FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4557, 30 April 1923, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

plains games. SENIORS--r PATETONGA 8, TURUA 3. WAITAKARURU 8, NGATEA 3. JUNIORS. PATETONGA 3, TURUA 3, NGAEA 3, WAITAKARURU 0. The second matches of the first round of club fixtures, which were postponed from the previous Saturday — ■off account of the weather, were played on Saturday last in ideal weather conditions. NGATEA v. WAITAKARURU. Ngatea.—W. Molloy, C. Molloy, C. Gave, W. Whitten, Hortene, G. Ellis, F. Nieholl, J. McConnell, W. Johnson, R. Spencer, R, Jobe, L. Lawrence, B. Keyes, J. Ivan, R. Turnbull. Waitakaruru.—McCollum, Clark, \jStretton, Thorburn, Wallis, H. Daigety, H. McCollum, Laing, Slack, H. Coxhead, L. Berjiey/ G. Coxhead, 0Dalgety, W. O’Neill, C. Clark. z iWaitakaruru won the toss and, played again-’t the sun. From Ngatea n kick-off fast and open play centred m midfield, the ball continually going out. Ngatea was then hard pressed, but a free kick gave freedom. From a"-scrum Waitakaruru by good plav made Mcdloy force. Waitakaruru returned the drpp-out and followed up well, keeping Ngatea. busy until Johnson by throwing on gave Waitakaruru a. shot at goal, but Wallis, failed. Easy play then followed until change over was called. ■■'Ngatea, now playing against, the sun, were awarded a free kick, but Molloy, shooting from the twenty-five line, missed, and play again went to neutral ground. Waitakaruru then pushed with the ball at t.oe and good play by the backs saw C. Stretton score at the posts. The kick, also by Stretton, went over. Waitakaruru 5, Ngatea 0. From the drop-out Waitakaruru again took possession,, and liy hard wor>k again scored, O’Neil - getting over at the posts. Stretton s kick was easy, but he missed, and the scores became, Waitakaruru 8, Ngatea 0. Loose play followed. A penalty for off-side play was given against Waitakaruru, and Ngatea elected to have a kick, but Waitakaruru broke away from their own twenty-five and carried down to Nicolls Ngatea looked like - scoring, but the chance was spoiled by Ellis passing off the ground practically on the goal-line. From there play-went right to the Ngatea line, and had the Waitakaruru backs not been guilty of hanging on to the ball would no doubt have scored. ' At half-time the positions of some of the Ngatea players were changed, Whitten going to the wing, Nichol to half, Molloy to five-eighths, and Hortene to full-back. A. Hamilton took the place of a Waitakaruru player who retired. Aftep half-time play was all in Waitakaruru’s twenty-five. -Ngatea were playing the better game, and the ball went out on the Waitakaruru line. From the throw-in the defenders cleared, and faulty work by the Ngatea backs gave them a free kick, but Clark missed. Play then centred in neutral ground, and Ngatea offending, a scrum ensued. Nicolls marked, from the scrum, and a good kick gave Ngatea an opening, which. Molloy took advantage of and scored. His kick failed. Waitakaruru- 8, Ngatea 3. Just after the last quarter opened Turnbull went out and his place was taken by Waugh. The last quarter was all played in neutral territory, and was mostly an interchange of kicks, time eventually being called with the scores unaltered. There is no doubt that Ngatea. needs practice.. The players are ! there, but they. lack, combination. Nicolls, . Molloy, Lawrence, and Spencer were conspicuous. The outstanding feature of the Waitakaruru team was the splendid management of its captain (Wallis) which made for solid combination. Stretton played a fine game. j. Reid as referee gave every satisfaction. TURUA v. PATETONGA. Turua.—K. Fox (Captain), D. Fox, T. O’Carroll ,D. Hibbs, L. Clotworthy, G. Elvin, H. Elvin, 0. Mc’Millan, RHutchinson, H. Hill, G. Russell, L. Penticpst, A. P. Gardiner, J. Thrupp. Patetonga.—A. Merriman, G. Merriman, D. Tuhoe, 0. Benny, J. Garry,, G. Garry, N. Costello, J. Millington, D. Cowdrey, R. Benny, H. Henry, H. Morley. T. Foote, R. Paton, J. Lyes. Patetonga kicked off, and play immediately went to the Turua quarter, where Merriman forteed. From the drop-out Patetonga again carried the play dangerously near Turua’s line, but the defenders were saved by an attacker being off-side. Turua then pressed heavily, arid play went to the other end, where Thrupp took a free kick, but failed. Play ranged up'" and down the field, Patetonga pressing steadily, and Turua had to force. Turua had. three penalty kicks, but none of them was successful. Play remained in neutral ground, but Turua at one time might have scored but for a dog that.interfered. From a scrummage in midfield N. Costello opened up and a splendid passing rush ensued, from which G. Merriman scored. The kick failed. Patetonga • 3, Turua 0. In the second quarter the play was mostly in neutral ground, neither* side gaining much advantage. A. Merriman tpok a penalty kick in front of the goal, but failed. After half-time play centred in midfield until, from a passing rush, Foote scored. Henry converted, making- the scores Patetonga 8, Turua Turua then pressed heavily, but Patetonga kicked the ball out and saved; Soon after Turua. was awarded a free kick for off-side play, but H. Elvin failed. Play then ranged up • and down the field, and J. Thrupp took a penalty shot and made the scores Patetonga 8, Turua 3. In the final quarter played ranged from onend of the field to the other, neither side holding the advantage for long. The game on the whole was slow, and far below expectations, both teams lacking combination and training. ■ F. Stretton was referee.