PLAINS FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4698, 14 May 1924, Page 3

PLAINS FOOTBALL.

SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The club competitions under the control of the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union were continued on Saturday last; The weather was showery,, tiuugh little rain fell during play. The evenness of the teams was again demonstrated, three of the matches resulting in drawn games. TURUA V. UNITED COAST. _ The teams took the held as follows: . Turua —R. McGuire, G. Russell, Tynan,- Robinson, L. Clotworth}, H. Elvin, G. Elvin, K. Fox, H. Hill, Pentecost, W. Clark D. Hill, N. Spencer, J'. Thrupp, G. McCowatt. ; coast.—P. Clark, E. Hooper, T. O'Carroll, R. Green, 0. McMillan, L. James, H. Bayent, Ryan, Dalgety. W. O’ Neill, B. Wallis, Roy Green, G, Jepson. This game was played at Turua, and ended in a draw, each side scoring three points. Wallis kicked a penalty goal in the second quarter for Coast, and in the third spell H. Elvin concerted a penalty kick ter Turua. The rain before the match had made the ground heavy. The ball • was too greasy for good back play, but iu spite of that the game was very open and interesting. The Turon forwards had rather the bettei oi the opposing pack, and repeatedly hooked the ball, only to see the Coast rover come round and get away with it. There were two weak spots in '•he backs which were continually getting them into trouble, but the others played well, H. Elvin, as. usual, pla}ing a great game. The Coast for- ■ wards played and followed up "ell, taking full advantage of the openings made by Ryan, who outclassed the opposition- and started innumerable forward rushes. Some of the backs have-the bad habit of hanging on to the ball too long, and several time.; placed their side in difficulties. This is the second game of the newly, formed Coast team, and two draws have resulted. This will be a very nard team to beat, and if the players stick together a strong bid will be made for the cup. A great fault with the Turua team is in the different placing of the players:. In every game there arc three or .four men playing in new positions, therby destroying any hope of combination, without which football cannot be played properly. - NGATEA V. KEREPEEHI. The teams lined out as follows •Ngatea.—C. Wilton, Stewart, Andrews, Johansen; F. Nicoll, C. Ellis, L. Molloy, Robertson, Johnson, Ivan Jobe, Lipscombe, Rolton, P. Leonard, Andrews. ■ Kerepeehi.—J. Adlum, W. Murphy, . 11. Hawera, T. Rapana, G. Masters, L. Masters, Merriman, W. Herekino, N Tipa, Nathan, T. Majury, R. Stead- . . man, W. Baggs. This was a particularly fast game, and tire wet ball made the play open. In the first half Ngatea had the best oi the match, but at dialf-time Kerepcehi’s team was rearranged, and two '■ juniors were'added to make up the fifteen. This made a decided improvement, and kerepeehi scored two tries, bring the total up to Ngatea 14, Kere- ' peehi 6. The goal-kicking of both teams was poor. The Ngatea backs now play well together, and though Ellis is inclined to hang on to the ball too long, he, Nicoll, and Molloy did great work. . Wjiton’s place as full-back is now a-sured for the season. The Kerepeehi backs also make a strong combination. The Masters brothers, Rapana, and Steedman did particularly well, while Adlum as fullback would have been had to replace. Mr J. Reid was referee. WEST V. WAITAKARURU. The following were the teams ; — West.—T. Tuhoe, Mark, D. Tuhoe, G. Meiriman, R. Paton, F. Costello, J. Garry, D. Cowdrey, A, Paton, A. Merriman, J. Millington, N. Cowdrey, R. Benny, J. Tamati, 0. Henry. Waitakaruru.—F. Barlow, Walker, C. Stretton, L. Berney, L. Skelly, A. Otter, Haiiiilt.on, Laing, H. Sleep, R. Slack, H. Coxhead, L. Hunt, G. Coxhead, B. Williams, Dimmock, Hauraki Plains West and Waitakaritru met at Waitakaruru, the match ending in a draw, the scores being 3 all. The ground was in good order, but a fair wind was blowing down the field. West kicked off against the wind, and Waitakaruru scored a try ten minutes after starting. The se«x oi d Quarter opened with West attacking strongly, and after several hard f. rward struggles a Waitakaruru ; layer infringed right on the line and . West converted. From half-time on to the end of the game play was princ p-illy confined to loose forward rushes. West showed superiority in the h e.se, but in the serums Waitakaruru had the advantage. After the match Waitakaruru entcrtahied the visitors to dinner in the local boardinghouses. Mr J. N. Anderson was referee. THE JUNIORS. WEST V. WAITAKAKURU. Waitakaruru played with the wind, but West pressed hard and soon had them busy. From a penalty West kicked a goal. Waitakaruru then scored and converted, West retaliating with two unconverted tries. The scores at half-time were: West 9, Waitakaruru 5. In the second half both sides scored, the final points being : West 12, Waitakaruru 8. NGATEA V. KEREPEEHI. Ngatea appeared to have the better team, with faster backs and better following up. Kerepeehi’s team was the heavier, and they threw the ball about 'veil. The game was open and fairly even, ending in a draw, three all. tiies being secured by A. Courtenay and S. Riti. COAST V. TURUA. ■s This match resulted in a win for Turua by 20 to 0. The Coast juniors ..tp-e mostly very young players, and will be greatly improved after . a few games. Mr M. Leonard was referee.