FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4566, 21 May 1923, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS), SENIORS Komata 8, v. Netherton 3. West 12, v. Suburbs 3. Wai’akaruru 13 v. Kerepeelu 6. Ngatea 5, v. Turua 3. JUNIORS. Suburbs 6. v. Karangahake 3. Netherton 17, v. West 10. Waitakaruru 3, v. Ke. epeehi 3. Turua 9, v. Ngatea 0. THIRD GRADE. East 5, v. West 3. PAEROA RUGBY UNION. KOMATA V. NETHERTON. Heavy rain and a slibpery ball spoilt what, would have been one of the keenest contested games in the senior competition this season. The Komata team, with four competition points, is making a great bid to hold the premiership again this year, while Netherton, with a strong forward team, considered their chances on a wet ground excellent. The Komata backs, however, carried the day, as their fielding and kicking with a greasy ball was beyond reproach. The following were the teams: — Komata. —S. Kerr, Killgour, Pitts, K. Takekino, G, Royal, Williams, C. Poland, H. Pennell, Killgour, McCormick, Berry, Kirklamj, Patterspn, Benny, Benjamin. Netherton.-—C. McNeil, B. Fisher, W. Richmond, G. Johansen, McMillan, Potter, Crosby, A. S. Fisher, C. Taylor, G. Fisher, L. Saunders, B. Tregoweth,. E. Johnson, J. Johnson, T. Johnson. • Netherton won the toss and decided to open with the slight breeze at their backs. vFrom the kick-off Poland secured and carried,. play to Netherton’s lipe, made a faulty pass and. lost, the ball, which went, into touchy T. Johnson secured from the line-out and led the Netherton pack into Komata’s territory, but kicking too hard gave Komata a force. From the drop-out, Netherton again attacked, Royal secured and saved with a line kick. Netherton forced play from the line-out, W’illiams saving. Obstruction in a line-out gave .Netherton a free kick. Johnson's kick ».t goal failed. From the drop-out McNeil returned to Pitts, who, with a good line kick, carried play to midfield. A faulty throw-in gave a scrum, Netherton securing and dribbling into Komata’s twenty-five, but hard kicking lost a good opportunity. Komata forced.

In the second round Komata returned the opening kick to Saunders, who carried play back to Komat,a'-: twenty-five. From the line-out a scrum resulted, and Benny was penalised for off-side play. Johnson’s kick at goal fell short, and Komata returned to mid-field. Komata secured and carried play to Netherton’s twentyfive, attacking hard. McMillan secured and saved. Off-side play gave Komata a free kick, and Johnson returned to mid-field. Komata returned immediately, forcing hard, but offside play by Patterson lost Komata a sure try.

From the kick off after half-time Komata carried play to Netherton’s twenty-five, Johnson saving. Komata continued to. press; but Netherton cleared again, carrying play to midfield. From a line-out Killgour returned play to Netherton’s territory, where, from a scrum, T. Johnson carried the ball at his feet to Komata’s territory, Patterson saving with a good line kick. A free kick against, Netherton in the line-out. gave Pitts 'a kick at goal. ’The kick fell short and Fisher rturned to the other twenty-five, Pitts - secured a good mark, and with a we H directed line kick again put Netheptpn in the defence, but Johnson relieved. From a line out Komata secured a free kick, and Benjamin, following up fast, scored. Kerr’s kick at goal failed. Komata 3, Netherton 0.

Shortly after coipmenicng the last quarter Williams marked and kicked high, and Komafo, forwards followed up. Netherton backs failed to clear, and Pennell scored, much to the disgust of some of the Netherton players. Pitts converted. Komata 8, Netherton 0. Netherton attacked strongly, and from tight play on Komata’s line T. Johnson secured and scored. The kick at goal failed. Komata 8, Netherton 3.

Mr Penlington was referee. On the day the better team wbn, although the Netherton pack ' was superior. The excellent fielding of the Komata back saved their team on many occasions, while faulty handling by Netherton backs gave Komata their victory. McNeil, the Netherton full-back, fully justified his inclusion in that position, and it was only this excellent work that kept the Komata score down In the forwards T. Johnson, G. Fisher, and McMillan played hard games, breaking through, the Komata line time ami again.

