S BENEFIT MATCH. A WIN FOR THE JUNIORS. MARGIN OF EIGHT POINTS. A preliminary benefit match for Mr J. Coote, an old Goldfields, Thames, and Auckland representative player, who is at present suffering from miner’s complaint, was played las& Saturday between the Paerpa senior and junior representative teams. The match was not what one might term a first-class exhibition of the game of rugby, but on occasions play livened up and some good work was witnessed. There was .a tendency on the part of most players to hang on to the leather too long. The seniors, strange to say, were the worst offenders in this respect, and some promis- • ing forward rushes were spoiled solely on this account. The juniors took full advantage of the lackadaisical tactics. adopted by the senior men, who towards the end appeared to treat the impending defeat as a big joke. . If the result of this match is to be taken as any indication of the merits of the two teams, the Paeroa seniors might do well to either reorganise their fifteen or indulge in a little practice, which may prove - effective, before meeting the Fiako team next, Saturday.

THE. PLAY. • Treanor. kicked off for the junio.s and a tussle ensued in midfield. Wells took a mark for the juniors, but his kick at goal was a failure.By a re • suitant attack by the seniors, Wells returned and Royal sent the ball over the side line near the juniors’ twentyfive flag. From the- lineout Dean took a mark, Thorp marking the return. Patterson initiated a rush for the juniors, but faulty passing frustrated a good opening. A scrum in the seniors’ twenty-five saw Wells send the leather to Morgan. Faulty handling again mad? their efforts nil. The junior, team continued to attack, and the seniors found that a force was necessary. Royal holding the ball too long gave the younger team an opportunity, a five yards scrum resulting in Williams getting away, but was forced to cross the side line. A good kick by Samson improved matters for the seniors, and play went to the juniors’ twenty-five, where from a line-out a passing bout appeared dangerous for a time. The juniors’ defence was sound, and play" cam back to the seniors’ twenty-five. Treahoi’ sent the older men .to the attack and Crosby brpke away, but lost .the ball, which went out at the twenty-five yards line. Bottomley obtained possession, but hung to the

leather too long and a good chance was blocked. Another effort resulted in the seniors breaking through the , juniors’ defence and G. Royal scored. His kick failed. Seniors 3, Juniors 0. From a scrum near the seniors’ line Dean cleared and McNamara took pl,ay to the juniors’ end, where a pass by Bowden gave the juniors an opportunity, but Samson cleared. The second quarter opened wi.th a senior attack. From a 'line-out in the juniors’ twenty-five Whelan secured, but his pass was not accepted. Williams, however, cleared with a good kick. A kick by . Morgan sent the ball oujt a.t the half-way flag., In the resultant line-out a slip by Royal gave the juniors a chance, an attack finishing at the corner flag/- From the lineout Rice took a mark and kicked a good goal. Seniors 3, Juniors 3. Wells returned Bottomley’s apd for a short period play continued at half way. Treanor gave the seniors an opening with a good kick, but the attack was pulled up for a knock-on. The juniors, through the efforts- of Treanor, secured an opening, and Thorp was a little too late for. a score. A scrum resulted from a line-

out and a penalty kick was awarded to the juniors. Fisher’s attempt On ' a difficult angle was a good one and the leather went cleanly over the bar. Juniors 6, Seniors 3. Fisher put the juniors in a good position, the older men finding it necessary to force. Treanor relieved from a tight corner, but the juniors came again, Whelan passing to Treanor, a score seeming imminent, but Pivott sent, the oval to Treanor, who was able to relieve the ' pressure for the seniors. The older ■ men now attacked strongly a,nd from a line-out Ellis initiated an attack which, through the good tackling of the juniors, was repulsed and a scrum at half-way was the result. A. breach gave the younger players a free. Pennell made a getaway, but was pulled up by Dean and Samson, the ball going but at the corner. From the throw-in the seniors forced. Half-time still saw the scores Juniors 6, Seniors 3. THE SECOND HALF. Resuming af‘er the spell F. Thorp set ,the juniors attacking, -but play came back to half way. McNamara cleared weld, but a - knock-on by Treanor spoiled a promising opening. ' From a line-out Royal secured, hut Whelan found the line. Treanor and Royal set up a passing bout and a score seemed imminent, but a scrum five yards out resulted in the jupiors forcing. Treanor secured from halfway and carried play to the seniors' line, from whence. the same player dived over and scored. Rice’s kick failed. Juniors 9, Seniors 3. Benney, securing, took play to the juniors’ line, where Royal clung to the ball top long, a good opportunity being missed. From a scrum Treanor forced. A kick by Nelson, returned, by Shaw, resulted in play coming into the seniors’ half, where a kick by Morgan put the juniors in a good scoring position, but a smart save by Pivott sent .the seniors to the attack and the juniors found it essential to force. A kick by Bottomley was returned, but forward play held up an attack. .Morgan found the line from a scrufiß. A rush in which Treanor was prominent went to the seniors’ twentyfive line, but the older men returned, Waldon being called upon to clear. Bowden opened up a rush for the seniors in the early stages of the

final quarter, but Pivott held the leather too Jong. From the Mne-but , iWllMftms gained a little ground for

the juniors with .a timely kick. Another attempt by the same player was frustrated, Samson making a rush to clear. A kick by McNamara put the seniors on the offensive, but the younger players came at it again, Royal saving well. Bott'omley appeared prominent in defensive work, but the juniors forced the pace and Benney and Crosby opened up a passing bout. Play came back to the seniors’ line, where .the defenders forced. Play was becoming slow and uninteresting at midfield till Benney made a clear getaway, and though Whelan followed him fast and made a plucky tackle on the line, Benney was able to score a good try. Bottomley’s kick was a failure. Juniors 9, Seniors 6. Play became a little brighter in the closing stages. Royal transferred to Bottomley, but a line-out was the only result. Bowden marked and his kick made a good opening, but Thorp found the line. Benney kicked, and, finding a weak spot in the Seniors’ defence, got over after a nice run. Fisher’s kick was a good one and went over. Time was called immediately after, leaving the juniors victorious with the scores: Juniors 14, Seniors 6. Mr P. E. Brenan was referee. It is understood that another benefit match on a much larger scale is mooted, and will take pliace on the first available Saturday.

THE CURTAIN-RAISER. EAST DEFEATS WEST. A curtain-raised was fought out between the East and West third grade teams .as a preliminary encounter to the Senior-Junior match. Play was for the most part of a fairly fast and even nature, and in the first half neither line was crossed, but the East team was fortunate in annexing three points from a penality goal by Thorp. Soon after half time Couper added .another three points- with a try, but failed to convert. In the last quarter Couper again scored a 'try, the kick again being unsuccessful. During the latter stages Towers scored for West, but Pennell’s kick failed and the game ended, East 9, West 3. Mr R. Bramley was referee. REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. ,PI AKO V. PAEROA. TWO EVENTS NEXT SATURDAY. Next Saturday at Te Aroha and Paeroa the senior and junior representative teams of the Piako and Paeroa Rugby Unions will try concluThe senior game will be played .at Te Aroha and the juniors will play at Paeroa.