THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4551, 16 April 1923, Page 3

THE FOOTBALL SEASON.

OPENED on HAUKAKI PLAINS. The Rugby football season opened on the Plains on Saturday, when thp fir=f matches of rpund were played. At all centres mucn enthusiasm has been displayed, and the opinion lias been expressed that players will have to be alive to get a place in the teams. Being the first matches of the season the players on Saturday were naturally green, and the pace with which many of the games commenced did not continue, but the play on the whole was very promising. and indications point to some interesting games being played as the season advances. Waitakaruru drew a bye for Saturday, so engaged in a- practice game. NGATEA V. PATETONGA. At Ngatea, Patetonga juniors anl ; seniors played against the Ngatea teams, and defeated them by 3 t.o 0 and S to 0. respectively. Ngatea Seniors.—J. Banks, F. Nicolls, Cave, Alderson, C. Ellis, C. Molloy, W. Whitten, M. Kenealy, J. McConnell, W. Johnson, B. Keys, B Lawrence. B. Turnbull, B. Spencer, JIvan, J. Dawson. Patetonga Seniors.—C. Merriman, Tuohoi, Benny, G. Garry, J- Garry, Ptftoii, Foote. Millington, Blyies, Cowdry. S. Morley, Henry, Walker, R. Benny. SENIOR MATCH. Patetonga kicked off, and the play went to midfield. Ngatea was penalised three times in quick succession for offside play. Patetonga broke away with a forward rush, but Banks at full-back stopped the forward movement. Patetonga now pressed, but a mark taken by Whitten saved. After loose play in Patetonga’s quarter Ngatea nearly scored, Merriman forcing. Top much speculation on the part of the backs gave Ngatea another chance, but this was retrieved by Ellis passing off the ground. The first quarter ended with a nice run by. the Patetonga backs. After the change over Patetonga pressed heavily, but the movement was stopped by offside play. A good kick by Nicolls saved for Ngatea. After more loose play among the forwards ’ Patetonga scored, Morley going over near the posts. The kick by Merriman went over, and the scores were, Patetonga' 5, Ngatea 0. Ngatea was - then hard pressed, and only . saved the situation through faulty back work by Patetonga. Molloy had a shot from a mark, but missed, and the iWay went to midfield again. Patetbnga played a forward game, and only a good mark by Whitten stopped them from going over. ’Ngatea now went to the attack, and a good run by Molloy and Ellis sent'Ngatea to the other twenty-five line, a kick to the line bringing relief and half-time. Banks, the Ngatea full-back, retired ■ through . a kick on the leg. Nicolls moved back, and Dawson took his place in the forwards. On play resuming after Ngatea again pressed, but patetonga was always on the ball, and Garry saved by a good kick. Play now ran up and down the field, and Patetpnga got a' free kick, which Merriman put '“over, making the scores Patetonga S, Ngatea 0. The good play of Patetonga was spoiled time and again by Nicolls, the Ngatea full back. A good run, by Motley was stopped by Nicolls anl .time was called. The scores were. Patetonga 8, Ngatea 0. , For Ngatea Nicolls played a /reat game, being very safe. Ellis' played a very hard game from start to finish. Molloy seemed to spoil his chances by being too keen. Among the Patetonga, players who were conspicuous was Millington, who played a hard forward game, being constantly on the ball. G. Garry’fe fast following up often turned a defence into an attack. , Merriman’s goal-kicking showed ' promise. Both teams did splendid work, and the combination they lacked will soon be acquired by practice. The scores .by no means indicated the f>lay. Mr F. Stretton was referee. JUNIOR GAME. The junior match was played at the same time as the senior game, and after a very uninteresting display, play being very ragged, Patetonga won by three to nil, the only score being a penalty goal. '

TURUA V. KEREPEEHI. The' Kerepeehi teams journeyed to Turua. The seniors won by a penalty kick, but the juniors were badiy beaten. THE SENIORS. Turua.—D. Fox, K. Fox, H. Elvin. L, Clotworthy, O. McMillan, Russell, T. Ryan, D. Hibbs, Thrupp, O’Carroll D. Hill, E.' Elvin, Hutchinson, Penticost. H. Hill. Kerepeehi.—Adlum, Watene, R. Hawera, Murphy, N., Ryan, R. Carr, J. Conner, W. Tipa, T. Hawera, T. Wilson, C. Alley, W. Hurikino, D. Hoffman, C. Fisher, H. Baggs. , Kerepeehi won the toss rnd elected to play with the sun at their back. .Play was fast, and centred in neutral \grdund. When near Kerepeehi’s twenty-five line Turua was awarded, a free kick for a knock on, and W. Elvin neatly placed a goal and scored the only points in the game. On play being resumed a forward rush in which Ryan was conspicuous took the ball over Kerepeehi’s line, but Adlum saved by kicking to the dead-hall line. On the drop out by Tipa the ball went oift, in Turua’s twenty-five. From the throw-in Turua got the ball, and on Fox being brought down by Adlum went but play remained in neutral ground till the change over, neither side'gaining any advantage.

On the change over Turua had the their back and pressed hard. K. Fox and N,'Ryan raced after the ball over the line, where Ryan saved by kicking to the dead-ball line. Kerepeehi was still on the defensive when Murphy took a mark and relieved the pressure. Play then became of a loose nature, and ranged up and down the field. s, Tn die third round Fox fumbled, and Kerepeehi raced on, Baggs and T. Ryan falling over the line together. Ryan forced. Turua pressed hard till the change over. In the last quarter Turua barely found the line, and Adlum returned

a long line kick, giving Kerepeehi the advantage. From the throw-in Terua received, and the forwards carried it over the line, but W. Ryan again kicked the ball to the dead-ball line. Loose play in neutral ground until the call of time ended the game, the scores being Turua 3, Kerepeehi 0. Both packs worked hard. Turua had the more scientific players, but Kerepeehi’s pack was heavier, though it lacked scoring men. Single players were hard to pick, but Ryan and the Fox brothers, of Turua, and Adlum, Ryan, and Tipa, of Kerepeehi, were conspicuous. Mr G. T. Davidson was referee. THE JUNIORS. The junior game was to be played prior to the senior one, but. as Kerepeehi players were late it? arriving the juniors commenced on another field, which was very rough. Kerepeehi started with 13 men, and were outclassed by Turua. At half-time the scores were Turua 12, Kerepeehi 0. When the seniors commenced two of the juniors were included, and before time was called others had walked off. leaving Kerepeehi with only nine men. The game ceased during the last quarter when the scores stood at 28 to O'. Mr R. Jamieson aws referee.