For Komn.ta Pitts, Poland, Royal, and Williams in the backs were always safe, and Benjamin and Pennell in the forwards were always prominent. Benny played a solid game, but too much off-side play lost many a chance. THIRD GRADE. . The third grade match.. East v. West, resulted in a win for East by 5 noints to 3. Mr Nell was referee. PLAINS RUGBY UNION. The final matches of the first round were, played on Saturday after a week’s wet weather. The games all through the round have been marred by weather conditions and the resultant state of the grounds,, tut on the whole the standard of play has been ve’‘y much above that of previous years. The Yefereeing also shows a very marked improvement. The position of the various teams in the competition is now, Waitakaruru six points, Turua and Patetonga each four points and Ngatea and Kerepeehi each three points. In the junior competition Patetonga and Turua lead with seven points each, Ngatea comes next with three points, and then Kerepeehi with two points and Waitakaruru with one point. NGATEA V. TURUA. ’ This was a particularly harfi and j

even game from start to finish, but was considerably marred by. the state of the ground, which was in parts under water. A great deal of off-side play resulted, as the ball wpuld not bounce. Ngatea had a player ordered off the field early in the first quarter and had only fourteen men. It was a hard forward game, as owing to the slippery nature of the ground the backs could not do effective work. The game was a very clean and sporting one. -

Turua. —D. Fox, J. Martin, L. Clotworthy, L. James,. O. McMillan, K. Fox, G. Russell, T. Ryan, J. Thrupp, R. Hutchinson, G. Elvin, D. Hill, LPentecost, W._ Clark, H. Hill.

Ngatea.—R. McGuire, K. Campbell, J. Banks, Cave, W. Molloy, C. Molloy, F. Nicoll,. L. Marchant, R. Turnbull, Lipscombe, B. Keyes, R. Spencer,, R. Jobe. W. Johnson. S. Phillips.

Turua won the toss, and Ngatea followed up the kick-off, but Fox saved. Ryan broke away, but McGuire saved. Off side play Nicoll a free kick, and he found the line at the twentyfive flag. From a scramble Ngatea was awarded a free kick, but Molloy’s shot was unsuccessful. Russell marked and found the line. McGuire saved from a forward rush. The Ngatea forwards followed well resulting in a scrum. Pentecost infringed and Ngatea had a free kick. Lipscombe failed with a penalty kick at goal. A struggle ensued on the Turua line, but a free kick by Fox cleared to the twenty-five line. From a passing rush by Ngatea Turua gained a penalty kick. Molloy was penalised foe off-side play. More off-side play gave Turua another kick, which Nicoll returned. A' mark by Fox found the line, but the ball was brought back. Turua’s rush’was saved by McGuire. Ryan followed up a penalty kick, but Molloy found the line at the twentyfive flag. Cave was ordered off for tripping, but the resulting kick was fruitless. Loose play followed, and the first quarter ended with no score. After changing over loose play was the order, and there was a great deal of penalising for off-side play. Neither side gained’much advantage until Turua broke away and erpssed the line, but Ngatea forced. Pentecost was penalised for being off-side, but Fox returned the kick and found the line. Fox kicked down the field, but McGuire saved, to the line. Twice Hutchnison was penalised for off-side play, but both kicks were unsuccessful.

After half-time Ngatea very soon had a free kick, but McMillan returned it to the line. Another penalty-kick by Turua carried play right to the goal line; but. Mollby relieved to the twenty-five line with a free kick. From the ensuing line-out Ngatea carried play to half way, but Ryan got in a good kick and saved. Ryan took a good mark, but good play by Nicholl saved. A rebound off Nicholl’s kick let Pentecost score a good try. The kick by Thrupp fell short. Turua 3, Ngatea 0. Ngatea carried play right up tlfo field, but Turua returned tp the twenty-five, and then, from a forward rush by Turua Ngatea managed to press down. Play then became very willing, both sides making strenuous efforts to score. Turua nearly got over, but were penalised. They came back to the attack again, but a force resulted. Good play in Ngatea’s territory momentarily relieved, but Tvrua kept up the "attack until the changeover.

Early -in the last quarter Turua forced play into Ngatea’s twenty five, but Campbell relieved. Turua returned. but by loose play Ngatea worked back to half way, where they were awarded a penalty kick against Ryan. Ngatea pressed hard, and Molloy had a shot, but missed. T. Ryan at this stage was ordered off. Nichol made a good try to get over, but hung on. too long, Turua getting a free kick, and from the returrrby Molloy D. Fox forced. Ngatea came back again, but D. Fox relieved with a mark. A good passing rush by Turua ended in Campbell forcing his man put,, and play returned to half way. Very strenuous play ensued, Ngatea getting to Turua’s line, Nicoll eventually scoring and’ Molloy converting just proved himself the pivot of the team. Mr F. Stretton was referee.

