FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4692, 30 April 1924, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

MATCHES ON THE PLAINS. OPENING OF THE SEASON. The football .season opened on theH.vuaki Plains on Saturday last, when the first of the club matches were played. The weather was very unfavourable, a strong gale blowing from the north, with heavy rain. Be-, ing the first matches of the season, the players wore raw and the teams la.'Red combination. The reversion to the old rules also caused confusion. At tlie end of the matches hot tei was supplied to the players, and it was very acceptable. NGATEA V. WAITAKARURU. The senior teams look the Held as follows :■ — Ngatea.—R. Good, G. Johansen, C. Molloy, Andrews, F. Nicoll, C. Ellis, O. Robertson, Lipscombe, H. Dalgety, S Dalgety, R. Jobe ,W. Johnson, D. Dalgety, P. Leonard, Andrews. Waitakaruru—Barlow, A. Hamilton, C. Stretton, J. Walker, A. Dibble, L. Skelly, G. L. Griffiths, E. Laing, H. ‘Sleep, R. Slack, H. Coxhead, Hunt. R Williams, F. Williams, L. Berne.'. The match was played at Waitakaruru, and the ground was in splendid order, but the wind blew diagonally across the field. Waitakaruru won the toss and elected to play with the wind. Ngatea kicked off and carried plav before them, but a free kick gave Waitakaruru control, Ngatea forcing. Play centred in midfield, with milch lire play, until Stretton with a long kick put Ngatea on the defensive. Waitakaruru looked dangerous, but Molloy relieved to halfway, where move close play ensued. Waitakaruru backs returned to the attack and gained a penalty in a good position, bu? Stretton failed to covert. From the drop-out play was restricted to neutral territory until the visiting backs got going, but Barlow intercepted a pass and returned tlie bali to the other end of Hie field. Following a scrum the home team attacked strongly, but at a critical moment Molloy -relieved to midfield Play ranged up and down in the neutral zone until Hie end of the quarter, neither side having the advantage. Tlie second spell was uneventful, playing being restricted for the most part .n midfield. The Waitakaruru bucks did good work, but the Ngatea forwaids and the wind proved 100 much of a handicap. Un resuming after halt-time th? home team carried play to Ngatea s twenty-five and eventually crossed the line, but the issue was a 5-yards scrum. Play remained in front of Ngatea’s goal until the defending hacks secured from a line-out and carried play to midfield. Waitakaruru gradually worked back on the attack, and with a penalty kick ‘Tom a good position Skelly sent the ball over the bar. Waitakaruru 3, Ngatea 0. Lineplay in neutral ground followed until the eml of the quarter. Ngatea had the advantage of the wind, but the home team defended solidly and made the most of cverv opportunity. The ball travelled np and down the field until Lipscombe undertook a penalty kick for Ngatea. but he failed to convert and "Waitakaruru forced. Strenuous play ensued in the home team’s twenty-five until nearing time, when Lipscombe scored and equalised the scores. Robertson took the Iwck but was unsuccessful, the ball hitting the bar. Mr Banks was referee. Df: -he Waitakaruru backs Dibble, Griffiths, mid Stretton were prominent, while F. Williams was the pick of the forwards. For the Ngatea team Ellis, D. Dalge'.y, and Lipscombe were the pies, though Nicoll played his usual game. Robertson appeared to be out of his place, and the full-back was weak. THE JUNIOR GAME. The junior match was a much better game. The teams were even, though the Waitakaruru pack was the heavier. Play was open, even, and clean, and the only score was by J. Andrews, a Ngatea forward. The teams were as follows :—

Waitakaruru. —G. Tegar, L. Coxhead, J. Sim, J. Godkin. McPherson, W. Quintal, K. Caie, I’. Williams, K. McCallum, A. Craig, L. Preston, SKendall, H, Dimmock, H. Porter, and G. Scott.

Ngatea.—C. Wilton, Horteiie, S. MeKerehar, A. Courtenay, B. Hayward. D. McKerchar, R. Phillips, H. Stone, ,M, Martin, T. Taranaki, Alderson, Peter, Wilson, Andrews, Cleave. Mr G. T. Davidson was referee.

TURUA V. KEREPEEHI. The .senior teams took the field as follows :— Turua.- —R. McGuire, S. Robinson, J. Martin. R. Smith, L. Clotworthy. 11. Elvin, G. Russell, L. Ryan, G. Me-. Cowatt. D. Hill, K. Fox, W. Clark, W Spencer, L. Pentecost, H. Hill. Kerepechi—J. Adlum, W. Murphy, R. H.awcra, W. Savage, W. Molloy, G. Misters, A. McMillan, K. Merryman, T. Re.neta, W. Hurikino, Holman, N. Ti;.a, Hawera, T. Majury, R. Steedman. The ground was in good order, but the wind blew straight, down the field. Kerepechi had the advantage of. the wind and kept Turua on the defensive in Hie first quarter. After the change over play was under Kerepeehi’s goal when Ryan scored between the post:. H Elvin converted. Turua 5, Kerepeehi 0. From the kick-out Kerepeeh; reached Tttrua’s twenty-five, but tlie ball was soon back near Kerepeehi’s line. A penalty was awarded to Tilrua and H. Elvin converted, making Turua',s score .8 in as many minutes. Even play resulted until half time. Dn resuming Kerepechi had several good chances to score, but failed. Turua charged up into the wind‘an 1 Rvan scored in the corner. Elvin failed with tlie kick. ’Turua It, Kercpeehi O'. In the last quarter Kerepeehi defended. Steedman and Molloy initiated several good rushes, but were not backed up. No further score eventuated, and the game ended. Turn i 11 Kerepechi 0. Mr J N. Anderson was referee. The scores were hardly an indication of the game, as the teams were ve-y even. The visitors were heavier, but lacked combination. Molloy an.l Steedman were the outstanding members. Ryan was the backbone of the Turua team, and G. McCowatt, a. last season’s junior, played a great game. McGuire at full-back was brilliant. THE JUNIOR MATCH. The Kerepechi team included 13 native.', six of whom it was reported had never played before. The Turua team was :G. Johnson, B Madgwick, J. Jones, R, Frisken, L. McCoid. A. Elvin, Billing, F. Olsen, L. Zeiglar, 'W. Taylor. W. Bell, W. Hearn, J. Spencer, I. Holden. Tlie game was very fast, the ball travelling up and down the field. In the third quarter Turua with the wind in their favour secured six points. A penalty kick was taken by points, a penalty kick by McCoid ami a try by A. Elvin. Turua had the be f tcr team and deserved their win. Many of the players in both teams showed promise, and the game was mere interesting than the senior game. Mr Leonard was referee.