PLAINS FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4991, 23 June 1926, Page 1

PLAINS FOOTBALL.

BIRCH ‘CUP MATCH.

PLAINS CHALLENGERS DEFEATED

At Thames on Saturday the local

> cp.> escntativc team met a team from the Hauraki Pla.ins in ,a challenge game for the Birch Cup. Thames showed their superiority in every department of the game, and gave the impression that they were never seriously extended. An overwhelmingnumber of penalties against the Plains team gave some matter'for discussion a.mong the Plains supporters, and it is quite evident that the Plains players will need to study the rules of the game more closely. The difference in the, scores, Thames 14, Plains 3. was moderate, in view of the superiority of the Thames team. The teams were as follows : — Thames.—Goodwin, F. Moran, B. Harrison, W. Green, K, Lockett, A. Morrissey, J, Pi'att, E, Kelly, A. Lomas, IL Smith, H. Ensor, J. Strange, M, Hayward, W, Pollock, J. Thomas. Plains. L, McCoid, K. G. Buchanan, F,- Nicol, T, Molesworth, T. Pilkington, A. Otter, E. Smart, H. Duncan, L, Berney, T. Alderson, K. Fox, C. Clark, Wilson, P, Clark, R, McPherson.

,On lining out the visitors were seen to be the; lighter team A wind blew across the field, and later the. sun was a worry to the side* facing it.

Plains kicked off and the ba,ll was returned, a 'force .resulting. Tight played followed in Plains’ twenty-five, until relief came with a penalty kick. Thames secured and instituted a,n attack, during which .a Plains 1 man handled the ball on the ground and Moran converted four minutes after the commencement of the game. Tha.mes 3, Plains 0. Play worked up into Thames’ territory, where. 'Wilson failed with a penalty kick, Thames forcing. From a line-out at half-way the Thames backs got going, and the forwards in completing the movement kicked too hard and a force resulted. The drop-out, was returned and play centred a,t half-way. The Thames forwards bloke; through, but a (free kick to the Plains relieved the' pressure. Following a line-out Thames returned to the attack, and a series of scrums near the line resulted in a force.. Another free kick by Moran was unsuccessful, and the Plains backs carried play to hajf-way, where close play ensued until the Thames backs returned to the corner. From the throw-in the. defending forwards carried'back to midfield and later set up an attack, .and were pressing hal’d when the quarter ended.

On resuming after the change-over play went to the home team’s territory. Alfter considerable loose play Duncan carried to Thames’ line, where a nurabei o¥ line-outs saw the defenders gain the. advantage. The visitors were frequently penalised, and play remained open and fast in neutral territory. Nicol took the return from a penalty kick and had a drop-kick at goaj, but without result. Thames followed up the. drop-out, but Nicol returned to the opposing twentyfive. A free kick to Plains' was followed by one to Thames, and play went to neutral territory. A penalty kick by Thames saw the ball hit the post, and Plains carried back to halfway.

Commencing the second half, the Thames forwards would not be denied and play went to the visitors’ corner. A penalty kick by Thomas went over the bar, but a man in front negatived the effort. Shortly afterwards another poster resulted from .a J free kick. Play continued to be tight, until Strange gained possession and broke through to score.. Thomas converted. Thames 6, Plains 0. From play in midfield the. Thames backs reached the visitors’ line, but the defence was sound. Fiom a lineout near the corner the ball wa,s handled by the Thames backs across the field and a score resulted. Strange failed to convert. Thames 9, Plains 0. Immediately after commencing the final round Clark had a free kick, from which McPherson scored. The kick was disallowed on account of the ba,ll being placed twice.’ Thames 9, Plains 3. A long kick by McCoid relieved sustained pressure, by Thames, but the home team’s forwards gradually worked back again to Plains’ twenty-five. Otter retired owing to injury and was replaced by Molloy, who played centre, Nicol going to five-eighths. Play ra.nged up 'and down the field for some time, finally settling in neutral territory. Considerable line play followed to Plains’ advantage, until ,a penalty gave Thames relief. Plains rteurned to the attack, but Thames broke away and scored in the corner. Moran converted, and the game ended Thames 14, Pla.ins 3.

THE JUNIOR MATCH. The Thames juniors proved to b® too good, and won by 22 points to 6. Most of Thames'’ scoring was done in the first half, .the Plains team quite holding its own in the. second halfThames, however, showed the better combination.