FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4581, 2 July 1923, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

PLAINS MATCHES ABANDONED.

The second matches of the second round of the Plains club competitions were -to have been played on Saturday, but owing to very wet. weather it was arranged to postpone the TuruaPatetonga matches. Overtures were made by the Nagtea club to have their matches with Waitakaruru postponed, but to this Waitakaruru would not agree. Ngatea was not able to collect a junior team, but a senior team was sent. Considerable argument arose on the ground as to whether the field was in a fit state to play on. The whole of the field was covered with water at an average depth of four inches. Finally, at 345 P.m., it was decided to commence the game, and the teams lined out as follows: —

Waitakaruru. —P. Clarke, L. Bell, L. Skelly, G. Buchanan,, F. Stretton, C; Stretton, L. Buchanan, T. Lang, H. Dalgety, H. Coxhead, L. Berney, G. Clarke, D. Dalgety, R. Williams., W. O’Neill.

Nagtea.—V. Williams, K. Campbell, C. Ellis, A. Cleave, W. Molloy, F. Nicoll, W. Tanner, C. Molloy, W. Johnson, R. Jobe, D. Waugh, B. Keyes, P. Leonard, J. Dawson, L. Lipscombe, Waitakaruru won the toss and elected to play with the wind at the backs. Within a few moments all the players were wet through and shivering in the biting' wind. Fpotball could not be played, and the firsquarter ended with no score, thougn Waitakaruru had the advantage, and probably would have scored had not continual off-side play by C. Clarke and H. Dalgety spoiled their chances. After the change over Ngatea had a slight advantage, but no scores were registered at half time. At this stage the referee, Mr J. Banks, decided -o stop the game, contending that the ground was not in a fit state to be played on, that it was dangerous for players, as they might have bones broken, and in all probability would get colds, and also that he could not follow the ball. Much argument arose among the spectators, but the players did not wait, but set off for the changing room, where a good rub down and a cup of hot tea went t< long way towards warming them up.

THAMES SCHOOLBOYS. Despite the boisterous weather on Saturday about fifty boys from the Parawai School, Thames, accompanied by the headmaster, Mr Hook, his wife, and the first assistant, Mr Wardell, visited Nagtea ‘by launch to try conclusion at, football with the boys of the Plains. Although heavy rain fell and the ground was very slippery a senior and a junior match was played, resulting in a win by 8 to 3 for the seniors and a draw, 9 all, for the juniors. Messrs Davidson and Phelan, of the Hauraki Plains Referees’ Association, officiated.

After the match the visitors were entertained to tea in the hall by Mosdames Walton and Hayward, on behalf of the School Committee. Mr McDuff, chairman of the committee, thanked the boys for visiting Ngatea, and expressed the hope that the boys of the Plains would play return matches in the near future. The visitors left by launch about 5 p.m. PAEROA UNION. SATURDAY’S RESULTS. The Paeroa Rugby Union’s club competition matches on Saturday resulted as follows:— Seniors.—West 8, v. Suburbs 3. Nerherton 11, v. Komata 8.

ixvvilvi UUII ll) V. Jnniors.-East 8, v. Suburbs 3. West 3, v. Karangahake 0. INTER-UNION FOOTBALL. PAEROA TEAM FOR SATURDAY. The following will represent Paeroa against Piako at Te Aroba on Saturday :— Full-back, B. Rae; three-quarters, L. Shaw, I. Poland, G. Royal; fiveeighths, A. Williams, D. Smith; halfback, C. Poland ; Rover, T, Johnson forwards, G. Fisher, Samson, W. Welsh, J. Benny, W. Taylor, B. Fisher, F. Patterson. Emergencies: Backs, G. Asher, Morrison ; forwards, Crosby, H. Shaw. Train leaves Paeroa at 12.10p.m.