PLAINS WIN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4308, 24 July 1950, Page 5

PLAINS WIN

PEACE CUP ELIMINATION MATCH WITH WAIHI EXTRA TIME HAD TO BE PLACED

v I n one of thehardest and fastest Rugby matehes-seen in the Thames Valley ’this season, the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union’s senior representative team defeated Waihi by five points to nil in a . Peace eup, elimination match, played at Waihi on Saturday. Actually at the call of tfme there was no' score and it was decided to play a further 5 minutes each way, Plains scoring a pretty try in the second five minutes, and thus won the game. 1 ’ . , ' * ; From the first wtatle the pace was on and-both paclls worked, hard right to the final whistle, and although the heavier Plains forwards were able to give their backs a feast "of the ball, the lighter Waihi pack was in no way disgraced and when 1 the difference in heights Was taken into consideration,' the Waihi forwards must have got through more work than their opponents to show up aS well ds they did. ' The Plains back line did hot display a great deal of penetration but this was nd doubt diie to the

sound defence of Waihi and the speed 'in which tihe last, man down in the "Waihi scrum, X Bloor, came across <m.to the Hauraki Plains first -fiveeights, skipper S,elly Fisher. Fisher took a ton a punishment right throughout the match, being particularly well marked, and given few opportunities, to work. However, .in spite of the, punishment which he was getting; Fisher took, it with a smile '4nd was a tower of strength to his team, and time and again worried the home team with his tactics. Playing in Good (Spirit Possibly one of the most pleasing features of the match was the spirit in which the game was played, as m spite of the fact that both teams 'played hard, and the pace was on right -throughout the game play was most (porting 'and friendly I .* Another feature was the-surprisingly few penalty kicks, only three being awarded. ’ It would be impossible to select any Member of the Plains PF k and say 'Be did more-than his team mates, as ©HP and all played splendidly and all turn excelled at some stage of the game. Babich was seen to advantage ,hi < lineouts; while K. Millington, Coxhead and G. Alach were prominent time and* again in the loose, and they were ably supported by 0. Wood, H. Fawcett, A. Fisher and A. Murray Who also got through a ton- of Work ih the tight.: , . : , .. , B. Clark, the Hhuraki Plains halfback, was given a feast of the ball and lie handled it better than he has done mateties this season. ActuWaihi forwards did not trouble bim greatly, tut he did all that could expected' of him and kept his backs Joey. N. Redfly, who played second <ve- eighths'also showed ability, although he seemed a little close in to the first five-eighths, while the centre fhreequarter,T. Fisher, possibly the most penrjhfteg back of the day He varied hißJlay,- displayed speed and a. nice of direction, kicked and handled ¥ell, and in fact was a t pleasure to witch/ R. Lawrence and P. Mataroa both played good games, j»it xtraight and. hard; tackled well, ifej rrfmwed continued improvement previous games. Bert O’Neil, the JWns/ftillbadk; gave a polished dismay, and although he* seemed a little Jervous at the- beginning of'the game, he quickly settled down and got through all the work asked of him in A manner' which pleased the public. 4 Lighter' Waßii Forwards like the opposing pack all the forwards worked well and disparticular fitness by continuing pressure against* a considerably heavier -pack. Although he did not Jkaaw as much of the ball as his opposfeg . number, Newlands, the Waihi

was seen to advantage and •it the Waihi backsgave indication they 'could be dangerous if they few more opportunities. > J. I “ Mitchell, the Waihi captain, as fullback, was as safe as a rock, and he . showed his ability when he came up into the attacking back line later m the match in an attempt to secure f the winning points for which both .«sides were so. strenuously striving. . From the opening*whistle Plains worked into Waihi territory but eventually the defenders forced to gain rj.yaHtwP. Plains were soon back on atand then Waihi looked like breakthrough! but Hume was offside, - r '

spoiling a nice movement. Plains were calling the tune, having control of the ball in the scrums and lineouts, and although they had Waihi bustled the defence held. Waihi looked dangerous when Clark failed to collect a ball from a scrum and Hume broke through, ball at toe, passed O’Neil, but the ball went out near the corner flag. Waihi continued to press hard, but bad handling gave T. Fisher an opportunity and he was almost clear when he was brought down.,

-Plains gave Waihi another opportunity a few minutes later when Clark sent out a bad pass to S. Fisher, Waihi rushing play deep into Plains territory. From a lineout, Waihi secured and Dunstan cross kicked, but McCracken was caught too close in and Mataroa was just able to beat him tip the ball which he kicked out. Clark Sells a Dummy

Shortly after Clark was seen to advantage when the ball came back to him from a scrum mid-field. He raced round the serum, sold a pretty dummy, and then sent the ball out to Lawrence who, although he, had little room in which to work, penetrated deep into Waihi territory'before he was stopped. In an endeavour to score Plains

launched attack after attack, the ball being passed across the field and back again in movement after movement, but the Waihi tackling was deadly and Plains could find no opening.

Selly Fisher gave his team a spell after this effort with a series of line kicks whch had the Waihi forwards very busy and gave the Plains much advantage in territory. Eventually -he’ put a kick out right on the Waihi corner flag, and Plains made a determined effort but were again unsuccessful.

Mitchell was caught in possession and the ball came to S. Fisher who saw his opportunity and kicked deep the heads of the Waihi players, nobody having gone back to replace Mitchell. In the race for the ball Waihi got to it first but had to carry behind to save. However the Waihi defence was equal to the occasion and the Plains were again driven back.

Newlands and Gilbert were seen in a pretty run and they looked dangerous especially when D. Hume rac ( ed up in support, but he was nicely grassed by O’Neil only a few yards from the goal line. Waihi were caught unprepared when O’Neil came up at a scrum and Clark sent him away. Mataroa was in' support and he was practically clea/, but appeared to lack the speed and was overtaken and stopped. The movement gained a good 50 yards.

A cross kick caught Plains out of positfop and then bad handling permitted Waihi to rush play back to within five yards of the Plains line. .Wjjihi saw their opportunity and put everything they had into the next few minutes of the game, but O’Neil, was safe and soon drove them back. Clark and Fisher were seen together and then 0. Wood and K. Millington came up in support, carrying the attack k>n, the movement only stopping under the Waihi goal post when half-time was called.

Ip the second spell Plains opened play with a strong attack but Waihi gave S. Fisher little opportunity. Plains forwards dominated play, but the Waihi back line was equal to the occasion.

A nice passing rush with all the Plains backs handling saw the ball go out to Lawrence with Reddy and T. Fisher coming round, still in support, but the defence was so sound that the movement gained very little ground.