For Ngatea K. Campbell was consistently brilliant, and Nicoll again proved himself the pivott of the team. McGuire at full-back was very safe. Marchant, was a good addition tp the team.

The Turua rover (Ryan) was unequalled. K. Fox played a good consistent game, as also jlid Hutchinson, though his efforts were marred by his off-side play. Pentecost played his usual hard game. WAITAKARURU V. KEREPEEHI. Waitakaruru.—C. Stretton, P. Buchanan, G. •Buchanan, P. Clark, L. Skelly., E. Wallis, C. Thorburn, H. Laing, G. Coxhead, A. Taylor, R. Stack, L. Berney, W. Neil, H. Coxhead, D. Dalgetty. Kerepeehi.—J. Adlum, W. Murphy, Hawera, R. Steedman, G. Masters, R. Carr, J. Connor, T. Rapana, V. Dent, C. Alley, A Fisher, L. Fisher, G. McKinnon, M. Baggs, W. Tipa. Waitakaruru kicked off, and play went to mid-field, where a scrum ensued. Kerepeehi had. the weight and knew how to use it. Thorburn took a mark, and Waitakaruru followed up, Laing crossing the line within three minute's of the commencement of play. The kick by Skelly failed. Waitakaruru 3, Kerepeehi 0. Fi'om the drop-out Waitakaruru got the ball and attacked,, a scrum ensuing under the goal. Kerepeehi, however, got the ball and carried play no the field, but Stretton stopped the rush and kicked to mid-field, where, later, Skelly took a mark. Waitakaruru worked well, and Masters was compelled to force. From a scrum Kerepeehi got the ball and kicked tjo Stretton, who took a long shot at goal, but did not. succeed. From the drop-out Stretton eventually got the ball and kicked to touch in goal. From -the drop-out Waitakaruru gained the advantage and crossed the line and scored. The kick by Wallis went over, and the scores became, Waitakaruru 8, Kerepeehi O'. Long kicking up and down the field took place until the ball went out in Waitakartyu’s quarter. After several throw-ins Kerepeehi gained a free kick, which

bounced out at the half way flag. Waitakaruru got the ball, and by ffast follow in? up compelled Kerepeehi to force.

After change over play wr-s restricted to mid-fleld until Rapana sent the ball down the field, a scrum ensuing under the Waitakaruru goal. For lying on the ball a defending player was penalised, but Rapana failed ro convert. From a scrum in mid-field Kerepeehi obtained the ball and kicked to the goal-line, Stretton forcing. Play then centred in mid-fleld ; , and was marked by many long kicks until Wallis from a passing rush crossed the line. His kick was successful, making the scores, Waitakaruru 13, Kerepeehi 0. Waitakaruru immedaiely returned to the attack until a. force resulted, A kicking bout gave way to an attack by Kerepeehi, but Stretton was equal to the task. Much line play then eventuated about Waitakaruru’s twenty-five line flag until Skelly took a kick which Adlu’m marked. The ball was sent over the dead-ball line just before time was called.

On resuming after half-time play centred in neutral territory until Kerepeehi gained a free kick and C. Fisher succeeded with the kick. Waitakaruru 13, Kerepeehi 3. Waitakaruru began to press and Laing took a mark, but kicked too hard.. Play?remained in Kerepeehi’s twenty-five until a force eased the position. Very fast loose play then eventuated ; in neutial ground, a free kick being awarded against the home team; as the spectators would not keep back from the line. G. Coxhead took fhe place of a Waitakaruru player who had to retire owing to a previous injury. P. Clark received a kick on the hip, but after a short interval play was resumed.

The last round saw play restricted to mid-field until a long kick by CFisher sent the ball to Waitakaruru’s line, a force resulting. From the drop-out play came back into Waitakaruru’s territory until the back carried play up the field and kicked' out touch in goal. A penalty kick by Kerepeehi sent play to mid-tfleld, but Waitakaruru returned and kept, up a strong attack, Carr eventually clearing Play went to hte 6ther end of the field. A penafty kick was concerted by C. Fisher, making the scores Waitakaruru 13, Kerepeehi 6. Loosb play was the order until the call of time. Mr G. T. Davidson was referee.