FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4406, 26 April 1922, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

OPENING PLAINS SEASON. FIRST. MATCHES ON SATURDAY. The Rugby season under cue auspices of the Haupakl Plains Rugby Union opens next Saturday, when the following matches will be decided: Seniors. —Turua v. Kerepeehi, at Kerepeehi; Ngatea v. Waitakarurti, at Waitakaruru. Patetonga has a bye. Juniors.—Kerepeehi v. Turua, at Turua; Waitakaruru v. Ngatea, at Ngatea. Patetonga a bye. The following are the teams for Saturday: NGATEA, Seniors.—Banks (3), McMahon, McGuire, Cleve, Nicolls, Millington. Tanner, Jobe, Johnson. Spencer (2), Day, Ivan. KEREPEEHI. Seniors.—Anderson, A. Brown, Hawera (2), Rapana. Hill, Hoffmann, Adlam, J. Parana, Masters, Tipa, Bogg Ridd (capt), Parsons, Hicks, McCollom. Juniors.—J. . Connor, Retii (2), Witikn, WiitonJ Cahill, Woofes. Hirikino, Gugich (2), Albert, Nicholson, Tipa, Sare, Tawhiao. Kerepeehi is tihe only centre which has not previously had a club, bur. there is some good and 1 solid material in both the teams in that district.

Kerepeehi’s activity has weakened tihe Ngatea fifteens, but the latter club has still a large numben of promising players fo choose from. It is half expected that the senior team will be a little weaker than last season, but the second fifteen should be a formidable one.

Turua has (had thb benefit of last year’s experience with the Thames teams, and this should prove an asset to the teams from Turua.

Patetonga footballers have been practicing assiduously, and can be devended upon to put up a good fight, and have an advantage that they have one extra Saturday’s practice owing to their bye being the first Saturday. Little is known of Waitakaruru, but as the senior trophy is held by that club, it may be depended upon to put a strong combination ip the field.

The lack of proper football sheds is a drawback for the Plains clubs, but the best is being made of the ha’ls in the different centres. Though the game cannot be practiced in all its branches .tihe team? can get at scrumming work. In the Ngatea Hall a provision is made that the footballers must take off their boots and refrain from kicking the ball around. Any damage done must be paid for. The arrangements are something similar for the Kerepeehi hall.